Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

Yuga-Dharma Framework, Kali-Yuga Diagnosis, and the Hari-Nāma Remedy

Transition to Vedānta Inquiry

Devanagari script

सर्वे धर्मा विनश्यंति कृष्णे कृष्णत्वमागते । तस्मात्कलिर्महाघोरः सर्वपातकसंकरः ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

sarve dharmā vinaśyaṃti kṛṣṇe kṛṣṇatvamāgate | tasmātkalirmahāghoraḥ sarvapātakasaṃkaraḥ || 29 ||

Translation

Khi Kṛṣṇa trở về bản thể thần linh của Ngài (rời khỏi thế gian), mọi hình thái dharma đều suy tàn. Vì thế Kali trở nên vô cùng ghê rợn, là sự pha tạp gây sinh mọi thứ tội lỗi.

Word by Word

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• धर्माः: dharmas/righteous duties
• धर्माः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विनश्यन्ति: perish
• विनश्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• कृष्णे: when (it is) Krishna/dark (time)
• कृष्णे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण (time/condition)

• कृष्णत्वम्: darkness/‘Krishna-ness’
• कृष्णत्वम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; part of locative absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्णत्व (प्रातिपदिक; -त्व abstract)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (context: with आगते, locative absolute construction)

• आगते: having come/when arrived
• आगते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; locative absolute predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP) used in सप्तमी (locative) singular; नपुंसक/पुं—सप्तमी एकवचन (agreement with implied ‘काले’/with कृष्णत्वम् as condition)

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

• कलिः: Kali
• कलिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महाघोरः: very terrible
• महाघोरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् घोरः)

• सर्वपातकसंकरः: a mixture/confusion of all sins
• सर्वपातकसंकरः: Pradhana-predicative (विशेष्य/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + पातक + संकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्वपातकानां संकरः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Kali

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It links the departure of Śrī Kṛṣṇa with the weakening of dharma in the world, explaining why Kali-yuga is marked by moral confusion and the rapid spread of sin.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By portraying Kali as a time when ordinary dharmas collapse, it implicitly elevates steadfast devotion to Kṛṣṇa/Vishnu as the most reliable refuge when social and ritual order becomes unstable.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly conveys yuga-doctrine (time-based dharma) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it supports dharma-śāstra discernment—adapting conduct to Kali-yuga conditions when norms become mixed and unclear.