Shloka 35
The Earth Laughs at World-Conquering Kings; Yuga-Dharma and the Remedy for Kali
पणयिष्यन्ति वै क्षुद्रा: किराटा: कूटकारिण: । अनापद्यपि मंस्यन्ते वार्तां साधु जुगुप्सिताम् ॥ ३५ ॥
paṇayiṣyanti vai kṣudrāḥ kirāṭāḥ kūṭa-kāriṇaḥ anāpady api maṁsyante vārtāṁ sādhu jugupsitām
พ่อค้าจะทำการค้าขายเล็กๆ น้อยๆ และหาเงินด้วยการโกง แม้ว่าจะไม่มีเหตุจำเป็นเร่งด่วน ผู้คนก็จะยอมรับอาชีพที่ต่ำช้าว่าเป็นเรื่องปกติ
Although other occupations are available, people do not hesitate to work in coal mines, slaughterhouses, steel mills, deserts, floating oil rigs, submarines and other equally abominable situations. As also mentioned here, businessmen will consider cheating and lying to be a perfectly respectable way to do business. These are all symptoms of the Age of Kali.
FAQs
This verse states that in Kali-yuga, petty and deceitful people will take up trade and cheating, and society will begin to look down on honest livelihoods while tolerating shameful occupations.
Śukadeva speaks to Mahārāja Parīkṣit to prepare him (and future listeners) to recognize the age’s decline in dharma and to take shelter of bhakti as the reliable path amid social corruption.
Do not normalize dishonesty for profit; honor truthful work, avoid deceitful livelihoods, and strengthen one’s spiritual life—especially devotion to Krishna—to remain steady in a degrading age.