rule



 

 

Canto 12

Pańca Tattva

 


Chapter 3: The Song of Mother Earth and the Remedy for Kali-yuga

(1) S'rī S'uka said: 'When the earth saw the kings busily engaged in conquering her, she laughed and said: 'Ah, just see how these kings, these playthings of death, wish to conquer me! (2) This lust of the rulers over man and even of the sages, is doomed to fail; those kings are putting their faith in a lump of matter that compares to a water bubble.' (3-4) 'Let us first conquer the sixfold [of the senses and the mind], then subdue the leading ministers and then the advisors. Next we subdue the citizens, the friends, the elephant keepers and the thorns [the thugs]. This way we will step by step conquer the earth and her girdle of seas', but thinking thus with their hearts caught in expectations, they do not realize the finality of their existence [compare B.G 16: 13-18]. (5) Having conquered the lands by the sea they, with all their might, next enter the seas. Of what use is such a victory over the self? Spiritual liberation is the fruit of conquering oneself!

(6) The Manus and their sons, oh best of the Kurus, all gave up [ruling over me] and left [for the forest] the way they came, but those lacking in intelligence try to conquer me through warfare. (7) Because of me among materialistic persons conflict arises between fathers and sons, and between brothers, for their hearts are ruled by possessing power. (8) Saying: 'This entire land is mine and not yours, you fool', the rulers quarrel, and for my sake kill each other and get killed [compare e.g. 2.5: 13, 2.7: 42, 4.29: 5, 5.5: 8, 6.16: 41, 7.8: 7-10, 9.4: 2-12]. (9-13) Prithu, Purūravā, Gādhi, Nahusha, Bharata, Kārtavīryārjuna, Māndhātā, Sagara, Rāma [*], Khathvānga, Dhundhuhā [or] Kuvalayās'va [9.6: 23-24], Raghu [9.10: 1], Trinabindu [9.2: 30], Yayāti, S'aryāti [9.3: 1], S'antanu [9.22: 12-13], Gaya [5.15: 6-13], Bhagīratha [9.9: 2-17], Kakutstha [9.6: 12], Naishadha [Nala, 9.9: 16-17, 9.23: 20-21, from the descendants of Nishadha, 9.12: 1], Nriga [Nābhāga, 10.64: 10], Hiranyakas'ipu, Vritra, Rāvana, who made the whole world lament, Namuci [8.11: 29-49], S'ambara [10.36: 36], Bhauma, Hiranyāksha and Tāraka [8.10: 19-24], as also many other demons and kings of great control over others, were all heroes who well informed were unconquerable and subdued everyone. Living for me, oh mighty one, they expressed great possessiveness but, by the force of Time being subjected to death, they failed to accomplish their goals, historical accounts is all that remained of them [see also B.G. 4: 7].

(14) [S'uka continued:] These narrations I related to you about great kings who spread their fame in all the worlds and then departed, do not express the highest purpose, oh mighty one. They are but a wealth of words [a backdrop] for dilating on renunciation and wisdom. (15) It is rather the repeated discussing and singing about the qualities of the Lord Praised in the Verses, what destroys everything inauspicious. He who desires Lord Krishna's pure devotional service should therefore do that regularly [seeking that association] and hear [about Him] time and again.'

(16) The honorable king [Parīkchit] said: 'By what means, my Lord, do the people living in Kali-yuga eradicate the faults accumulating because of that age? Please explain that to me. (17) How about the yugas, the duties prescribed for them, the time they last and when they end, as also the Time itself that represents the movement of the Controller, of Lord Vishnu the Supreme Soul [see also time quotes page].'

(18) S'rī S'uka said: 'The religion of the people in Satya-yuga, oh King, is by the people of the time maintained with all its four legs: the powerful legs of truth [satya], compassion [dayā], austerity [or penance, tapas] and charity [dāna, or also s'auca, purification [**], compare 1.17: 24, 3.11: 21 and see niyama]. (19) The [hamsa-]people [of that age] are content, merciful, friendly, peaceful, self-controlled, tolerant, satisfied within, equal-minded and mostly ascetic [see also 3.13: 35 and 11.17: 10]. (20) In Tretā-yuga one fourth of [the strength of each of] the legs of dharma is gradually lost because of the pillars of adharma or godlessness: untruth, violence, dissatisfaction and discord [compare 1.17: 25]. (21) During that age people are of devotion with rituals and austerities, without any excessive violence or wanton desires. Prospering in their respect for the three Vedas they follow the three paths [of regulating the religion, the economy and sense gratification], while the four classes are predominantly brahminically oriented, oh King. (22) The dharmic qualities of austerity, compassion, truth and charity are in Dvāpara-yuga reduced to one half [of their strength] because of the adharmic characteristics of violence, discontent, lies and hatred. (23) One is [in that age] of a high moral fiber, one loves glory and is absorbed in Vedic study. One is opulent with large families and joyful, while brahmins and nobles constitute the greatest number among the four classes. (24) Because of the constant increase of the motives of godlessness, in Kali-yuga the legs of religiousness further decrease to one fourth [of their strength, compare 1.17: 25], until they finally will be destroyed. (25) In that age the people will be greedy, ill-mannered, lacking in compassion, prone to useless quarrel, unfortunate and obsessed with material desires, while they will mainly consist of laborers and less civilized characters. (26) The qualities of goodness, passion and ignorance that thus [depending the age] are observed in a person, undergo - being impelled by [the operation of] Time - permutations within the mind [***]. (27) The time when the mind, the intelligence and the senses flourish in the mode of goodness, should be understood as Satya-yuga, the age of taking pleasure in knowledge and austerity. (28) Oh intelligent one, when the conditioned souls devoted to their duties are of ulterior motives and strive for honor, that predominance of passion must be considered the time of Tretā. (29) When greed and dissatisfaction, false pride, envy and hypocrisy are seen everywhere and actions are dominated by selfhood, one speaks of the time of Dvāpara, the age of passion in combination with ignorance.

(30) Kali-yuga is known as the age of ignorance, where there is deceit, false testimony, sloth and lethargy, violence, depression, lamentation, delusion, fear and poverty. (31) As a consequence the mortals will be shortsighted, unfortunate, eating too much, lusty and poverty-stricken while the women will act of their own accord and be unchaste. (32) In the populated areas uncivilized people will take high positions [and act like thieves], the Vedic scriptures will be slighted by false doctrines [heretics], the political leaders will devour the people and the twice-born souls will be dedicated to their bellies and genitals. (33) The youngsters [the students] will be averse to vows and impure in their engagements, the householders will be beggars [with what they claim], the withdrawn souls [the middle-aged, with no nature left to retreat into] will be city-dwellers and the renounced order will greedily endeavor for wealth [be engaged in 'reli-business']. (34) Smaller in size, voracious and having many children, [the women will have] lost their timidity and constantly speak harshly and with great audacity be as deceitful as thieves. (35) The merchants will indulge in cheating so that their business dealings will be wicked while the people unnecessarily will consider any contemptible occupation [in the sex industry or gambling business] a good job. (36) Servants will abandon a master who lost his wealth - even if he is the best one around, masters will abandon a handicapped servant - even when he belonged to the family for generations, and cows will be abandoned [and killed] as soon as they stopped giving milk. (37) Under the control of women, men in Kali-yuga will be wretched and forsake their fathers, brothers, friends and relatives, while regularly associating with their brothers and sisters-in-law in a conception of friendship based on sexual ties. (38) Laborers dressed up as mendicants of austerity, will accept religious charity to earn their living and mount a high seat to speak about religious matters without any knowledge of dharmic principles. (39-40) With their minds constantly full of stress, emaciated by famine and taxes in times of scarcity with droughts on the surface of the earth, oh King, the people of Kali-yuga will be troubled by countless worries and live in fear. Lacking in clothing, food, drink, rest, sexual love [vyavāya], bathing and personal ornaments they will appear like ghostly creatures. (41) In the age of Kali one will even over a single coin develop enmity [5.14 and 5.14: 26], reject friendly relations, kill oneself [be suicidal] and even kill one's relatives [domestic violence]. (42) Only interested in the petty service of the stomach and the genitals, one, even being born in a respectable family, will not protect the elderly parents, the wife and the children. (43) Oh King, with their minds diverted by atheism the mortals in Kali-yuga in general will not worship the Infallible One, the Personality of Godhead who is the Supreme Spiritual Master of the three worlds at whose feet the various masters bow down. (44) In Kali-yuga the people do not worship Him, even though He is the One by whom a person, who dying in distress collapsing with a faltering voice helplessly chants His name, is freed from the chains of karma and achieves the topmost destination [see also B.G. 8: 10 and 6.2]. (45) The objects [and food], places and the individual nature of man are as a result of Kali-yuga all polluted [diseased, full of faults], but when one installs Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality in one's heart, He takes all this contamination away.

(46) Of those human beings who but even heard, glorified, meditated, worshiped or venerated the Supreme Lord, the inauspiciousness is cleansed away that from a thousand births accumulated in their hearts. (47) Just as the discoloration one finds in gold because of other metals is removed by fire, the impurities of the mind of yoga practitioners are removed when Lord Vishnu has entered their heart. (48) Education, penance, breath control, friendship, bathing in holy waters, vows, charity and praying with prayer beads, do not realize as full the purification of the mind as the presence of Him, the Unlimited Personality of Godhead, in the heart. (49) Therefore oh King, do your utmost best to establish Lord Kes'ava in your heart; the moment you die [here after this week] you will, with your attention focussed on Him, attain the highest destination. (50) The Supreme Lord meditated upon by those who are dying is the Supreme Controller, the Soul and Shelter of All, who leads them to their true identity my dearest. (51) In the ocean of faults of Kali-yuga, oh King, there is luckily one great good quality: just by singing about [and meditating on] Krishna['s name, see bhajans] one can be liberated from material bondage and achieve beatitude [see also bhāgavata dharma and kīrtana]. (52) The same result one achieves in Satya-yuga by meditating on Vishnu, one in Tretā-yuga achieves by worshiping with sacrifices, one in Dvāpara-yuga achieves by serving the lotus feet [of Him in the form of a king], one in Kali-yuga achieves by singing about [and meditating on the names of] the Lord [see also 11.5: 38-40].'

  

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Third revised edition, loaded September 29, 2022.

 

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

S'rī S'uka said: 'When the earth saw the kings busily engaged in conquering her, she laughed and said: 'Ah, just see how these kings, these playthings of death, wish to conquer me!
S'rī S'uka said: 'When the earth saw the kings busily engaged in conquering her, she laughed and said: 'Ah, just see how these kings, these playthings of death, wish to conquer me! (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

This lust of the rulers over man and even of the sages, is doomed to fail; those kings are putting their faith in a lump of matter that compares to a water bubble.'

This lust of the rulers of man and even the wise is doomed to fail with those kings who put their faith in this lump [of earthly matter] that compares to bubbles [of foam on water]. (Vedabase)

  

Text 3-4

'Let us first conquer the sixfold [of the senses and the mind], then subdue the leading ministers and then the advisors. Next we subdue the citizens, the friends, the elephant keepers and the thorns [the thugs]. This way we will step by step conquer the earth and her girdle of seas', but thinking thus with their hearts caught in expectations, they do not realize the finality of their existence [compare B.G 16: 13-18].

They may think: 'First of all conquering the division of six [the senses and the mind], we will conquer the leading ministers, then the advisors and then rid ourselves of the thorns [or the thugs], the citizens, the friends and the elephant keepers. This way we will step by step conquer the earth and her girdle of seas', but thus being bound by the hopes in their heart, they do not see their own finality [compare B.G 16: 13-18].  (Vedabase)

  

 Text 5

Having conquered the lands by the sea they, with all their might, next enter the seas. Of what use is such a victory over the self? Spiritual liberation is the fruit of conquering oneself!

After having conquered the lands by the sea they with all their might enter the seas; what's the use of this kind of victory of self-control? Spiritual liberation is the [actual] fruit of self-control! (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

The Manus and their sons, oh best of the Kurus, all gave up [ruling over me] and left [for the forest] the way they came, but those lacking in intelligence try to conquer me through warfare.

Oh son of the Kurus[, she said:] 'Unintelligently they in that struggle try to conquer me [for the sake of eternal 'fame'] while the Manus and their sons, all had to give it up and had to leave [this world] the way they came [viz. helplessly]. (Vedabase)


Text 7

Because of me among materialistic persons conflict arises between fathers and sons, and between brothers, for their hearts are ruled by possessing power.

For my sake conflict thus arises among materialistic persons, a conflict wherein fathers fight with sons and sons with each other, because in their striving for power their hearts are bound to politics. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 8

Saying: 'This entire land is mine and not yours, you fool', the rulers quarrel, and for my sake kill each other and get killed [compare e.g. 2.5: 13, 2.7: 42, 4.29: 5, 5.5: 8, 6.16: 41, 7.8: 7-10, 9.4: 2-12].

Saying things like: 'This for sure is my land and not yours, you fool', the rulers of man thus quarreling kill each other and get killed for my sake [compare e.g. 2.5: 13, 2.7: 42, 4.29: 5, 5.5: 8, 6.16: 41; 7.8: 7-10; 9.4: 2-12]. (Vedabase)

  

 Text 9-13

Prithu, Purūravā, Gādhi, Nahusha, Bharata, Kārtavīryārjuna, Māndhātā, Sagara, Rāma [*], Khathvānga, Dhundhuhā [or] Kuvalayās'va [9.6: 23-24], Raghu [9.10: 1], Trinabindu [9.2: 30], Yayāti, S'aryāti [9.3: 1], S'antanu [9.22: 12-13], Gaya [5.15: 6-13], Bhagīratha [9.9: 2-17], Kakutstha [9.6: 12], Naishadha [Nala, 9.9: 16-17, 9.23: 20-21, from the descendants of Nishadha, 9.12: 1], Nriga [Nābhāga, 10.64: 10], Hiranyakas'ipu, Vritra, Rāvana, who made the whole world lament, Namuci [8.11: 29-49], S'ambara [10.36: 36], Bhauma, Hiranyāksha and Tāraka [8.10: 19-24], as also many other demons and kings of great control over others, were all heroes who well informed were unconquerable and subdued everyone. Living for me, oh mighty one, they expressed great possessiveness but, by the force of Time being subjected to death, they failed to accomplish their goals, historical accounts is all that remained of them [see also B.G. 4: 7].

Prithu, Purūravā, Gādhi, Nahusha, Bharata, Kārtavīryārjuna, Māndhātā, Sagara, Rāma [*], Khathvānga, Dhundhuhā [or] Kuvalayās'va [9.6: 23-24], Raghu [9.10: 1], Trinabindu [9.2: 30], Yayāti, S'aryāti [9.3: 1], S'antanu [9.22: 12-13], Gaya [5.15: 6-13], Bhagīratha [9.9: 2-17], Kakutstha [9.6: 12], Naishadha [Nala, 9.9: 16-17, 9.23: 20-21, from the descendants of Nishadha, 9.12: 1], Nriga [Nābhāga, 10.64: 10], Hiranyakas'ipu, Vritra, Rāvana, who made the whole world lament, Namuci [8.11: 29-49], S'ambara [10.36: 36], Bhauma, Hiranyāksha and Tāraka [8.10: 19-24], as well as many other demons and kings of great control over others, were each and everyone heroes who well informed were unconquerable and subdued everyone. Living for me, o mighty one, they expressed great possessiveness but, by the force of Time being subjected to death, they failed to accomplish their goals, all that remained of them are the historical accounts [see also B.G. 4: 7].' (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

[S'uka continued:] These narrations I related to you about great kings who spread their fame in all the worlds and then departed, do not express the highest purpose, oh mighty one. They are but a wealth of words [a backdrop] for dilating on renunciation and wisdom.

[S'uka continued:] These narrations that were related to you about great kings who spread their fame in all worlds and then departed, do not express the highest purpose; they, o mighty one, are but a wealth of words [a backdrop] for dilating on the renunciation and wisdom [of God]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 15

It is rather the repeated discussing and singing about the qualities of the Lord Praised in the Verses, what destroys everything inauspicious. He who desires Lord Krishna's pure devotional service should therefore do that regularly [seeking that association] and hear [about Him] time and again.'

 It is still the repeatedly discussing and singing about the qualities of the Lord who is Praised in the Verses which destroys everything inauspicious; he who desires Lord Krishna's untainted devotional service should therefore forthwith engage in regularly being of that listening.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 16

The honorable king [Parīkchit] said: 'By what means, my Lord, do the people living in Kali-yuga eradicate the faults accumulating because of that age? Please explain that to me.

The honorable king [Parīkchit] said: 'By what means, my Lord, do the people living in Kali-yuga eradicate the faults that accumulate because of that age, please explain that as-it-is to me. (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

How about the yugas, the duties prescribed for them, the time they last and when they end, as also the Time itself that represents the movement of the Controller, of Lord Vishnu the Supreme Soul [see also time quotes page].'

[Explain to me] the yugas, the duties prescribed for them, and the time they last and find their end, and the Time itself that constitutes the movement of the Controller, of Lord Vishnu the Supreme Soul [see also timequotes page]'. (Vedabase)

 

Text 18

Srī S'uka said: 'The religion of the people in Satya-yuga, oh King, is by the people of the time maintained with all its four legs: the powerful legs of truth [satya], compassion [dayā], austerity [or penance, tapas] and charity [dāna, or also s'auca, purification [**], compare 1.17: 24, 3.11: 21 and see niyama].

S'rī S'uka said: 'In Krita-yuga the people of the time maintain the religion with all its four legs of truth [satya], compassion [dayā], penance [tapas] and charity [dāna, or also s'auca, purification [**], compare 1.17: 24, 3.11: 21 and see niyama]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

The [hamsa-]people [of that age] are content, merciful, friendly, peaceful, self-controlled, tolerant, satisfied within, equal-minded and mostly ascetic [see also 3.13: 35 and 11.17: 10].

The [hamsa-]people [of that age] are content, merciful, friendly, peaceful, self-controlled, tolerant, satisfied within, equal-minded and mostly ascetic [see also 3.13: 35 and 11.17: 10]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

In Tretā-yuga one fourth of [the strength of each of] the legs of dharma is gradually lost because of the pillars of adharma or godlessness: untruth, violence, dissatisfaction and discord [compare 1.17: 25].

In Tretā-yuga is one fourth of [the strength of each of] the legs of dharma gradually lost because of opposite, irreligious qualities: falsehood, violence, dissatisfaction and quarrel [compare 1.17: 25]. (Vedabase)

    

Text 21

During that age people are of devotion with rituals and austerities, without any excessive violence or wanton desires. Prospering in their respect for the three Vedas they follow the three paths [of regulating the religion, the economy and sense gratification], while the four classes are predominantly brahminically oriented, oh King.

They are in that time devoted with rituals and penances, without any excessive violence or wanton desires. Prospering in their respect for the three Vedas they follow the three paths [of regulating the religion, the economy and sense gratification], and the four classes are predominantly oriented on the brahminical, o King. (Vedabase)

 

Text 22

The dharmic qualities of austerity, compassion, truth and charity are in Dvāpara-yuga reduced to one half [of their strength] because of the adharmic characteristics of violence, discontent, lies and hatred.

The dharmic qualities of austerity, compassion, truth and charity are in Dvāpara-yuga reduced to one half because of the adharma qualities of violence, discontent, lies and hatred. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 23

One is [in that age] of a high moral fiber, one loves glory and is absorbed in Vedic study. One is opulent with large families and joyful, while brahmins and nobles constitute the greatest number among the four classes.

One is [in that age] of moral fiber and one loves the glory and is absorbed in vedic study. One is opulent with large families and joyful, and the four classes are for the greater part of brahminical nobility. (Vedabase)

 

Text 24

Because of the constant increase of the motives of godlessness, in Kali-yuga the legs of religiousness further decrease to one fourth [of their strength, compare 1.17: 25], until they finally will be destroyed.

Next in Kali-yuga the legs of religiousness are decreasing to one fourth because of an increase of adharmic principles [compare 1.17: 25] and that one fourth will in the end also be destroyed. (Vedabase)

 

Text 25

In that age the people will be greedy, ill-mannered, lacking in compassion, prone to useless quarrel, unfortunate and obsessed with material desires, while they will mainly consist of laborers and less civilized characters.

In that era the people will be greedy, ill-mannered, lack in compassion, prone to useless quarrel [politicizing], unfortunate, obsessed with material desires and predominantly enslaved to [fruitive] labor. (Vedabase)

 

Text 26

The qualities of goodness, passion and ignorance that thus [depending the age] are observed in a person, undergo - being impelled by [the operation of] Time - permutations within the mind [***].

The modes of the goodness, passion and ignorance of a person are set in motion by the Time and are observed in different combinations within the mind [***]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 27

The time when the mind, the intelligence and the senses flourish in the mode of goodness, should be understood as Satya-yuga, the age of taking pleasure in knowledge and austerity.

When the mind, the intelligence and the senses flourish in the mode of goodness, that time of taking pleasure in knowledge and austerity should be understood as the time of Krita. (Vedabase)

 

Text 28

Oh intelligent one, when the conditioned souls devoted to their duties are of ulterior motives and strive for honor, that predominance of passion must be considered the time of Tretā.

O intelligent one, when the conditioned souls in their duties are of ulterior motives and in their devotional service strive for honor, that predominance of passion must be considered the time of Tretā. (Vedabase)

 

Text 29

When greed and dissatisfaction, false pride, envy and hypocrisy are seen everywhere and actions are dominated by selfhood, one speaks of the time of Dvāpara, the age of passion in combination with ignorance.

When greed and dissatisfaction, false pride, envy and hypocrisy are seen everywhere and what one does is dominated by selfhood one speaks with that [predominance of] passion and ignorance of the time of Dvāpara. (Vedabase)

 

Text 30

Kali-yuga is known as the age of ignorance, where there is deceit, false testimony, sloth and lethargy, violence, depression, lamentation, delusion, fear and poverty.

When there is deceit, false testimony, sloth and drowsiness, violence, depression, lamentation and delusion, fear and poverty is that time remembered as Kali, the time of ignorance. (Vedabase)

 

Text 31

As a consequence the mortals will be shortsighted, unfortunate, eating too much, lusty and poverty-stricken while the women will act of their own accord and be unchaste.

As a consequence the mortals will be shortsighted, unfortunate, eating too much, lusty and poverty-stricken and the women will act on their own accord and be unchaste.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 32

In the populated areas uncivilized people will take high positions [and act like thieves], the Vedic scriptures will be slighted by false doctrines [heretics], the political leaders will devour the people and the twice-born souls will be dedicated to their bellies and genitals.

The populated areas will be dominated by impious people [or thieves], the vedic scriptures will be slighted by false doctrines [heretics], the political leaders will devour the people and the twice-born ones will be dedicated to their bellies and genitals. (Vedabase)

 

Text 33

The youngsters [the students] will be averse to vows and impure in their engagements, the householders will be beggars [with what they claim], the withdrawn souls [the middle-aged, with no nature left to retreat into] will be city-dwellers and the renounced order will greedily endeavor for wealth [be engaged in 'reli-business'].

The youngsters [students] will averse to vows be impure in their engagements, the householders will [with what they claim] tend to be beggars, the withdrawn ones [the middle-aged with no nature left to retreat into] will be city-dwellers and the renounced order will greedily endeavor for financial profits [be engaged in 'reli-business'].  (Vedabase)

 

Text 34

Smaller in size, voracious and having many children, [the women will have] lost their timidity and constantly speak harshly and with great audacity be as deceitful as thieves.

Smaller in size and voracious having many children [the women will have] lost their timidity and constantly speak harshly and with great audacity be as deceitful as thieves. (Vedabase)

 

Text 35

The merchants will indulge in cheating so that their business dealings will be wicked while the people unnecessarily will consider any contemptible occupation [in the sex industry or gambling business] a good job.

The merchants will for no reason be of cheating so that their business dealings are truly miserly and the people will consider a degraded occupation [like e.g. in the sex industry or gambling business] a good job. (Vedabase)

 

Text 36

Servants will abandon a master who lost his wealth - even if he is the best one around, masters will abandon a handicapped servant - even when he belonged to the family for generations, and cows will be abandoned [and killed] as soon as they stopped giving milk.

Servants will abandon a master lacking in property even if he is the best one around, masters will abandon a handicapped servant even when he belonged to the family for generations and cows will be [killed] when they have stopped giving milk. (Vedabase)

 

Text 37

Under the control of women, men in Kali-yuga will be wretched and forsake their fathers, brothers, friends and relatives, while regularly associating with their brothers and sisters-in-law in a conception of friendship based on sexual ties.

In Kali-yuga men under the control of women will be wretched and forsake the association of their own family members, friends, brothers and father, in favor of an upon their sexuality based friendship with the sisters and brothers of his wife's family.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 38

Laborers dressed up as mendicants of austerity, will accept religious charity to earn their living and mount a high seat to speak about religious matters without any knowledge of dharmic principles.

Labor minded people will for their living appearing as renunciates acquire funds religiously and climbing a high seat speak about the religious principles without any sense of duty concerning the knowledge [of sacrificing, or false preachers...].  (Vedabase)

 

Text 39-40

With their minds constantly full of stress, emaciated by famine and taxes in times of scarcity with droughts on the surface of the earth, oh King, the people of Kali-yuga will be troubled by countless worries and live in fear. Lacking in clothing, food, drink, rest, sexual love [vyavāya], bathing and personal ornaments, they will appear like ghostly creatures.

With their minds constantly upset, troubled by taxes and famine in times of scarcity with droughts on the surface of the earth, they will, being troubled by countless worries, live in fear. Lacking in clothing, food, drink, rest, change, bathing and personal ornaments the people of Kali-yuga will appear like ghostly creatures. (Vedabase)

 

Text 41

In the age of Kali one will even over a single coin develop enmity [5.14 and 5.14: 26], reject friendly relations, kill oneself [be suicidal] and even kill one's relatives [domestic violence].

In the age of Kali one will even over a single coin develop enmity [5.14 and 5.14: 26]. Rejecting friendly relations one will kill oneself and even kill one's relatives. (Vedabase)


Text 42

Only interested in the petty service of the stomach and the genitals, one, even being born in a respectable family, will not protect the elderly parents, the wife and the children.

Not even born in a decent family one will protect the elderly, the parents, the wife and the children; simply in support of the petty self-interest of one's own belly and genitals. (Vedabase)

 

Text 43

Oh King, with their minds diverted by atheism the mortals in Kali-yuga in general will not worship the Infallible One, the Personality of Godhead who is the Supreme Spiritual Master of the three worlds at whose feet the various masters bow down.

O King, in Kali-yuga the mortals will predominanly be of sacrifice for atheistic reasons with their intelligence which factually originated from The Infallible One, the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is the Supreme Spiritual Master of the three worlds and at whose feet the various masters bow down. (Vedabase)

 

Text 44

In Kali-yuga the people do not worship Him, even though He is the One by whom a person, who dying in distress collapsing with a faltering voice helplessly chants His name, is freed from the chains of karma and achieves the topmost destination [see also B.G. 8: 10 and 6.2].

In Kali-yuga the people do not worship Him unto whom a person dying, in distress collapsing and with a faltering voice helplessly chanting His name, is freed from the chains of karma and achieves the topmost destination [see also B.G. 8: 10 and 6.2]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 45

The objects [and food], places and the individual nature of man are as a result of Kali-yuga all polluted [diseased, full of faults], but when one installs Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality in one's heart, He takes all this contamination away.

The things, the place and the individual nature of man are as a result of Kali-yuga all faulty, but when one installs Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality in one's heart, He takes it all away. (Vedabase)

 

Text 46

Of those human beings who but even heard, glorified, meditated, worshiped or venerated the Supreme Lord, the inauspiciousness is cleansed away that from a thousand births accumulated in their hearts. 

Of those human beings who but even heard, glorified, meditated, worshiped or venerated the Supreme Lord, the inauspicious which accumulated from a thousand births in their hearts is cleansed away. (Vedabase)

 

Text 47

Just as the discoloration one finds in gold because of other metals is removed by fire, the impurities of the mind of yoga practitioners are removed when Lord Vishnu has entered their heart.

Just as the discoloration one finds in gold because of other metals is undone by fire are the same way the impurities of mind of the yogis undone by Lord Vishnu residing in the soul. (Vedabase)

 

Text 48

Education, penance, breath control, friendship, bathing in holy waters, vows, charity and praying with prayer beads, do not realize as full the purification of the mind as the presence of Him, the Unlimited Personality of Godhead, in the heart.

Knowledge ['demigod worship'], penance, arresting one's breath, friendship, bathing in holy waters, vows, charity and praying with prayer beads gives not as much purification of mind as is achieved with Him, the Unlimited Personality of Godhead present in the heart. (Vedabase)

 

Text 49

Therefore oh King, do your utmost best to establish Lord Kes'ava in your heart; the moment you die [here after this week] you will, with your attention focussed on Him, attain the highest destination. 

Therefore o King do your utmost best to establish Lord Kes'ava in your heart; the moment you die [here after this week] you will thus concentrated attain the highest destination. (Vedabase)

  

Text 50

The Supreme Lord meditated upon by those who are dying is the Supreme Controller, the Soul and Shelter of All, who leads them to their true identity my dearest. 

The Supreme Lord meditated upon by those who are dying is the Supreme Controller, the Soul and Shelter of All, who leads them to their true identity, my dearest. (Vedabase)

 

Text 51

In the ocean of faults of Kali-yuga, oh King, there is luckily one great good quality: just by singing about [and meditating on] Krishna['s name, see bhajans] one can be liberated from material bondage and achieve beatitude [see also bhāgavata dharma and kīrtana].

In the ocean of faults that is Kali-yuga, there is luckily one great good quality: just by chanting about Krishna [see bhajans] one can, liberated from material bondage, attain the kingdom of heaven [see also bhāgavata dharma and kīrtana]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 52

The same result one achieves in Satya-yuga by meditating on Vishnu, one in Tretā-yuga achieves by worshiping with sacrifices, one in Dvāpara-yuga achieves by serving the lotus feet [of Him in the form of a king], one in Kali-yuga achieves by singing about [and meditating on the names of] the Lord [see also 11.5: 38-40].'

The same result in Satya-yuga achieved by meditating on Vishnu, in Tretā-yuga achieved by worshiping with sacrifices and in Dvāpara-yuga achieved by serving the lotus feet [of Him as a King], is in Kali-yuga achieved by singing about the Lord [see also 11.5: 38-40].'  (Vedabase)

 

*: According to S'rīla S'rīdhara Svāmī, and as confirmed by S'rīla Vis'vanātha Cakravartī Thhākura, the king Rāma mentioned here is not the incarnation of Godhead Rāmacandra. This is corroborated by the M.W. dictionary mentioning the demigod Varuna, writers, teachers and other great personalities addressed with that name.  Probably Bhārgava is meant, also known as Us'anā, who most powerfully formed a dynasty descending from the sages Bhrigu and Mārkandeya [see: 9.16: 32 and 4.1: 45].

**: In the M.W. dictionary three meanings are given for the word dāna: 1. donating, giving gifts 2. sharing or communicating and 3. purification. The last meaning confirms the use of the term s'auca in the First Canto of S'rīmad-Bhāgavatam as the fourth leg of the bull of religion. This alternative definition of the word dānam is confirmed by S'rīla Vis'vanātha Cakravartī Thhākura.

***: The paramparā adds to this: 'The particular age represented by goodness (Satya), passion (Tretā), passion and ignorance (Dvāpara) or ignorance (Kali) exists within each of the other ages as a sub factor.'

 

 

 

 

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The vintage image shows Lord Caitanya dancing for Krishna.
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Filognostic Association of The Order of Time.


 

 

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