Shloka 52
कलिस्वरूप-वर्णनम् एवं कालमान-प्रस्तावना
शाणीप्रायाणि वस्त्राणि शमीप्राया महीरुहाः शूद्रप्रायास् तथा वर्णा भविष्यन्ति कलौ युगे
śāṇīprāyāṇi vastrāṇi śamīprāyā mahīruhāḥ śūdraprāyās tathā varṇā bhaviṣyanti kalau yuge
கலியுகத்தில் ஆடைகள் பெரும்பாலும் சணல்/கஞ்சா நாரின் கரடுமுரடான துணியாகும்; மரங்கள் பெரிதும் சமீ வகையாகும்; சமூக வர்ணங்களும் நடத்தையிலும் நிலையிலும் பெரும்பாலும் சூத்ரர்போல் ஆகிவிடும்।
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
FAQs
They function as symbolic indicators of Kali’s coarsening influence—life becomes materially and culturally diminished, and the environment and daily living reflect a general decline in refinement and prosperity.
Parāśara frames it as a yuga-lakṣaṇa (age-marker): the varṇas remain named, but their lived qualities and social conditions trend toward “śūdra-like” patterns, implying erosion of traditional dharmic standards and roles.
Even when Kali’s symptoms dominate society, the Vishnu Purana’s yuga-cycle teaching implies an overarching sovereignty of Vishnu: cosmic order persists through His governance, and decline itself is part of the regulated rhythm of time.