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Shloka 92

Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)

कलावधर्मो भूयिष्ठं धर्मो भवति न क्वचित्‌ | सर्वेषामेव वर्णानां स्वधर्माच्च्यवते मन:,कलियुगमें अधर्म तो अधिक होता है; परंतु धर्मका पालन कहीं नहीं देखा जाता। सभी वर्णोका मन अपने धर्मसे च्युत हो जाता है

kalāvadharmo bhūyiṣṭhaṃ dharmo bhavati na kvacit | sarveṣām eva varṇānāṃ svadharmāccyavate manaḥ ||

Wika ni Bhishma: Sa Panahon ng Kali, ang adharma ang nagiging nangingibabaw, at bihira nang makita ang tunay na dharma na isinasagawa. Ang isipan ng mga tao sa lahat ng antas ng lipunan ay lumilihis sa kani-kanilang wastong tungkulin, at ang naitatag na kaayusang moral ay nagsisimulang madulas mula sa mga saligan nito.

कलौin the Kali (age)
कलौ:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootकलि
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
अधर्मःunrighteousness
अधर्मः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअधर्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
भूयिष्ठम्mostly, in greater measure
भूयिष्ठम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootभूयिष्ठ
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
धर्मःdharma, righteousness
धर्मः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
भवतिbecomes/is
भवति:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormPresent, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
क्वचित्anywhere, ever
क्वचित्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootक्वचित्
सर्वेषाम्of all
सर्वेषाम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
एवindeed, just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
वर्णानाम्of the social classes (varṇas)
वर्णानाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootवर्ण
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
स्वधर्मात्from one’s own duty
स्वधर्मात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootस्वधर्म
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
च्यवतेfalls away, deviates
च्यवते:
TypeVerb
Rootच्यु
FormPresent, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada
मनःmind
मनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमनस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
K
Kali Yuga
V
varṇas

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches that Kali Yuga is marked by the dominance of adharma and a widespread abandonment of svadharma; ethical life deteriorates when individuals of every varṇa lose commitment to their proper duties and inner discipline.

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira by describing the characteristics of the Kali age—highlighting societal and moral decline as a warning and a framework for righteous rule.