Shloka 15

Devanagari script

उपवासस् तथायासो वित्तोत्सर्गस् तथा कलौ धर्मो यथाभिरुचितैर् अनुष्ठानैर् अनुष्ठितः

Transliteration

upavāsas tathāyāso vittotsargas tathā kalau dharmo yathābhirucitair anuṣṭhānair anuṣṭhitaḥ

Translation

کلی یُگ میں روزہ (اُپواس)، محنت بھری سادھنا اور مال کا تیاگ—اپنی استطاعت کے مطابق منتخب اعمال کے ذریعے دھرم ادا کیا جاتا ہے؛ رغبت اور طاقت کے مطابق یہی دھرم کی پیروی سمجھی جاتی ہے۔

Word by Word

• उपवासः: fasting
• उपवासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• आयासः: exertion, effort
• आयासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वित्तोत्सर्गः: giving away of wealth
• वित्तोत्सर्गः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (vittasya utsargaḥ)

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• कलौ: in Kali (age)
• कलौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• धर्मः: dharma, religious duty
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यथा: as, according to
• यथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (comparative/according as)

• अभिरुचितैः: by (things) approved/pleasing
• अभिरुचितैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिरुचित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √रुच् (धातु) + अभि + क्त)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (approved/liked)

• अनुष्ठानैः: by observances/rites
• अनुष्ठानैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुष्ठान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• अनुष्ठितः: performed, carried out
• अनुष्ठितः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुष्ठित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; अनु + √स्था (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in dialogue with Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: What forms of dharma remain practicable in Kali-yuga?

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In Kali-yuga, dharma is sustained through attainable disciplines—fasting, earnest effort, and charity—chosen according to one’s capacity and disposition.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Adopt sustainable vows (moderate upavāsa), consistent seva, and regular giving; prioritize continuity and sincerity over extremity.

Vishishtadvaita: Supports the Vishishtadvaita emphasis on embodied practice (service, giving) as meaningful offerings to the Lord within the real, value-laden world.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of Kali-yuga dharma in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse states that in Kali-yuga dharma is sustained through accessible practices—fasting, sincere effort, and charitable giving—chosen according to one’s capacity.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the practice of dharma in Kali-yuga?

Parāśara presents Kali-yuga dharma as adaptable: rather than demanding uniform austerities, it is fulfilled through suitable observances (anushthānas) aligned with a person’s ability and circumstances.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

By defining yuga-dharma, the Purana frames moral order as part of Vishnu’s cosmic governance—dharma persists even in Kali through practicable disciplines that keep beings aligned with the Supreme Reality.