Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

यस्मिञ्जनाः कामिनः स्युः शश्वत्कटुकभाषिणः / दस्यूत्कृष्टा जनपदावेदाः पाषण्डदूषिताः

Transliteration

yasmiñjanāḥ kāminaḥ syuḥ śaśvatkaṭukabhāṣiṇaḥ / dasyūtkṛṣṭā janapadāvedāḥ pāṣaṇḍadūṣitāḥ

Translation

กาลนั้นคือเมื่อผู้คนตกอยู่ใต้อำนาจกามคุณและกล่าววาจาหยาบคายอยู่เสมอ; โจรผู้ร้ายกลับรุ่งเรืองในแผ่นดิน และพระเวทถูกทำให้มัวหมองด้วยลัทธินอกพระเวทอันเป็นพาษัณฑะ

Word by Word

• यस्मिन्: in which (time/condition)
• यस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Relative pronoun, Loc., Sg.)

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nom., Pl.)

• कामिनः: lustful, desirous
• कामिनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nom., Pl.; adjective to जनाः)

• स्युः: would be/are (to be)
• स्युः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (3rd person, Pl.)

• शश्वत्: always
• शश्वत्: Visheshana (Adverbial qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शश्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: नित्यत्ववाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'always')

• कटुक-भाषिणः: harsh-speaking
• कटुक-भाषिणः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कटुक (प्रातिपदिक) + भाषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (Masculine, Nom., Pl.; 'speaking harshly')

• दस्यु-उत्कृष्टाः: with bandits pre-eminent
• दस्यु-उत्कृष्टाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दस्यु (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्कृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Masculine, Nom., Pl.; 'excelled by/with bandits prominent')

• जनपद-अवेदाः: districts/people ignorant of the Veda
• जनपद-अवेदाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जनपद (प्रातिपदिक) + अवेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Masculine, Nom., Pl.; 'ignorant of the Veda in the country')

• पाषण्ड-दूषिताः: corrupted by heresy
• पाषण्ड-दूषिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाषण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + दूषित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Masculine, Nom., Pl.; 'tainted by heresy')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kali is recognized by kāma-driven conduct, abusive speech, elevation of criminals, and distortion of Vedic authority by anti-Vedic ideologies.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa-bhraṃśa: when śruti is rejected or twisted, discernment collapses and dharma loses its anchor.

Application: Guard speech (vāg-yama), restrain kāma, uphold authentic śāstra study with qualified teachers, and avoid communities that normalize exploitation and contempt for dharma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: kingdom/region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: adjoining verses on Kali symptoms (same sequence 1.223.27-31)

Characters & Entities

• Vedas
• Pāṣaṇḍas (heterodox groups)
• Dasyus (thieves/bandits)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the Garuda Purana?

It lists recognizable symptoms of dharma’s decline—unchecked desire, cruel speech, criminal dominance, and distortion of Vedic authority—serving as a warning to preserve righteous conduct.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching?

In the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue, such verses describe moral and spiritual deterioration that leads to suffering and karmic downfall, emphasizing the need for dharma, right speech, and fidelity to authentic śāstra.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate self-restraint, practice truthful and gentle speech, avoid supporting unethical power, and study reliable scriptures/teachers to prevent misinformation from replacing dharma.