The Characteristics of Kali-yuga

Verse 1 (bhagavata.12.2.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच ततश्चानुदिनं धर्मः सत्यं शौचं क्षमा दया । कालेन बलिना राजन् नङ्क्ष्यत्यायुर्बलं स्मृतिः ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca tataś cānu-dinaṁ dharmaḥ satyaṁ śaucaṁ kṣamā dayā kālena balinā rājan naṅkṣyaty āyur balaṁ smṛtiḥ

Shri Shuka said: Then, O King, day by day, under the force of powerful Time, righteousness, truth, cleanliness, tolerance, mercy, lifespan, physical strength, and memory will all diminish.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.12.2.2)

वित्तमेव कलौ नृणां जन्माचारगुणोदयः । धर्मन्यायव्यवस्थायां कारणं बलमेव हि ॥ २ ॥

vittam eva kalau nṝṇāṁ janmācāra-guṇodayaḥ dharma-nyāya-vyavasthāyāṁ kāraṇaṁ balam eva hi

In the Age of Kali, wealth alone will be regarded as the mark of good birth, right conduct, and virtue; and in matters of law and justice, might alone will be the deciding factor.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.12.2.3)

दाम्पत्येऽभिरुचिर्हेतुर्मायैव व्यावहारिके । स्त्रीत्वे पुंस्त्वे च हि रतिर्विप्रत्वे सूत्रमेव हि ॥ ३ ॥

dāmpatye ’bhirucir hetur māyaiva vyāvahārike strītve puṁstve ca hi ratir vipratve sūtram eva hi

Mutual attraction alone will be the basis of marriage, and deceit alone will govern worldly dealings. Womanliness and manliness will be judged by skill in sexual pleasure, and brahminhood will be proven merely by wearing the sacred thread.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.12.2.4)

लिङ्गमेवाश्रमख्यातावन्योन्यापत्तिकारणम् । अवृत्त्या न्यायदौर्बल्यं पाण्डित्ये चापलं वचः ॥ ४ ॥

liṅgam evāśrama-khyātāv anyonyāpatti-kāraṇam avṛttyā nyāya-daurbalyaṁ pāṇḍitye cāpalaṁ vacaḥ

Mere outward marks will proclaim one's spiritual order, and on that basis alone people will pass from one order to another. Lacking a livelihood, a person's very integrity will be doubted, and one who speaks cleverly and glibly will be taken for a scholar.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.12.2.5)

अनाढ्यतैवासाधुत्वे साधुत्वे दम्भ एव तु । स्वीकार एव चोद्वाहे स्नानमेव प्रसाधनम् ॥ ५ ॥

anāḍhyataivāsādhutve sādhutve dambha eva tu svīkāra eva codvāhe snānam eva prasādhanam

Poverty alone will be counted as wickedness, and hypocrisy alone will pass for virtue. Marriage will be settled by mutual consent alone, and a mere bath will be considered sufficient grooming.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.12.2.6)

दूरे वार्ययनं तीर्थं लावण्यं केशधारणम् । उदरंभरता स्वार्थः सत्यत्वे धार्ष्ट्यमेव हि । दाक्ष्यं कुटुम्बभरणं यशोऽर्थे धर्मसेवनम् ॥ ६ ॥

dūre vāry-ayanaṁ tīrthaṁ lāvaṇyaṁ keśa-dhāraṇam udaraṁ-bharatā svārthaḥ satyatve dhārṣṭyam eva hi dākṣyaṁ kuṭumba-bharaṇaṁ yaśo ’rthe dharma-sevanam

A distant reservoir of water will be taken for a place of pilgrimage, and a fine head of hair for beauty. Filling one's belly will become the whole aim of self-interest, and mere boldness will pass for truthfulness. Whoever can support a family will be called competent, and religious duty will be practiced only for the sake of reputation.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.12.2.7)

एवं प्रजाभिर्दुष्टाभिराकीर्णे क्षितिमण्डले । ब्रह्मविट्क्षत्रशूद्राणां यो बली भविता नृपः ॥ ७ ॥

evaṁ prajābhir duṣṭābhir ākīrṇe kṣiti-maṇḍale brahma-viṭ-kṣatra-śūdrāṇāṁ yo balī bhavitā nṛpaḥ

Thus, when the circle of the earth becomes filled with such corrupted people, whoever proves strongest among the brahmanas, vaishyas, kshatriyas or shudras will seize the throne.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.12.2.8)

प्रजा हि लुब्धै राजन्यैर्निर्घृणैर्दस्युधर्मभिः । आच्छिन्नदारद्रविणा यास्यन्ति गिरिकाननम् ॥ ८ ॥

prajā hi lubdhai rājanyair nirghṛṇair dasyu-dharmabhiḥ ācchinna-dāra-draviṇā yāsyanti giri-kānanam

Stripped of their wives and wealth by such greedy, merciless rulers who behave no better than bandits, the people will flee to the mountains and forests.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.12.2.9)

शाकमूलामिषक्षौद्रफलपुष्पाष्टिभोजनाः । अनावृष्टया विनङ्क्ष्यन्ति दुर्भिक्षकरपीडिताः ॥ ९ ॥

śāka-mūlāmiṣa-kṣaudra- phala-puṣpāṣṭi-bhojanāḥ anāvṛṣṭyā vinaṅkṣyanti durbhikṣa-kara-pīḍitāḥ

Living on leafy greens, roots, meat, wild honey, fruit, flowers and seeds, and afflicted by famine and heavy taxation, the people will perish for want of rain.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.12.2.10)

शीतवातातपप्रावृड्हिमैरन्योन्यतः प्रजाः । क्षुत्तृड्भ्यां व्याधिभिश्चैव सन्तप्स्यन्ते च चिन्तया ॥ १० ॥

śīta-vātātapa-prāvṛḍ- himair anyonyataḥ prajāḥ kṣut-tṛḍbhyāṁ vyādhibhiś caiva santapsyante ca cintayā

The people will be tormented, now by one and now by another, by cold, wind, heat, rain and snow, and equally by hunger, thirst, disease and anxiety.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.12.2.11)

त्रिंशद्विंशतिवर्षाणि परमायुः कलौ नृणाम् ॥ ११ ॥

triṁśad viṁśati varṣāṇi paramāyuḥ kalau nṛṇām

In the Age of Kali, the utmost span of a man's life will be but fifty years.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.12.2.12)

क्षीयमाणेषु देहेषु देहिनां कलिदोषतः । वर्णाश्रमवतां धर्मे नष्टे वेदपथे नृणाम् ॥ १२ ॥

kṣīyamāṇeṣu deheṣu dehināṁ kali-doṣataḥ varṇāśramavatāṁ dharme naṣṭe veda-pathe nṛṇām

As, owing to the taint of Kali, the bodies of embodied beings keep shrinking, as the religion of those who follow varna and ashrama is destroyed, and as the path of the Vedas is forgotten among men,

Verse 13 (bhagavata.12.2.13)

पाषण्डप्रचुरे धर्मे दस्युप्रायेषु राजसु । चौर्यानृतवृथाहिंसानानावृत्तिषु वै नृषु ॥ १३ ॥

pāṣaṇḍa-pracure dharme dasyu-prāyeṣu rājasu cauryānṛta-vṛthā-hiṁsā- nānā-vṛttiṣu vai nṛṣu

as religion becomes overrun with heresy, as kings become mostly no better than bandits, and men take up all manner of livelihoods marked by theft, falsehood and needless violence,

Verse 14 (bhagavata.12.2.14)

शूद्रप्रायेषु वर्णेषुच्छागप्रायासु धेनुषु । गृहप्रायेष्वाश्रमेषु यौनप्रायेषु बन्धुषु ॥ १४ ॥

śūdra-prāyeṣu varṇeṣu cchāga-prāyāsu dhenuṣu gṛha-prāyeṣv āśrameṣu yauna-prāyeṣu bandhuṣu

as the social classes become mostly shudra-like, cows become mostly like goats giving little milk, the ashramas become nothing but households, and kinship rests on nothing but marriage-ties,

Verse 15 (bhagavata.12.2.15)

अणुप्रायास्वोषधीषु शमीप्रायेषु स्थास्नुषु । विद्युत्प्रायेषु मेघेषु शून्यप्रायेषु सद्मसु ॥ १५ ॥

aṇu-prāyāsv oṣadhīṣu śamī-prāyeṣu sthāsnuṣu vidyut-prāyeṣu megheṣu śūnya-prāyeṣu sadmasu

as plants become mostly stunted, trees become mostly small like the shami shrub, clouds become mostly rainless, given only to lightning, and homes become mostly empty and abandoned —

Verse 16 (bhagavata.12.2.16)

इत्थं कलौ गतप्राये जनेषु खरधर्मिषु । धर्मत्राणाय सत्त्वेन भगवानवतरिष्यति ॥ १६ ॥

itthaṁ kalau gata-prāye janeṣu khara-dharmiṣu dharma-trāṇāya sattvena bhagavān avatariṣyati

thus, when the Age of Kali has almost run its course and people have become nearly donkey-like in nature, the Supreme Lord will descend in His form of pure goodness, to protect dharma.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.12.2.17)

चराचरगुरोर्विष्णोरीश्वरस्याखिलात्मनः । धर्मत्राणाय साधूनां जन्म कर्मापनुत्तये ॥ १७ ॥

carācara-guror viṣṇor īśvarasyākhilātmanaḥ dharma-trāṇāya sādhūnāṁ janma karmāpanuttaye

This birth of Vishnu, the teacher of all moving and unmoving beings, the Lord, the Self of all, will come to protect the dharma of the saintly and to remove their karma.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.12.2.18)

शम्भलग्राममुख्यस्य ब्राह्मणस्य महात्मनः । भवने विष्णुयशसः कल्किः प्रादुर्भविष्यति ॥ १८ ॥

śambhala-grāma-mukhyasya brāhmaṇasya mahātmanaḥ bhavane viṣṇuyaśasaḥ kalkiḥ prādurbhaviṣyati

In the home of Vishnuyasha, the foremost and great-souled brahmana of Shambhala village, Lord Kalki will appear.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.12.2.19)

अश्वमाशुगमारुह्य देवदत्तं जगत्पतिः । असिनासाधुदमनमष्टैश्वर्यगुणान्वितः ॥ १९ ॥

aśvam āśu-gam āruhya devadattaṁ jagat-patiḥ asināsādhu-damanam aṣṭaiśvarya-guṇānvitaḥ

Mounting His swift horse Devadatta, the Lord of the universe, endowed with the eight mystic opulences and His transcendental qualities, sword in hand to subdue the wicked,

Verse 20 (bhagavata.12.2.20)

विचरन्नाशुना क्षौण्यां हयेनाप्रतिमद्युतिः । नृपलिङ्गच्छदो दस्यून्कोटिशो निहनिष्यति ॥ २० ॥

vicarann āśunā kṣauṇyāṁ hayenāpratima-dyutiḥ nṛpa-liṅga-cchado dasyūn koṭiśo nihaniṣyati

will roam the earth on that horse with matchless splendor, and slay by the millions the bandits who parade under the guise of kings.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.12.2.21)

अथ तेषां भविष्यन्ति मनांसि विशदानि वै । वासुदेवाङ्गरागातिपुण्यगन्धानिलस्पृशाम् । पौरजानपदानां वै हतेष्वखिलदस्युषु ॥ २१ ॥

atha teṣāṁ bhaviṣyanti manāṁsi viśadāni vai vāsudevāṅga-rāgāti- puṇya-gandhānila-spṛśām paura-jānapadānāṁ vai hateṣv akhila-dasyuṣu

Then, once all the bandits have been slain, the minds of the people of the towns and countryside will grow pure at the touch of the breeze bearing the most sacred fragrance of the sandal paste on Lord Vasudeva's own limbs.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.12.2.22)

तेषां प्रजाविसर्गश्च स्थविष्ठः सम्भविष्यति । वासुदेवे भगवति सत्त्वमूर्तौ हृदि स्थिते ॥ २२ ॥

teṣāṁ prajā-visargaś ca sthaviṣṭhaḥ sambhaviṣyati vāsudeve bhagavati sattva-mūrtau hṛdi sthite

With Bhagavan Vasudeva, the embodiment of pure goodness, seated in their hearts, those people will bring forth offspring in great abundance.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.12.2.23)

यदावतीर्णो भगवान् कल्किर्धर्मपतिर्हरिः । कृतं भविष्यति तदा प्रजासूतिश्च सात्त्विकी ॥ २३ ॥

yadāvatīrṇo bhagavān kalkir dharma-patir hariḥ kṛtaṁ bhaviṣyati tadā prajā-sūtiś ca sāttvikī

When Bhagavan Hari, lord of dharma, has descended as Kalki, the Satya age will begin, and the begetting of offspring will be governed by the mode of goodness.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.12.2.24)

यदा चन्द्रश्च सूर्यश्च तथा तिष्यबृहस्पती । एकराशौ समेष्यन्ति भविष्यति तदा कृतम् ॥ २४ ॥

yadā candraś ca sūryaś ca tathā tiṣya-bṛhaspatī eka-rāśau sameṣyanti bhaviṣyati tadā kṛtam

When the moon, the sun, and likewise the star Pushya together with Brihaspati come together in a single sign, then the Satya age will begin.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.12.2.25)

येऽतीता वर्तमाना ये भविष्यन्ति च पार्थिवाः । ते त उद्देशतः प्रोक्ता वंशीयाः सोमसूर्ययोः ॥ २५ ॥

ye ’tītā vartamānā ye bhaviṣyanti ca pārthivāḥ te ta uddeśataḥ proktā vaṁśīyāḥ soma-sūryayoḥ

Thus, O King, I have told in outline of those kings, past, present and yet to come, who belong to the solar and lunar dynasties.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.12.2.26)

आरभ्य भवतो जन्म यावन्नन्दाभिषेचनम् । एतद् वर्षसहस्रं तु शतं पञ्चदशोत्तरम् ॥ २६ ॥

ārabhya bhavato janma yāvan nandābhiṣecanam etad varṣa-sahasraṁ tu śataṁ pañcadaśottaram

From your own birth up to the coronation of Nanda, this span will be one thousand one hundred and fifteen years.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.12.2.27)

सप्तर्षीणां तु यौ पूर्वौ दृश्येते उदितौ दिवि । तयोस्तु मध्ये नक्षत्रं दृश्यते यत् समं निशि ॥ २७ ॥

saptarṣīṇāṁ tu yau pūrvau dṛśyete uditau divi tayos tu madhye nakṣatraṁ dṛśyate yat samaṁ niśi

Of the Seven Sages, the two stars seen rising first in the night sky — whichever lunar asterism is seen at night level with the point midway between them,

Verse 28 (bhagavata.12.2.28)

तेनैव ऋषयो युक्तास्तिष्ठन्त्यब्दशतं नृणाम् । ते त्वदीये द्विजाः काल अधुना चाश्रिता मघाः ॥ २८ ॥

tenaiva ṛṣayo yuktās tiṣṭhanty abda-śataṁ nṛṇām te tvadīye dvijāḥ kāla adhunā cāśritā maghāḥ

joined to that same asterism, the Seven Sages remain for a hundred years of men. O twice-born one, at the time of your birth they rested on the star Magha, and even now remain there.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.12.2.29)

विष्णोर्भगवतो भानुः कृष्णाख्योऽसौ दिवं गतः । तदाविशत् कलिर्लोकं पापे यद् रमते जनः ॥ २९ ॥

viṣṇor bhagavato bhānuḥ kṛṣṇākhyo ’sau divaṁ gataḥ tadāviśat kalir lokaṁ pāpe yad ramate janaḥ

That radiance of Bhagavan Vishnu known as Krishna has gone to the heavens; from that very moment Kali entered this world, wherein people now take pleasure in sin.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.12.2.30)

यावत् स पादपद्माभ्यां स्पृशनास्ते रमापतिः । तावत् कलिर्वै पृथिवीं पराक्रन्तुं न चाशकत् ॥ ३० ॥

yāvat sa pāda-padmābhyāṁ spṛśan āste ramā-patiḥ tāvat kalir vai pṛthivīṁ parākrantuṁ na cāśakat

So long as He, the husband of Rama, kept touching the earth with His lotus feet, Kali remained powerless to overpower it.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.12.2.31)

यदा देवर्षयः सप्त मघासु विचरन्ति हि । तदा प्रवृत्तस्तु कलिर्द्वादशाब्दशतात्मकः ॥ ३१ ॥

yadā devarṣayaḥ sapta maghāsu vicaranti hi tadā pravṛttas tu kalir dvādaśābda-śatātmakaḥ

When the seven divine sages move through the star Magha, then Kali, comprising twelve hundred celestial years, begins.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.12.2.32)

यदा मघाभ्यो यास्यन्ति पूर्वाषाढां महर्षयः । तदा नन्दात् प्रभृत्येष कलिर्वृद्धिं गमिष्यति ॥ ३२ ॥

yadā maghābhyo yāsyanti pūrvāṣāḍhāṁ maharṣayaḥ tadā nandāt prabhṛty eṣa kalir vṛddhiṁ gamiṣyati

When the great sages pass on from Magha to Purvashadha, then, beginning from the time of Nanda, this Kali will come into its full strength.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.12.2.33)

यस्मिन् कृष्णो दिवं यातस्तस्मिन्नेव तदाहनि । प्रतिपन्नं कलियुगमिति प्राहुः पुराविदः ॥ ३३ ॥

yasmin kṛṣṇo divaṁ yātas tasminn eva tadāhani pratipannaṁ kali-yugam iti prāhuḥ purā-vidaḥ

On the very day that Shri Krishna departed for the heavens, on that same day, say those who know the past, the Kali age had already begun.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.12.2.34)

दिव्याब्दानां सहस्रान्ते चतुर्थे तु पुनः कृतम् । भविष्यति तदा नृणां मन आत्मप्रकाशकम् ॥ ३४ ॥

divyābdānāṁ sahasrānte caturthe tu punaḥ kṛtam bhaviṣyati tadā nṝṇāṁ mana ātma-prakāśakam

At the end of its one thousand celestial years, the fourth age, Satya, will dawn once more; then the minds of men will again shine with their own light.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.12.2.35)

इत्येष मानवो वंशो यथा सङ्ख्यायते भुवि । तथा विट्शूद्रविप्राणां तास्ता ज्ञेया युगे युगे ॥ ३५ ॥

ity eṣa mānavo vaṁśo yathā saṅkhyāyate bhuvi tathā viṭ-śūdra-viprāṇāṁ tās tā jñeyā yuge yuge

Thus I have described this royal dynasty of Manu, as it is reckoned on this earth. In the same way, the lineages of the vaishyas, shudras and brahmanas are to be known age after age.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.12.2.36)

एतेषां नामलिङ्गानां पुरुषाणां महात्मनाम् । कथामात्रावशिष्टानां कीर्तिरेव स्थिता भुवि ॥ ३६ ॥

eteṣāṁ nāma-liṅgānāṁ puruṣāṇāṁ mahātmanām kathā-mātrāvaśiṣṭānāṁ kīrtir eva sthitā bhuvi

Of these great-souled men, now surviving only as names and marks, remembered only in accounts of the past, only their fame still stands upon the earth.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.12.2.37)

देवापिः शान्तनोर्भ्राता मरुश्चेक्ष्वाकुवंशजः । कलापग्राम आसाते महायोगबलान्वितौ ॥ ३७ ॥

devāpiḥ śāntanor bhrātā maruś cekṣvāku-vaṁśa-jaḥ kalāpa-grāma āsāte mahā-yoga-balānvitau

Devapi, the brother of Shantanu, and Maru, born of the Ikshvaku line, both endowed with great yogic strength, dwell even now in the village of Kalapa.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.12.2.38)

ताविहैत्य कलेरन्ते वासुदेवानुशिक्षितौ । वर्णाश्रमयुतं धर्मं पूर्ववत् प्रथयिष्यतः ॥ ३८ ॥

tāv ihaitya kaler ante vāsudevānuśikṣitau varṇāśrama-yutaṁ dharmaṁ pūrva-vat prathayiṣyataḥ

At the end of the Age of Kali, having received instruction directly from Bhagavan Vasudeva, those two will come here and once again spread the dharma of varna and ashrama, just as it was before.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.12.2.39)

कृतं त्रेता द्वापरं च कलिश्चेति चतुर्युगम् । अनेन क्रमयोगेन भुवि प्राणिषु वर्तते ॥ ३९ ॥

kṛtaṁ tretā dvāparaṁ ca kaliś ceti catur-yugam anena krama-yogena bhuvi prāṇiṣu vartate

Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali — this fourfold age proceeds in this same sequence among living beings on this earth, again and again.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.12.2.40)

राजन्नेते मया प्रोक्ता नरदेवास्तथापरे । भूमौ ममत्वं कृत्वान्ते हित्वेमां निधनं गताः ॥ ४० ॥

rājann ete mayā proktā nara-devās tathāpare bhūmau mamatvaṁ kṛtvānte hitvemāṁ nidhanaṁ gatāḥ

O King, all these kings I have described, and other rulers of men besides, laid claim upon this earth as 'mine,' and in the end, having given it up, met their death.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.12.2.41)

कृमिविड्भस्मसंज्ञान्ते राजनाम्नोऽपि यस्य च । भूतध्रुक् तत्कृते स्वार्थं किं वेद निरयो यतः ॥ ४१ ॥

kṛmi-viḍ-bhasma-saṁjñānte rāja-nāmno ’pi yasya ca bhūta-dhruk tat-kṛte svārthaṁ kiṁ veda nirayo yataḥ

In the end, that body once known by the very name of 'king' comes to be called 'worm,' or 'excrement,' or 'ash.' What true self-interest can he know who injures other beings for the sake of that body, when his path leads only to hell?

Verse 42 (bhagavata.12.2.42)

कथं सेयमखण्डा भूः पूर्वैर्मे पुरुषैर्धृता । मत्पुत्रस्य च पौत्रस्य मत्पूर्वा वंशजस्य वा ॥ ४२ ॥

kathaṁ seyam akhaṇḍā bhūḥ pūrvair me puruṣair dhṛtā mat-putrasya ca pautrasya mat-pūrvā vaṁśa-jasya vā

The king thinks: 'How may this undivided earth, held before me by my forefathers, remain in the hands of my son, my grandson, or whoever else descends from my line?'

Verse 43 (bhagavata.12.2.43)

तेजोऽबन्नमयं कायं गृहीत्वात्मतयाबुधाः । महीं ममतया चोभौ हित्वान्तेऽदर्शनं गताः ॥ ४३ ॥

tejo-’b-anna-mayaṁ kāyaṁ gṛhītvātmatayābudhāḥ mahīṁ mamatayā cobhau hitvānte ’darśanaṁ gatāḥ

Taking up as 'self' this body made of fire, water and earth, and claiming this earth as 'mine,' the unwise, in the end, leave behind both body and earth and pass into oblivion.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.12.2.44)

ये ये भूपतयो राजन् भुञ्जते भुवमोजसा । कालेन ते कृताः सर्वे कथामात्राः कथासु च ॥ ४४ ॥

ye ye bhū-patayo rājan bhuñjate bhuvam ojasā kālena te kṛtāḥ sarve kathā-mātrāḥ kathāsu ca

O King, whatever lords of the earth have enjoyed it by their own might — every one of them has, in time, been reduced by Time to nothing more than a tale told among tales.