Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 14
माल्यवानुपदेशः
Malyavan’s Counsel, Portents in Laṅkā, and the Proposal of Alliance
धर्मोवैग्रसतेऽधर्मंततःकृतमभूद्युगम् ।।।।अधर्मोग्रसतेधर्मंततस्तिष्यःप्रवर्तते ।
dharmo vai grasate 'dharmaṁ tataḥ kṛtam abhūd yugam | adharmo grasate dharmaṁ tatas tiṣyaḥ pravartate |
Kapag nilulon ng dharma ang adharma, ang panahong yaon ay tinatawag na Kṛta Yuga; kapag nilulon ng adharma ang dharma, saka sumisiklab ang panahon ng Tiṣya (Kali).
"When moral merit destroys unrighteousness, it is called Krtayuga. So also, when virtue gets eclipsed by unrighteousness, it is called Kaliyuga."
FAQs
Collective life is shaped by the balance of dharma and adharma; sustaining dharma uplifts an age, while normalizing adharma degrades it.
A moral-philosophical warning is given to show that Rāvaṇa’s choices contribute to a wider decline, not merely a private fault.
Long-range moral vision—judging actions by their civilizational consequences, not only immediate gain.