The Future Dynasties, the Kalki Avatar, and the Song of the Earth

Verse 1 (vishnu.4.24.1)

श्रीपराशर उवाच । योऽयं रिपुंजयो नाम बार्हद्रथोंत्यः तस्यामात्यो मुनिको नाम भविष्यति । स चैनं स्वामिनं हत्वा स्वुपुत्रं प्रद्योतनामानमभिषेक्ष्यति । तस्यापि बलाकनामा पुत्रो भविता । ततश्च विशाखयूपः ।

śrīparāśara uvāca yo'yaṁ ripuṁjayo nāma bārhadrathoṁtyaḥ tasyāmātyo muniko nāma bhaviṣyati sa cainaṁ svāminaṁ hatvā svuputraṁ pradyotanāmānamabhiṣekṣyati tasyāpi balākanāmā putro bhavitā tataśca viśākhayūpaḥ

Shri Parashara said: This Ripunjaya, the last of the Barhadrathas, will have a minister named Munika. He will kill his master and install his own son, named Pradyota, on the throne. His son too will be named Balaka. Then will come Vishakhayupa.

Verse 2 (vishnu.4.24.2)

तत्पुत्रो जनकः । तस्य च नंदिवर्द्धनः । ततो नंदी । इत्येतेष्टत्रिंशदुत्तरमष्टशतं पंच प्रद्योताः पृथिवीं भोक्ष्यन्ति ।

tatputro janakaḥ tasya ca naṁdivarddhanaḥ tato naṁdī ityeteṣṭatriṁśaduttaramaṣṭaśataṁ paṁca pradyotāḥ pṛthivīṁ bhokṣyanti

His son will be Janaka. His son too, Nandivardhana. Then Nandi. Thus, these five Pradyota kings will enjoy the earth for one hundred and thirty-eight years.

Verse 3 (vishnu.4.24.3)

ततश्च शिशुनाभः । तत्पुत्रः काकवर्णो भविता । तस्य च पुत्रः क्षेमधर्मा । तस्यापि क्षतौजाः ।

tataśca śiśunābhaḥ tatputraḥ kākavarṇo bhavitā tasya ca putraḥ kṣemadharmā tasyāpi kṣataujāḥ

Then will come Shishunabha. His son will be Kakavarna. His son too, Kshemadharma. His son too, Kshatraujas.

Verse 4 (vishnu.4.24.4)

तत्पुत्रो विधिसारः । ततश्चाजातशत्रुः । तस्मादर्भकः । तस्माच्चोदयनः ।

tatputro vidhisāraḥ tataścājātaśatruḥ tasmādarbhakaḥ tasmāccodayanaḥ

His son will be Vidhisara. Then Ajatashatru. From him, Darbhaka. From him, Udayana.

Verse 5 (vishnu.4.24.5)

तस्मादपि नंदिवर्द्धनः । ततो महानंदी । इत्येते शैशनाभा भूपालास्त्रीणि वर्षशतानि द्विषष्ट्यधिकानि भविष्यंति । महानंदिनस्ततश्शूद्रा गर्भोद्भवोतिलुब्धोतिबलो महापद्मनामा नंदः परशुराम इवापरोऽखिलक्षत्रांतकारी भविष्यति ।

tasmādapi naṁdivarddhanaḥ tato mahānaṁdī ityete śaiśanābhā bhūpālāstrīṇi varṣaśatāni dviṣaṣṭyadhikāni bhaviṣyaṁti mahānaṁdinastataśśūdrā garbhodbhavotilubdhotibalo mahāpadmanāmā naṁdaḥ paraśurāma ivāparo'khilakṣatrāṁtakārī bhaviṣyati

His son too will be Nandivardhana. Then Mahanandi. Thus these Shaishunaga kings will rule for three hundred and sixty-two years. After Mahanandi, born of a shudra womb, exceedingly greedy and exceedingly powerful, will come the Nanda named Mahapadma, who, like Parashurama, will be another destroyer of the entire kshatriya race.

Verse 6 (vishnu.4.24.6)

ततः प्रभृति शूद्रा भूपाला भविष्यंति । स चैकच्छत्रामनुल्लंघितशासनो महापद्मः पृथिवीं भोक्ष्यते । तस्याप्यष्टौ सुतास्सुमाल्याद्य भवितारः । तस्य महापद्मस्यानुपृथिवीं भोक्ष्यंति ।

tataḥ prabhṛti śūdrā bhūpālā bhaviṣyaṁti sa caikacchatrāmanullaṁghitaśāsano mahāpadmaḥ pṛthivīṁ bhokṣyate tasyāpyaṣṭau sutāssumālyādya bhavitāraḥ tasya mahāpadmasyānupṛthivīṁ bhokṣyaṁti

From him onward, shudra kings will reign. That Mahapadma will enjoy the earth under his sole, unbroken command. He too will have eight sons, Sumalya and others. After that Mahapadma, they themselves will enjoy the earth.

Verse 7 (vishnu.4.24.7)

महापद्मपुत्राश्चैकं वर्षशतमवनीपतयो भविष्यंति । ततश्च नवचैतान्नंदान् कौटिल्यो ब्राह्मणस्समुद्धरिष्यति । तेषामभावे मौर्व्याः पृथिवीं भोक्ष्यंति । कौटिल्य एव चंद्रगुप्तसुत्पन्नं राज्येऽभिषेक्ष्यति ।

mahāpadmaputrāścaikaṁ varṣaśatamavanīpatayo bhaviṣyaṁti tataśca navacaitānnaṁdān kauṭilyo brāhmaṇassamuddhariṣyati teṣāmabhāve maurvyāḥ pṛthivīṁ bhokṣyaṁti kauṭilya eva caṁdraguptasutpannaṁ rājye'bhiṣekṣyati

Mahapadma's sons will rule as kings for a hundred years. Then a brahmin named Kautilya will uproot those nine Nandas. In their absence, the Mauryas will enjoy the earth. Kautilya himself will consecrate Chandragupta to the throne.

Verse 8 (vishnu.4.24.8)

तस्यापि पुत्रो बिंदुसारो भविष्यति । तस्याप्यशोकवर्द्धनस्ततस्सुयशास्ततश्च दशरथस्ततश्च संयुतस्ततश्शालिशूकस्तस्मात्सोमशर्मा तस्यापि सोमशर्मणश्शतधन्वा । तस्यानुबृहद्रथनामा भविता । एवमेते मौर्य्या दश भूपतयो भविष्यंति अब्दशतं सप्तत्रिंशदुत्तरम् ।

tasyāpi putro biṁdusāro bhaviṣyati tasyāpyaśokavarddhanastatassuyaśāstataśca daśarathastataśca saṁyutastataśśāliśūkastasmātsomaśarmā tasyāpi somaśarmaṇaśśatadhanvā tasyānubṛhadrathanāmā bhavitā evamete mauryyā daśa bhūpatayo bhaviṣyaṁti abdaśataṁ saptatriṁśaduttaram

His son too will be Bindusara. His son too, Ashokavardhana; then Suyashas; then Dasharatha; then Sangata; then Shalishuka; from him, Somasharma; his son too, from Somasharma, Shatadhanva. After him will come one named Brihadratha. Thus these ten Maurya kings will reign for one hundred and thirty-seven years.

Verse 9 (vishnu.4.24.9)

तेषामंते पृथिवीं दश शुंगा भोक्ष्यंति । पुष्यमित्रस्सेनापतिस्स्वामिनं हत्वा राज्यं करिष्यति तस्यात्मजोऽग्निमित्रः । तस्मात्सुज्येष्ठस्ततो वसुमित्रस्तस्मादप्युदंकस्ततः पुलिंदकस्ततो घोषवसुस्तस्मादपि वज्रमित्रस्ततो भागवतः ।

teṣāmaṁte pṛthivīṁ daśa śuṁgā bhokṣyaṁti puṣyamitrassenāpatissvāminaṁ hatvā rājyaṁ kariṣyati tasyātmajo'gnimitraḥ tasmātsujyeṣṭhastato vasumitrastasmādapyudaṁkastataḥ puliṁdakastato ghoṣavasustasmādapi vajramitrastato bhāgavataḥ

At their end, ten Shungas will enjoy the earth. The general Pushyamitra will kill his master and rule; his son will be Agnimitra. From him, Sujyeshtha; then Vasumitra; his son too, Udanka; then Pulindaka; then Ghoshavasu; his son too, Vajramitra; then Bhagavata.

Verse 10 (vishnu.4.24.10)

तस्माद्देवभूतिः । इत्येते शुंगा द्वादशोत्तरं वर्षशतं पृथिवीं भोक्ष्यंति । ततः कण्वानेषाभूर्यास्यति । देवभूतिं तु शुंगराजानं व्यसनिनं तस्यैवामात्यः कण्वो वसुदेवनामा तं निहत्य स्वयमवनीं भोक्ष्यति ।

tasmāddevabhūtiḥ ityete śuṁgā dvādaśottaraṁ varṣaśataṁ pṛthivīṁ bhokṣyaṁti tataḥ kaṇvāneṣābhūryāsyati devabhūtiṁ tu śuṁgarājānaṁ vyasaninaṁ tasyaivāmātyaḥ kaṇvo vasudevanāmā taṁ nihatya svayamavanīṁ bhokṣyati

From him will come Devabhuti. Thus these Shunga kings will enjoy the earth for one hundred and twelve years. Then this kingdom will pass to the Kanvas. The Shunga king Devabhuti, given to vice, will be slain by his own minister, a Kanva named Vasudeva, who will himself then enjoy the earth.

Verse 11 (vishnu.4.24.11)

तस्य पुत्रो भूमित्रस्तस्यापि नारायणः । नारायणात्मजस्सुशर्मा । एते काण्वायनाश्चत्वारः पंचचत्वारिंशद्वर्षाणि भूपतयो भविष्यंति । सुशर्माणं तु काण्वं तद्भूत्यो बलिपुच्छकनामा हत्वांध्रजातीयो वसुधां भोक्ष्यति ।

tasya putro bhūmitrastasyāpi nārāyaṇaḥ nārāyaṇātmajassuśarmā ete kāṇvāyanāścatvāraḥ paṁcacatvāriṁśadvarṣāṇi bhūpatayo bhaviṣyaṁti suśarmāṇaṁ tu kāṇvaṁ tadbhūtyo balipucchakanāmā hatvāṁdhrajātīyo vasudhāṁ bhokṣyati

His son will be Bhumitra; his son too, Narayana. Narayana's son will be Sushrama. These four Kanvayanas will be kings for forty-five years. That Kanva Sushrama will be killed by his own servant, an Andhra by birth named Balipucchaka, who will then enjoy the earth.

Verse 12 (vishnu.4.24.12)

ततश्च कृष्णनामा तद्भ्राता पृथिवीपतिर्भविष्यति । तस्यापि पुत्रः शांतकर्णिस्तस्यापि पूर्णोत्संगस्तत्पुत्रश्शातकर्णिस्तस्माच्च लम्बोदरस्तस्माच्च पिलकस्ततो मेघस्वातिस्ततः पटुमान् । ततश्चारिष्टकर्मा ततो हालाहलः । हालाहलात्पललकस्ततः पुलिंदसेनस्ततः सुंदरस्ततश्शातकर्णिस्तश्शिवस्वातिस्ततश्च गोमतिपुत्रस्तत्पुत्रोऽलिमान् ।

tataśca kṛṣṇanāmā tadbhrātā pṛthivīpatirbhaviṣyati tasyāpi putraḥ śāṁtakarṇistasyāpi pūrṇotsaṁgastatputraśśātakarṇistasmācca lambodarastasmācca pilakastato meghasvātistataḥ paṭumān tataścāriṣṭakarmā tato hālāhalaḥ hālāhalātpalalakastataḥ puliṁdasenastataḥ suṁdarastataśśātakarṇistaśśivasvātistataśca gomatiputrastatputro'limān

Then his brother, named Krishna, will be king of the earth. His son too, Shantakarni; his son too, Purnotsanga; his son, Shatakarni; from him, Lambodara; from him, Pilaka; then Meghasvati; then Patumaan; then Arishtakarma; then Halahala. From Halahala, Pallaka; then Pulindasena; then Sundara; then Shatakarni; then Shivasvati; then Gomatiputra; his son will be Aliman.

Verse 13 (vishnu.4.24.13)

तस्यापि शांतकर्णिस्ततः शिविश्रितस्तश्च शिवस्कंधस्तस्मादपि यज्ञश्रीस्ततो द्वियज्ञस्तस्माच्चंद्रश्रीः । तस्मात्पुलोमापिहि । एवमेवे त्रिंशच्चत्वार्यब्दशतानि षट्पंचाशदधिकानि पृथिवीं भोक्ष्यंति । आंध्रभृत्यास्सप्ताभीरप्रभृतयो दशगर्दभिनश्च भूभुजो भविष्यंति ।

tasyāpi śāṁtakarṇistataḥ śiviśritastaśca śivaskaṁdhastasmādapi yajñaśrīstato dviyajñastasmāccaṁdraśrīḥ tasmātpulomāpihi evameve triṁśaccatvāryabdaśatāni ṣaṭpaṁcāśadadhikāni pṛthivīṁ bhokṣyaṁti āṁdhrabhṛtyāssaptābhīraprabhṛtayo daśagardabhinaśca bhūbhujo bhaviṣyaṁti

His son too will be Shantakarni; then Shivishrita; then Shivaskandha; his son too, Yajnashri; then Dviyajna; from him, Chandrashri; from him will come Puloma. Thus these Andhrabhrityas will enjoy the earth for four hundred and fifty-six years. After them, seven Abhira and other kings, and ten Gardabhi kings, will follow.

Verse 14 (vishnu.4.24.14)

ततष्षोडश भूपतयो भवितारः । ततश्चाष्टौ यवनाश्चतुर्दश तुरुष्कारा मुंडाश्च त्रयोदश एकादश मौना एते वै पृथुवीपतयः पृथिवीं दशवर्षशतानि नवत्यधिकानि भोक्ष्यंति । ततश्च मौना एकादश भूपतयोऽब्दशतानि त्रीणि पृथिवीं भोक्ष्यंति ।

tataṣṣoḍaśa bhūpatayo bhavitāraḥ tataścāṣṭau yavanāścaturdaśa turuṣkārā muṁḍāśca trayodaśa ekādaśa maunā ete vai pṛthuvīpatayaḥ pṛthivīṁ daśavarṣaśatāni navatyadhikāni bhokṣyaṁti tataśca maunā ekādaśa bhūpatayo'bdaśatāni trīṇi pṛthivīṁ bhokṣyaṁti

Then there will be sixteen kings. Then eight Yavanas, fourteen Turushkas, thirteen Mundas, and eleven Maunas — all these lords of the earth will enjoy it for one thousand and ninety years. Then eleven Mauna kings will enjoy the earth for three hundred years.

Verse 15 (vishnu.4.24.15)

तेषूत्सन्नेषु कैंकिला यवना भूपतयो भविष्यंत्यमूर्द्धाभिषिक्ताः । तेषामपत्यं विंध्यशक्तिस्ततः पुंरजयस्तस्माद्रा मचंद्रस्तस्माद्धर्मवर्मा ततो वंगस्ततोभून्नंदनस्ततस्सुनंदी तद्भ्राता नंदियशाश्शुक्रः प्रवीर एते वर्षशतं षड्वर्षाणि भूपतयो भविष्यंति ।

teṣūtsanneṣu kaiṁkilā yavanā bhūpatayo bhaviṣyaṁtyamūrddhābhiṣiktāḥ teṣāmapatyaṁ viṁdhyaśaktistataḥ puṁrajayastasmādrā macaṁdrastasmāddharmavarmā tato vaṁgastatobhūnnaṁdanastatassunaṁdī tadbhrātā naṁdiyaśāśśukraḥ pravīra ete varṣaśataṁ ṣaḍvarṣāṇi bhūpatayo bhaviṣyaṁti

When they have ended, unconsecrated Kaikila Yavana kings will follow. Their offspring will be Vindhyashakti; then Puranjaya; from him, Ramachandra; from him, Dharmavarma; then Vanga; then Nandana; then Sunandi; his brother Nandiyasha; then Shukra; then Pravira — these will be kings for one hundred and six years.

Verse 16 (vishnu.4.24.16)

ततस्तत्पुत्रास्त्रयोदशैते बाह्लिकाश्च त्रयः । ततः पुष्पमित्राः पटुमियत्रास्त्रयोदशैकलाश्च सप्तांध्राः । ततश्च कोसलायां तु नव चैव भूपतयो भविष्यंति । नैषधास्तु त एव ।

tatastatputrāstrayodaśaite bāhlikāśca trayaḥ tataḥ puṣpamitrāḥ paṭumiyatrāstrayodaśaikalāśca saptāṁdhrāḥ tataśca kosalāyāṁ tu nava caiva bhūpatayo bhaviṣyaṁti naiṣadhāstu ta eva

Then his thirteen sons will follow, and three Bahlikas. Then Pushpamitras, Patumitras, thirteen Ekalas, and seven Andhras. Then in Kosala there will be just nine kings. The Naishadha kings too will be the same in number.

Verse 17 (vishnu.4.24.17)

मगधायां तु विश्वस्फटिकसंज्ञोऽन्यान्वर्णान्करिष्यति । कैवर्त्तबटुपुलिंदब्राह्मणान्राज्ये स्थपयिष्यति । उत्साद्याखिलक्षत्रजातिं नव नागाः पद्मवत्यां नाम पुर्यामनुगंगाप्रयागं गयाद्गुप्तांश्च मागधा भोक्ष्यंति । कोशलांध्रपुंड्रताम्रलिप्तसमतटपुरीं च देवरक्षितो रक्षिता ।

magadhāyāṁ tu viśvasphaṭikasaṁjño'nyānvarṇānkariṣyati kaivarttabaṭupuliṁdabrāhmaṇānrājye sthapayiṣyati utsādyākhilakṣatrajātiṁ nava nāgāḥ padmavatyāṁ nāma puryāmanugaṁgāprayāgaṁ gayādguptāṁśca māgadhā bhokṣyaṁti kośalāṁdhrapuṁḍratāmraliptasamataṭapurīṁ ca devarakṣito rakṣitā

In Magadha, a king named Vishvasphatika will install men of other classes in the kingdom — seating fisher-folk, apprentices and brahmins upon the throne. Having uprooted the whole kshatriya race, nine Naga kings, in the city named Padmavati, along the Ganga's bank as far as Prayaga and Gaya, will enjoy the Magadha kingdom. Kosala, Andhra, Pundra, Tamralipta and the city of Samatata will be guarded by Devarakshita.

Verse 18 (vishnu.4.24.18)

कलिंगमाहिषमहेंद्रभौमान् गुहा भोक्ष्यंति । नैषधनैमिषककालकोशकाञ्जनपदान्मणिधान्यकवंशा भोक्ष्यंति । त्रैराज्यमुषिकजनपदान्कनकाह्वयचो भोक्ष्यति । सौराष्ट्रावंत्यशूद्रा भीरान्नर्मदामरुभूविषयांश्च व्रात्यद्विजाभीरशूद्रा द्या भोक्ष्यंति ।

kaliṁgamāhiṣamaheṁdrabhaumān guhā bhokṣyaṁti naiṣadhanaimiṣakakālakośakāñjanapadānmaṇidhānyakavaṁśā bhokṣyaṁti trairājyamuṣikajanapadānkanakāhvayaco bhokṣyati saurāṣṭrāvaṁtyaśūdrā bhīrānnarmadāmarubhūviṣayāṁśca vrātyadvijābhīraśūdrā dyā bhokṣyaṁti

The kings of Kalinga, Mahisha and the Mahendra lands will be Guhas. The Naishadha, Naimisha, Kakala and Koshala territories will be enjoyed by the Manidhanyaka lineage. The Trairajya and Mushika territories will be enjoyed by the lineage called Kanaka. Saurashtra, Avanti, and the Shudra, Abhira, Narmada and desert regions will be enjoyed by Vratyas, brahmins, Abhiras, Shudras and the like.

Verse 19 (vishnu.4.24.19)

सिंधुतटदाविकोर्वीचंद्रभागाकाश्मीरविषयांश्च व्रात्यम्लेच्छशूद्रा दयो भोक्ष्यंति । एते च तुल्यकालास्सर्वे पृथिव्यां भूभुजो भविष्यंति । अल्पप्रसादा बृहत्कोपास्सार्वकालमनृताधर्मरुचयः स्त्रीबालगोवधकर्त्तारः परस्वादानरुचयोल्पसारास्तमिस्रप्राया उदितास्तमितप्राया अल्पायुषो महेच्छा ह्यल्पधर्मा लुब्धाश्च भविष्यन्ति ।

siṁdhutaṭadāvikorvīcaṁdrabhāgākāśmīraviṣayāṁśca vrātyamlecchaśūdrā dayo bhokṣyaṁti ete ca tulyakālāssarve pṛthivyāṁ bhūbhujo bhaviṣyaṁti alpaprasādā bṛhatkopāssārvakālamanṛtādharmarucayaḥ strībālagovadhakarttāraḥ parasvādānarucayolpasārāstamisraprāyā uditāstamitaprāyā alpāyuṣo mahecchā hyalpadharmā lubdhāśca bhaviṣyanti

The regions of the Sindhu's banks, Davika, the Chandrabhaga river country and Kashmir will be enjoyed by Vratyas, mlecchas, Shudras and the like. All these will be kings on the earth at one and the same time — sparing of favor, prone to great anger, ever given to falsehood and unrighteousness, slayers of women, children and cattle, given to seizing others' wealth, of feeble strength, mostly given to the quality of darkness, rising only to set again swiftly, short-lived, of great ambition, of little righteousness, and greedy.

Verse 20 (vishnu.4.24.20)

तैश्च विमिश्रा जनपदास्तच्छीलानुवर्त्तिनो राजाश्रयशुष्मिणो म्लेच्छाचाराश्च विपर्ययेण वर्त्तमानाः प्रजाः क्षपयिष्यंति । ततश्चानुदिनमल्पाल्पह्रासव्यवच्छेदाद्धर्मार्थयोर्जगतस्संक्षयो भविष्यति । ततश्चार्थ एवाभिजनहेतुः ।

taiśca vimiśrā janapadāstacchīlānuvarttino rājāśrayaśuṣmiṇo mlecchācārāśca viparyayeṇa varttamānāḥ prajāḥ kṣapayiṣyaṁti tataścānudinamalpālpahrāsavyavacchedāddharmārthayorjagatassaṁkṣayo bhaviṣyati tataścārtha evābhijanahetuḥ

Mixed with them, following their very ways, insolent under the shelter of such kings, the mleccha-mannered peoples, walking a perverse path, will destroy the good. Then, day by day, through small and steady decline, dharma and artha will be utterly exhausted in the world. Then wealth alone will become the ground of lineage and repute.

Verse 21 (vishnu.4.24.21)

बलमेवाशेषधर्महेतुः । अभिरुचिरेव दांपत्यसंबंधहेतुः । स्त्रीत्वमेवोपभोगहेतुः । अनृतमेव व्यवहारजयहेतुः ।

balamevāśeṣadharmahetuḥ abhirucireva dāṁpatyasaṁbaṁdhahetuḥ strītvamevopabhogahetuḥ anṛtameva vyavahārajayahetuḥ

Mere power will become the basis of all so-called dharma. Bare attraction alone will be the ground for marriage. Womanhood alone will be the means of enjoyment. Falsehood alone will secure victory in dealings.

Verse 22 (vishnu.4.24.22)

उन्नतांबुतैव पृथिवीहेतु । ब्रह्मसूत्रमेव विप्रत्वहेतुः । रत्नधातुतैव श्लाघ्यताहेतुः । लिंगधाराणमेवाश्रमहेतुः ।

unnatāṁbutaiva pṛthivīhetu brahmasūtrameva vipratvahetuḥ ratnadhātutaiva ślāghyatāhetuḥ liṁgadhārāṇamevāśramahetuḥ

Merely being covered with water will be taken as proof of being 'earth.' Merely wearing the sacred thread will be the proof of brahminhood. Mere ownership of gems and metals will be the ground of standing. Merely wearing the outward marks will be the proof of one's spiritual order.

Verse 23 (vishnu.4.24.23)

अन्यायमेव वृत्तिहेतुः । दौर्बल्यमेवावृत्तिहेतुः । अभयप्रगल्भोच्चारणमेव पांडित्यहेतुः । अनाढ्यतैव साधुत्वहेतुः ।

anyāyameva vṛttihetuḥ daurbalyamevāvṛttihetuḥ abhayapragalbhoccāraṇameva pāṁḍityahetuḥ anāḍhyataiva sādhutvahetuḥ

Injustice alone will be the means of livelihood. Mere weakness will be the reason for exclusion from office. Bold and shameless speech alone will be the proof of scholarship. Mere poverty will be the proof of saintliness.

Verse 24 (vishnu.4.24.24)

स्नानमेव प्रसाधनहेतुः । दानमेव धर्महेतुः । स्वीकरणमेव विवाहहेतुः । सद्वेषधार्येव पात्रम् ।

snānameva prasādhanahetuḥ dānameva dharmahetuḥ svīkaraṇameva vivāhahetuḥ sadveṣadhāryeva pātram

Mere bathing will be the means of purification. Mere giving of gifts will be the practice of dharma. Simple mutual consent will be the ground of marriage. Merely wearing fine clothes will be the proof of worthiness.

Verse 25 (vishnu.4.24.25)

दूरायतननोदकमेव तीर्थहेतुः । कपटवेषधारणमेव महत्त्वहेतुः । इत्येवमनेकदोषोत्तरे तु भूमंडले सर्ववर्णेष्वेव योयो बलवान्सस भूपतिर्भविष्यति । एवं चातिलुब्धकराजासहाश्शैलानामंतरद्रो णीः प्रजास्संश्रयिष्यंति ।

dūrāyatananodakameva tīrthahetuḥ kapaṭaveṣadhāraṇameva mahattvahetuḥ ityevamanekadoṣottare tu bhūmaṁḍale sarvavarṇeṣveva yoyo balavānsasa bhūpatirbhaviṣyati evaṁ cātilubdhakarājāsahāśśailānāmaṁtaradro ṇīḥ prajāssaṁśrayiṣyaṁti

Even a distant place devoid of water will be deemed a place of pilgrimage. Wearing a deceitful guise will be the proof of greatness. Thus, upon this earth filled with many such faults, whoever among all classes proves strongest will become king. And thus the people, oppressed by such exceedingly greedy kings, will take refuge in the valleys of the mountains.

Verse 26 (vishnu.4.24.26)

मधुशाकमूलफलपत्रपुष्पाद्याहाराश्च भविष्यंति । तरुवल्कलपर्णचीरप्रावरणाश्चातिबहुप्रजाश्शीतवातातपवर्षसहाश्च भविष्यंति । न च कश्चित्त्रयोविंशतिवर्षाणि जीविष्यति अनवरतं चात्र कलियुगे क्षयमायात्यखिल एवैष जनः । श्रौतस्मार्त्ते च धर्मे विप्लवमत्यंतमुपगते क्षीणप्राये च कलावशेषजगत्स्रष्टुश्चराचरगुरोरादिमध्यांतरहितस्य ब्रह्ममयस्यात्मरूपिणो भगवतो वासुदेवस्यांशश्शंबलग्रामप्रधानब्राह्मणस्य विष्णुयशसो गृहेष्टगुणर्द्धिसमन्वितः कल्किरूपीजगत्यत्रावतीर्य सकलम्लेच्छदस्युदुष्टाचरणचेतसामशेषाणामपरिच्छिन्नशक्तिमाहा-त्म्यः क्षयं करिष्यति स्वधर्मेषु चाखिलमेव संस्थापयिष्यति ।

madhuśākamūlaphalapatrapuṣpādyāhārāśca bhaviṣyaṁti taruvalkalaparṇacīraprāvaraṇāścātibahuprajāśśītavātātapavarṣasahāśca bhaviṣyaṁti na ca kaścittrayoviṁśativarṣāṇi jīviṣyati anavarataṁ cātra kaliyuge kṣayamāyātyakhila evaiṣa janaḥ śrautasmārtte ca dharme viplavamatyaṁtamupagate kṣīṇaprāye ca kalāvaśeṣajagatsraṣṭuścarācaragurorādimadhyāṁtarahitasya brahmamayasyātmarūpiṇo bhagavato vāsudevasyāṁśaśśaṁbalagrāmapradhānabrāhmaṇasya viṣṇuyaśaso gṛheṣṭaguṇarddhisamanvitaḥ kalkirūpījagatyatrāvatīrya sakalamlecchadasyuduṣṭācaraṇacetasāmaśeṣāṇāmaparicchinnaśaktimāhā-tmyaḥ kṣayaṁ kariṣyati svadharmeṣu cākhilameva saṁsthāpayiṣyati

They will live on honey, greens, roots, fruits, leaves and flowers. Clad in tree-bark, leaves and rags, exceedingly numerous, they will endure cold, wind, sun and rain. Then no one will live beyond twenty-three years — in this Kali age the whole human race will go on wasting away without pause. When the shruti- and smriti-based dharma has fallen into utter ruin, and the Kali age has all but run its course, the Lord Vasudeva — the primal creator of the whole moving and unmoving universe, without beginning, middle or end, the very embodiment of Brahman, the Self of all — will, as a portion of himself, descend upon this earth in the house of Vishnuyashas, the chief brahmin of the village of Shambala, endowed with every virtue, in the form of Kalki, and, by his boundless power and majesty, destroy all mlecchas, dasyus and those of wicked conduct, and re-establish the whole world in its own proper dharma.

Verse 27 (vishnu.4.24.27)

अनंतरं चाशेषकलेरवसाने निशावसाने विबुद्धानामिव तेषामेव जनपदानाममलस्फटिकदलशुद्धा मतयो भविष्यंति । तेषां च बीजभूतानामशेषमनुष्याणां परिणतानामपि तत्कालकृतापत्यप्रसूतिर्भविष्यति । तानि च तदपत्यानि कृतयुगानुसारीण्येव भविष्यंति ।

anaṁtaraṁ cāśeṣakaleravasāne niśāvasāne vibuddhānāmiva teṣāmeva janapadānāmamalasphaṭikadalaśuddhā matayo bhaviṣyaṁti teṣāṁ ca bījabhūtānāmaśeṣamanuṣyāṇāṁ pariṇatānāmapi tatkālakṛtāpatyaprasūtirbhaviṣyati tāni ca tadapatyāni kṛtayugānusārīṇyeva bhaviṣyaṁti

After this, when the Kali age has entirely ended, the minds of those very peoples, like those awakened at night's end, will become pure as clear crystal. And from those surviving men, who remain as the very seed of humanity, offspring will then be born; and those offspring will conform entirely to the ways of the Krita age.

Verse 28 (vishnu.4.24.28)

अत्रोच्यते । यथा चंद्रश्च सूर्यश्च तथा तिष्यो बृहस्पतिः । एकराशौ समेष्यंति तदा भवति वै कृतम् । अतीता वर्त्तमानाश्च तथैवानागताश्च ये । एते वंशेषु भूपालाः कथिता मुनिसत्तम । यावत्परीक्षितो जन्म यावन्नंदाभिषेचनम् । एतद्वर्षसहस्रं तु ज्ञेयं पंचाशदुत्तरम् ।

atrocyate yathā caṁdraśca sūryaśca tathā tiṣyo bṛhaspatiḥ ekarāśau sameṣyaṁti tadā bhavati vai kṛtam atītā varttamānāśca tathaivānāgatāśca ye ete vaṁśeṣu bhūpālāḥ kathitā munisattama yāvatparīkṣito janma yāvannaṁdābhiṣecanam etadvarṣasahasraṁ tu jñeyaṁ paṁcāśaduttaram

Here it is said: 'When the moon, the sun, the Tishya (Pushya) constellation and Brihaspati come together in one sign, then the Krita age begins.' O best of sages, whatever kings, past, present and future, have arisen in these lineages, I have told you. From the birth of Parikshit to the coronation of Nanda, this span should be known as one thousand and fifty years.

Verse 29 (vishnu.4.24.29)

सप्तर्षीणां तु यौ पूर्वौ दृश्येते ह्युदितौ दिवि । तयोस्तु मध्ये नक्षत्रं दृश्यते यत्समं निशि । तेन सप्तर्षयो युक्तास्तिष्ठंत्यब्दशतं नृणाम् । ते तु पारीक्षिते काले मघास्वासन्द्विजोत्तम । तदा प्रवृत्तश्च कलिर्द्वादशाब्दशतात्मकः ।

saptarṣīṇāṁ tu yau pūrvau dṛśyete hyuditau divi tayostu madhye nakṣatraṁ dṛśyate yatsamaṁ niśi tena saptarṣayo yuktāstiṣṭhaṁtyabdaśataṁ nṛṇām te tu pārīkṣite kāle maghāsvāsandvijottama tadā pravṛttaśca kalirdvādaśābdaśatātmakaḥ

Of the two Saptarshis (stars of the Great Bear) that are seen rising foremost, the constellation seen at night midway between them, matching them — with that very constellation the Seven Sages remain conjoined for a hundred years of men. O best of the twice-born, in Parikshit's time they stood in the Magha constellation. It was then that the Kali age, of twelve hundred years' span, began.

Verse 30 (vishnu.4.24.30)

यदैव भगवान्विष्णोरंशो यातो दिवं द्विज । वसुदेवकुलोद्भूतस्तदैवात्रागतः कलिः । यावत्सपादपद्माभ्यां पस्पर्शेमां वसुंधराम् । तावत्पृथ्वीपरिष्वंगे समर्थो नाभवत्कलिः । गते सनातनस्यांशे विष्णोस्तत्र भुवो दिवम् । तत्याज सानुजो राज्यं धर्म पुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ।

yadaiva bhagavānviṣṇoraṁśo yāto divaṁ dvija vasudevakulodbhūtastadaivātrāgataḥ kaliḥ yāvatsapādapadmābhyāṁ pasparśemāṁ vasuṁdharām tāvatpṛthvīpariṣvaṁge samartho nābhavatkaliḥ gate sanātanasyāṁśe viṣṇostatra bhuvo divam tatyāja sānujo rājyaṁ dharma putro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

O brahmin, at the very moment the portion of Lord Vishnu, born in the family of Vasudeva, departed for heaven, at that very moment Kali arrived here. So long as the Lord touched this earth with his own lotus feet, Kali was not able to take this earth into his embrace. When that eternal portion of Vishnu had gone to heaven, Yudhishthira, son of Dharma, together with his younger brothers, renounced the kingdom.

Verse 31 (vishnu.4.24.31)

विपरीतानि दृष्ट्वा च निमित्तानि हि पांडवः । याते कृष्णे चकाराऽथ सोऽभिषेकं परीक्षितः । प्रयास्यंति यदा चैते पूर्वाषाढां महर्षयः । तदा नंदात्प्रभृत्येष गतिवृद्धिं गमिष्यति । यस्मिन् कृष्णो दिवं यातस्तस्मिन्नेव तदा हनि । प्रतिपन्नं कलियुगं तस्य संख्यां निबोध मे ।

viparītāni dṛṣṭvā ca nimittāni hi pāṁḍavaḥ yāte kṛṣṇe cakārā'tha so'bhiṣekaṁ parīkṣitaḥ prayāsyaṁti yadā caite pūrvāṣāḍhāṁ maharṣayaḥ tadā naṁdātprabhṛtyeṣa gativṛddhiṁ gamiṣyati yasmin kṛṣṇo divaṁ yātastasminneva tadā hani pratipannaṁ kaliyugaṁ tasya saṁkhyāṁ nibodha me

Seeing such contrary omens, the Pandava, upon Krishna's departure, had crowned Parikshit. From the time these Seven Sages enter the Purvashadha constellation, up to the time of Nanda, the Kali age will go on increasing. From the very day Krishna went to heaven, from that day the Kali age should be reckoned to have begun — now hear its reckoning from me.

Verse 32 (vishnu.4.24.32)

त्रीणि लक्षाणि वर्षाणां द्विज मानुष्यसंख्यया । षष्टिश्चैव सहस्राणि भविष्यत्येष वै कलिः । शतानि तानि दिव्यानां सप्त पंच च संख्यया । निश्शेषेण गते तस्मिन्भविष्यति पुनः कृतम् । ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्त्रिया वैश्याश्शूद्रा श्च द्विजसत्तम । युगेयुगे महात्मानः समतीतास्सहस्रशः ।

trīṇi lakṣāṇi varṣāṇāṁ dvija mānuṣyasaṁkhyayā ṣaṣṭiścaiva sahasrāṇi bhaviṣyatyeṣa vai kaliḥ śatāni tāni divyānāṁ sapta paṁca ca saṁkhyayā niśśeṣeṇa gate tasminbhaviṣyati punaḥ kṛtam brāhmaṇāḥ kṣattriyā vaiśyāśśūdrā śca dvijasattama yugeyuge mahātmānaḥ samatītāssahasraśaḥ

O brahmin, by human reckoning this Kali age will last three hundred and sixty thousand years — by divine reckoning, seven hundred and five years. When it has entirely run its course, the Krita age will come again. O best of the twice-born, in every age, brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras — great souls — have passed by the thousands.

Verse 33 (vishnu.4.24.33)

बहुत्वान्नामधेयानां परिसंख्या कुलेकुले । पौनरुक्त्याद्धि साम्याच्च न मया परिकीर्त्तिता । देवापिः पौरवो राजा पुरुश्चेक्षाकुवंशजः । महायोगबलोपेतौ कलापग्रामसंश्रितौ । कृते युगे त्विहागम्य क्षत्रप्रावर्त्तकौ हि तौ । भविष्यतो मनोर्वंशबीजभूतौ व्यवस्थितौ ।

bahutvānnāmadheyānāṁ parisaṁkhyā kulekule paunaruktyāddhi sāmyācca na mayā parikīrttitā devāpiḥ pauravo rājā puruścekṣākuvaṁśajaḥ mahāyogabalopetau kalāpagrāmasaṁśritau kṛte yuge tvihāgamya kṣatraprāvarttakau hi tau bhaviṣyato manorvaṁśabījabhūtau vyavasthitau

Because of the vast number of names, their great multitude in each family, and because of repetition and sameness, I have not recounted them all. The Paurava king Devapi and Puru of the Ikshvaku line — both, endowed with great yogic power, dwell taking refuge in the village of Kalapa. Both of them will come here in the Krita age to be the renewers of the kshatriya order, and remain even now as the very seed of the coming Manu's lineage.

Verse 34 (vishnu.4.24.34)

एतेन क्रमयोगेन मनुपुत्रैर्वसुंधरा । कृतत्रेताद्वापराणि युगानि त्रीणि भुज्यते । कलौ ते बीजभूता वै केचित्तिष्ठंति वै मुने । यथैव देवापिपुरू सांप्रतं समधिष्ठितौ । एष तूद्देशतो वंशस्तवोक्तो भूभुजां मया । निखिलो गदितुं शक्यो नैष वर्षशतैरपि ।

etena kramayogena manuputrairvasuṁdharā kṛtatretādvāparāṇi yugāni trīṇi bhujyate kalau te bījabhūtā vai kecittiṣṭhaṁti vai mune yathaiva devāpipurū sāṁprataṁ samadhiṣṭhitau eṣa tūddeśato vaṁśastavokto bhūbhujāṁ mayā nikhilo gadituṁ śakyo naiṣa varṣaśatairapi

By this very succession, the earth, through the sons of Manu, passes through the three ages of Krita, Treta and Dvapara. O sage, even in the Kali age some such seed-bearers remain established, just as Devapi and Puru now remain. This lineage of kings I have told you only in brief; to tell it in its entirety would not be possible even in hundreds of years.

Verse 35 (vishnu.4.24.35)

एते चान्ये च भूपाला यैरत्र क्षितिमंडले । कृतं ममत्वं मोहांधैर्नित्यं हेयकलेवरे । कथं ममेयमचला मत्पुत्रस्य कथं मही । मद्वंशस्येतिचिंतार्त्ता जग्मुरंतमिमे नृपाः । तेभ्यः पूर्वतराश्चान्ये तेभ्यस्तेभ्यस्तथा परे । भविष्याश्चैव यास्यंति तेषामन्ये च येऽप्यनु ।

ete cānye ca bhūpālā yairatra kṣitimaṁḍale kṛtaṁ mamatvaṁ mohāṁdhairnityaṁ heyakalevare kathaṁ mameyamacalā matputrasya kathaṁ mahī madvaṁśasyeticiṁtārttā jagmuraṁtamime nṛpāḥ tebhyaḥ pūrvatarāścānye tebhyastebhyastathā pare bhaviṣyāścaiva yāsyaṁti teṣāmanye ca ye'pyanu

These kings, and many others besides, blinded by delusion, have ever nursed the possessive thought 'this is mine' toward this earth-circle of a body meant only to be discarded. 'How is this unmoving earth mine, how my son's, how my lineage's' — tormented by this very anxiety, these kings have met their end. Others before them, and yet others before those, met the same end; the future kings too will go the same way, and after them still others will come.

Verse 36 (vishnu.4.24.36)

विलोक्यात्मजयोद्योगं यात्राव्यग्रान्नराधिपान् । पुष्पप्रहासैश्शरदि हसंतीव वसुंधरा । मैत्रेय पृथिवीगीताञ्छ्लोकांश्चात्र निबोध मे । यानाह धर्मध्वजिने नजकायासितो मुनिः । पृथिव्युवाच । कथमेष नरेंद्रा णां मोहो बुद्धिमतामपि । येन केन सधर्माणोप्यतिविश्वस्तचेतसः ।

vilokyātmajayodyogaṁ yātrāvyagrānnarādhipān puṣpaprahāsaiśśaradi hasaṁtīva vasuṁdharā maitreya pṛthivīgītāñchlokāṁścātra nibodha me yānāha dharmadhvajine najakāyāsito muniḥ pṛthivyuvāca kathameṣa nareṁdrā ṇāṁ moho buddhimatāmapi yena kena sadharmāṇopyativiśvastacetasaḥ

Watching those kings, busy with campaigns, striving each for his own son's conquest, it is as though the earth were laughing with the laughter of flowers blooming in autumn. Now, Maitreya, hear these verses sung by the Earth herself, which a certain ascetic sage spoke to King Dharmadhvaja. The Earth said: 'What is this delusion of these kings, wise though they are, that on one pretext or another they place such utter trust in their own minds!'

Verse 37 (vishnu.4.24.37)

पूर्वमात्मजयं कृत्वा जेतुमिच्छंति मंत्रिणः । ततो भृत्यांश्च पौरांश्च जिगीषंते तथा रिपून् । क्रमेणानेन जेष्यामो वयं पृथ्वीं ससागराम् । इत्यासक्तधियो मृत्युं न पश्यंत्यविदूरगम् । समुद्रा वरणं याति भूमंडलमथो वशम् । कियदात्मजयस्यैतन्मुक्तिरात्मजये फलम् ।

pūrvamātmajayaṁ kṛtvā jetumicchaṁti maṁtriṇaḥ tato bhṛtyāṁśca paurāṁśca jigīṣaṁte tathā ripūn krameṇānena jeṣyāmo vayaṁ pṛthvīṁ sasāgarām ityāsaktadhiyo mṛtyuṁ na paśyaṁtyavidūragam samudrā varaṇaṁ yāti bhūmaṁḍalamatho vaśam kiyadātmajayasyaitanmuktirātmajaye phalam

First conquering their own ministers, then they wish to conquer their enemies; then they wish to conquer their servants and townsfolk too, just as they wish to conquer enemies. 'By this course we shall conquer the whole earth together with its ocean' — so fixed in mind, they do not see death standing close beside them. Even should this sea-girt earth come under their sway, how much is that truly a conquest of the self — when the real fruit of self-conquest is liberation alone!

Verse 38 (vishnu.4.24.38)

उत्सृज्य पूर्वजा याता यां नादाय गतः पिता । तां मामतीव मूढत्वाज्जेतुमिच्छंति पार्थिवाः । मत्कृते पितृपुत्राणां भ्रातॄणां चापि विग्रहः । जायतेत्यंतमोहेन ममत्वादृतचेतसाम् । पृथ्वी ममेयं सकला ममैषा मदन्वयस्यापि च शाश्वतीयम् । योयो मृतेऽन्यत्र बभूव राजा कुबुद्धिरासीदिति तस्यतस्य ।

utsṛjya pūrvajā yātā yāṁ nādāya gataḥ pitā tāṁ māmatīva mūḍhatvājjetumicchaṁti pārthivāḥ matkṛte pitṛputrāṇāṁ bhrātṝṇāṁ cāpi vigrahaḥ jāyatetyaṁtamohena mamatvādṛtacetasām pṛthvī mameyaṁ sakalā mamaiṣā madanvayasyāpi ca śāśvatīyam yoyo mṛte'nyatra babhūva rājā kubuddhirāsīditi tasyatasya

That very earth which their forefathers abandoned and left behind, which even a father departed without taking along, that same earth these kings, in sheer folly, wish to conquer. For my sake alone, minds possessed by this notion of 'mine,' even fathers and sons, even brothers, fall into war through utter delusion. 'This whole earth is mine, and it shall ever belong to my line as well' — thinking thus, whatever king has died and gone elsewhere, that foolish thought remained his alone, and his alone.

Verse 39 (vishnu.4.24.39)

दृष्ट्वा ममत्वादृतचित्तमेकं विहाय मां मृत्युवशं व्रजंतम् । तस्यानुयस्तस्य कथं ममत्वं हृद्यास्पदं मत्प्रभवं करोति । पृथ्वी ममैषाऽऽशु परित्यजैनां वदंति ये दूतमुखैस्स्वशत्रून् । नराधिपास्तेषु ममातिहासः पुनश्च मूढेषु दयाऽभ्युपैति ।

dṛṣṭvā mamatvādṛtacittamekaṁ vihāya māṁ mṛtyuvaśaṁ vrajaṁtam tasyānuyastasya kathaṁ mamatvaṁ hṛdyāspadaṁ matprabhavaṁ karoti pṛthvī mamaiṣā''śu parityajaināṁ vadaṁti ye dūtamukhaissvaśatrūn narādhipāsteṣu mamātihāsaḥ punaśca mūḍheṣu dayā'bhyupaiti

Seeing how one such king, his heart possessed by this 'mine,' departed leaving me behind, fallen under death's sway, how does the successor who follows him take up that same possessiveness in his own heart, as though it had newly arisen with himself? 'This earth is mine — abandon it at once' — kings who say this to their very enemies through the mouths of envoys move me to the greatest laughter; and then, upon those very fools, pity too wells up in me.

Verse 40 (vishnu.4.24.40)

श्रीपराशर उवाच। इत्येते धरणीगीताश्श्लोका मैत्रेय यैश्श्रुताः । ममत्वं विलयं याति तपत्यर्के यथा हिमम् । इत्येष कथितः सम्यङ्मनोर्वंशो मया तव । यत्र स्थितिप्रवृत्तस्य विष्णोरंशांशका नृपाः । शृणोति य इमं भक्त्या मनोर्वंशमनुक्रमात् । तस्य पापमशेष वै प्रणश्यत्यमलात्मनः ।

śrīparāśara uvāca ityete dharaṇīgītāśślokā maitreya yaiśśrutāḥ mamatvaṁ vilayaṁ yāti tapatyarke yathā himam ityeṣa kathitaḥ samyaṅmanorvaṁśo mayā tava yatra sthitipravṛttasya viṣṇoraṁśāṁśakā nṛpāḥ śṛṇoti ya imaṁ bhaktyā manorvaṁśamanukramāt tasya pāpamaśeṣa vai praṇaśyatyamalātmanaḥ

Shri Parashara said: Maitreya, these are the verses sung by the Earth, hearing which possessiveness melts away just as snow melts when the sun grows hot. Thus I have told you fully this lineage of Manu, in which arose kings who were portions of a portion of Vishnu, engaged in the world's maintenance and activity. Whatever man hears this lineage of Manu in due order and with devotion —

Verse 41 (vishnu.4.24.41)

धनधान्यर्द्धिमतुलां प्राप्नोत्यव्याहतेंद्रि यः । श्रुत्वैवमखिलं वंशं प्रशस्तं शशिसूर्ययोः । इक्ष्वाकुजह्नुमांधातृसगराविक्षितान्रघून् । ययातिनहुषाद्यांश्च ज्ञात्वा निष्ठामुपागतान् । महाबलान्महावीर्याननन्तधनसंचयान् । कृतान्कालेन बलिना कथाशेषान्नराधिपान् ।

dhanadhānyarddhimatulāṁ prāpnotyavyāhateṁdri yaḥ śrutvaivamakhilaṁ vaṁśaṁ praśastaṁ śaśisūryayoḥ ikṣvākujahnumāṁdhātṛsagarāvikṣitānraghūn yayātinahuṣādyāṁśca jñātvā niṣṭhāmupāgatān mahābalānmahāvīryānanantadhanasaṁcayān kṛtānkālena balinā kathāśeṣānnarādhipān

his every sin is destroyed in that very instant, and he, his soul made pure, his senses unimpaired, attains a wealth of grain and riches beyond measure. Having heard this whole splendid account of the solar and lunar dynasties — knowing Ikshvaku, Jahnu, Mandhatri, Sagara, Ambarisha, the Raghus, Yayati, Nahusha and the rest, who reached their end, mighty and valorous and possessed of boundless wealth though they were, yet reduced by all-powerful time to mere remnants of a tale —

Verse 42 (vishnu.4.24.42)

श्रुत्वा न पुत्रदारादौ गृहक्षेत्रादिके तथा । द्रव्यादौ वा कृतप्रज्ञो ममत्वं कुरुते नरः । तप्तं तपो यैः पुरुषप्रवीरैरुद्वाहुभिर्वर्षगणाननेकान् । इष्ट्वा सुयज्ञैर्बलिनोतिवीर्याः कृतानुकालेन कथावशेषाः । पृथुस्समस्तान्विचचार लोकानव्याहतो यो विजितारिचक्रः । स कालवाताभिहतः प्रणष्टः क्षिप्तं यथा शाल्मलितूलमग्नौ ।

śrutvā na putradārādau gṛhakṣetrādike tathā dravyādau vā kṛtaprajño mamatvaṁ kurute naraḥ taptaṁ tapo yaiḥ puruṣapravīrairudvāhubhirvarṣagaṇānanekān iṣṭvā suyajñairbalinotivīryāḥ kṛtānukālena kathāvaśeṣāḥ pṛthussamastānvicacāra lokānavyāhato yo vijitāricakraḥ sa kālavātābhihataḥ praṇaṣṭaḥ kṣiptaṁ yathā śālmalitūlamagnau

Hearing this, a wise man forms no possessive attachment toward son and wife, toward house and field, or toward wealth. Those heroic men who performed harsh austerities for many years without even marrying, who worshipped the gods with excellent sacrifices, exceedingly mighty and valorous though they were, were reduced by time to mere remnants of a tale. Prithu, who wandered unhindered through every world, who conquered the circle of his foes — he too, struck by the whirlwind of time, perished just as cotton from the silk-cotton tree, cast into fire, is consumed.

Verse 43 (vishnu.4.24.43)

यः कार्त्तवीर्यो बुभुजे समस्तान्द्वीपान्समाक्रम्य हतारिचक्रः । कथाप्रसंगेष्वभिधीयमानस्स एव संकल्पविकल्पहेतुः । दशाननाविक्षतराघवाणामैश्वर्यमुद्भासितदिङ्मुखानाम् । भस्मापि शिष्टं न कथं क्षणेन भ्रूभंगपातेन धिगंतकस्य ।

yaḥ kārttavīryo bubhuje samastāndvīpānsamākramya hatāricakraḥ kathāprasaṁgeṣvabhidhīyamānassa eva saṁkalpavikalpahetuḥ daśānanāvikṣatarāghavāṇāmaiśvaryamudbhāsitadiṅmukhānām bhasmāpi śiṣṭaṁ na kathaṁ kṣaṇena bhrūbhaṁgapātena dhigaṁtakasya

That Kartavirya who, invading every continent and destroying the circle of his foes, enjoyed them all — he too is now spoken of only in the retelling of old tales, and has himself become a matter of doubt and dispute. Ravana, the ten-headed one, whose glorious splendor lit up the very quarters of the sky, who troubled Raghava — he was reduced to ashes in an instant by a mere frown; shame on Death himself, that not even his ashes remained!

Verse 44 (vishnu.4.24.44)

कथाशरीरत्वमवाप यद्वै मांधातृनामा भुवि चक्रवर्त्ती । श्रुत्वापि तत्को हि करोति साधुर्ममत्वमान्मन्यपि मंदचेताः । भगीरथाद्यास्सगरं ककुत्स्थो दशननो राघवलक्ष्मणौ च । युधिष्ठिराद्याश्च बभूवुरेते सत्यं न मिथ्या क्व नु ते न विद्मः ।

kathāśarīratvamavāpa yadvai māṁdhātṛnāmā bhuvi cakravarttī śrutvāpi tatko hi karoti sādhurmamatvamānmanyapi maṁdacetāḥ bhagīrathādyāssagaraṁ kakutstho daśanano rāghavalakṣmaṇau ca yudhiṣṭhirādyāśca babhūvurete satyaṁ na mithyā kva nu te na vidmaḥ

The very Mandhatri who became a universal emperor on this earth has now come to have only a story for a body — hearing even this, what good man, his mind still deluded, continues to cherish attachment to himself? Bhagiratha and the rest, Sagara, Kakutstha, the ten-headed one, Raghava and Lakshmana, and Yudhishthira and the others — that all these truly existed is no falsehood; and yet where they now are, we do not know.

Verse 45 (vishnu.4.24.45)

ये सांप्रतं ये च नृपा भविष्याः प्रोक्ता मया विप्रवरोग्रवीयाः । एते तथाऽन्ये च तथाभिधेयाः सर्वे भविष्यंति यथैव पूर्वे । एत द्विदित्वा न नरेण कार्यं ममत्वमात्मन्यपि पंडितेन । तिष्ठंतु तावत्तनयात्मजायाः क्षेत्रादयो ये च शरीरिणोऽन्ये ।

ye sāṁprataṁ ye ca nṛpā bhaviṣyāḥ proktā mayā vipravarogravīyāḥ ete tathā'nye ca tathābhidheyāḥ sarve bhaviṣyaṁti yathaiva pūrve eta dviditvā na nareṇa kāryaṁ mamatvamātmanyapi paṁḍitena tiṣṭhaṁtu tāvattanayātmajāyāḥ kṣetrādayo ye ca śarīriṇo'nye

The kings who now are, and the kings who will be — whom I have told you of, O best of brahmins — these and others of the same names will all fare just as the kings of old have fared. Knowing this, the wise man should form no attachment even to himself; let son, grandson, field and the rest, and other embodied beings, remain as long as they remain — without clinging to them.