Shloka 38

Yuga-Dharma: The Four Ages, Decline of Dharma, and the Rise of Social Order

Devanagari script

कृत्वा द्वन्द्वप्रतीघातान् वार्तोपायमचिन्तयन् / नष्टेषु मधुना सार्धं कल्पवृक्षेषु वै तदा

Transliteration

kṛtvā dvandvapratīghātān vārtopāyamacintayan / naṣṭeṣu madhunā sārdhaṃ kalpavṛkṣeṣu vai tadā

Translation

ద్వంద్వాలను ఎదుర్కొని, జీవనోపాధి మరియు వ్యాపార మార్గం (వార్తా) గురించి ఆలోచించాడు; అప్పుడు మధువుతో కూడిన కల్పవృక్షాలు నశించినప్పుడు।

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done/made
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; अव्ययीभावार्थक)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• द्वन्द्व-प्रतीघातान्: countermeasures against hardships
• द्वन्द्व-प्रतीघातान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतीघात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: 'of opposites'); पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वार्ता-उपायम्: means of livelihood
• वार्ता-उपायम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्ता (प्रातिपदिक) + उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• अचिन्तयन्: he/they considered
• अचिन्तयन्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्; नकार-आगमः (अ-augment)

• नष्टेषु: when/among (those) lost
• नष्टेषु: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नश् (धातु) → नष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP); पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (m./n.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मधुना: with honey
• मधुना: सह (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• सार्धम्: together with
• सार्धम्: सह (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक-उपपद

• कल्प-वृक्षेषु: in the wish-trees
• कल्प-वृक्षेषु: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वै: indeed
• वै: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (Particle/emphatic)

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration, traditionally through Sūta/Vyāsa lineage; specific speaker not explicit in the single verse excerpt)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kalpavriksha
• Madhu

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

Indirectly: by stressing mastery over dvandvas (pairs of opposites), it aligns with the Purāṇic-yogic view that steadiness amid gain and loss supports inner clarity, which is conducive to realizing the Self beyond changing conditions.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights dvandva-jaya (overcoming the opposites) as a practical yogic discipline: cultivating equanimity and discernment, then applying buddhi (clear thinking) to right action (upāya) in accordance with dharma.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

It does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; however, its ethic of equanimity and dharmic action is compatible with the Kurma Purana’s broader Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava synthesis, where inner steadiness and right conduct are shared foundations across teachings.