Shloka 25
Yuga-Dharma, Kalpa Measure, Purāṇa Definitions, and the Kali-Yuga Power of Nāma-Kīrtana
यदा कर्मसु काम्येषु शक्तिर्यशसि देहिनाम् / तदा त्रेता रजोभूतिरिति जानीहिशौनक
yadā karmasu kāmyeṣu śaktiryaśasi dehinām / tadā tretā rajobhūtiriti jānīhiśaunaka
உடலுடையோர் காம்ய கர்மங்கள், வலிமை மற்றும் புகழில் ஈடுபடும்போது, அதுவே திரேதா யுகம் என அறிக; அது ரஜோகுணம் மேலோங்கும் யுகம், ஓ சௌனகா।
Sūta (narrator) addressing Śaunaka (framing dialogue)
Concept: Tretā is characterized by rajas: attraction to desire-motivated rites, power, and fame.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa when driven by desire binds; rajas fuels doership and attachment, requiring purification and right intention.
Application: Perform duties without craving results; convert kāmya orientation into niṣkāma karma and devotion to reduce binding rajas.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Related Themes: Garuda Purana yuga-varṇana passages addressed to sages (e.g., Śaunaka)
FAQs
This verse marks kāmya-karma—acts done for personal gain—as a key indicator of rajas rising in society, signaling a shift away from pure dharma toward reward-centered religiosity.
It defines Tretā-yuga by a psychological and ethical shift: people increasingly pursue ritual and action for power, reputation, and results, showing the dominance of rajas over sattva.
Prefer duty and devotion over outcome-obsessed action: perform rituals, charity, and work with humility, reduce craving for status, and cultivate sattvic motives to stabilize the mind.