Hanuman Describes the Four Ages

Verse 1 (3.151.1)

एवमुक्तो महाबाहुर्भीमसेनः प्रतापवान् । प्रणिपत्य ततः प्रीत्या भ्रातरं हृष्टमानसः ॥

evamukto mahābāhurbhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān | praṇipatya tataḥ prītyā bhrātaraṃ hṛṣṭamānasaḥ

Addressed in this way, the mighty-armed and valiant Bhimasena bowed down with affection to his brother, his heart full of joy,

Note on the text: Restored from the raw Wikisource page: this page prints the adhyaya only as a poem block (it has no table), and the extracted input began at verse 11, losing verses 1–10, which the page prints and numbers. This verse is CE 3.148.1a–d.

Verse 2 (3.151.2)

उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा हनूमन्तं कपीश्वरम् । मत्तो धन्यतरो नास्ति यदार्यं दृष्टवानहम् ॥

uvāca ślakṣṇayā vācā hanūmantaṃ kapīśvaram | matto dhanyataro nāsti yadāryaṃ dṛṣṭavānaham

and spoke in gentle words to Hanuman, lord of monkeys: “No one is more fortunate than I, for I have seen my noble elder brother.

Note on the text: Restored from the raw Wikisource page: this page prints the adhyaya only as a poem block (it has no table), and the extracted input began at verse 11, losing verses 1–10, which the page prints and numbers. The first line is CE 3.148.1ef; the second is CE 3.148.2ab (मत्तो for mayā).

Verse 3 (3.151.3)

अनुग्रहो मे सुमहांस्तृप्तिश्च तव दर्शनात् । एतत्तु कृतमिच्छामि त्वयाऽऽर्येण प्रियं मम ॥

anugraho me sumahāṃstṛptiśca tava darśanāt | etattu kṛtamicchāmi tvayā''ryeṇa priyaṃ mama

Great is the favor you have shown me, and seeing you has filled me with content. But I wish you, noble one, to do this kindness for me:

Note on the text: Restored from the raw Wikisource page: this page prints the adhyaya only as a poem block (it has no table), and the extracted input began at verse 11, losing verses 1–10, which the page prints and numbers. The first line is CE 3.148.2cd; the second is a variant of CE 3.148.3ab.

Verse 4 (3.151.4)

यत्त्वेतदासीत्प्लवतः सागरं मकरालयम् । रूपमप्रतिमं वीर तदिच्छामि निरीक्षितुम् ॥

yattvetadāsītplavataḥ sāgaraṃ makarālayam | rūpamapratimaṃ vīra tadicchāmi nirīkṣitum

I wish to behold that matchless form of yours, hero, which you had when you leapt across the ocean, the home of sea-monsters.

Note on the text: Restored from the raw Wikisource page: this page prints the adhyaya only as a poem block (it has no table), and the extracted input began at verse 11, losing verses 1–10, which the page prints and numbers. Corrected नीरीक्षितुम् → निरीक्षितुम् (misprint in Wikisource; long ī for short i, the critical edition reads nirīkṣitum). This verse is CE 3.148.3cd–ef.

Verse 5 (3.151.5)

एवं तुष्टो भविष्यामि श्रद्धास्यामि च ते वचः । एवमुक्तः स तेजस्वी प्रहस्य हरिरब्रवीत् ॥

evaṃ tuṣṭo bhaviṣyāmi śraddhāsyāmi ca te vacaḥ | evamuktaḥ sa tejasvī prahasya harirabravīt

Then I shall be satisfied, and I shall believe your words.” Addressed thus, the radiant monkey laughed and said:

Note on the text: Restored from the raw Wikisource page: this page prints the adhyaya only as a poem block (it has no table), and the extracted input began at verse 11, losing verses 1–10, which the page prints and numbers. Corrected मभिष्यामि → भविष्यामि (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads bhaviṣyāmi). This verse is CE 3.148.4.

Verse 6 (3.151.6)

न तच्छक्यं त्वया द्रष्टुं रूपं नान्येन केनचित् । कालावस्था तदा ह्यन्या वर्तते सा न सांप्रतम् । ततोऽद्य दुष्करं द्रष्टुं मम रूपं नरोत्तम ॥

na tacchakyaṃ tvayā draṣṭuṃ rūpaṃ nānyena kenacit | kālāvasthā tadā hyanyā vartate sā na sāṃpratam | tato'dya duṣkaraṃ draṣṭuṃ mama rūpaṃ narottama

“Neither you nor anyone else can see that form. The state of the times was different then; it is not so now. So it is hard today to see my form, best of men.

Note on the text: Restored from the raw Wikisource page: this page prints the adhyaya only as a poem block (it has no table), and the extracted input began at verse 11, losing verses 1–10, which the page prints and numbers. Stray wiki marks (` and ') around the third line omitted. The first two lines are CE 3.148.5; the third is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; star passage 740*).

Verse 7 (3.151.7)

अन्यः कृतयुगे कालस्त्रेतायां द्वापरे परः । अयं प्रध्वंसनः कालो नाद्य तद्रूपमस्ति मे ॥

anyaḥ kṛtayuge kālastretāyāṃ dvāpare paraḥ | ayaṃ pradhvaṃsanaḥ kālo nādya tadrūpamasti me

Time is one thing in the Krita age, another in the Treta, and another still in the Dvapara. This is the age of decay; I do not have that form now.

Note on the text: Restored from the raw Wikisource page: this page prints the adhyaya only as a poem block (it has no table), and the extracted input began at verse 11, losing verses 1–10, which the page prints and numbers. Corrected कालश्रेतायां → कालस्त्रेतायां (misprint in Wikisource; श्र for स्त्र, the critical edition reads kālas tretāyāṃ). This verse is CE 3.148.6.

Verse 8 (3.151.8)

भूमिर्नद्यो नगाः शैलाः सिद्धा देवा महर्षयः । कालं समनुवर्तन्ते यथा भावा युगेयुगे ॥

bhūmirnadyo nagāḥ śailāḥ siddhā devā maharṣayaḥ | kālaṃ samanuvartante yathā bhāvā yugeyuge

The earth, the rivers, the trees, the mountains, the siddhas, the gods and the great seers all conform to time, as all things do from age to age.

Note on the text: Restored from the raw Wikisource page: this page prints the adhyaya only as a poem block (it has no table), and the extracted input began at verse 11, losing verses 1–10, which the page prints and numbers. This verse is CE 3.148.7a–d.

Verse 9 (3.151.9)

कालंकालं समासाद्य नराणां नरपुङ्गव । बलवर्ष्मप्रभावा हि प्रहीयन्त्युद्भवन्ति च ॥

kālaṃkālaṃ samāsādya narāṇāṃ narapuṅgava | balavarṣmaprabhāvā hi prahīyantyudbhavanti ca

As each age comes round, bull among men, the strength, stature and power of men wane and rise again.

Note on the text: Restored from the raw Wikisource page: this page prints the adhyaya only as a poem block (it has no table), and the extracted input began at verse 11, losing verses 1–10, which the page prints and numbers. Stray wiki marks (` and ') around the first line omitted. The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; star passage 741*); the second is CE 3.148.7ef.

Verse 10 (3.151.10)

तदलं बत तद्रूपं द्रष्टुं कुरुकुलोद्वह । युगं समनुवर्तामि कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः ॥

tadalaṃ bata tadrūpaṃ draṣṭuṃ kurukulodvaha | yugaṃ samanuvartāmi kālo hi duratikramaḥ

So enough, alas, of seeing that form, upholder of the Kuru line. I conform to the age, for time is hard to overcome.”

Note on the text: Restored from the raw Wikisource page: this page prints the adhyaya only as a poem block (it has no table), and the extracted input began at verse 11, losing verses 1–10, which the page prints and numbers. This verse is CE 3.148.8 (बत for tava).

Verse 11 (3.151.11)

युगसङ्ख्यां समाचक्ष्व आचारं च युगेयुगे । धर्मकामार्थभावांश्च कर्मवीर्ये भवाभवौ ॥

yugasaṅkhyāṃ samācakṣva ācāraṃ ca yugeyuge | dharmakāmārthabhāvāṃśca karmavīrye bhavābhavau

Tell me the reckoning of the ages and the conduct of each age, the nature of dharma, pleasure and wealth, of action and its power, and of coming into being and passing away.

Verse 12 (3.151.12)

कृतं नाम युगं श्रेष्ठं यत्र धर्मः सनातनः । कृतमेव न कर्तव्यं तस्मिन्काले युगोत्तमे ॥

kṛtaṃ nāma yugaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ yatra dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ | kṛtameva na kartavyaṃ tasminkāle yugottame

The Krita is the best of ages, the one in which dharma is eternal. In that time, the finest of ages, everything is already done; nothing remains to be done.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (यत्रधर्मः → यत्र धर्मः).

Verse 13 (3.151.13)

न तत्र धर्माः सीदन्ति क्षीयन्ते न च वै प्रजाः । ततः कृतयुगं नाम कालेन गुणतां गतम् ॥

na tatra dharmāḥ sīdanti kṣīyante na ca vai prajāḥ | tataḥ kṛtayugaṃ nāma kālena guṇatāṃ gatam

In it the laws of dharma do not falter and creatures do not waste away; and so in time it came to be called the Krita, the “Accomplished”, age.

Verse 14 (3.151.14)

देवदानवगन्धर्वयक्षराक्षसपन्नगाः । नासन्कृतयुगे तात तदा न क्रयविक्रयः ॥

devadānavagandharvayakṣarākṣasapannagāḥ | nāsankṛtayuge tāta tadā na krayavikrayaḥ

In the Krita age, my son, there were no gods, danavas, gandharvas, yakshas, rakshasas or nagas, and there was no buying and selling.

Verse 15 (3.151.15)

न सामऋग्यजुर्वर्णाः क्रिया नासीच्च मानवी । अभिध्याय फलं तत्र धर्मः संन्यास एव च ॥

na sāmaṛgyajurvarṇāḥ kriyā nāsīcca mānavī | abhidhyāya phalaṃ tatra dharmaḥ saṃnyāsa eva ca

There were no divisions of Saman, Rik and Yajus, and no human toil. There the fruit came simply by being thought of, and dharma was renunciation itself.

Verse 16 (3.151.16)

न तस्मिन्युगसंसर्गे व्याधयो नेन्द्रियक्षयः । नासूया नापि रुदितं न दर्पो नापि वैकृतम् ॥

na tasminyugasaṃsarge vyādhayo nendriyakṣayaḥ | nāsūyā nāpi ruditaṃ na darpo nāpi vaikṛtam

In the course of that age there was no disease and no failing of the senses, no envy, no weeping, no pride and no deceit,

Verse 17 (3.151.17)

न विग्रहः कुतस्तन्द्री न द्वेषो न च पैशुनम् । न भयं नापि संतापो न चेर्ष्या न च मत्सरः ॥

na vigrahaḥ kutastandrī na dveṣo na ca paiśunam | na bhayaṃ nāpi saṃtāpo na cerṣyā na ca matsaraḥ

no quarrelling, and how then any sloth? No hatred and no slander, no fear and no anguish, no envy and no jealousy.

Verse 18 (3.151.18)

ततः परमकं ब्रह्म सा गतिर्योगिनां परा । आत्मा च सर्वभूतानां शुक्लो नारायणस्तदा ॥

tataḥ paramakaṃ brahma sā gatiryogināṃ parā | ātmā ca sarvabhūtānāṃ śuklo nārāyaṇastadā

Hence the supreme Brahman was reached, that highest goal of the yogis; and Narayana, the Self of all beings, was white in that age.

Verse 19 (3.151.19)

ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्राश्च कृतलक्षणाः । कृते युगे समभवन्स्वकर्मनिरताः प्रजाः ॥

brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāśca kṛtalakṣaṇāḥ | kṛte yuge samabhavansvakarmaniratāḥ prajāḥ

In the Krita age Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras all bore the marks of the Krita, and the people were devoted to their own work.

Note on the text: Corrected ब्राह्मणआः → ब्राह्मणाः (misprint in Wikisource; a stray vowel letter, the critical edition reads brāhmaṇāḥ).

Verse 20 (3.151.20)

समाश्रयं समाचारं समज्ञानं च केवलम् । तदा हि समकर्माणो वर्णा धर्मानवाप्नुवन् ॥

samāśrayaṃ samācāraṃ samajñānaṃ ca kevalam | tadā hi samakarmāṇo varṇā dharmānavāpnuvan

The classes then had a common refuge, common conduct and a single common knowledge; doing the same works, they attained dharma.

Verse 21 (3.151.21)

एकदेवसदायुक्ता एकमन्त्रविधिक्रियाः । पृथग्धर्मास्त्वेकवेदा धर्ममेकमनुव्रताः ॥

ekadevasadāyuktā ekamantravidhikriyāḥ | pṛthagdharmāstvekavedā dharmamekamanuvratāḥ

Ever devoted to the one God, with one mantra, one rule and one rite, having their separate duties yet a single Veda, they kept to the one dharma.

Verse 22 (3.151.22)

चातुराश्रम्ययुक्तेन कर्मणा कालयोगिना । अकामफलसंयोगात्प्राप्नुवन्ति परां गतिम् ॥

cāturāśramyayuktena karmaṇā kālayoginā | akāmaphalasaṃyogātprāpnuvanti parāṃ gatim

Through work joined to the four stages of life and fitted to its proper time, and free of any bond to the fruits of desire, they reached the highest goal.

Verse 23 (3.151.23)

आत्मयोगसमायुक्तो धर्मोऽयं कृतलक्षणः । कृते युगे चतुष्पादश्चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य शाश्वतः ॥

ātmayogasamāyukto dharmo'yaṃ kṛtalakṣaṇaḥ | kṛte yuge catuṣpādaścāturvarṇyasya śāśvataḥ

This dharma bearing the marks of the Krita, joined to union with the Self, stands on all four feet in the Krita age and is everlasting for the four classes.

Verse 24 (3.151.24)

कामः कामयमानेषु ब्राह्मणेषु तिरोहितः । एतत्कृतयुगं नाम त्रैगुण्यपरिवर्जितम् ॥

kāmaḥ kāmayamāneṣu brāhmaṇeṣu tirohitaḥ | etatkṛtayugaṃ nāma traiguṇyaparivarjitam

Desire itself had vanished from the Brahmins, even when they wished for things. Such is the age called Krita, free of the three gunas.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and '). The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; not recorded in its apparatus here); the second is CE 3.148.22ab.

Verse 25 (3.151.25)

त्रेतामपि निबोध त्वं यस्मिन्सत्रं प्रवर्तते । पादेन ह्रसते धर्मो रक्ततां याति चाच्युतः ॥

tretāmapi nibodha tvaṃ yasminsatraṃ pravartate | pādena hrasate dharmo raktatāṃ yāti cācyutaḥ

Learn now of the Treta too, in which sacrifice begins. Dharma declines by one quarter, and Achyuta becomes red.

Note on the text: Corrected यस्मन् → यस्मिन् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign, the critical edition reads yasmin). This verse is CE 3.148.22cd and 23ab (Wikisource divides the lines differently).

Verse 26 (3.151.26)

सत्यप्रवृत्ताश्च नराः क्रिया धर्मपरायणाः । ततो यज्ञाः प्रवर्तन्ते धर्माश्च विविधाः क्रियाः ॥

satyapravṛttāśca narāḥ kriyā dharmaparāyaṇāḥ | tato yajñāḥ pravartante dharmāśca vividhāḥ kriyāḥ

Men are given to truth, and their rites are bent on dharma. Then sacrifices come into being, and dharma and rites of many kinds.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (धर्माश्चविविधाः → धर्माश्च विविधाः). This verse is CE 3.148.23cd and 24ab.

Verse 27 (3.151.27)

त्रेतायां भावसंकल्पाः क्रियादानफलोपगाः । प्रचलन्ति न वै धर्मात्तपोदानपरायणाः । स्वधर्मस्थाः क्रियावन्तो नरास्त्रेतायुगेऽभवन् ॥

tretāyāṃ bhāvasaṃkalpāḥ kriyādānaphalopagāḥ | pracalanti na vai dharmāttapodānaparāyaṇāḥ | svadharmasthāḥ kriyāvanto narāstretāyuge'bhavan

In the Treta, purposes and resolves aim at the fruits of rites and gifts. Devoted to austerity and giving, people do not stray from dharma; in the Treta age men kept to their own duties and performed the rites.

Note on the text: This verse is CE 3.148.24cd and 25 (three lines).

Verse 28 (3.151.28)

द्वापरे च युगे धर्मो द्विभागोनः प्रवर्तते । विष्णुर्वै पीततां याति चतुर्धा वेद एव च ॥

dvāpare ca yuge dharmo dvibhāgonaḥ pravartate | viṣṇurvai pītatāṃ yāti caturdhā veda eva ca

In the Dvapara age dharma goes on less by two quarters. Vishnu becomes yellow, and the Veda becomes fourfold.

Note on the text: Corrected द्विभागो नः → द्विभागोनः (misprint in Wikisource; a stray space broke the word “less by two parts”, the critical edition reads dvibhāgonaḥ).

Verse 29 (3.151.29)

ततोऽन्ये च चतुर्वेदास्त्रिवेदाश्च तथा परे । द्विवेदाश्चैकवेदाश्चाप्यनृचश्च तथा परे ॥

tato'nye ca caturvedāstrivedāśca tathā pare | dvivedāścaikavedāścāpyanṛcaśca tathā pare

Then some know four Vedas, others three, others two, others one, and still others no verses of the Rik at all.

Verse 30 (3.151.30)

एवं शास्त्रेषु भिन्नेषु बहुधा नीयते क्रिया । तपोदानप्रवृत्ता च राजसी भवति प्रजा ॥

evaṃ śāstreṣu bhinneṣu bahudhā nīyate kriyā | tapodānapravṛttā ca rājasī bhavati prajā

With the scriptures thus divided, ritual is drawn in many directions; people turn to austerity and giving, and come under the sway of rajas.

Note on the text: Corrected भिननेषु → भिन्नेषु (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct, the critical edition reads bhinneṣu).

Verse 31 (3.151.31)

एकवेदस्य चाज्ञानाद्वेदास्ते बहवः कृताः । सत्यस्य चेह विभ्रंशात्सत्ये कश्चिदवस्थितः ॥

ekavedasya cājñānādvedāste bahavaḥ kṛtāḥ | satyasya ceha vibhraṃśātsatye kaścidavasthitaḥ

Because the one Veda is not understood, the Vedas are made many; and as truth falls away, only a few remain established in truth.

Verse 32 (3.151.32)

सत्यात्प्रच्यवमानानां व्याधयो बहवोऽभवन् । कामाश्चोपद्रवाश्चैव तदा वै दैवकारिताः ॥

satyātpracyavamānānāṃ vyādhayo bahavo'bhavan | kāmāścopadravāścaiva tadā vai daivakāritāḥ

Among those who slip from truth many diseases arose, and desires and calamities brought on by fate.

Note on the text: Corrected व्याघयो → व्याधयो (misprint in Wikisource; घ for ध, the critical edition reads vyādhayo).

Verse 33 (3.151.33)

यैरर्द्यमानाः सुभृशं तपस्तप्यन्ति मानवाः । कामकामाः स्वर्गकामा यज्ञांस्तन्वन्ति चापरे ॥

yairardyamānāḥ subhṛśaṃ tapastapyanti mānavāḥ | kāmakāmāḥ svargakāmā yajñāṃstanvanti cāpare

Sorely afflicted by these, men practise austerities; others, longing for pleasures or for heaven, perform sacrifices.

Note on the text: Corrected यैरर्द्यभानाः → यैरर्द्यमानाः (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म, the critical edition reads yair ardyamānāḥ).

Verse 34 (3.151.34)

एवं द्वापरमासाद्य प्रजाः क्षीयन्त्यधर्मतः । पादेनैकेन कौन्तेय धर्मः कलियुगे स्थितः ॥

evaṃ dvāparamāsādya prajāḥ kṣīyantyadharmataḥ | pādenaikena kaunteya dharmaḥ kaliyuge sthitaḥ

Thus, on reaching the Dvapara, creatures waste away through adharma. In the Kali age, son of Kunti, dharma stands on a single foot.

Verse 35 (3.151.35)

तामसं युगमासाद्य कृष्णो भवति केशवः । वेदाचाराः प्रशाम्यन्ति धर्मयज्ञक्रियास्तथा ॥

tāmasaṃ yugamāsādya kṛṣṇo bhavati keśavaḥ | vedācārāḥ praśāmyanti dharmayajñakriyāstathā

When the age of tamas comes, Keshava becomes black. Vedic ways die out, and so do dharma, sacrifice and rite.

Verse 36 (3.151.36)

ईतयो व्याधयस्तन्द्री दोषाः क्रोधादयस्तथा । उपद्रवाः प्रवर्तन्ते आधयो व्याधयस्तथा ॥

ītayo vyādhayastandrī doṣāḥ krodhādayastathā | upadravāḥ pravartante ādhayo vyādhayastathā

Blights, diseases, sloth, faults such as anger, calamities, and sorrows of mind and body arise.

Verse 37 (3.151.37)

युगेष्वावर्तमानेषु धर्मो व्यावर्तते पुनः । धर्मे व्यावर्तमाने तु लोको व्यावर्तते पुनः ॥

yugeṣvāvartamāneṣu dharmo vyāvartate punaḥ | dharme vyāvartamāne tu loko vyāvartate punaḥ

As the ages turn, dharma declines in turn; and as dharma declines, the world declines in turn.

Verse 38 (3.151.38)

लोके क्षीणे क्षयं यान्ति भावा लोकप्रवर्तकाः । युगक्षयकृता धर्माः प्रार्थनानि विकुर्वते ॥

loke kṣīṇe kṣayaṃ yānti bhāvā lokapravartakāḥ | yugakṣayakṛtā dharmāḥ prārthanāni vikurvate

When the world wastes away, the forces that move the world waste away too. The dharmas born of the decline of the age turn men’s hopes awry.

Note on the text: Corrected यानति → यान्ति (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct, the critical edition reads yānti).

Verse 39 (3.151.39)

एतत्कलियुगं नाम अचिराद्यत्प्रवर्तते । युगानुवर्तनं त्वेतत्कुर्वन्ति चिरजीविनः ॥

etatkaliyugaṃ nāma acirādyatpravartate | yugānuvartanaṃ tvetatkurvanti cirajīvinaḥ

This is the age called Kali, which will soon begin. Even the long-lived follow this turning of the ages.

Verse 40 (3.151.40)

यच्च ते मत्परिज्ञाने कौतूहलमरिंदम । अनर्थकेषु को भावः पुरुषस्य विजानतः ॥

yacca te matparijñāne kautūhalamariṃdama | anarthakeṣu ko bhāvaḥ puruṣasya vijānataḥ

As for your curiosity to know me, tamer of foes: why should a man of understanding set his heart on what serves no purpose?

Verse 41 (3.151.41)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि । युगसङ्ख्यां महाबाहो स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि गम्यताम् ॥

etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ yanmāṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi | yugasaṅkhyāṃ mahābāho svasti prāpnuhi gamyatām

I have told you all that you asked of me, the reckoning of the ages, mighty-armed one. Fare well; now go.