Shloka 47

Adhyaya 40: Kali-yuga Lakshana, Yuga-sandhyamsha, and the Re-emergence of Dharma

Devanagari script

त्रेतायां वार्षिको धर्मो द्वापरे मासिकः स्मृतः यथाक्लेशं चरन्प्राज्ञस् तदह्ना प्राप्नुते कलौ

Transliteration

tretāyāṃ vārṣiko dharmo dvāpare māsikaḥ smṛtaḥ yathākleśaṃ caranprājñas tadahnā prāpnute kalau

Translation

在特雷塔时代（Tretā-yuga），修持正法须经一年之行持方得其果；在二相时代（Dvāpara-yuga），则忆为一月而成。然于迦梨时代，智者随其能力而修——不勉强、不劳苦——便能于一日之内得同等之果。故对仍被系缚的个我之魂（paśu），作为主宰的帕提——湿婆——即使在力衰与帕沙（pāśa）增重之中，也令趋向解脱的功德变得可及。

Word by Word

• त्रेतायाम्: in the Tretā-yuga

• वार्षिकः: lasting a year/annual

• धर्मः: dharma, righteous observance

• द्वापरे: in the Dvāpara-yuga

• मासिकः: lasting a month/monthly

• स्मृतः: is remembered/declared

• यथा-क्लेशम्: according to (one’s) hardship/without excessive strain

• चरन्: practicing, performing

• प्राज्ञः: the wise person

• तत्: that (same)

• अह्ना: in a day

• प्राप्नुते: attains, obtains

• कलौ: in the Kali-yuga

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It teaches that in Kali-yuga even short, capacity-based Shiva-sadhana—such as Linga-puja done without strain—can yield the same merit that required far longer observances in earlier yugas.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva is implied as Pati, the compassionate Lord who adjusts the efficacy of practice across yugas so the bound soul (pashu) can still progress toward freedom despite stronger bonds (pasha) in Kali.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The emphasis is on sustainable, non-torturous discipline—regular Shiva-oriented dharma (puja, japa, vrata) performed yathākleśam, aligning with Pashupata temperance and steady practice rather than extreme austerity.