← Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1962)

Chapter 17: Punishment and Reward of Kali

Verse 32 of 41
SB 1.17.32

tvāṁ vartamānaṁ nara-deva-deheṣv anupravṛtto 'yam adharma-pūgaḥ lobho 'nṛtaṁ cauryam anāryam aṁho jyeṣṭhā ca māyā kalahaś ca dambhaḥ

Synonyms

tvāmyou; vartamānamwhile present; nara-devaMangod or the King; deheṣuin the body; anupravṛttaḥall round beginning; ayamall these; adharmaprinciples of irreligiosites; pūgaḥin rank and file; lobhaḥgreed; anṛtamfalsty; cauryampilfery; anāryamincivility; aṁhaḥrenegation; jyeṣṭhāmisfortune; cacheating; māyāquarrel; kalahaḥvanity.

Translation

If the personality of Kali or irreligiosity is allowed to act as the mangod or executive head certainly the rank and file of irreligiosities like greed, falsehood, pilfery, incivility, renegation, misfortune, cheating, quarrel and vanity will follow all round.

Purport

The principles of religion namely austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfalness as we have already discussed, may be followed by the follower of any faith. There is no need of turning the coat of a Hindu to Mahamedan or that of Mahamedan to Christian or some other faith and thus become a renegade without following the principles of religion. The Bhagwatam religion means to follow the principles of religion. The principles of religion are not dogmas or regulative principles of a certain faith. Such regulative principles may be different in terms of the time place concerned. But one has to see whether the aims of religion have been achieved. Sticking to the dogmas and formulas without attainment of the real principles, is no good. A secular state may be inpartial to any particular type of faith but the state cannot be indifferen to the principles of religion as abovementioned. But in the age of Kali the executive heads of state will be indifferent to such religions principles and therefore under their patronage the opposite numbers of religious principles namely greed. falsehood, cheating, renegation, pilfery etc. will naturally follow and there is no meaning for a propaganda crying to stop corruption in the state.

Verse 32 of 41
Prabhupāda Says