Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 4

Kali-yuga’s Degradation, the Advent of Kalki, and the Reset of the Yuga Cycle

Devanagari script

लिङ्गमेवाश्रमख्यातावन्योन्यापत्तिकारणम् । अवृत्त्या न्यायदौर्बल्यं पाण्डित्ये चापलं वच: ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

liṅgam evāśrama-khyātāv anyonyāpatti-kāraṇam avṛttyā nyāya-daurbalyaṁ pāṇḍitye cāpalaṁ vacaḥ

Translation

人的灵修地位将仅凭外在标志来判定，并据此从一个修行阶位转到另一个。若不能谋得体面生计，品行便遭质疑；而善于玩弄辞藻者将被视为学者。

Synonyms

• लिङ्गम्: external mark (dress/sign)
• लिङ्गम्: Visheshya-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; predicate term

• एव: alone/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• आश्रमख्यातौ: in the reputation/status of an āśrama
• आश्रमख्यातौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + ख्याति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘ख्याति of āśrama’

• अन्योन्यापत्तिकारणम्: cause of mutual downfall/quarrel
• अन्योन्यापत्तिकारणम्: Visheshya-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आपत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘cause of mutual conflict/ruin’

• अवृत्त्या: by lack of livelihood/means
• अवृत्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; instrumental (means/cause)

• न्यायदौर्बल्यम्: weakening of justice
• न्यायदौर्बल्यम्: Visheshya-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्याय (प्रातिपदिक) + दौर्बल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘weakness of justice’

• पाण्डित्ये: in scholarship
• पाण्डित्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative (‘in scholarship’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपलम्: fickle/unsteady
• अपलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; adjective qualifying वचः

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Visheshya-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; predicate term

Purport

The previous verse stated that in the Age of Kali the priestly class will be recognized by external symbols alone, and this verse extends the same principle to the other orders of society, namely the political or military class, the business or productive class, and finally the laborer or artisan class.

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about external religious symbols in Kali Yuga?

This verse says that in Kali-yuga people will judge spiritual status mainly by external marks (liṅga) rather than genuine character and conduct.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe these Kali Yuga symptoms to King Parīkṣit?

He was answering Parīkṣit’s inquiries about the future age, warning how dharma declines so the king (and listeners) can seek shelter in genuine devotion and truth.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Evaluate spirituality by integrity, steadiness, and service—not by labels—and be careful of fickle speech, compromised livelihood, and weakened justice in personal and social choices.