Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

बहुप्रजाल्पभाग्याश्च भविष्यन्ति कलौ स्त्रियः / शिरः कण्डूयनपरा आज्ञां भेत्स्यन्ति भर्त्सिताः

Transliteration

bahuprajālpabhāgyāśca bhaviṣyanti kalau striyaḥ / śiraḥ kaṇḍūyanaparā ājñāṃ bhetsyanti bhartsitāḥ

Translation

ในกาลียุค สตรีจะมีบุตรมากแต่มีวาสนาน้อย; หมกมุ่นกับการเกาศีรษะ แม้ถูกตำหนิก็ยังฝ่าฝืนคำสั่งในเรือน

Word by Word

• बहुप्रजाल्पभाग्याः: having many children and little fortune
• बहुप्रजाल्पभाग्याः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + प्रजा + अल्प + भाग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि-स्वभावार्थे कर्मधारय-समास (बह्वी प्रजा यस्याः, अल्पं भाग्यं यस्याः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• भविष्यन्ति: will be
• भविष्यन्ति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• कलौ: in Kali age
• कलौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कण्डूयनपरा: intent on scratching
• कण्डूयनपरा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कण्डूयन + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (परा-शब्दः स्त्रीलिङ्गे); तत्पुरुष (कण्डूयने परा = scratching-prone/devoted to scratching)

• आज्ञाम्: command, order
• आज्ञाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• भेत्स्यन्ति: will break/violate
• भेत्स्यन्ति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• भर्त्सिताः: being rebuked
• भर्त्सिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भर्त्सित (कृदन्त; √भर्त्स्, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kali is marked by domestic disorder and diminished saubhāgya; disregard for discipline and counsel erodes household dharma.

Vedantic Theme: When rajas/tamas dominate, buddhi and śama weaken; social harmony depends on self-restraint and mutual respect.

Application: Cultivate household communication, restraint, and shared discipline; avoid turning family life into a field of constant friction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: hasya

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Kali-yuga varṇana sequence in 1.223

Characters & Entities

• Kali Yuga

FAQs

What is the importance of Kali Yuga descriptions in the Garuda Purana?

They function as moral warnings: by describing behavioral decline, the text urges adherence to dharma and self-discipline despite adverse times.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it highlights dharmic erosion in Kali Yuga—choices that violate rightful instruction and restraint diminish merit (puṇya), which the Garuda Purana links to one’s post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate attentiveness, self-restraint, and respect for rightful guidance in family and community life, treating correction as a chance to improve conduct rather than resisting it.