Shloka 5

Yuga-Dharma, Kalpa Measure, Purāṇa Definitions, and the Kali-Yuga Power of Nāma-Kīrtana

Devanagari script

कृतत्रेताद्वापरादियुगावस्था निबोधमे / कृते धर्मश्चतुष्पाच्च सत्यं दानं तपो दया

Transliteration

kṛtatretādvāparādiyugāvasthā nibodhame / kṛte dharmaścatuṣpācca satyaṃ dānaṃ tapo dayā

Translation

Hãy hiểu từ ta về trạng thái của các thời đại—Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara và những yuga khác. Trong Kṛta (Satya) Yuga, Dharma đứng vững trên bốn chân: chân thật, bố thí, khổ hạnh, và lòng từ bi.

Word by Word

• कृतत्रेताद्वापरादियुगावस्था: the condition/state of the Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara, etc. yugas
• कृतत्रेताद्वापरादियुगावस्था: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत + त्रेता + द्वापर + आदि + युग + अवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘कृत-त्रेता-द्वापर-आदि-युगानाम् अवस्था’); Nominative singular

• निबोध: understand/know
• निबोध: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √बुध् (धातु) + नि- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (परस्मैपद), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; Imperative, 2nd sg

• मे: from me / of me
• मे: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-एकवचन रूप (enclitic); here: षष्ठी (genitive) ‘of me’ / or दत्तिव (to me) by context; Genitive singular most likely

• कृते: in the Kṛta (yuga)
• कृते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular (in the Kṛta age)

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• चतुष्पात्: four-footed (complete)
• चतुष्पात्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुष्पाद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular adjective (four-footed/complete) qualifying धर्मः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (as item in list)

• दानम्: charity
• दानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक; √दा धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• दया: compassion
• दया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In Kṛta/Satya-yuga, dharma is fourfold and complete: satya, dāna, tapas, dayā.

Vedantic Theme: Ethical purity as a foundation for sattva and spiritual clarity; dharma as the stabilizing order that supports higher realization.

Application: Cultivate the four ‘feet’ daily: truthfulness in speech, generosity, disciplined self-restraint, and compassion in action.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: yuga-dharma and decline of dharma across ages; Garuda Purana: praise of satya and daya as purifying virtues

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Krita Yuga
• Treta Yuga
• Dvapara Yuga
• Kali Yuga
• Dharma

FAQs

What is the importance of Yuga-dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Dharma as varying by age, establishing that the highest ethical standard is in Kṛta Yuga where Dharma is complete—guiding readers to uphold those same virtues as timeless ideals.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing truth, charity, austerity, and compassion as complete Dharma, it implies that living aligned with these supports purifies karma and supports a favorable post-death journey described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice the four supports daily: speak truth, give regularly, maintain disciplined restraint, and act with compassion—treating them as a personal standard even in later yugas.