Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 35
Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Varṇāśrama’s Purpose, Ritualism’s Fall, and Yuga-Avatāras with Kali-yuga Saṅkīrtana
एवं युगानुरूपाभ्यां भगवान् युगवर्तिभि: । मनुजैरिज्यते राजन् श्रेयसामीश्वरोहरि: ॥ ३५ ॥
evaṁ yugānurūpābhyāṁ bhagavān yuga-vartibhiḥ manujair ijyate rājan śreyasām īśvaro hariḥ
اے بادشاہ! ہر یُگ کے مطابق بھگوان ہری اپنے اپنے نام و روپ میں ظاہر ہوتے ہیں؛ دانا انسان اسی یُگ کے مناسب نام و روپ سے اُن کی عبادت کرتے ہیں، کیونکہ وہی تمام خیر و فلاح کے عطا کرنے والے ہیں۔
The word yugānurūpābhyām is significant here. Anurūpa means “suitable” or “appropriate.” The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, anxiously desires that all conditioned living entities come back home, back to Godhead, for an eternal life of bliss and knowledge. Thus, the Lord reveals Himself in each of the four ages — Satya, Tretā, Dvāpara and Kali — in a form appropriate for worship by the human beings of that age. In his Laghu-bhāgavatāmṛta ( Pūrva-khaṇḍa 1.25), Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī states:
FAQs
This verse states that Lord Hari is worshiped according to methods suitable for each yuga; spiritual practice is aligned with the dharma prevailing in that age, while the object of worship remains the same Supreme Lord.
Śukadeva is explaining how the Supreme Lord is approached across the ages and preparing Parīkṣit to understand the age-specific path—especially the relevance of yuga-dharma as time progresses toward Kali-yuga.
Focus on the devotional process recommended for the present age (Kali-yuga) while keeping the goal clear: sincere worship of Lord Hari through consistent, practical bhakti suited to your time, capacity, and circumstances.