Chapter Two
Description of Kali-yuga
||12.2.1 ||
çré-çuka uväca
tataç cänu-dinaà dharmaù
satyaà çaucaà kñamä dayä
kälena balinä räjan
naìkñyaty äyur balaà småtiù
Çukadeva Gosvämé said: Then, O King, religion,
truthfulness, cleanliness, tolerance, mercy, duration of life,
physical strength and memory will all diminish day by day
because of the powerful influence of the age of Kali.
In the Second Chapter, the faults of Kali-yuga, the appearance of
Kalki, the characteristics of Kali and the beginning of Satya-yuga are
described.
||12.2.2 ||
vittam eva kalau nèëäà
janmäcära-guëodayaù
dharma-nyäya-vyavasthäyäà
käraëaà balam eva hi
In Kali-yuga, wealth alone will be considered the sign of a
man's good birth, proper behavior and fine qualities. And
law and justice will be applied only on the basis of one's
power.
He who has wealth has good birth, good conduct and good qualities.
This will be explained.
||12.2.3 ||
dämpatye 'bhirucir hetur
mäyaiva vyävahärike
strétve puàstve ca hi ratir
vipratve sütram eva hi
Men and women will live together merely because of
pleasure, and business will be based on deceit. Womanliness
and manliness will be judged according to one's expertise in
sex, and a man will be known as a brähmaëa just by his
wearing a thread.
||12.2.4 ||
liìgam eväçrama-khyätäv
anyonyäpatti-käraëam
avåttyä nyäya-daurbalyaà
päëòitye cäpalaà vacaù
A person'’s superiority or inferiority in äçrama will be
ascertained merely according to external symbols. Defeat of
justice will be caused by inability to give bribes. Agitated
speech will be considered learning.
Excellence or degradation in äçrama, not knowledge or proper
conduct, will be judged by wearing deer skin, carrying a daëòa or
shaving the head. Inability to give bribes will cause defeat of
justice. Agitated speech will be considered learning.
||12.2.5 ||
anäòhyataiväsädhutve
sädhutve dambha eva tu
svékära eva codvähe
snänam eva prasädhanam
A person will be judged improper if he does not have money,
and cheating will be accepted as a virtue. Marriage will be
arranged simply by verbal agreement, and a person will
think he is properly attired if he has merely taken a bath.
||12.2.6 ||
düre väry-ayanaà térthaà
lävaëyaà keça-dhäraëam
udaraà-bharatä svärthaù
satyatve dhärñöyam eva hi
däkñyaà kuöumba-bharaëaà
yaço 'rthe dharma-sevanam
A sacred place will be taken to consist of no more than a
reservoir of water located at a distance, and beauty will be
thought to depend on one's hairstyle. Filling the belly will
become the goal of life, and one who is audacious will be
accepted as truthful. He who can maintain a family will be
regarded as an expert man, and the principles of religion
will be observed only for the sake of reputation.
||12.2.7 ||
evaà prajäbhir duñöäbhir
äkérëe kñiti-maëòale
brahma-viö-kñatra-çüdräëäà
yo balé bhavitä nåpaù
As the earth thus becomes crowded with a corrupt
population, whoever among the brähmaëas, kñatriyas,
vaiçyas or çüdras is the strongest will become the king.
||12.2.8 ||
prajä hi lubdhai räjanyair
nirghåëair dasyu-dharmabhiù
äcchinna-dära-draviëä
yäsyanti giri-känanam
Losing their wives and properties to such avaricious and
merciless rulers, who will behave no better than ordinary
thieves, the citizens will flee to the mountains and forests.
||12.2.9 ||
çäka-mülämiña-kñaudra-
phala-puñpäñöi-bhojanäù
anävåñöyä vinaìkñyanti
durbhikña-kara-péòitäù
Harassed by famine and excessive taxes, people will resort
to eating leaves, roots, flesh, wild honey, fruits, flowers and
seeds. Struck by drought, they will become completely
ruined.
||12.2.10 ||
çéta-vätätapa-prävåò-
himair anyonyataù prajäù
kñut-tåòbhyäà vyädhibhiç caiva
santapsyante ca cintayä
The citizens will suffer greatly from cold, wind, heat, rain
and snow, and by quarrels, hunger, thirst, disease and
severe anxiety.
||12.2.11 ||
triàçad viàçati varñäëi
paramäyuù kalau nåëäm
The maximum duration of life for human beings in Kali-yuga
will become fifty years.
||12.2.12-16 ||
kñéyamäëeñu deheñu
dehinäà kali-doñataù
varëäçramavatäà dharme
nañöe veda-pathe nåëäm
päñaëòa-pracure dharme
dasyu-präyeñu räjasu
cauryänåta-våthä-hiàsä-
nänä-våttiñu vai nåñu
çüdra-präyeñu varëeñu
cchäga-präyäsu dhenuñu
gåha-präyeñv äçrameñu
yauna-präyeñu bandhuñu
aëu-präyäsv oñadhéñu
çamé-präyeñu sthäsnuñu
vidyut-präyeñu megheñu
çünya-präyeñu sadmasu
itthaà kalau gata-präye
janeñu khara-dharmiñu
dharma-träëäya sattvena
bhagavän avatariñyati
By the time the age of Kali ends, the bodies of all creatures
will be greatly reduced in size, and the religious principles
of followers of varëäçrama will be ruined. The path of the
Vedas will be completely forgotten in human society, and so-
called religion will be mostly atheistic. The kings will mostly
be thieves, the occupations of men will be stealing, lying
and needless violence, and all the social classes will be
reduced to the lowest level of çüdras. Cows will be like
goats, spiritual hermitages will be no different from
mundane houses, and family ties will extend no further than
youthfulness. Most plants and herbs will be tiny, and all
trees will appear like dwarf çamé trees. Clouds will be full of
lightning, and devoid of rain. Homes will be empty, and all
human beings will have become like asses. At that time, the
Supreme Lord will appear on the earth for rescuing dharma
with body of çuddha-sattva.
Sthäsnuñu means trees.
||12.2.17 ||
caräcara-guror viñëor
éçvarasyäkhilätmanaù
dharma-träëäya sädhünäà
janma karmäpanuttaye
Lord Viñëu, the guru of all moving and nonmoving living
beings, and the Supreme Soul of all, takes birth to protect
the principles of religion and to liberate his devotees.
The birth will take place for liberating the devotees
(karmäpanuttaye).
||12.2.18 ||
çambhala-gräma-mukhyasya
brähmaëasya mahätmanaù
bhavane viñëuyaçasaù
kalkiù prädurbhaviñyati
Kalki will appear in the home of the most eminent brähmaëa
of Çambhala village, the great soul Viñëuyaçä.
||12.2.19-20 ||
açvam äçu-gam äruhya
devadattaà jagat-patiù
asinäsädhu-damanam
añöaiçvarya-guëänvitaù
vicarann äçunä kñauëyäà
hayenäpratima-dyutiù
nåpa-liìga-cchado dasyün
koöiço nihaniñyati
With unrivalled effulgence, Kalki, the Lord of the universe,
endowed with the eight powers, mounting his swift horse
sent by the devatäs by which he will destroy the wicked, will
travel over the earth on his horse with a sword in his hand.
He will kill millions of thieves who dress as kings.
He will mount a swift horse given by the devatäs by which the
demons are destroyed. He will kill thieves dressed as kings.
||12.2.21 ||
atha teñäà bhaviñyanti
manäàsi viçadäni vai
väsudeväìga-rägäti-
puëya-gandhänila-spåçäm
paura-jänapadänäà vai
hateñv akhila-dasyuñu
After all the thieves have been killed, the residents of the
cities and towns will develop clear minds from contacting
the purifying breeze from the fragrances on the body of
Väsudeva.
||12.2.22 ||
teñäà prajä-visargaç ca
sthaviñöhaù sambhaviñyati
väsudeve bhagavati
sattva-mürtau hådi sthite
When Lord Väsudeva, the Supreme Lord, appears in their
hearts in his çuddha-sattva form, the creation of the
population with strong sense of dharma will take place.
Sthaviñöhaù means “strong because of being fixed in dharma.”
||12.2.23 ||
yadävatérëo bhagavän
kalkir dharma-patir hariù
kåtaà bhaviñyati tadä
prajä-sütiç ca sättviké
When the Supreme Lord has appeared on earth as Kalki, the
maintainer of religion, Satya-yuga and creation of
population in sattva-guëa will begin.
Sütiù means production.
||12.2.24 ||
yadä candraç ca süryaç ca
tathä tiñya-båhaspaté
eka-räçau sameñyanti
bhaviñyati tadä kåtam
When the moon, the sun and Båhaspati simultaneously enter
the constellation Puñyä in Karkaöa sign, Satya-yuga will
begin.
This verse describes the beginning of Satya-yuga. Tiñya means
Puñya constellation. Jupiter enters Cancer sign every twelve years
(staying there for approximately a year) and during that time it is
possible for two or three dark moons (conjunction of sun and moon)
to conjoin with Jupiter. However, when all three planets enter Puñya
simultaneously, Satya-yuga begins.
||12.2.25 ||
ye 'tétä vartamänä ye
bhaviñyanti ca pärthiväù
te ta uddeçataù proktä
vaàçéyäù soma-süryayoù
Thus I have described in brief all the kings—past, present
and future—who belong to the dynasties of the sun and the
moon.
This concludes the description what started in Canto Nine.
||12.2.26 ||
ärabhya bhavato janma
yävan nandäbhiñecanam
etad varña-sahasraà tu
çataà païcadaçottaram
From your birth up to the coronation of King Nanda, 1,150
years will pass.
The years should be enumerated from Parékñit onwards. From
kings like Märjäré (grandson of Jaräsandha) contemporary to
Parékñit to Nanda1 will be a little less than one thousand five
hundred years, a sequence not including period when the kingdom
was splintered.
||12.2.27-28 ||
saptarñéëäà tu yau pürvau
dåçyete uditau divi
tayos tu madhye nakñatraà
dåçyate yat samaà niçi
tenaiva åñayo yuktäs
tiñöhanty abda-çataà nåëäm
te tvadéye dvijäù käla
adhunä cäçritä maghäù
Of the seven stars forming the constellation of the seven
sages, Pulaha and Kratu are the first to rise in the night sky.
If a line running north and south were drawn through their
midpoint, whichever of the lunar mansions this line passes
through is said to be the ruling constellation for that time.
The Seven Sages will remain connected with that particular
constellation for one hundred human years. Currently,
during your lifetime, they are situated in the constellation
called Maghä.
A precise calculation of time is given in order to define the
beginning of Kali-yuga and its progress. Between the first two stars
(Pulaha and Kratu) of the seven sages, which is shaped like a cart
when seen at night, the constellations starting from Açvini appear.
Each constellation will remain for a hundred years in that position.
Now, during the time of Parékñit, the constellation was Maghä.
When Kåñëa was born the constellation between those to stars was
Açleña. When the two stars’ positioning in Açleña was finished and
they entered Maghä constellation, Kali-yuga began. When the seven
sages reach Purväñäòha constellation Kali will be flourishing. This
will be understood later in the text.
||12.2.29 ||
viñëor bhagavato bhänuù
1
SB 12.1.9
kåñëäkhyo 'sau divaà gataù
tadäviçat kalir lokaà
päpe yad ramate janaù
When the seven sages entered Maghä constellation, when
Viñëu, the Lord of Vaikuëöha, the ray of Kåñëa, went to
Vaikuëöha, Kali entered this world, and people then began
to take pleasure in sinful activities.
When the seven sages entered Maghä constellation, and the Lord of
Vaikuëöha, the ray (bhänuù) of Kåñëa, who is completely famous as
Kåñëa, went to Vaikuëöha (while Kåñëa remained aprakaöa in
Dvärakä and Vraja). According to Çrédhara Svämé, the word bhänuù
means “çuddha-sattva form” since bhänuù means “he who shines.”
||12.2.30 ||
yävat sa päda-padmäbhyäà
spåçan äste ramä-patiù
tävat kalir vai påthivéà
paräkrantuà na cäçakat
As long us Çré Kåñëa, the husband of Lakñàé, touched the
earth with his lotus feet, Kali could not subdue this planet.
“But it is said that, when Duryodhana began the gambling match
during the Lord’s advent at the junction of Dväpara-yuga, and when
at the time he attempted to take off Draupadé’s clothing, Kali,
ordered by the Lord, took that auspicious moment to gain control of
the earth.” True, but at that time the influence was insignificant.
When Kåñëa was present the four legs of dharma were also present
and people were completely happy. According to the statement of
earth herself, the strength of dharma was greater than that of Tretä-
yuga. What then is the question of Kali conquering at that time?
||12.2.31 ||
yadä devarñayaù sapta
maghäsu vicaranti hi
tadä pravåttas tu kalir
dvädaçäbda-çatätmakaù
When the seven sages pass into the constellation Maghä,
the age of Kali begins. Kali-yuga comprises twelve hundred
years of the devatäs.
When the seven sages enter Maghä constellation and Kåñëa
disappears, the next moment after that Kali-yuga begins. Twelve
hundred years of the devatäs includes the two sandhyäs as well.2
2
There is a sandhyä at the beginning and end of each yuga. The proportions are .1 from the beginning
portion, .8 for the middle portion and .1 for the concluding portion of the yuga.
||12.2.32 ||
yadä maghäbhyo yäsyanti
pürväñäòhäà maharñayaù
tadä nandät prabhåty eña
kalir våddhià gamiñyati
When the seven sages enter Pürväsäòhä constellation, 3 Kali
will have his full strength, beginning from King Nanda and
his dynasty.
This verse describes the time it took for Kali to become strong.
||12.2.33 ||
yasmin kåñëo divaà yätas
tasminn eva tadähani
pratipannaà kali-yugam
iti prähuù purä-vidaù
The ancients with knowledge have declared that on the very
day that Kåñëa departed for the spiritual world, the
influence of the age of Kali began.
“Well, some recent speculators have said that Kåñëa made his
appearance in the first sandhyä of Kali-yuga.” This verse refutes
that theory. The general rule is that next yuga enters during the
concluding part of the closing sandhyä (called a sandhyäàça) of the
previous yuga. However, because of the influence of Kåñëa, Kali
could not have any effect at that time.
||12.2.34 ||
divyäbdänäà sahasränte
caturthe tu punaù kåtam
bhaviñyati tadä nèëäà
mana ätma-prakäçakam
After the one thousand celestial years of Kali-yuga, Satya-
yuga will manifest again at the concluding sandhyä of Kali-
yuga. At that time the minds of all men will become self-
effulgent.
This verse describes the entrance time of Satya-yuga. Caturthe
means “in Kali-yuga.” Here it actually means that Satya-yuga will
begin during the sandhyäàça of Kali-yuga4.
3
From Magha to Pürväñäòhä constellation is a count of eleven. Thus the number of years between
Kåñnä’s disappearance and King Nanda dynasty is 1100 years.
4
The total number of devatä years for Kali-yuga is 1200 years. The first sandhyä is 120 devatäs years
and the sandhyäàça is 120 years. The middle portion is 960 devatä years (approximately 1000).
||12.2.35 ||
ity eña mänavo vaàço
yathä saìkhyäyate bhuvi
tathä viö-çüdra-vipräëäà
täs tä jïeyä yuge yuge
Thus I have enumerated the families descended from of
Manus on this earth. One can similarly enumerate the
vaiçyas, çüdras and brähmaëas living in the various ages.
Just as the numbers in members in the families of Manu have been
enumerated, the varëas can be calculated, though they have not
been mentioned here.
||12.2.36 ||
eteñäà näma-liìgänäà
puruñäëäà mahätmanäm
kathä-mäträvaçiñöänäà
kértir eva sthitä bhuvi
These great personalities are now known only by their
names and their stories. Thus, only their fame remains on
the earth.
Of those who are known by names (näma-liìgänäm) and remaining
stories, their glories alone survive.
||12.2.37 ||
deväpiù çäntanor bhrätä
maruç cekñväku-vaàça-jaù
kaläpa-gräma äsäte
mahä-yoga-balänvitau
Deväpi, the brother of Mahäräja Çäntanu, and Maru, the
descendant of Ikñväku, both possessing great mystic
strength, are living even now in the village of Kaläpa.
This describes the method of reviving the destroyed line of kings.
Deväpi was in the moon dynasty.
||12.2.38 ||
täv ihaitya kaler ante
väsudevänuçikñitau
varëäçrama-yutaà dharmaà
pürva-vat prathayiñyataù
At the end of the age of Kali, these two kings, having
received instruction directly from Väsudeva, will return to
human society and establish varëäçrama-dharma, just as it
was before.
||12.2.39 ||
kåtaà tretä dväparaà ca
kaliç ceti catur-yugam
anena krama-yogena
bhuvi präëiñu vartate
The cycle of four ages—Satya, Tretä, Dväpara and Kali—
continues perpetually among living beings on this earth, in
the same sequence.
This verse shows the cycle of four yugas.
||12.2.40 ||
räjann ete mayä proktä
nara-deväs tathäpare
bhümau mamatvaà kåtvänte
hitvemäà nidhanaà gatäù
O King Parékñit! All these kings I have described, as well
as all other human beings, come to this earth and develop
possessiveness, and at the end give up this world and meet
their destruction.
||12.2.41 ||
kåmi-viò-bhasma-saàjïänte
räja-nämno 'pi yasya ca
bhüta-dhruk tat-kåte svärthaà
kià veda nirayo yataù
Even though a person's body may now have the designation
"king," in the end its name will be "worms," "stool" or
"ashes." What can a person who injures other living beings
for the sake of his body know about his own self-interest,
since his activities simply lead him to hell?
He who is known by the name of “king” after death is known by the
names “worms,” “stool,” and “ashes.” He commits violence for the
sake of his body (tat-kåte).
||12.2.42 ||
kathaà seyam akhaëòä bhüù
pürvair me puruñair dhåtä
mat-putrasya ca pautrasya
mat-pürvä vaàça-jasya vä
"The whole earth was held by my predecessors and is now
under my sovereignty. How can I arrange for it to remain in
the hands of my sons, grandsons and other descendants?"
Possessiveness is illustrated by emotional statements. Since the
land was held by my predecessors, how can I arrange for it to pass
to my sons?
||12.2.43 ||
tejo-'b-anna-mayaà käyaà
gåhétvätmatayäbudhäù
mahéà mamatayä cobhau
hitvänte 'darçanaà gatäù
Although the foolish accept the body made of earth, water
and fire as "me" and this earth as "mine," in every case they
must abandon both their body and the earth and die.
Having accepted body as self and earth as “mine,” they give up
both body and land at the end and die (adarçanam).
||12.2.44 ||
ye ye bhü-patayo räjan
bhuïjate bhuvam ojasä
kälena te kåtäù sarve
kathä-mäträù kathäsu ca
O King! All these kings who tried to enjoy the earth by their
strength were reduced by the force of time to nothing more
than topics in stories.
Thus ends the commentary on the Second Chapter of the Twelfth
Canto of the Bhägavatam for the pleasure of the devotees, in
accordance with the previous äcäryas.
