Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 17
Adhyātma-krama: Indriya–Manas–Buddhi–Ātman Hierarchy and Citta-Prasāda (आध्यात्मक्रमः)
अधर्मान्त्हिता वेदा वेदधर्मास्तथा55 श्रमा: । विक्रियन्ते स्वधर्मस्था: स्थावराणि चराणि च
adharmāntarhitā vedā vedadharmās tathāśramāḥ | vikriyante svadharmasthāḥ sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca ||
毗耶娑说道：“当不法（adharma）盛行时，吠陀仿佛被遮蔽；吠陀所立之行持与诸住期（āśrama，人生阶段之法）亦皆晦暗不彰。于是，凡本应安住于自身本性与本分之法者，无论静止之物或行走之类，皆偏离其法而变形；道德与自然的紊乱遂遍起于一切。”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
When adharma dominates, not only human ethics but even the foundations of sacred authority (the Vedas), Vedic duties, and the āśrama-based social-spiritual order become obscured; as a result, beings deviate from their svadharma and widespread distortion arises.
Vyāsa is describing the symptoms of an age or condition of moral collapse: dharma-based institutions and teachings lose visibility and force, and the resulting confusion affects all living beings—immobile and mobile—who no longer remain steady in their proper nature and conduct.