The Signs of the Kali Age

Verse 1 (vishnu.6.1.1)

मैत्रेय उवाच । व्याख्याता भवता सर्गवंशमन्वन्तरस्थितिः । वंशानुचरितं चैव विस्तरेण महामुने

maitreya uvāca vyākhyātā bhavatā sargavaṁśamanvantarasthitiḥ vaṁśānucaritaṁ caiva vistareṇa mahāmune

Maitreya said: "O great sage, you have explained to me in full detail the creation, the royal dynasties, the position of the Manvantaras, and the history of those lineages."

Verse 2 (vishnu.6.1.2)

श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं त्वत्तो यथावदुपसंहृतिम् । महाप्रलयसंज्ञां च कल्पान्ते च महामुने

śrotum icchāmy ahaṁ tvatto yathāvad upasaṁhṛtim mahāpralayasaṁjñāṁ ca kalpānte ca mahāmune

Now I wish to hear from you, exactly as it is, of that withdrawal of the universe, and of what is called the Great Dissolution at the close of the kalpa, O great sage."

Verse 3 (vishnu.6.1.3)

पराशर उवाच । मैत्रेय श्रूयतां मत्तो यथावदुपसंहृतिः । कल्पान्ते प्राकृते चैव प्रलये जायते यथा

parāśara uvāca maitreya śrūyatāṁ matto yathāvad upasaṁhṛtiḥ kalpānte prākṛte caiva pralaye jāyate yathā

Parashara said: "Maitreya, hear from me, exactly as it is, that withdrawal — how the dissolution comes about at the end of the kalpa, and likewise in the elemental dissolution."

Verse 4 (vishnu.6.1.4)

अहोरात्रं पितॄणां तु मासोऽब्दस् त्रिदिवौकसाम् । चतुर्युगसहस्रे तु ब्रह्मणो द्वे द्विजोत्तम

ahorātraṁ pitṝṇāṁ tu māso 'bdas tridivaukasām caturyugasahasre tu brahmaṇo dve dvijottama

A month of men is a day and night for the ancestors (Pitrs), and a year is a day and night for the dwellers of heaven. Two periods of a thousand caturyugas each make a day and a night of Brahma, O best of the twice-born.

Verse 5 (vishnu.6.1.5)

कृतं त्रेता द्वापरं च कलिश् चैव चतुर्युगम् । दिव्यैर् वर्षसहस्रैस् तु तद् द्वादशभिरुच्यते

kṛtaṁ tretā dvāparaṁ ca kaliś caiva caturyugam divyair varṣasahasrais tu tad dvādaśabhir ucyate

Krita, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali together constitute one caturyuga, a cycle of four ages; and that cycle, reckoned in divine years, is said to be twelve thousand.

Verse 6 (vishnu.6.1.6)

चतुर्युगाण्यशेषाणि सदृशानि स्वरूपतः । आद्यं कृतयुगं मुक्त्वा मैत्रेयान्त्यं तथा कलिम्

caturyugāṇy aśeṣāṇi sadṛśāni svarūpataḥ ādyaṁ kṛtayugaṁ muktvā maitreyāntyaṁ tathā kalim

All the caturyugas, taken as a whole, resemble one another in their essential nature — except, Maitreya, for the first, the Krita age, and the last, the Kali age.

Verse 7 (vishnu.6.1.7)

आद्ये कृतयुगे सर्गो ब्रह्मणा क्रियते यतः । क्रियते चोपसंहारस् तथान्ते च कलौ युगे

ādye kṛtayuge sargo brahmaṇā kriyate yataḥ kriyate copasaṁhāras tathānte ca kalau yuge

For in the first, the Krita age, creation is set in motion by Brahma; and likewise, at the end, in the Kali age, the withdrawal is brought about.

Verse 8 (vishnu.6.1.8)

मैत्रेय उवाच । कलेः स्वरूपं भगवन् विस्तराद् वक्तुमर्हसि । धर्मश् चतुष्पाद् भगवन् यस्मिन् विप्लवमृच्छति

maitreya uvāca kaleḥ svarūpaṁ bhagavan vistarād vaktum arhasi dharmaś catuṣpād bhagavan yasmin viplavam ṛcchati

Maitreya said: "Lord, you should describe to me in detail the nature of the Kali age — that age, O Lord, in which the four-footed dharma is brought to ruin."

Verse 9 (vishnu.6.1.9)

पराशर उवाच । कलेः स्वरूपं मैत्रेय यद् भवान् प्रष्टुमिच्छति । तन् निबोध समासेन वर्तते यन् महामुने

parāśara uvāca kaleḥ svarūpaṁ maitreya yad bhavān praṣṭum icchati tan nibodha samāsena vartate yan mahāmune

Parashara said: "Maitreya, the nature of the Kali age that you wish to ask about — learn it now in brief, great sage, just as it stands."

Verse 10 (vishnu.6.1.10)

वर्णाश्रमाचारवती प्रवृत्तिर् न कलौ नृणाम् । न साम-ऋग्यजुर्वेदविनिष्पादनहैतुकी

varṇāśramācāravatī pravṛttir na kalau nṛṇām na sāma-ṛgyajurvedaviniṣpādanahaitukī

In the Kali age, men's conduct will no longer be governed by the rules of varna and ashrama, nor will their efforts be directed toward the mastery of the Sama, Rig, and Yajur Vedas.

Verse 11 (vishnu.6.1.11)

विवाहा न कलौ धर्म्या न शिष्यगुरुसंस्थितिः । न दाम्पत्यक्रमो नैव वह्निदेवात्मकः क्रमः

vivāhā na kalau dharmyā na śiṣyagurusaṁsthitiḥ na dāmpatyakramo naiva vahnidevātmakaḥ kramaḥ

In the Kali age, marriages will no longer conform to dharma; the proper relation of pupil to teacher will not survive; the due order between husband and wife will vanish; nor will the rites centered on fire and the gods continue.

Verse 12 (vishnu.6.1.12)

यत्र तत्र कुले जातो बली सर्वेश्वरः कलौ । सर्वेभ्य एव वर्णेभ्यो योग्यः कन्यावरोधने

yatra tatra kule jāto balī sarveśvaraḥ kalau sarvebhya eva varṇebhyo yogyaḥ kanyāvarodhane

In the Kali age, whoever is powerful, born in whatever family it may be, will be regarded as lord over all, and will be considered a fit match for taking a bride from any of the varnas.

Verse 13 (vishnu.6.1.13)

येन तेनैव योगेन द्विजातिर् दीक्षितः कलौ । यैव सैव च मैत्रेय प्रायश्चित्तक्रिया कलौ

yena tenaiva yogena dvijātir dīkṣitaḥ kalau yaiva saiva ca maitreya prāyaścittakriyā kalau

In the Kali age, a twice-born will be reckoned as initiated by whatever means happen to be used, and, Maitreya, whatever act is performed will pass for the act of penance.

Verse 14 (vishnu.6.1.14)

सर्वमेव कलौ शास्त्रं यस्य यद् वचनं द्विज । देवताश् च कलौ सर्वाः सर्वः सर्वस्य चाश्रमः

sarvam eva kalau śāstraṁ yasya yad vacanaṁ dvija devatāś ca kalau sarvāḥ sarvaḥ sarvasya cāśramaḥ

O twice-born, in the Kali age, whatever anyone happens to say will pass for scripture; anything at all will be taken as a deity; and anyone will serve as anyone else's spiritual guide.

Verse 15 (vishnu.6.1.15)

उपवासस् तथायासो वित्तोत्सर्गस् तथा कलौ । धर्मो यथाभिरुचितैरनुष्ठानैरनुष्ठितः

upavāsas tathāyāso vittotsargas tathā kalau dharmo yathābhirucitair anuṣṭhānair anuṣṭhitaḥ

In the Kali age, fasting will become mere self-affliction, almsgiving mere disposal of wealth, and dharma will be practiced only through whatever observances each person happens to fancy.

Verse 16 (vishnu.6.1.16)

वित्तेन भविता पुंसां स्वल्पेनाढ्यमदः कलौ । स्त्रीणां रूपमदश् चैव केशैरेव भविष्यति

vittena bhavitā puṁsāṁ svalpenāḍhyamadaḥ kalau strīṇāṁ rūpamadaś caiva keśair eva bhaviṣyati

In the Kali age, men will grow proud of wealth even when it is slight, priding themselves on being rich; and women will take pride in their beauty on the strength of their hair alone.

Verse 17 (vishnu.6.1.17)

सुवर्णमणिरत्नादौ वस्त्रे चोपक्षयं गते । कलौ स्त्रियो भविष्यन्ति तदा केशैरलंकृताः

suvarṇamaṇiratnādau vastre copakṣayaṁ gate kalau striyo bhaviṣyanti tadā keśair alaṁkṛtāḥ

When gold, gems, jewels, and fine cloth grow scarce, women of the Kali age will then adorn themselves with their hair alone.

Verse 18 (vishnu.6.1.18)

परित्यक्ष्यन्ति भर्तारं वित्तहीनं तथा स्त्रियः । भर्ता भविष्यति कलौ वित्तवानेव योषिताम्

parityakṣyanti bhartāraṁ vittahīnaṁ tathā striyaḥ bhartā bhaviṣyati kalau vittavān eva yoṣitām

Wives will abandon a husband who has lost his wealth; in the Kali age, only the man who is wealthy will remain a husband to women.

Verse 19 (vishnu.6.1.19)

यो यो ददाति बहुलं स स स्वामी तदा नृणाम् । स्वामित्वहेतुः संबन्धो भावी नाभिजनस् तदा

yo yo dadāti bahulaṁ sa sa svāmī tadā nṛṇām svāmitvahetuḥ saṁbandho bhāvī nābhijanas tadā

Whoever gives the most will then become people's master; the ground of authority will be material connection, not noble birth.

Verse 20 (vishnu.6.1.20)

गृहान्ता द्रव्यसंघाता द्रव्यान्ता च तथा मतिः । अर्थाश् चात्मोपभोगान्ता भविष्यन्ति कलौ युगे

gṛhāntā dravyasaṁghātā dravyāntā ca tathā matiḥ arthāś cātmopabhogāntā bhaviṣyanti kalau yuge

In the Kali age, the accumulation of goods will end with providing for the household, thought itself will end with acquiring wealth, and riches will be spent for nothing beyond one's own enjoyment.

Verse 21 (vishnu.6.1.21)

स्त्रियः कलौ भविष्यन्ति स्वैरिण्यो ललितस्पृहाः । अन्यायावाप्तवित्तेषु पुरुषाश् च स्पृहालवः

striyaḥ kalau bhaviṣyanti svairiṇyo lalitaspṛhāḥ anyāyāvāptavitteṣu puruṣāś ca spṛhālavaḥ

In the Kali age, women will be unrestrained, hungry for pleasure and luxury, and men will be greedy for wealth gained by unjust means.

Verse 22 (vishnu.6.1.22)

अभ्यर्थितोऽपि सुहृदा स्वार्थहानिं न मानवः । पणार्धार्धार्धमात्रेऽपि करिष्यति तदा द्विज

abhyarthito 'pi suhṛdā svārthahāniṁ na mānavaḥ paṇārdhārdhārdhamātre 'pi kariṣyati tadā dvija

O twice-born, even when entreated by a friend, a man will then not suffer even the smallest fraction of loss to his own interest — not so much as a quarter of a coin's worth.

Verse 23 (vishnu.6.1.23)

समानपौरुषं चेतो भावि विप्रेषु वै कलौ । क्षीरप्रदानसंबन्धि भावि गोषु च गौरवम्

samānapauruṣaṁ ceto bhāvi vipreṣu vai kalau kṣīrapradānasaṁbandhi bhāvi goṣu ca gauravam

In the Kali age, the outlook of brahmins will come to match that of ordinary men in their concerns, and cows will be honored only insofar as they give milk.

Verse 24 (vishnu.6.1.24)

अनावृष्टिभयप्रायाः प्रजाः क्षुद्भयकातराः । भविष्यन्ति तदा सर्वा गगनासक्तदृष्टयः

anāvṛṣṭibhayaprāyāḥ prajāḥ kṣudbhayakātarāḥ bhaviṣyanti tadā sarvā gaganāsaktadṛṣṭayaḥ

The people, ever fearful of drought, will be terrified by the fear of hunger, and all of them will be found staring up anxiously at the sky.

Verse 25 (vishnu.6.1.25)

कन्दपर्णफलाहारास् तापसा इव मानवाः । आत्मानं घातयिष्यन्ति तदावृष्ट्यादिदुःखिताः

kandaparṇaphalāhārās tāpasā iva mānavāḥ ātmānaṁ ghātayiṣyanti tadāvṛṣṭyādiduḥkhitāḥ

Living on roots, leaves, and fruits like ascetics, men, tormented by drought and the like, will bring destruction upon themselves.

Verse 26 (vishnu.6.1.26)

दुर्भिक्षमेव सततं तदा क्लेशमनीश्वराः । प्राप्स्यन्ति व्याहतसुखप्रमोदा मानवाः कलौ

durbhikṣam eva satataṁ tadā kleśam anīśvarāḥ prāpsyanti vyāhatasukhapramodā mānavāḥ kalau

In the Kali age, men, powerless, will endure nothing but the constant hardship of famine, their happiness and joy utterly destroyed.

Verse 27 (vishnu.6.1.27)

अस्नानभोजिनो नाग्निदेवतातिथिपूजनम् । करिष्यन्ति कलौ प्राप्ते न च पित्र्योदकक्रियाम्

asnānabhojino nāgnidevatātithipūjanam kariṣyanti kalau prāpte na ca pitryodakakriyām

When the Kali age arrives, men will eat without bathing, will not honor fire, the gods, or guests, and will not perform the water-rite for their ancestors.

Verse 28 (vishnu.6.1.28)

लोलुपा ह्रस्वदेहाश् च बह्वन्नादनतत्पराः । बहुप्रजाल्पभाग्याश् च भविष्यन्ति कलौ स्त्रियः

lolupā hrasvadehāś ca bahvannādanatatparāḥ bahuprajālpabhāgyāś ca bhaviṣyanti kalau striyaḥ

In the Kali age, women will be greedy, short of stature, given to eating too much, bearing many children yet possessed of little fortune.

Verse 29 (vishnu.6.1.29)

उभाभ्यामथ पाणिभ्यां शिरःकण्डूयनं स्त्रियः । कुर्वन्त्यो गुरुभर्तॄणामाज्ञां भेत्स्यन्त्यनादृताः

ubhābhyām atha pāṇibhyāṁ śiraḥkaṇḍūyanaṁ striyaḥ kurvantyo gurubhartṝṇām ājñāṁ bhetsyanty anādṛtāḥ

Scratching their heads with both hands, women will disrespectfully defy the commands of their elders and husbands.

Verse 30 (vishnu.6.1.30)

स्वपोषणपराः क्षुद्रा देहसंस्कारवर्जिताः । परुषानृतभाषिण्यो भविष्यन्ति कलौ स्त्रियः

svapoṣaṇaparāḥ kṣudrā dehasaṁskāravarjitāḥ paruṣānṛtabhāṣiṇyo bhaviṣyanti kalau striyaḥ

In the Kali age, women will be intent only on feeding themselves, petty, careless of bodily grooming, and given to speaking harsh and false words.

Verse 31 (vishnu.6.1.31)

दुःशीला दुष्टशीलेषु कुर्वन्त्यः सततं स्पृहाम् । असद्वृत्ता भविष्यन्ति पुरुषेषु कुलाङ्गनाः

duḥśīlā duṣṭaśīleṣu kurvantyaḥ satataṁ spṛhām asadvṛttā bhaviṣyanti puruṣeṣu kulāṅganāḥ

Ill-natured, ever desiring men of wicked character, even women of good family will become unchaste in their conduct toward men.

Verse 32 (vishnu.6.1.32)

वेदादानं करिष्यन्ति बटवश् च तथाव्रताः । गृहस्थाश् च न होष्यन्ति न दास्यन्त्युचितान्यपि

vedādānaṁ kariṣyanti baṭavaś ca tathāvratāḥ gṛhasthāś ca na hoṣyanti na dāsyanty ucitāny api

Young students will take up the Veda while keeping only nominal vows; householders will not perform the fire-offering, nor will they give what is due even when it is proper to give.

Verse 33 (vishnu.6.1.33)

वनवासिनो भविष्यन्ति ग्राम्याहारपरिग्रहाः । भिक्षवश् चापि मित्रादिस्नेहसंबन्धयन्त्रणाः

vanavāsino bhaviṣyanti grāmyāhāraparigrahāḥ bhikṣavaś cāpi mitrādisnehasaṁbandhayantraṇāḥ

Even forest-dwellers will take to accepting village food, and even mendicants will become bound by ties of friendship and affection.

Verse 34 (vishnu.6.1.34)

अरक्षितारो हर्तारः शुल्कव्याजेन पार्थिवाः । हारिणो जनवित्तानां संप्राप्ते तु कलौ युगे

arakṣitāro hartāraḥ śulkavyājena pārthivāḥ hāriṇo janavittānāṁ saṁprāpte tu kalau yuge

When the Kali age arrives, kings, instead of protecting their subjects, will become plunderers, seizing people's wealth under the pretext of taxation.

Verse 35 (vishnu.6.1.35)

यो योऽश्वरथनागाढ्यः स स राजा भविष्यति । यश् च यश् चाबलः सर्वः स स भृत्यः कलौ युगे

yo yo 'śvarathanāgāḍhyaḥ sa sa rājā bhaviṣyati yaś ca yaś cābalaḥ sarvaḥ sa sa bhṛtyaḥ kalau yuge

Whoever is rich in horses, chariots, and elephants will set himself up as king; and whoever lacks power will, in the Kali age, become a servant.

Verse 36 (vishnu.6.1.36)

वैश्याः कृषिवणिज्यादि संत्यज्य निजकर्म यत् । शूद्रवृत्त्या प्रवर्त्स्यन्ति कारुकर्मोपजीविनः

vaiśyāḥ kṛṣivaṇijyādi saṁtyajya nijakarma yat śūdravṛttyā pravartsyanti kārukarmopajīvinaḥ

Vaishyas will abandon their proper occupation of farming and trade, and, taking up the livelihood of Shudras, will support themselves by craftwork.

Verse 37 (vishnu.6.1.37)

भैक्ष्यव्रतास् तथा शूद्राः प्रव्रज्यालिङ्गिनोऽधमाः । पाषण्डसंश्रयां वृत्तिमाश्रयिष्यन्त्यसंस्कृताः

bhaikṣyavratās tathā śūdrāḥ pravrajyāliṅgino 'dhamāḥ pāṣaṇḍasaṁśrayāṁ vṛttim āśrayiṣyanty asaṁskṛtāḥ

Base-born Shudras, taking up the vow of alms-begging, will wear the outward marks of renunciants, and, without having undergone the proper rites, will make heretical show their livelihood.

Verse 38 (vishnu.6.1.38)

दुर्भिक्षकरपीडाभिरतीवोपद्रुता जनाः । गोधूमान्नयवान्नाढ्यान् देशान् यास्यन्ति दुःखिताः

durbhikṣakarapīḍābhir atīvopadrutā janāḥ godhūmānnayavānnāḍhyān deśān yāsyanti duḥkhitāḥ

Sorely afflicted by famine and by the burden of taxes, people, in their distress, will migrate to lands rich in wheat and barley.

Verse 39 (vishnu.6.1.39)

वेदमार्गे प्रलीने च पाषण्डाढ्ये ततो जने । अधर्मवृद्ध्या लोकानामल्पमायुर् भविष्यति

vedamārge pralīne ca pāṣaṇḍāḍhye tato jane adharmavṛddhyā lokānām alpam āyur bhaviṣyati

When the Vedic path has died out and people have grown full of heresy, through the increase of unrighteousness the lifespan of humankind will shrink.

Verse 40 (vishnu.6.1.40)

अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यमानेषु वै तपः । नरेषु नृपदोषेण बालमृत्युर् भविष्यति

aśāstravihitaṁ ghoraṁ tapyamāneṣu vai tapaḥ nareṣu nṛpadoṣeṇa bālamṛtyur bhaviṣyati

When men take up fierce austerities not sanctioned by scripture, then, through the fault of their kings, death in childhood will become common.

Verse 41 (vishnu.6.1.41)

भवित्री योषितां सूतिः पञ्चषट्सप्तवार्षिकी । नवाष्टदशवर्षाणां मनुष्याणां तथा कलौ

bhavitrī yoṣitāṁ sūtiḥ pañcaṣaṭsaptavārṣikī navāṣṭadaśavarṣāṇāṁ manuṣyāṇāṁ tathā kalau

In the Kali age, women will bear children at the age of five, six, or seven years, and men will father them at the age of nine, eight, or ten.

Verse 42 (vishnu.6.1.42)

पलितोद्भवश् च भविता तदा द्वादशवार्षिकः । नातिजीवति वै कश्चित् कलौ वर्षाणि विंशतिः

palitodbhavaś ca bhavitā tadā dvādaśavārṣikaḥ nātijīvati vai kaścit kalau varṣāṇi viṁśatiḥ

Grey hair will appear at the age of twelve, and in the Kali age no one will live beyond twenty years.

Verse 43 (vishnu.6.1.43)

अल्पप्रज्ञा वृथालिङ्गा दुष्टान्तःकरणाः कलौ । यतस् ततो विनङ्क्ष्यन्ति कालेनाल्पेन मानवाः

alpaprajñā vṛthāliṅgā duṣṭāntaḥkaraṇāḥ kalau yatas tato vinaṅkṣyanti kālenālpena mānavāḥ

Of little understanding, wearing outward marks that mean nothing, their hearts corrupted, men of the Kali age will perish everywhere, and in a short time.

Verse 44 (vishnu.6.1.44)

यदा यदा हि पाषण्डवृद्धिर् मैत्रेय लक्ष्यते । तदा तदा कलेर् वृद्धिरनुमेया विचक्षणैः

yadā yadā hi pāṣaṇḍavṛddhir maitreya lakṣyate tadā tadā kaler vṛddhir anumeyā vicakṣaṇaiḥ

Maitreya, whenever an increase of heresy is observed, the discerning should, on that very occasion, infer the growing strength of the Kali age.

Verse 45 (vishnu.6.1.45)

यदा यदा सतां हानिर् वेदमार्गानुसारिणाम् । तदा तदा कलेर् वृद्धिरनुमेया विचक्षणैः

yadā yadā satāṁ hānir vedamārgānusāriṇām tadā tadā kaler vṛddhir anumeyā vicakṣaṇaiḥ

Whenever there is loss among the good who follow the path of the Veda, the discerning should, on that occasion too, infer the growing strength of the Kali age.

Verse 46 (vishnu.6.1.46)

प्रारम्भाश् चावसीदन्ति यदा धर्मकृतां नृणाम् । तदानुमेयं प्राधान्यं कलेर् मैत्रेय पण्डितैः

prārambhāś cāvasīdanti yadā dharmakṛtāṁ nṛṇām tadānumeyaṁ prādhānyaṁ kaler maitreya paṇḍitaiḥ

When the undertakings of righteous men begin to fail, Maitreya, learned men should infer from this the dominance of the Kali age.

Verse 47 (vishnu.6.1.47)

यदा यदा न यज्ञानामीश्वरः पुरुषोत्तमः । इज्यते पुरुषैर् यज्ञैस् तदा ज्ञेयं कलेर् बलम्

yadā yadā na yajñānām īśvaraḥ puruṣottamaḥ ijyate puruṣair yajñais tadā jñeyaṁ kaler balam

Whenever men fail to worship, through their sacrifices, the Supreme Person who is the Lord of all sacrifices, then the strength of the Kali age should be recognized.

Verse 48 (vishnu.6.1.48)

न प्रीतिर् वेदवादेषु पाषण्डेषु यदा रतिः । कलेर् वृद्धिस् तदा प्राज्ञैरनुमेया द्विजोत्तम

na prītir vedavādeṣu pāṣaṇḍeṣu yadā ratiḥ kaler vṛddhis tadā prājñair anumeyā dvijottama

O best of the twice-born, when there is no love for the words of the Veda and delight is taken in heresy instead, the wise should infer from this the growing strength of the Kali age.

Verse 49 (vishnu.6.1.49)

कलौ जगत्पतिं विष्णुं सर्वस्रष्टारमीश्वरम् । नार्चयिष्यन्ति मैत्रेय पाषण्डोपहता नराः

kalau jagatpatiṁ viṣṇuṁ sarvasraṣṭāram īśvaram nārcayiṣyanti maitreya pāṣaṇḍopahatā narāḥ

Maitreya, in the Kali age, men overcome by heresy will not worship Vishnu, the Lord of the world, the creator of all, the Supreme Ruler.

Verse 50 (vishnu.6.1.50)

किं देवैः किं द्विजैर् वेदैः किं शौचेनाम्बुजन्मना । इत्येवं विप्र वक्ष्यन्ति पाषण्डोपहता नराः

kiṁ devaiḥ kiṁ dvijair vedaiḥ kiṁ śaucenāmbujanmanā ity evaṁ vipra vakṣyanti pāṣaṇḍopahatā narāḥ

"What use are the gods? What use are the twice-born and the Vedas? What use is purification through sacred waters?" — thus, O brahmin, will men overcome by heresy speak.

Verse 51 (vishnu.6.1.51)

स्वल्पाम्बुवृष्टिः पर्जन्यः सस्यं स्वल्पफलं तथा । फलं तथाल्पसारं च विप्र प्राप्ते कलौ युगे

svalpāmbuvṛṣṭiḥ parjanyaḥ sasyaṁ svalpaphalaṁ tathā phalaṁ tathālpasāraṁ ca vipra prāpte kalau yuge

O brahmin, when the Kali age arrives, the clouds will yield very little rain, the crops will bear scant fruit, and the fruit itself will be poor in substance.

Verse 52 (vishnu.6.1.52)

शाणीप्रायाणि वस्त्राणि शमीप्राया महीरुहाः । शूद्रप्रायास् तथा वर्णा भविष्यन्ति कलौ युगे

śāṇīprāyāṇi vastrāṇi śamīprāyā mahīruhāḥ śūdraprāyās tathā varṇā bhaviṣyanti kalau yuge

In the Kali age, clothing will be mostly of coarse hemp, trees will mostly resemble the stunted shami tree, and the social orders will mostly consist of Shudras.

Verse 53 (vishnu.6.1.53)

अणुप्रायाणि धान्यानि आजप्रायं तथा पयः । भविष्यति कलौ प्राप्ते उशीरं चानुलेपनम्

aṇuprāyāṇi dhānyāni ājaprāyaṁ tathā payaḥ bhaviṣyati kalau prāpte uśīraṁ cānulepanam

When the Kali age arrives, grains will mostly be tiny, milk will mostly be that of goats, and the root of khus-grass will serve as the common unguent.

Verse 54 (vishnu.6.1.54)

श्वश्रूश्वशुरभूयिष्ठा गुरवश् च नृणां कलौ । श्यालाद्या हारिभार्याश् च सुहृदो मुनिसत्तम

śvaśrūśvaśurabhūyiṣṭhā guravaś ca nṛṇāṁ kalau śyālādyā hāribhāryāś ca suhṛdo munisattama

O foremost of sages, in the Kali age men's chief elders will be their mothers- and fathers-in-law, and their friends will be brothers-in-law and the like — even those who seduce their wives.

Verse 55 (vishnu.6.1.55)

कस्य माता पिता कस्य यदा कर्मात्मकः पुमान् । इति चोदाहरिष्यन्ति श्वशुरानुगता नराः

kasya mātā pitā kasya yadā karmātmakaḥ pumān iti codāhariṣyanti śvaśurānugatā narāḥ

"Whose mother, whose father — when a man is defined only by his own actions?" — so will men who have become dependents of their in-laws declare.

Verse 56 (vishnu.6.1.56)

वाङ्मनःकायिकैर् दोषैरभिभूताः पुनः पुनः । नराः पापान्यनुदिनं करिष्यन्त्यल्पमेधसः

vāṅmanaḥkāyikair doṣair abhibhūtāḥ punaḥ punaḥ narāḥ pāpāny anudinaṁ kariṣyanty alpamedhasaḥ

Overcome again and again by faults of speech, mind, and body, men of little understanding will commit sin day after day.

Verse 57 (vishnu.6.1.57)

निःसत्त्वानामशौचानां निर्ह्रीकाणां तथा नृणाम् । यद् यद् दुःखाय तत् सर्वं कलिकाले भविष्यति

niḥsattvānām aśaucānāṁ nirhrīkāṇāṁ tathā nṛṇām yad yad duḥkhāya tat sarvaṁ kalikāle bhaviṣyati

Whatever brings suffering to men who are without strength, without purity, and without shame — all of that will come to pass in the Kali age.

Verse 58 (vishnu.6.1.58)

निःस्वाध्यायवषट्कारे स्वधास्वाहाविवर्जिते । तदा प्रविरलो विप्र क्वचिल् लोको भविष्यति

niḥsvādhyāyavaṣaṭkāre svadhāsvāhāvivarjite tadā praviralo vipra kvacil loko bhaviṣyati

In that age, devoid of Vedic recitation and the sacrificial cry of vashat, devoid too of the offerings of svadha and svaha, the righteous, O brahmin, will remain only here and there, few and scattered.

Verse 59 (vishnu.6.1.59)

तत्राल्पेनैव यत्नेन पुण्यस्कन्धमनुत्तमम् । करोति यं कृतयुगे क्रियते तपसा हि सः

tatrālpenaiva yatnena puṇyaskandham anuttamam karoti yaṁ kṛtayuge kriyate tapasā hi saḥ

At that time, the mass of merit that a man gains through the very slightest effort is the same supreme merit that, in the Krita age, could be gained only through arduous austerity.