Shloka 37

कृतयुगवर्णनम् तथा राजधर्मोपदेशः

Kṛtayuga Description and Instruction on Royal Dharma

Devanagari script

क्षत्रियाश्षापि वैश्याश्ष विकर्मस्था नराधिप । अल्पायुष: स्वल्पबला: स्वल्पवीर्यपराक्रमा:,नरेश्वर! क्षत्रिय और वैश्य भी अपना-अपना धर्म छोड़कर दूसरे वर्णोके कर्म करने लगेंगे। सबकी आयु कम होगी, सबके बल, वीर्य और पराक्रम घट जायँगे

Transliteration

kṣatriyāś cāpi vaiśyāś ca vikarmasthā narādhipa | alpāyuṣaḥ svalpabalāḥ svalpavīryaparākramāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: “Tâu đại vương, ngay cả Kṣatriya và Vaiśya cũng sẽ bỏ bổn phận được định theo trật tự của mình mà làm công việc của các đẳng cấp khác. Vì thế, con người sẽ đoản thọ; sức lực suy giảm, sinh lực và dũng khí anh hùng cũng tàn lụi.”

Word by Word

क्षत्रियाःKshatriyas

चand

अपिalso/even

वैश्याःVaishyas

चand

विकर्मस्थाःengaged in improper/other (non-prescribed) acts

नराधिपO king (lord of men)

अल्पायुषःshort-lived

स्वल्पबलाःof little strength

स्वल्पवीर्यपराक्रमाःof little vigor and valor

नरेश्वरO lord of men (king)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

narādhipa (the king addressed)

Kṣatriyas

Vaiśyas

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When people—especially those responsible for protection and sustenance of society—abandon their own svadharma and take up improper roles (vikarma), the result is collective decline: reduced lifespan, strength, vitality, and valor. The verse frames social and ethical disorder as having tangible consequences for human flourishing.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana, narrating to a king, describes signs of societal degeneration: Kṣatriyas and Vaiśyas will deviate from their prescribed duties and perform the work of other varṇas. This deviation is presented as a symptom and cause of weakening human capacities and the unraveling of righteous order.