FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.18.45

तदार्यधर्म: प्रविलीयते नृणां वर्णाश्रमाचारयुतस्त्रयीमय: । ततोऽर्थकामाभिनिवेशितात्मनां शुनां कपीनामिव वर्णसङ्कर: ॥ ४५ ॥
tadārya-dharmaḥ pravilīyate nṛṇāṁ
[tadaarya-dharmah pravileeyate nrinaam]
varṇāśramācāra-yutas trayīmayaḥ
[varnaashramaachaara-yutas trayeemayah]
tato ’rtha-kāmābhiniveśitātmanāṁ
[tato ’rtha-kaamaabhiniveshitaatmanaam]
śunāṁ kapīnām iva varṇa-saṅkaraḥ
[shunaam kapeenaam iva varna-sankarah]
tadā — at that time ārya — progressive civilization dharmaḥ — engagement pravilīyate — is systematically vanquished nṛṇām — of humankind varṇa — caste āśrama — orders of society ācāra-yutaḥ — composed in a good manner trayī-mayaḥ — in terms of the Vedic injunction tataḥ — thereafter artha — economic development kāma-abhiniveśita — fully absorbed in sense gratification ātmanām — of men śunām — like dogs kapīnām — like monkeys iva — thus varṇa-saṅkaraḥ — unwanted population.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tadārya-dharmaḥ pravilīyate nṛṇāṁ
tadā
at that time
ārya
progressive civilization
dharmaḥ
engagement
pravilīyate
is systematically vanquished
nṛṇām
of humankind
varṇāśramācāra-yutas trayīmayaḥ
varṇa
caste
āśrama
orders of society
ācāra-yutaḥ
composed in a good manner
trayī-mayaḥ
in terms of the Vedic injunction
tato ’rtha-kāmābhiniveśitātmanāṁ
tataḥ
thereafter
śunāṁ kapīnām iva varṇa-saṅkaraḥ
artha
economic development
kāma-abhiniveśita
fully absorbed in sense gratification
ātmanām
of men
śunām
like dogs
kapīnām
like monkeys
iva
thus
varṇa-saṅkaraḥ
unwanted population.
At that time the people in general will fall systematically from the path of a progressive civilization in respect to the qualitative engagements of the castes and the orders of society and the Vedic injunctions. Thus they will be more attracted to economic development for sense gratification, and as a result there will be an unwanted population on the level of dogs and monkeys.

It is foretold herein that in the absence of a monarchical regime, the general mass of people will be an unwanted population like dogs and monkeys. As the monkeys are too sexually inclined and dogs are shameless in sexual intercourse, the general mass of population born of illegitimate connection will systematically go astray from the Vedic way of good manners and qualitative engagements in the castes and orders of life.

The Vedic way of life is the progressive march of the civilization of the Āryans. The Āryans are progressive in Vedic civilization. The Vedic civilization’s destination is to go back to Godhead, back home, where there is no birth, no death, no old age and no disease. The Vedas direct everyone not to remain in the darkness of the material world but to go towards the light of the spiritual kingdom far beyond the material sky. The qualitative caste system and the orders of life are scientifically planned by the Lord and His representatives, the great ṛṣis. The perfect way of life gives all sorts of instruction in things both material and spiritual. The Vedic way of life does not allow any man to be like the monkeys and dogs. A degraded civilization of sense gratification and economic development is the by-product of a godless or kingless government of the people, by the people, and for the people. The people should not, therefore, begrudge the poor administrations they themselves elect.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Proper conduct of men, prescribed through actions of varṇa and āśrama which are described in the Vedas will be destroyed. Mixed castes will arise for the dogs and monkeys absorbed in money and women.
Commentary

Āryadharmaḥ means proper conduct.

People will fall from the path of progressive civilization in respect to varṇa, āśrama, and Vedic injunctions. They will be more attracted to false economic development and politics. Diagnosis of decline is accurate.
Reflection Questions
  • Where in my own life am I drifting toward 'false economic development' over progressive civilization?
  • What correction is in my power?
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 18