एतत्प्रत्यक्षतः सर्वं पूर्वं वृत्तं द्विजोत्तम। तस्मादिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं सर्वांहेत्वात्मिकां कथां
All this has happened before, O best of twice-born, and was directly witnessed; therefore, I wish to hear from you the entire story, with all its causes.
अनुभूतं हि बहुशस्त्वयैकेन द्विजोत्तम। न तेऽस्त्यविदितं किंचित्सर्वलोकेषु नित्यदा
Indeed, O best of Brahmins, you alone have experienced much; there is nothing unknown to you in all the worlds, at any time.
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि नमस्कृत्वा स्वयंभुवे। पुरुषाय पुराणाय शाश्वतायाव्ययाय च। अव्यक्ताय सुसूक्ष्माय निर्गुणाय गुणात्मने
Well then, I shall tell you, having bowed to the Self-born, the Ancient Person, the Eternal, the Imperishable, the Unmanifest, the most subtle, the qualityless, who is the essence of qualities.
य एष पृथुदीर्घाक्षः पीतवासा जनार्दनः। एष कर्ता विकर्ता च भूतात्मा भूतकृत्प्रभुः
This Janardana, with broad and long eyes, clad in yellow garments—he is the creator and the uncreator, the soul of beings, the maker of beings, the lord.
अचिन्त्यं महदाश्चर्यं पवित्रमिति चोच्यते। अनादिनिधनं भूतं विश्वमव्ययमक्षयम्
He is said to be inconceivable, a great wonder, pure; he is the being without beginning or end, the imperishable, inexhaustible universe.
एष कर्ता न क्रियते कारणं चापि पौरुषे। को ह्येनं परुषं वेत्ति देवा अपि न तं पौरषे
He is the creator, but is not created; he is the cause, yet not by human means. Who indeed knows him as he truly is? Not even the gods know him in his true nature.
सर्वमाश्चर्यमेवैतन्निर्वृत्तं राजसत्तम। आदितो मनुजव्याघ्र कृत्स्नस्य जगतः क्षये
All this is indeed a wonder, O best of kings, that has come to pass—from the very beginning, O tiger among men, at the dissolution of the entire world.
चत्वार्याहुः सहस्राणि वर्षाणां तत्कृतं युगम्। तस्य तावच्छती सन्ध्या सन्ध्यांशश्च तथाविधः
They say that a Krita Yuga is made of four thousand years; its dawn and dusk are each of the same measure.
वीणि वर्षसहस्राणि त्रेतायुगमिहोच्यते। तस्य तावच्छती सन्ध्या सन्ध्यांशश्च ततः परं
Here, the Treta Yuga is said to be three thousand years; its dawn and dusk are each of the same measure as before.
तथा वर्षसहस्रे द्वे द्वापरं परिमाणतः। तस्यापि द्विशती सन्ध्या सन्ध्यांशश्च तथाविधः
Likewise, the Dvapara Yuga is, in measure, two thousand years; its dawn and dusk are each two hundred years, of the same kind.
सहस्रमेकं वर्षाणां ततः कलियुगं स्मृतम्। तस्य वर्षशतं सन्ध्या सन्ध्यांशश्च ततः परम्
Then, the Kali Yuga is remembered as one thousand years; its dawn is one hundred years, and its dusk is likewise.
सन्ध्यासंध्यांशयोस्तुल्यं प्रमाणमुपधारय। क्षीणे कलियुगे चैव प्रवर्तति कृतं युगम्
Understand that the measure of dawn and dusk is equal; and when the Kali Yuga ends, the Krita Yuga begins again.
एषा द्वादशसाहस्री युगाख्या परिकीर्तिता। एतत्सहस्रपर्यन्तमहो ब्राह्ममुदाहृतम्
This cycle of the ages, called the twelve-thousand-year yuga, is proclaimed; this thousandfold period is known as a day of Brahma.
विश्वं हि ब्रह्मभवने सर्वतः परिवर्तते। लोकानां मनुजवन्याघ्र प्रलयं तं विदुर्बुधाः
Indeed, in the abode of Brahma, the universe revolves in every way; O tiger among men, the wise know that as the dissolution of the worlds.
अल्पावशिष्टे तु तदा युगान्ते भरतर्षभ। सहस्रान्ते नराः सर्वे प्रायशोऽनृतवादिनः
At the end of the age, O best of the Bharatas, when only a little remains, after a thousand years, all people are mostly speakers of falsehood.
यज्ञप्रतिनिधिः पार्थ दानप्रतिनिधिस्तथा। व्रतप्रतिनिधिश्चैव तस्मिन्काले प्रवर्तते
O Partha, at that time, substitutes for sacrifice, substitutes for charity, and substitutes for vows are practiced.
ब्राह्मणाः शूद्रकर्माणस्तथा शूद्रा धनार्जकाः। क्षत्रधर्मेण वाऽप्यत्र वर्तयन्ति युगक्षये
Brahmanas perform the work of Shudras, and Shudras acquire wealth; and at the end of the age, they live by the duties of Kshatriyas.
निवृत्तयज्ञस्वाध्याया दण्डाजिनविवर्जिताः। ब्राह्मणा सर्वभक्षाश्च भविष्यन्ति कलौ युगे
Brahmanas, having abandoned sacrifice and study, and lacking staff and deer-skin, will eat all kinds of food in the Kali age.
अजपा ब्राह्मणास्तात शूद्रा जपपरायणाः। विपरीते तदा लोके पूर्वरूपं क्षयस्य तत्
Brahmanas will not recite, O dear one, and Shudras will be devoted to recitation; at that time, the world is reversed, and this is the sign of its decline.
बहवो म्लेच्छराजानः पृथिव्यां मनुजाधिप। मृषानुशासिनः पापा मृषावादपरायणाः
Many foreign kings will rule the earth, O lord of men; wicked, speaking falsehood, and giving false commands.
आन्ध्राः शकाः पुलिन्दाश्च यवनाश्च नराधिपाः। काम्भोजा बाह्लिकाः शूराऽऽ भीरस्तथा नरोत्तमा
Andhras, Shakas, Pulindas, Yavanas, Kambojas, Bahlikas, brave and fearless, will be the best among men and kings.
न तदा ब्राह्मणः कश्चित्स्वधर्ममुपजीवति। क्षत्रियाश्चापि वैश्याश्च विकर्मस्था नराधिप
At that time, no Brahmana lives by his own duty; and Kshatriyas and Vaishyas, O lord of men, stand in unrighteousness.
अल्पायुषः स्वल्पबलाः स्वल्पवीर्यपराक्रमाः। अल्पसाराल्पदेहाश्च तथा सत्याल्पभाषिणः
With short lives, little strength, little energy and valor, little essence, small bodies, and little truth in speech.
बहुशून्या जनपदा मृगव्यालावृता दिशः। युगान्ते समनुप्राप्ते वृथा च ब्रह्मवादिनः
Many regions are empty, and the directions are filled with wild beasts; at the end of the age, those who speak of Brahman do so in vain.
भोवादिनस्तथा शूद्रा ब्राह्मणाश्चार्यवादिनः। युगान्ते मनुजव्याघ्र भवन्ति बहुजन्तवः
Shudras speak 'bho', and Brahmanas speak like teachers; at the end of the age, O tiger among men, there are many living beings.
न तथा घ्राणयुक्ताश्च सर्वगन्धा विशांपते। रसाश्च मनुजव्याघ्र न तथा स्वादुयोगिनः
O lord of the people, scents are not as fragrant, and tastes, O tiger among men, are not as pleasing as before.
बहुप्रजा ह्रस्वदेहा शीलाचारविवर्जिताः। मुखेभगाः स्त्रियो राजन्भविष्यन्ति युगक्षये
Women will be numerous, short-bodied, lacking in conduct and virtue, and divided by their mouths, O king, at the end of the age.
अट्टशूला जनपदाः शिवशूलाश्चतुष्पथाः। केशशूलाः स्त्रियो राजन्भविष्यन्ति युगक्षये
Villages will be marked by laughter, crossroads by laughter, and women, O king, will be marked by their hair at the end of the age.
अल्पक्षीरास्तथा गावो भविष्यन्ति जनाधिप। अल्पपुष्पफलाश्चापि पादपा बहुवायसाः
Cows will yield little milk, O lord of men, and trees will bear little fruit and flowers, but many birds.
ब्रह्मवध्यानुलिप्तानां तथा मिथ्याभिशंसिनाम्। नृपाणां पृथिवीपाल प्रतिगृह्णन्ति वै द्विजाः
Brahmanas accept gifts from kings who have smeared themselves with the killing of Brahmanas and from those who falsely proclaim themselves, O protector of the earth.