Shloka 20

Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Varṇāśrama’s Purpose, Ritualism’s Fall, and Yuga-Avatāras with Kali-yuga Saṅkīrtana

Devanagari script

श्रीकरभाजन उवाच कृतं त्रेता द्वापरं च कलिरित्येषु केशव: । नानावर्णाभिधाकारो नानैव विधिनेज्यते ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

śrī-karabhājana uvāca kṛtaṁ tretā dvāparaṁ ca kalir ity eṣu keśavaḥ nānā-varṇābhidhākāro nānaiva vidhinejyate

Translation

ศรีกรภาชนะกล่าวว่า ในกฤตะ เทรตา ทวาประ และกาลียุค พระเกศวะทรงปรากฏด้วยสีผิว พระนาม และพระรูปหลากหลาย จึงทรงได้รับการบูชาด้วยวิธีต่าง ๆ กัน

Synonyms

• श्री: revered
• श्री: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Title)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; शीर्षक-रूपेण (honorific)

• करभाजनः: Karabhājana (sage)
• करभाजनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करभाजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• कृतम्: Kṛta-yuga
• कृतम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; युगनाम

• त्रेता: Tretā-yuga
• त्रेता: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रेता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; युगनाम

• द्वापरम्: Dvāpara-yuga
• द्वापरम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वापर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; युगनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• कलिः: Kali-yuga
• कलिः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; युगनाम

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्ययम् (quotative particle)

• एषु: in these (yugas)
• एषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• केशवः: Keśava (the Lord)
• केशवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• नानावर्णाभिधाकारः: having various names and forms according to (different) varṇas
• नानावर्णाभिधाकारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिधा (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक) → नानावर्णाभिधाकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (केशवः इति)

• नाना: variously
• नाना: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: variously)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् (particle: only/indeed)

• विधिना: by (various) procedures
• विधिना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्

• ईज्यते: is worshiped
• ईज्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present); प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (Passive)

Characters & Entities

• Karabhājana
• Keśava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about yuga-dharma (religion for each age)?

This verse states that in Satya, Tretā, Dvāpara, and Kali Yugas, the Lord appears in different forms and is worshiped through different authorized methods, indicating that spiritual practice is tailored to each age.

Why does Karabhājana describe Keśava as having different colors, names, and forms in different yugas?

He is explaining the Bhagavatam’s doctrine of yuga-avatāras: the same Supreme Lord manifests in age-appropriate forms and accepts worship according to the dharma suitable for that era.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life (Kali Yuga)?

It encourages seekers to follow the yuga-appropriate, scripture-approved path of devotion rather than inventing practices—embracing the method of worship recommended for this age by the Bhagavatam and the ācāryas.