Chapter 2
अध्यायः 2
Amsha VI — Pralaya (Dissolution), Chapter 2
Shlokas (40)
+ Add ShlokaRedeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 1
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.1
व्यासश चाह महाबुद्धिर यद अत्रैव हि वस्तुनि तच छ्रूयतां महाभाग गदतो मम तत्त्वतः ।।
vyāsaś cāha mahābuddhir yad atraiva hi vastuni tac chrūyatāṃ mahābhāga gadato mama tattvataḥ ||
Vyasa, the great sage, speaks of the truth that is present here; listen, O fortunate one, to my essence.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 2
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.2
कस्मिन काले ऽल्पको धर्मो ददाति सुमहत फलम मुनीनाम अप्य अभूद वादः कैश चासौ क्रियते सुखम ।।
kasmin kāle 'lpako dharmo dadāti sumahat phalam munīnām apy abhūd vādaḥ kaiś cāsau kriyate sukham ||
At what time does a little righteousness yield great results? Even among the sages, there was a discussion about how this is done happily.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 3
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.3
संदेहनिर्णयार्थाय वेदव्यासं महामुनिम ययुस ते संशयं प्रष्टुं मैत्रेय मुनिपुंगवाः ।।
saṃdehanirṇayārthāya vedavyāsaṃ mahāmunim yayus te saṃśayaṃ praṣṭuṃ maitreya munipuṃgavāḥ ||
To resolve doubts, the great sage Vedavyasa was approached by the foremost sage Maitreya, who wished to ask him about their uncertainties.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 4
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.4
ददृशुस ते मुनिं तत्र जाह्नवीसलिले द्विज वेदव्यासं महाभागम अर्धस्नातं सुतं मम ।।
dadṛśus te muniṃ tatra jāhnavīsalile dvija vedavyāsaṃ mahābhāgam ardhasnātaṃ sutaṃ mama ||
There, you saw the sage in the waters of the Ganges, the great sage Vedavyasa, half-immersed, my son.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 5
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.5
स्नानावसानं ते तस्य प्रतीक्षन्तो महर्षयः तस्थुस तटे महानद्यास तरुषण्डम उपाश्रिताः ।।
snānāvasānaṃ te tasya pratīkṣanto maharṣayaḥ tasthus taṭe mahānadyās taruṣaṇḍam upāśritāḥ ||
The great sages awaited the conclusion of his bath, standing on the bank of the great river, sheltered by trees.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 6
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.6
मग्नो ऽथ जाह्नवीतोयाद उत्थायाह सुतो मम व्यासः साधुः कलिः साधुर इत्य एवं शृण्वतां वचः तेषां मुनीनां भूयश च ममज्ज स नदीजले ।।
magno 'tha jāhnavītoyād utthāyāha suto mama vyāsaḥ sādhuḥ kaliḥ sādhur ity evaṃ śṛṇvatāṃ vacaḥ teṣāṃ munīnāṃ bhūyaś ca mamajja sa nadījale ||
Then, having emerged from the waters of the Ganges, my son spoke: 'Vyasa is a saint, Kali is a saint,' thus they heard his words, and the river engulfed them again.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 7
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.7
उत्थाय साधु साध्व इति शूद्र धन्यो ऽसि चाब्रवीत ।।
utthāya sādhu sādhv iti śūdra dhanyo 'si cābravīt ||
Rising up, he said, 'O virtuous one, O noble one, you are indeed blessed, O Shudra.'
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 8
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.8
निमग्नश च समुत्थाय पुनः प्राह महामुनिः योषितः साधु धन्यास तास ताभ्यो धन्यतरो ऽस्ति कः ।।
nimagnaś ca samutthāya punaḥ prāha mahāmuniḥ yoṣitaḥ sādhu dhanyās tās tābhyo dhanyataro 'sti kaḥ ||
Having risen from the depths, the great sage spoke again, 'Among the virtuous women, who is more blessed than those?'
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 9
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.9
ततः स्नात्वा यथान्यायम आचान्तं तं कृतक्रियम उपतस्थुर महाभागा मुनयस ते सुतं मम ।।
tataḥ snātvā yathānyāyam ācāntaṃ taṃ kṛtakriyam upatasthur mahābhāgā munayas te sutaṃ mama ||
Then, having bathed according to the rules, they approached that accomplished one, the great sages, my son.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 10
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.10
कृतसंवन्दनांश चाह कृतासनपरिग्रहान किमर्थम आगता यूयम इति सत्यवतीसुतः ।।
kṛtasaṃvandanāṃś cāha kṛtāsanaparigrahān kimartham āgatā yūyam iti satyavatīsutaḥ ||
The son of Satyavati asked, 'Why have you come here, having performed the necessary greetings and taken your seats?'
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 11
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.11
तम ऊचुः संशयं प्रष्टुं भवन्तं वयम आगताः अलं तेनास्तु तावन नः कथ्यताम अपरं त्वया ।।
tam ūcuḥ saṃśayaṃ praṣṭuṃ bhavantaṃ vayam āgatāḥ alaṃ tenāstu tāvan naḥ kathyatām aparaṃ tvayā ||
They said to him, 'We have come to ask you about a doubt; please tell us something further.'
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 12
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.12
कलिः साध्व इति यत प्रोक्तं शूद्रः साध्व इति योषितः यच चाह भगवान साधु धन्याश चेति पुनः पुनः ।।
kaliḥ sādhv iti yat proktaṃ śūdraḥ sādhv iti yoṣitaḥ yac cāha bhagavān sādhu dhanyāś ceti punaḥ punaḥ ||
In Kali Yuga, it is said that a Shudra is virtuous, and a woman is virtuous. The Lord repeatedly declares them to be blessed.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 13
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.13
तत सर्वं श्रोतुम इच्छामो न चेद गुह्यं महामुने तत कथ्यतां ततो हृत्स्थं पृच्छामस त्वां प्रयोजनम ।।
tat sarvaṃ śrotum icchāmo na ced guhyaṃ mahāmune tat kathyatāṃ tato hṛtsthaṃ pṛcchāmas tvāṃ prayojanam ||
We wish to hear all of this, O great sage. If it is not secret, please narrate it. We ask you about the purpose of this.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 14
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.14
इत्य उक्तो मुनिभिर व्यासः प्रहस्येदम अथाब्रवीत श्रूयतां भो मुनिश्रेष्ठा यद उक्तं साधु साध्व इति ।।
ity ukto munibhir vyāsaḥ prahasyedam athābravīt śrūyatāṃ bho muniśreṣṭhā yad uktaṃ sādhu sādhv iti ||
Thus addressed by the sages, Vyasa smiled and then spoke: 'Listen, O best of sages, to what has been said: 'Virtuous, virtuous.'
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 15
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.15
यत कृते दशभिर वर्षैस त्रेतायां हायनेन तत द्वापरे तच च मासेन अहोरात्रेण तत कलौ ।।
yat kṛte daśabhir varṣais tretāyāṃ hāyanena tat dvāpare tac ca māsena ahorātreṇa tat kalau ||
For what was done in the Treta Yuga with ten years, in Dvapara it is done in a month, and in Kali Yuga, it is done in a day and night.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 16
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.16
तपसो ब्रह्मचर्यस्य जपादेश च फलं द्विजाः प्राप्नोति पुरुषस तेन कलिः साध्व इति भाषितम ।।
tapaso brahmacaryasya japādeś ca phalaṃ dvijāḥ prāpnoti puruṣas tena kaliḥ sādhv iti bhāṣitam ||
The fruits of penance, celibacy, and chanting are attained by the twice-born. Hence, it is said that Kali is virtuous.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 17
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.17
ध्यायन कृते यजन यज्ञैस त्रेतायां द्वापरे ऽर्चयन यद आप्नोति तद आप्नोति कलौ संकीर्त्य केशवम ।।
dhyāyan kṛte yajan yajñais tretāyāṃ dvāpare 'rcayan yad āpnoti tad āpnoti kalau saṃkīrtya keśavam ||
By meditating, performing sacrifices in Treta, and worshiping in Dvapara, one attains what one seeks by glorifying Keshava in Kali.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 18
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.18
धर्मोत्कर्षम अतीवात्र प्राप्नोति पुरुषः कलौ स्वल्पायासेन धर्मज्ञास तेन तुष्टो ऽस्म्य अहं कलेः ।।
dharmotkarṣam atīvātra prāpnoti puruṣaḥ kalau svalpāyāsena dharmajñās tena tuṣṭo 'smy ahaṃ kaleḥ ||
In Kali Yuga, a person attains great righteousness with little effort, and those who know Dharma are satisfied with this.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 19
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.19
व्रतचर्योपहारैश च ग्राह्यो वेदो द्विजातिभिः ततः स्वधर्मसंप्राप्तैर यष्टव्यं विधिवद धनैः ।।
vratacaryopahāraiś ca grāhyo vedo dvijātibhiḥ tataḥ svadharmasaṃprāptair yaṣṭavyaṃ vidhivad dhanaiḥ ||
The Vedas are to be understood through the observance of vows and offerings by the twice-born, and should be performed with wealth according to one's own duty.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 20
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.20
वृथा कथा वृथा भोज्यं वृथेज्या च द्विजन्मनाम पतनाय तथा भाव्यं तैस तु संयमिभिः सदा ।।
vṛthā kathā vṛthā bhojyaṃ vṛthejyā ca dvijanmanām patanāya tathā bhāvyaṃ tais tu saṃyamibhiḥ sadā ||
A futile story, a worthless meal, and a fruitless vow lead to downfall for those born as twice-born; thus, they should always practice restraint.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 21
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.21
असम्यक्करणे दोषस तेषां सर्वेषु वस्तुषु भोज्यपेयादिकं चैषां नेच्छाप्राप्तिकरं द्विजाः ।।
asamyakkaraṇe doṣas teṣāṃ sarveṣu vastuṣu bhojyapeyādikaṃ caiṣāṃ necchāprāptikaraṃ dvijāḥ ||
In all matters, there is a fault in improper actions; the twice-born do not desire that which leads to the attainment of food and drink.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 22
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.22
पारतन्त्र्यं समस्तेषु तेषां कार्येषु वै ततः जयन्ति ते निजांल लोकान क्लेशेन महता द्विजाः ।।
pāratantryaṃ samasteṣu teṣāṃ kāryeṣu vai tataḥ jayanti te nijāṃl lokān kleśena mahatā dvijāḥ ||
Those who are dependent on others, in all their endeavors, suffer greatly and are defeated in their own realms.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 23
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.23
द्विजशुश्रूषयैवैष पाकयज्ञाधिकारवान निजाञ जयति वै लोकाञ शूद्रो धन्यतरस ततः ।।
dvijaśuśrūṣayaivaiṣa pākayajñādhikāravān nijāñ jayati vai lokāñ śūdro dhanyataras tataḥ ||
The twice-born, who are engaged in serving others, attain greater success than the Shudras in their respective realms.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 24
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.24
भक्ष्याभक्ष्येषु नास्यास्ति पेयापेयेषु वै यतः नियमो मुनिशार्दूलास तेनासौ साध्व इतीरितम ।।
bhakṣyābhakṣyeṣu nāsyāsti peyāpeyeṣu vai yataḥ niyamo muniśārdūlās tenāsau sādhv itīritam ||
There are no restrictions on what can be eaten or drunk, as stated by the wise sages; thus, this is rightly declared.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 25
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.25
स्वधर्मस्याविरोधेन नरैर लब्धं धनं सदा प्रतिपाद्यं च पात्रेषु यष्टव्यं च यथाविधि ।।
svadharmasyāvirodhena narair labdhaṃ dhanaṃ sadā pratipādyaṃ ca pātreṣu yaṣṭavyaṃ ca yathāvidhi ||
Wealth obtained by men should always be in accordance with their own dharma, and it should be properly distributed among the deserving.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 26
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.26
तस्यार्जने महान क्लेशः पालने च द्विजोत्तमाः तथासद्विनियोगाय विज्ञेयं गहनं नृणाम ।।
tasyārjane mahān kleśaḥ pālane ca dvijottamāḥ tathāsadviniyogāya vijñeyaṃ gahanaṃ nṛṇām ||
The acquisition of wealth brings great difficulties, and the maintenance of it is also challenging; thus, it is to be understood as complex for humans.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 27
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.27
एभिर अन्यैस तथा क्लेशैः पुरुषो द्विजसत्तमाः निजाञ जयति वै लोकान प्राजापत्यादिकान क्रमात ।।
ebhir anyais tathā kleśaiḥ puruṣo dvijasattamāḥ nijāñ jayati vai lokān prājāpatyādikān kramāt ||
By these other sufferings, the best of the twice-born, the person, conquers his own worlds, beginning with the Prajapati, in order.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 28
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.28
योषिच छुश्रूषणं भर्तुः कर्मणा मनसा गिरा कुर्वती समवाप्नोति तत्सालोक्यं यतो द्विजाः ।।
yoṣic chuśrūṣaṇaṃ bhartuḥ karmaṇā manasā girā kurvatī samavāpnoti tatsālokyaṃ yato dvijāḥ ||
The woman who serves her husband with her actions, mind, and speech, attains that same world from which the twice-born come.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 29
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.29
नातिक्लेशेन महता तान एव पुरुषो यथा तृतीयं व्याहृतं तेन मया साध्व इति योषिताम ।।
nātikleśena mahatā tān eva puruṣo yathā tṛtīyaṃ vyāhṛtaṃ tena mayā sādhv iti yoṣitām ||
Not by great suffering does that person, as it were, attain the third utterance, which I have rightly spoken of concerning women.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 30
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.30
एतद वः कथितं विप्रा यन्निमित्तम इहागताः तत पृच्छत यथाकामं अहं वक्ष्यामि वः स्फुटम ।।
etad vaḥ kathitaṃ viprā yannimittam ihāgatāḥ tat pṛcchata yathākāmaṃ ahaṃ vakṣyāmi vaḥ sphuṭam ||
This has been told to you, O wise ones, for what reason you have come here; ask that as you wish, I shall speak to you clearly.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 31
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.31
ततस ते मुनयः प्रोचुर यत प्रष्टव्यं महामुने अन्यस्मिन्न एव तत प्रश्ने यथावत कथितं त्वया ।।
tatas te munayaḥ procur yat praṣṭavyaṃ mahāmune anyasminn eva tat praśne yathāvat kathitaṃ tvayā ||
Then the sages said, 'What should be asked, O great sage? In another question, as it has been told by you, we wish to know.'
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 32
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.32
ततः प्रहस्य तान प्राह कृष्णद्वैपायनो मुनिः विस्मयोत्फुल्लनयनांस तापसांस तान उपागतान ।।
tataḥ prahasya tān prāha kṛṣṇadvaipāyano muniḥ vismayotphullanayanāṃs tāpasāṃs tān upāgatān ||
Then, smiling, the sage Krishna Dvaipayana spoke to them, who were astonished with eyes wide open, those ascetics who had come.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 33
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.33
मयैष भवतां प्रश्नो ज्ञातो दिव्येन चक्षुषा ततो हि वः प्रसङ्गेन साधु साध्व इति भाषितम ।।
mayaiṣa bhavatāṃ praśno jñāto divyena cakṣuṣā tato hi vaḥ prasaṅgena sādhu sādhv iti bhāṣitam ||
This question of yours has been understood by me through divine vision; thus, it has been said by you in the context of the discussion.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 34
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.34
स्वल्पेन हि प्रयत्नेन धर्मः सिध्यति वै कलौ नरैर आत्मगुणाम्भोभिः क्षालिताखिलकिल्बिषैः ।।
svalpena hi prayatnena dharmaḥ sidhyati vai kalau narair ātmaguṇāmbhobhiḥ kṣālitākhilakilbiṣaiḥ ||
Indeed, in the Kali Yuga, righteousness is achieved with little effort by men, through the waters of their own virtues, purifying all sins.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 35
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.35
शूद्रैश च द्विजशुश्रूषातत्परैर मुनिसत्तमाः तथा स्त्रीभिर अनायासात पतिशुश्रूषयैव हि ।।
śūdraiś ca dvijaśuśrūṣātatparair munisattamāḥ tathā strībhir anāyāsāt patiśuśrūṣayaiva hi ||
The best of sages serve the twice-born with the help of the Shudras and those devoted to them, and also easily serve their husbands with women.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 36
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.36
ततस त्रितयम अप्य एतन मम धन्यतमं मतम धर्मसंसाधने क्लेशो द्विजातीनां कृतादिषु ।।
tatas tritayam apy etan mama dhanyatamaṃ matam dharmasaṃsādhane kleśo dvijātīnāṃ kṛtādiṣu ||
Thus, this triad is my most fortunate opinion; in the pursuit of righteousness, there is hardship for the twice-born in their actions.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 37
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.37
भवद्भिर यद अभिप्रेतं तद एतत कथितं मया अपृष्टेनापि धर्मज्ञाः किम अन्यत क्रियतां द्विजाः ।।
bhavadbhir yad abhipretaṃ tad etat kathitaṃ mayā apṛṣṭenāpi dharmajñāḥ kim anyat kriyatāṃ dvijāḥ ||
What you desire has been told by me; even without being asked, the knowledgeable in dharma, O twice-born, what else should be done?
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 38
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.38
ततः संपूज्य ते व्यासं प्रशशंसुः पुनः पुनः यथागतं द्विजा जग्मुर व्यासोक्तिक्षतसंशयाः ।।
tataḥ saṃpūjya te vyāsaṃ praśaśaṃsuḥ punaḥ punaḥ yathāgataṃ dvijā jagmur vyāsoktikṣatasaṃśayāḥ ||
Then, having worshipped Vyasa, they praised him repeatedly; thus, the twice-born went, free from doubt about Vyasa's words.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 39
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.39
भवतो ऽपि महाभाग रहस्यं कथितं मया अत्यन्तदुष्टस्य कलेर अयम एको महान गुणः ।।
bhavato 'pi mahābhāga rahasyaṃ kathitaṃ mayā atyantaduṣṭasya kaler ayam eko mahān guṇaḥ ||
O great being, I have revealed a secret to you; this is indeed a great quality of the extremely wicked Kali.
Redeeming properties of the Kali age - Verse 40
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 6 · Verse 2.40
यच चाहं भवता पृष्टो जगताम उपसंहृतिम प्राकृताम अन्तरालां च ताम अप्य एष वदामि ते ।।
yac cāhaṃ bhavatā pṛṣṭo jagatām upasaṃhṛtim prākṛtām antarālāṃ ca tām apy eṣa vadāmi te ||
What I say, when you ask about the world's dissolution and the interval of nature, I will tell you that as well.