Shloka 13

Yuga-Dharma: The Four Ages, Decline of Dharma, and the Rise of Social Order

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तो भगवता पार्थः परपुरञ्जयः / पृष्टवान् प्रणिपत्यासौ युगधर्मान् द्विजोत्तमाः

Transliteration

evamukto bhagavatā pārthaḥ parapurañjayaḥ / pṛṣṭavān praṇipatyāsau yugadharmān dvijottamāḥ

Translation

เมื่อพระผู้เป็นเจ้าตรัสดังนี้แล้ว ปารถะผู้พิชิตนครศัตรูได้กราบลง แล้วทูลถาม—โอทวิชโอตตมะ—ถึงธรรมประจำยุคทั้งหลาย

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Prakara (प्रकार/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• उक्तः: addressed, spoken to
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (having been spoken to)

• भगवता: by the Blessed Lord
• भगवता: Karana (करण/Instrument-agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• पार्थः: Pārtha (Arjuna)
• पार्थः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्जुन-नाम

• परपुरञ्जयः: conqueror of enemy cities
• परपुरञ्जयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + पुर + जि (धातु) → परपुरञ्जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपाधि/विशेषण; समासः—परस्य पुरं जयति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• पृष्टवान्: asked
• पृष्टवान्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्तवत्-प्रत्यय, perfect participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परस्मैपद-भाव (having asked)

• प्रणिपत्य: having bowed down
• प्रणिपत्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Preceding action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): having bowed

• असौ: he
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निर्देशार्थ (that person)

• युगधर्मान्: duties of the ages
• युगधर्मान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासः—युगस्य धर्माः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• द्विजोत्तमाः: O best of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजोत्तमाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), बहुवचन; समासः—द्विजेषु उत्तमाः (कर्मधारय)

Speaker

Narrator (sūta/vaidika narrator) describing Arjuna’s inquiry after Lord’s instruction

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan (the Blessed Lord, i.e., Vishnu/Kurma as teacher)
• Partha (Arjuna)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

It does not directly define Ātman; it sets the devotional-ethical frame by showing the disciple’s humility (praṇipāta) and readiness to learn yuga-dharma from Bhagavān, which in the Kurma Purana supports Self-knowledge through right conduct and reverent inquiry.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights the yogic attitude of śaraṇāgati and praṇipāta (reverent surrender) before instruction—an essential preparatory discipline in Purāṇic Yoga that precedes teachings on dharma, devotion, and contemplative practice.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

No explicit Shiva–Vishnu statement appears here; however, the Kurma Purana’s synthesis is reflected in the shared dharma-yoga framework—approaching Bhagavān with humility and inquiry is presented as the gateway to teachings that elsewhere harmonize Shaiva and Vaishnava paths.