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Canto 12 · The Age of Deterioration · 13 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
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Canto 12 · Chapter 3: The Bhūmi-gītā
12.3.2312.3.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.3.24

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 12.3.18inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

कलौ तु धर्मपादानां तुर्यांशोऽधर्महेतुभि: ।

एधमानै: क्षीयमाणो ह्यन्ते सोऽपि विनङ्‌क्ष्यति ॥ २४ ॥

kalau tu dharma-pādānāṁ

turyāṁśo ’dharma-hetubhiḥ

edhamānaiḥ kṣīyamāṇo

hy ante so ’pi vinaṅkṣyati

Translation

In the Age of Kali only one fourth of the religious principles remains. That last remnant will continuously be decreased by the ever-increasing principles of irreligion and will finally be destroyed.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Religion’s Remaining Quarter Declines in Kali

  1. 1

    In the Age of Kali, only one fourth of the religious principles remains.

  2. 2

    As irreligious principles increase, this remaining portion continuously decreases.

  3. 3

    The verse describes a decline that ends with the destruction of even that last remnant.

How it feels

Civilizational dread → Dispassion. Social and cosmic impermanence expose the limits of worldly plans.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 12: The deterioration of Kali and universal dissolution. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 3: The Bhūmi-gītā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

With the coming of each succeeding age, starting with Tretā, these religious qualities each diminish by one quarter. In Kali-yuga the legs of religion retain only one fourth of their power, and even that will be lost with the progress of the age.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kalauin the Age of Kali
  2. tuand
  3. dharma-pādānāmof the legs of religion
  4. turya-aṁśaḥone fourth
  5. adharmaof irreligion
  6. hetubhiḥby the principles
  7. edhamānaiḥwhich are increasing
  8. kṣīyamāṇaḥdecreasing
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 12.3

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does this warning encourage me to take religious principles more seriously now?

Practice

Identify one religious principle you tend to neglect and make one deliberate effort to follow it today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReligion’s Remaining Quarter Declines in KaliThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 12.3.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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