Parīkṣit Confronts Kali; Dharma and Bhūmi Lament Kṛṣṇa’s Departure
तस्यैवं वर्तमानस्य पूर्वेषां वृत्तिमन्वहम् । नातिदूरे किलाश्चर्यं यदासीत् तन्निबोध मे ॥ १७ ॥
tasyaivaṁ vartamānasya pūrveṣāṁ vṛttim anvaham nātidūre kilāścaryaṁ yad āsīt tan nibodha me
Habang namumuhay nang ganito si Mahārāja Parīkṣit—araw-araw na nakikinig sa mabubuting gawain ng kanyang mga ninuno at nakalubog sa paggunita—hindi kalayuan ay may naganap na isang kahanga-hangang pangyayari; pakinggan mo ito mula sa akin.
This verse praises Parīkṣit for steadily adopting the righteous standards of earlier saintly kings, showing that dharma is preserved by faithfully living proven, God-centered traditions.
Śukadeva is transitioning the listener into the next event of the chapter—Parīkṣit’s encounter with a shocking scene that reveals the intrusion of Kali-yuga and the need to protect dharma.
Anchor daily life in time-tested devotional principles (truthfulness, compassion, purity, and discipline), and stay alert—spiritual challenges can appear “not far away,” requiring steady, dharma-based response.