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Shloka 38

Parīkṣit Confronts Kali: Dharma (Bull) and Bhūmi (Cow) at the Dawn of Kali-yuga

सूत उवाच अभ्यर्थितस्तदा तस्मै स्थानानि कलये ददौ । द्यूतं पानं स्त्रिय: सूना यत्राधर्मश्चतुर्विध: ॥ ३८ ॥

sūta uvāca abhyarthitas tadā tasmai sthānāni kalaye dadau dyūtaṁ pānaṁ striyaḥ sūnā yatrādharmaś catur-vidhaḥ

สุุตะกล่าวว่า เมื่อกาลีวิงวอน มหาราชปริกษิตจึงอนุญาตให้เขาพำนักในสถานที่ที่มีการพนัน การดื่มสุรา การค้าประเวณี และการฆ่าสัตว์—ที่ซึ่งอธรรมสี่ประการดำรงอยู่

सूतःSūta
सूतः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootसूत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootवच् (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद
अभ्यर्थितःhaving been requested
अभ्यर्थितः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootअभि+अर्थ् (धातु) → अभ्यर्थित (कृदन्त, क्त)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the implied subject)
तदाthen
तदा:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)
तस्मैto him
तस्मै:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन
स्थानानिplaces; abodes
स्थानानि:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootस्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन (Plural)
कलयेto Kali
कलये:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootकलि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन
ददौgave
ददौ:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootदा (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
द्यूतम्gambling
द्यूतम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootद्यूत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
पानम्drinking (intoxication)
पानम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootपान (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
स्त्रियःwomen (illicit association)
स्त्रियः:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootस्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन
सूनाslaughterhouse; killing
सूना:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootसूना (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
यत्रwherein
यत्र:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयत्र (अव्यय)
Formदेशवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: where)
अधर्मःirreligion; adharma
अधर्मः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
चतुर्विधःfourfold
चतुर्विधः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootचतुर्+विध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (संख्यापूर्वक-निर्देश), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying अधर्मः)

The basic principles of irreligiosity, such as pride, prostitution, intoxication and falsehood, counteract the four principles of religion, namely austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness. The personality of Kali was given permission to live in four places particularly mentioned by the King, namely the place of gambling, the place of prostitution, the place of drinking and the place of animal slaughter.

S
Suta Gosvami
K
Kali
K
King Parikshit

FAQs

This verse states that Kali is allowed to reside in gambling, intoxication, illicit association with women, and slaughter—domains where irreligion becomes prominent.

In the narrative, Kali pleads for shelter; the King restricts him by assigning specific sinful domains, limiting Kali’s influence rather than allowing him free reign.

Avoid or strictly regulate environments tied to gambling, intoxication, sexual misconduct, and violence, since these are described as gateways for adharma to grow.