Shloka 10

Yuga-Dharma, Kalpa Measure, Purāṇa Definitions, and the Kali-Yuga Power of Nāma-Kīrtana

Devanagari script

द्विपादविग्रो धर्मः पीताञ्चाच्युते गते / चतुः शतायुषो लोका द्विजक्षत्रोद्भवाः प्रजाः

Transliteration

dvipādavigro dharmaḥ pītāñcācyute gate / catuḥ śatāyuṣo lokā dvijakṣatrodbhavāḥ prajāḥ

Translation

เมื่อพระอจฺยุตผู้มีรัศมีเหลืองเสด็จล่วงไป ธรรมะก็เสื่อมลงราวกับยืนได้เพียงสองบาท ครั้นนั้นประชาชนเกิดจากพราหมณ์และกษัตริย์ และอายุมนุษย์ในโลกเป็นสี่ร้อยปี

Word by Word

• द्विपादविग्रः: having two parts/feet (diminished)
• द्विपादविग्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + विग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of धर्मः); पाठभेद-संभावना: ‘द्विपाद-विग्रः/विगलः’

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पीतान्: yellow (ones)/yellowed
• पीतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (understood object; or color-state)

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

• अच्युते: when/with Acyuta (Viṣṇu)
• अच्युते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विष्णोः नाम; ‘when Acyuta…’

• गते: having gone/when (he) had departed
• गते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, सप्तमी, एकवचन; लोके ‘सप्तमी-absolute’ (locative absolute)

• चतुः: four
• चतुः: Sambandha (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (numeral used in compound)

• शतायुषः: having a hundred-year lifespan
• शतायुषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of लोकाः); ‘शतं आयुः येषाम्’ (having 100-year lifespan)

• लोकाः: worlds/people
• लोकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• द्विजक्षत्रोद्भवाः: arising from brāhmaṇas and kṣatra
• द्विजक्षत्रोद्भवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of प्रजाः)

• प्रजाः: creatures/subjects
• प्रजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Acyuta) speaking to Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: As dharma diminishes across yugas, human capacities and lifespans contract; collective karma and adherence to dharma shape societal vitality.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa- and yuga-conditioned embodiment (upādhi-bheda) affects human longevity and clarity; impermanence of worldly conditions encourages dharmic living.

Application: Treat time and vitality as limited; prioritize dharma, self-discipline, and spiritual practice rather than complacency based on ‘better ages’.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana yuga decline sequence in 1.223 (dharma legs and lifespan measures)

Characters & Entities

• Acyuta (Vishnu)
• Dharma
• Dvija (Brahmanas)
• Kshatriyas

FAQs

What does it mean that Dharma is 'two-legged' in this verse?

It indicates a decline of righteousness—Dharma is portrayed as losing two of its supports, a common Purāṇic image for decreasing virtue across cosmic ages.

How does this verse relate to yuga-based changes in human life?

It links a phase of dharma’s weakening with a specific human condition: people’s lifespans becoming four hundred years, reflecting age-based shifts in strength, virtue, and longevity.

Practical application of this teaching today?

Treat moral discipline as something that can weaken or strengthen: uphold truthfulness, restraint, and duty so that dharma is supported in personal and social life.