Shloka 25
Parīkṣit Confronts Kali; Dharma and Bhūmi Lament Kṛṣṇa’s Departure
धरण्युवाच । भवान् हि वेद तत् सर्वं यन् मां धर्मानुपृच्छसि । चतुर्भिर्वर्तसे येन पादैर्लोकसुखावहैः ॥ २५ ॥
dharaṇy uvāca bhavān hi veda tat sarvaṁ yan māṁ dharmānupṛcchasi caturbhir vartase yena pādair loka-sukhāvahaiḥ
เทวีธรณีกล่าวว่า: โอ้ ธรรมะ สิ่งที่ท่านถามข้านั้นท่านย่อมรู้ทั้งหมดอยู่แล้ว; กระนั้นข้าจะตอบตามกำลัง. กาลก่อนท่านตั้งมั่นด้วยสี่บาทอันนำสุขแก่โลก และด้วยพระกรุณาของภควาน ท่านได้เพิ่มพูนความผาสุกไปทั่วจักรวาล.
The principles of religion are laid down by the Lord Himself, and the executor of such laws is Dharmarāja, or Yamarāja. Such principles work fully in the age of Satya-yuga; in the Tretā-yuga they are reduced by a fraction of one fourth; in the Dvāpara-yuga they are reduced to one half, and in the Kali-yuga they are reduced to one fourth, gradually diminishing to the zero point, and then devastation takes place. Happiness in the world depends proportionately on the maintenance of the religious principles, individually or collectively. The best part of valor is to maintain the principles despite all kinds of odds. Thus one can be happy during the span of life and ultimately return to Godhead.
FAQs
This verse indicates that dharma stands on four “legs” that uphold the world’s happiness, and that Mahārāja Parīkṣit is established in them, making him a qualified inquirer about dharma.
In the narrative of Canto 1, Chapter 16, Parīkṣit approaches the afflicted Earth to understand the condition of dharma; she replies that his own firm establishment in dharma’s four pillars makes him already knowledgeable and fit to protect it.
Cultivate the pillars of dharma in personal conduct—living in a way that supports societal well-being—so that spiritual inquiry is grounded in integrity and becomes beneficial to others.