Shloka 18

Devanagari script

परित्यक्ष्यन्ति भर्तारं वित्तहीनं तथा स्त्रियः भर्ता भविष्यति कलौ वित्तवान् एव योषिताम्

Transliteration

parityakṣyanti bhartāraṃ vittahīnaṃ tathā striyaḥ bhartā bhaviṣyati kalau vittavān eva yoṣitām

Translation

在迦梨时代，妇女也会离弃无财的丈夫；那时妇女所谓的“丈夫”，确实只会是富有之人。

Word by Word

• परित्यक्ष्यन्ति: will abandon/leave
• परित्यक्ष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-tyaj (धातु √त्यज्)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचनम् (plural)

• भर्तारम्: husband
• भर्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (singular)

• वित्तहीनम्: devoid of wealth
• वित्तहीनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vitta (प्रातिपदिक) + hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (singular); विशेषणम् (adjective) भर्तारम् प्रति

• तथा: thus/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम्/समुच्चयार्थे (adverb/connector: 'thus/also')

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम् (plural)

• भर्ता: husband (as)
• भर्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (singular)

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु √भू)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple future), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (singular)

• कलौ: in Kali (age)
• कलौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम् (singular)

• वित्तवान्: wealthy
• वित्तवान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vitta (प्रातिपदिक) + -vant (तद्धित प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (singular); विशेषणम् (adjective) भर्ता प्रति

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारणार्थक-निपातः (particle of emphasis/only)

• योषिताम्: of women
• योषिताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), बहुवचनम् (plural)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Lakṣaṇas (symptoms) of Kali-yuga moral and social decline

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In Kali-yuga, relationships become governed by wealth rather than dharma, eroding fidelity and right conduct.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Measure commitments by dharma and character rather than financial advantage; cultivate contentment and integrity in household life.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is sustained by devotion to the Lord as inner ruler, not by external wealth; worldly ties should be subordinated to service of Bhagavān.

Characters & Entities

• Women (striyaḥ)
• Husband (bhartā)

FAQs

What is the significance of wealth in this Kali-yuga verse of the Vishnu Purana?

It portrays Kali-yuga as an age where material wealth replaces dharma and virtue as the basis of social bonds and authority.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Kali-yuga through social relationships?

He uses everyday institutions—like marriage and protection—to show a reversal of values, where fidelity and duty weaken and self-interest dominates.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this Kali-yuga context?

By mapping the collapse of dharma in Kali-yuga, the text implicitly points to Vishnu as the sustaining Supreme Reality who restores order across yuga cycles.