॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Srimad Bhagavatam - Skandha XII.02, Friday, 11 August 2023 - The shameful degradation of humans in Kali Yuga and their cleansing by Kali Avatara.
***
श्रीशुक उवाच
ततश्चानुदिनं धर्म: सत्यं शौचं क्षमा दया । कालेन बलिना राजन् नङ्क्ष्यत्यायुर्बलं स्मृति: ॥
वित्तमेव कलौ नृणां जन्माचारगुणोदय: । धर्मन्यायव्यवस्थायां कारणं बलमेव हि ॥
दाम्पत्येऽभिरुचिर्हेतुर्मायैव व्यावहारिके । स्त्रीत्वे पुंस्त्वे च हि रतिर्विप्रत्वे सूत्रमेव हि ॥
T: Sage Shuka narrated: "Then, Oh King, Dharma, truthfulness, cleanliness, tolerance, mercy, the average lifespan of men, their physical strength and memory will all diminish day by day because of the powerful influence of the Age of Kali. "
ततश्चानुदिनं धर्म: सत्यं शौचं क्षमा दया । कालेन बलिना राजन् नङ्क्ष्यत्यायुर्बलं स्मृति: ॥
वित्तमेव कलौ नृणां जन्माचारगुणोदय: । धर्मन्यायव्यवस्थायां कारणं बलमेव हि ॥
दाम्पत्येऽभिरुचिर्हेतुर्मायैव व्यावहारिके । स्त्रीत्वे पुंस्त्वे च हि रतिर्विप्रत्वे सूत्रमेव हि ॥
T: Sage Shuka narrated: "Then, Oh King, Dharma, truthfulness, cleanliness, tolerance, mercy, the average lifespan of men, their physical strength and memory will all diminish day by day because of the powerful influence of the Age of Kali. "
In Kali Yuga, wealth alone will be considered the sign of a man’s good birth, proper behaviour (inviting social acclaim) and so-called virtues. And law and justice will be applied only on the basis of one’s power. Men and women will live together merely because of superficial attraction, and success in business will depend on deceit. Womanliness and manliness will be judged according to one’s expertise in sex, and a man will be known as a Brahmin just by his wearing a “sacred” thread."
Note: This pithy summary shows our state of affairs! A quick scan of newspapers pages 1,3, and 7 will show this is what our society has come to be!
लिङ्गमेवाश्रमख्यातावन्योन्यापत्तिकारणम् । अवृत्त्या न्यायदौर्बल्यं पाण्डित्ये चापलं वच: ॥
T: A person’s spiritual position will be ascertained merely according to external symbols (caste marks and religious dress code), and on that same basis, people will change from one Dharma to the next (with neither a change of heart nor an improvement in spiritual accomplishment). A person’s propriety will be seriously questioned if he does not earn a good living. And one who is very clever at juggling words will be considered a learned scholar (all our present-day Gurus on Youtube and Facebook!).
T: A person’s spiritual position will be ascertained merely according to external symbols (caste marks and religious dress code), and on that same basis, people will change from one Dharma to the next (with neither a change of heart nor an improvement in spiritual accomplishment). A person’s propriety will be seriously questioned if he does not earn a good living. And one who is very clever at juggling words will be considered a learned scholar (all our present-day Gurus on Youtube and Facebook!).
अनाढ्यतैवासाधुत्वे साधुत्वे दम्भ एव तु । स्वीकार एव चोद्वाहे स्नानमेव प्रसाधनम् ॥
T: A person will be judged unholy if he does not have money, and hypocrisy will be accepted as virtue. Marriage will be arranged simply by verbal agreement, and a person will think he is fit to appear in public if he has merely taken a bath (with neither decorum nor the practice of morning prayer considered mandatory in Sanatana Dharma).
T: A person will be judged unholy if he does not have money, and hypocrisy will be accepted as virtue. Marriage will be arranged simply by verbal agreement, and a person will think he is fit to appear in public if he has merely taken a bath (with neither decorum nor the practice of morning prayer considered mandatory in Sanatana Dharma).
दूरे वार्ययनं तीर्थं लावण्यं केशधारणम् । उदरंभरता स्वार्थ: सत्यत्वे धार्ष्ट्यमेव हि ।
दाक्ष्यं कुटुम्बभरणं यशोऽर्थे धर्मसेवनम् ॥
T: A sacred place will be taken to consist of no more than a reservoir of water located at a distance, and beauty will be thought to depend on one’s hairstyle. Filling the belly will become the goal of life, and one who is audacious will be accepted as truthful. He who can maintain a family will be regarded as a successful man, and the principles of Dharma will be observed nominally only for the sake of reputation.
दाक्ष्यं कुटुम्बभरणं यशोऽर्थे धर्मसेवनम् ॥
T: A sacred place will be taken to consist of no more than a reservoir of water located at a distance, and beauty will be thought to depend on one’s hairstyle. Filling the belly will become the goal of life, and one who is audacious will be accepted as truthful. He who can maintain a family will be regarded as a successful man, and the principles of Dharma will be observed nominally only for the sake of reputation.
एवं प्रजाभिर्दुष्टाभिराकीर्णे क्षितिमण्डले । ब्रह्मविट्क्षत्रशूद्राणां यो बली भविता नृप: ॥
T: As the earth thus becomes crowded with a corrupt population, whoever among any of the social classes shows himself to be the strongest will gain political power. No other qualification than Dadagiri.
T: As the earth thus becomes crowded with a corrupt population, whoever among any of the social classes shows himself to be the strongest will gain political power. No other qualification than Dadagiri.
प्रजा हि लुब्धै राजन्यैर्निर्घृणैर्दस्युधर्मभि: । आच्छिन्नदारद्रविणा यास्यन्ति गिरिकाननम् ॥
T: Losing their wives and properties to such avaricious and merciless rulers, who will behave no better than ordinary thieves, the citizens will flee to the mountains and forests. ( Or cope by copying them!)
T: Losing their wives and properties to such avaricious and merciless rulers, who will behave no better than ordinary thieves, the citizens will flee to the mountains and forests. ( Or cope by copying them!)
शाकमूलामिषक्षौद्रफलपुष्पाष्टिभोजना: । अनावृष्टया विनङ्क्ष्यन्ति दुर्भिक्षकरपीडिता: ॥
T: Harassed by famine and excessive taxes, causing great economic distress, people will resort to eating leaves, roots, rotten flesh, wild honey, fruits, flowers and seeds (instead of good and clean food). Struck by drought, they will become completely ruined.
T: Harassed by famine and excessive taxes, causing great economic distress, people will resort to eating leaves, roots, rotten flesh, wild honey, fruits, flowers and seeds (instead of good and clean food). Struck by drought, they will become completely ruined.
शीतवातातपप्रावृड्हिमैरन्योन्यत: प्रजा: । क्षुत्तृड्भ्यां व्याधिभिश्चैव सन्तप्स्यन्ते च चिन्तया ॥
T: The citizens will suffer greatly from cold, wind, heat, rain and snow owing to ecological disasters. They will be further tormented by quarrels, hunger, thirst, disease and severe anxiety all the time. Doctors, lawyers and therapists will have a field day.
T: The citizens will suffer greatly from cold, wind, heat, rain and snow owing to ecological disasters. They will be further tormented by quarrels, hunger, thirst, disease and severe anxiety all the time. Doctors, lawyers and therapists will have a field day.
त्रिंशद्विंशतिवर्षाणि परमायु: कलौ नृणाम् ॥
T: The maximum life span for human beings in Kali Yuga will be reduced to fifty years.
T: The maximum life span for human beings in Kali Yuga will be reduced to fifty years.
क्षीयमाणेषु देहेषु देहिनां कलिदोषत: । वर्णाश्रमवतां धर्मे नष्टे वेदपथे नृणाम् ॥
पाषण्डप्रचुरे धर्मे दस्युप्रायेषु राजसु । चौर्यानृतवृथाहिंसानानावृत्तिषु वै नृषु ॥
पाषण्डप्रचुरे धर्मे दस्युप्रायेषु राजसु । चौर्यानृतवृथाहिंसानानावृत्तिषु वै नृषु ॥
शूद्रप्रायेषु वर्णेषुच्छागप्रायासु धेनुषु । गृहप्रायेष्वाश्रमेषु यौनप्रायेषु बन्धुषु ॥
अणुप्रायास्वोषधीषु शमीप्रायेषु स्थास्नुषु । विद्युत्प्रायेषु मेघेषु शून्यप्रायेषु सद्मसु ॥
इत्थं कलौ गतप्राये जनेषु खरधर्मिषु । धर्मत्राणाय सत्त्वेन भगवानवतरिष्यति ॥
अणुप्रायास्वोषधीषु शमीप्रायेषु स्थास्नुषु । विद्युत्प्रायेषु मेघेषु शून्यप्रायेषु सद्मसु ॥
इत्थं कलौ गतप्राये जनेषु खरधर्मिषु । धर्मत्राणाय सत्त्वेन भगवानवतरिष्यति ॥
T: By the time the Age of Kali ends, the bodies of all creatures will be greatly reduced in size, and the Varna Ashrama Dharma will be ruined. The path of the Vedas will be completely forgotten in human society, and so-called religion will be mostly atheistic. The kings will mostly be thieves, the occupations of men will be stealing, lying and needless violence, and all the social classes will be reduced to the lowest level of Shudras. Cows will be like goats.
Spiritual hermitages (Ashramas and Mathas) will be no different from mundane houses, engaging in business.
Family ties will extend no further than the immediate bonds of marriage, with scarce concern for lineage and furtherance of the glory of the family line.
Most plants and herbs will be tiny, and all trees will appear like dwarf trees (Bonsai). Clouds will be full of lightning, homes will be devoid of piety, and all human beings will have become like asses (dull and physical, with no innate nobility).
At that time, Bhagavan will appear on the earth. Acting with the power of pure spiritual goodness, He will rescue Sanatana Dharma.
चराचरगुरोर्विष्णोरीश्वरस्याखिलात्मन: । धर्मत्राणाय साधूनां जन्म कर्मापनुत्तये ॥
शम्भलग्राममुख्यस्य ब्राह्मणस्य महात्मन: । भवने विष्णुयशस: कल्कि: प्रादुर्भविष्यति ॥
अश्वमाशुगमारुह्य देवदत्तं जगत्पति: । असिनासाधुदमनमष्टैश्वर्यगुणान्वित: ॥
शम्भलग्राममुख्यस्य ब्राह्मणस्य महात्मन: । भवने विष्णुयशस: कल्कि: प्रादुर्भविष्यति ॥
अश्वमाशुगमारुह्य देवदत्तं जगत्पति: । असिनासाधुदमनमष्टैश्वर्यगुणान्वित: ॥
विचरन्नाशुना क्षौण्यां हयेनाप्रतिमद्युति: । नृपलिङ्गच्छदो दस्यून्कोटिशो निहनिष्यति ॥
T: Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, the supreme Ishwara, the spiritual lord of all moving and non-moving living beings, and the Paramatma of all — takes birth to uphold Dharma and to relieve Bhaktas and Sadhus from the bondage of Karma. He will come as Lord Kalki. He will appear in the home of the most eminent Brahmin of Shambhala village, the great soul named Vishnuyasa. Lord Kalki, the lord of the universe, will mount his swift horse Devadatta, and, sword in hand, travel over the earth exhibiting his eight mystic glories (divine Siddhis) and eight special qualities of Ishwaratva. Displaying his incomparable effulgence and riding with great speed, he will kill by the millions those thieves and imposters masquerading as kings.
T: Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, the supreme Ishwara, the spiritual lord of all moving and non-moving living beings, and the Paramatma of all — takes birth to uphold Dharma and to relieve Bhaktas and Sadhus from the bondage of Karma. He will come as Lord Kalki. He will appear in the home of the most eminent Brahmin of Shambhala village, the great soul named Vishnuyasa. Lord Kalki, the lord of the universe, will mount his swift horse Devadatta, and, sword in hand, travel over the earth exhibiting his eight mystic glories (divine Siddhis) and eight special qualities of Ishwaratva. Displaying his incomparable effulgence and riding with great speed, he will kill by the millions those thieves and imposters masquerading as kings.
अथ तेषां भविष्यन्ति मनांसि विशदानि वै । वासुदेवाङ्गरागातिपुण्यगन्धानिलस्पृशाम् ।
पौरजानपदानां वै हतेष्वखिलदस्युषु ॥
तेषां प्रजाविसर्गश्च स्थविष्ठ: सम्भविष्यति । वासुदेवे भगवति सत्त्वमूर्तौ हृदि स्थिते ॥
पौरजानपदानां वै हतेष्वखिलदस्युषु ॥
तेषां प्रजाविसर्गश्च स्थविष्ठ: सम्भविष्यति । वासुदेवे भगवति सत्त्वमूर्तौ हृदि स्थिते ॥
T: After all the imposter kings have been killed, the residents of the cities and towns will feel the breeze carrying the most sacred fragrance of the sandalwood paste and other decorations of Lord Vasudeva, and their minds will thereby become transcendentally pure. When Bhagavan Vasudeva, the Paramatma, Ishwara, appears in their hearts in his transcendental form of Sattva, those left standing as the chosen few will further the destiny of humankind and abundantly repopulate the earth. This will be the new Satya Yuga or Krita Yuga.
Sage Shuka is concluding his total discourse of Srimad Bhagavatam. He states how he has covered systematically the dynasties of the Suryavamshis, the Chandra Vamshis ending with Parikshit, and the dynasties coming in future up to the end of Kali. Several thousands of years of timeline.
Here are astronomical signs listed by Shuka for this epochal event.
यदा चन्द्रश्च सूर्यश्च तथा तिष्यबृहस्पती । एकराशौ समेष्यन्ति भविष्यति तदा कृतम् ॥
T: When the Chandra, Surya and Guru are together in the constellation Karkaataka, and all three enter simultaneously into the lunar mansion Pushya — at that exact moment the age of Satya, or Krita, will begin.
-
सप्तर्षीणां तु यौ पूर्वौ दृश्येते उदितौ दिवि । तयोस्तु मध्ये नक्षत्रं दृश्यते यत् समं निशि ॥
तेनैव ऋषयो युक्तास्तिष्ठन्त्यब्दशतं नृणाम् । ते त्वदीये द्विजा: काल अधुना चाश्रिता मघा: ॥
यदा देवर्षय: सप्त मघासु विचरन्ति हि । तदा प्रवृत्तस्तु कलिर्द्वादशाब्दशतात्मक: ॥
यदा मघाभ्यो यास्यन्ति पूर्वाषाढां महर्षय: । तदा नन्दात् प्रभृत्येष कलिर्वृद्धिं गमिष्यति ॥
दिव्याब्दानां सहस्रान्ते चतुर्थे तु पुन: कृतम् । भविष्यति तदा नृणां मन आत्मप्रकाशकम् ॥
T: Of the seven stars forming the constellation of the Seven Sages (Sapta Rishis), Pulaha and Kratu are the first to rise in the night sky. If a line running north and south were drawn through their midpoint, whichever of the lunar mansions this line passes through is said to be the ruling asterism of the constellation for that time. The Seven Sages will remain connected with that particular lunar mansion for one hundred human years. Currently, during this narrative to Parikshit, they are situated in the Nakshatra called Maghaa (Makhaa?)
When the constellation of the Seven Sages is passing through the lunar mansion Maghaa, the Age of Kali begins. It comprises twelve hundred years per the reckoning of gods.
When the great sages of the Sapta Rishi constellation pass from Maghaa to Purvaashaadhaa, Kali will have his full strength, beginning from King Nanda and his dynasty. After the one thousand celestial years of Kali Yuga, the Satya Yuga will manifest again. At that time the minds of all men will become self-effulgent.
T: When the Chandra, Surya and Guru are together in the constellation Karkaataka, and all three enter simultaneously into the lunar mansion Pushya — at that exact moment the age of Satya, or Krita, will begin.
-
सप्तर्षीणां तु यौ पूर्वौ दृश्येते उदितौ दिवि । तयोस्तु मध्ये नक्षत्रं दृश्यते यत् समं निशि ॥
तेनैव ऋषयो युक्तास्तिष्ठन्त्यब्दशतं नृणाम् । ते त्वदीये द्विजा: काल अधुना चाश्रिता मघा: ॥
यदा देवर्षय: सप्त मघासु विचरन्ति हि । तदा प्रवृत्तस्तु कलिर्द्वादशाब्दशतात्मक: ॥
यदा मघाभ्यो यास्यन्ति पूर्वाषाढां महर्षय: । तदा नन्दात् प्रभृत्येष कलिर्वृद्धिं गमिष्यति ॥
दिव्याब्दानां सहस्रान्ते चतुर्थे तु पुन: कृतम् । भविष्यति तदा नृणां मन आत्मप्रकाशकम् ॥
T: Of the seven stars forming the constellation of the Seven Sages (Sapta Rishis), Pulaha and Kratu are the first to rise in the night sky. If a line running north and south were drawn through their midpoint, whichever of the lunar mansions this line passes through is said to be the ruling asterism of the constellation for that time. The Seven Sages will remain connected with that particular lunar mansion for one hundred human years. Currently, during this narrative to Parikshit, they are situated in the Nakshatra called Maghaa (Makhaa?)
When the constellation of the Seven Sages is passing through the lunar mansion Maghaa, the Age of Kali begins. It comprises twelve hundred years per the reckoning of gods.
When the great sages of the Sapta Rishi constellation pass from Maghaa to Purvaashaadhaa, Kali will have his full strength, beginning from King Nanda and his dynasty. After the one thousand celestial years of Kali Yuga, the Satya Yuga will manifest again. At that time the minds of all men will become self-effulgent.
विष्णोर्भगवतो भानु: कृष्णाख्योऽसौ दिवं गत: । तदाविशत् कलिर्लोकं पापे यद् रमते जन: ॥
यावत् स पादपद्माभ्यां स्पृशनास्ते रमापति: । तावत् कलिर्वै पृथिवीं पराक्रन्तुं न चाशकत् ॥
यस्मिन् कृष्णो दिवं यातस्तस्मिन्नेव तदाहनि । प्रतिपन्नं कलियुगमिति प्राहु: पुराविद: ॥
T: The Supreme Lord, Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, is brilliant like the sun and is known as Sri Krishna. When he returned to the spiritual sky, Kali entered this world, and people then began to take pleasure in sinful activities. As long as Bhagavan Sri Krishna, the husband of the goddess of fortune, touched the earth with his lotus feet, Kali was powerless to subdue this planet. Those who scientifically understand the past declare that on the very day that the Lord departed for the spiritual world, the influence of the Age of Kali began.
यावत् स पादपद्माभ्यां स्पृशनास्ते रमापति: । तावत् कलिर्वै पृथिवीं पराक्रन्तुं न चाशकत् ॥
यस्मिन् कृष्णो दिवं यातस्तस्मिन्नेव तदाहनि । प्रतिपन्नं कलियुगमिति प्राहु: पुराविद: ॥
T: The Supreme Lord, Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, is brilliant like the sun and is known as Sri Krishna. When he returned to the spiritual sky, Kali entered this world, and people then began to take pleasure in sinful activities. As long as Bhagavan Sri Krishna, the husband of the goddess of fortune, touched the earth with his lotus feet, Kali was powerless to subdue this planet. Those who scientifically understand the past declare that on the very day that the Lord departed for the spiritual world, the influence of the Age of Kali began.
***
इत्येष मानवो वंशो यथा सङ्ख्यायते भुवि । तथा विट्शूद्रविप्राणां तास्ता ज्ञेया युगे युगे ॥
एतेषां नामलिङ्गानां पुरुषाणां महात्मनाम् । कथामात्रावशिष्टानां कीर्तिरेव स्थिता भुवि ॥
T: Sage Shuka begins his conclusion: “Thus I have described the royal dynasty of Manu, as it is known on this earth. One can similarly study the history of the Vaishyas, Shudras and Brahmins living in the various ages. These personalities, who were great souls, are now known only by their names. They exist only in accounts from the past, and only their fame remains on the earth.”
देवापि: शान्तनोर्भ्राता मरुश्चेक्ष्वाकुवंशज: । कलापग्राम आसाते महायोगबलान्वितौ ॥
ताविहैत्य कलेरन्ते वासुदेवानुशिक्षितौ । वर्णाश्रमयुतं धर्मं पूर्ववत् प्रथयिष्यत: ॥
T: “Devapi, the brother of King Shantanu, and Maru, the descendant of Ikshwaku, both possess great mystic strength and are living even now in the village of Kalapa. At the end of the Age of Kali, these two kings, having received instruction directly from Bhagavan Sri Krishna, will return to human society and reestablish Sanatana Dharma, characterized by Varna and Ashrama, just as it was before.”
ताविहैत्य कलेरन्ते वासुदेवानुशिक्षितौ । वर्णाश्रमयुतं धर्मं पूर्ववत् प्रथयिष्यत: ॥
T: “Devapi, the brother of King Shantanu, and Maru, the descendant of Ikshwaku, both possess great mystic strength and are living even now in the village of Kalapa. At the end of the Age of Kali, these two kings, having received instruction directly from Bhagavan Sri Krishna, will return to human society and reestablish Sanatana Dharma, characterized by Varna and Ashrama, just as it was before.”
कृतं त्रेता द्वापरं च कलिश्चेति चतुर्युगम् । अनेन क्रमयोगेन भुवि प्राणिषु वर्तते ॥
T: “The cycle of four Ages — Satya, Treta, Dwapara and Kali — continues perpetually among living beings on this earth, repeating the same general sequence of events.”
T: “The cycle of four Ages — Satya, Treta, Dwapara and Kali — continues perpetually among living beings on this earth, repeating the same general sequence of events.”
***
राजन्नेते मया प्रोक्ता नरदेवास्तथापरे । भूमौ ममत्वं कृत्वान्ते हित्वेमां निधनं गता: ॥
कृमिविड्भस्मसंज्ञान्ते राजनाम्नोऽपि यस्य च । भूतध्रुक् तत्कृते स्वार्थं किं वेद निरयो यत: ॥
कथं सेयमखण्डा भू: पूर्वैर्मे पुरुषैर्धृता । मत्पुत्रस्य च पौत्रस्य मत्पूर्वा वंशजस्य वा ॥
T: “My dear King Parikshit, all these kings I have described, as well as all other human beings, come to this earth and stake their claims, but, ultimately, they all must give up this world and meet their destruction. Even though a person’s body may now have the designation “king,” in the end its real existence will be known as “worms,” “stool” or “ashes.” What can a person who injures other living beings for the sake of his body know about his own true self-interest, since his activities are simply leading him to hell? Alas! The materialistic king thinks: ‘This unbounded earth was held by my predecessors and is now under my sovereignty. How can I arrange for it to remain in the hands of my sons, grandsons and other descendants?’ !!!”
कृमिविड्भस्मसंज्ञान्ते राजनाम्नोऽपि यस्य च । भूतध्रुक् तत्कृते स्वार्थं किं वेद निरयो यत: ॥
कथं सेयमखण्डा भू: पूर्वैर्मे पुरुषैर्धृता । मत्पुत्रस्य च पौत्रस्य मत्पूर्वा वंशजस्य वा ॥
T: “My dear King Parikshit, all these kings I have described, as well as all other human beings, come to this earth and stake their claims, but, ultimately, they all must give up this world and meet their destruction. Even though a person’s body may now have the designation “king,” in the end its real existence will be known as “worms,” “stool” or “ashes.” What can a person who injures other living beings for the sake of his body know about his own true self-interest, since his activities are simply leading him to hell? Alas! The materialistic king thinks: ‘This unbounded earth was held by my predecessors and is now under my sovereignty. How can I arrange for it to remain in the hands of my sons, grandsons and other descendants?’ !!!”
तेजोऽबन्नमयं कायं गृहीत्वात्मतयाबुधा: । महीं ममतया चोभौ हित्वान्तेऽदर्शनं गता: ॥
ये ये भूपतयो राजन् भुञ्जते भुवमोजसा । कालेन ते कृता: सर्वे कथामात्रा: कथासु च ॥
T: “Although the foolish accept the body made of earth, water and fire as “me” and this earth as “mine,” in every case they have ultimately abandoned both their body and the earth and passed away into oblivion. My dear King Parikshit, all these kings who tried to enjoy the earth by their strength were reduced by the force of time to nothing more than historical accounts.”
ये ये भूपतयो राजन् भुञ्जते भुवमोजसा । कालेन ते कृता: सर्वे कथामात्रा: कथासु च ॥
T: “Although the foolish accept the body made of earth, water and fire as “me” and this earth as “mine,” in every case they have ultimately abandoned both their body and the earth and passed away into oblivion. My dear King Parikshit, all these kings who tried to enjoy the earth by their strength were reduced by the force of time to nothing more than historical accounts.”
***
