Shloka 25
Yuga-Dharma, Kalpa Measure, Purāṇa Definitions, and the Kali-Yuga Power of Nāma-Kīrtana
यदा कर्मसु काम्येषु शक्तिर्यशसि देहिनाम् / तदा त्रेता रजोभूतिरिति जानीहिशौनक
yadā karmasu kāmyeṣu śaktiryaśasi dehinām / tadā tretā rajobhūtiriti jānīhiśaunaka
جب جسم والے لوگ خواہش انگیز اعمال، قوت اور دنیاوی شہرت کی طرف مائل ہوں تو اسے تریتا یُگ سمجھو—رجوگُن کی افزونی والا زمانہ، اے شونک۔
Sūta (narrator) addressing Śaunaka (framing dialogue)
Concept: Tretā is characterized by rajas: attraction to desire-motivated rites, power, and fame.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa when driven by desire binds; rajas fuels doership and attachment, requiring purification and right intention.
Application: Perform duties without craving results; convert kāmya orientation into niṣkāma karma and devotion to reduce binding rajas.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Related Themes: Garuda Purana yuga-varṇana passages addressed to sages (e.g., Śaunaka)
FAQs
This verse marks kāmya-karma—acts done for personal gain—as a key indicator of rajas rising in society, signaling a shift away from pure dharma toward reward-centered religiosity.
It defines Tretā-yuga by a psychological and ethical shift: people increasingly pursue ritual and action for power, reputation, and results, showing the dominance of rajas over sattva.
Prefer duty and devotion over outcome-obsessed action: perform rituals, charity, and work with humility, reduce craving for status, and cultivate sattvic motives to stabilize the mind.