Bhagavata Purana

बालोवाच - भो भोः साधो क्षणं तिष्ठ मच्चिन्तामपि नाशय । दर्शनं तव लोकस्य सर्वथाघहरं परम्

The girl said: O holy one, please stay a moment and dispel my anxiety; your very sight utterly destroys the sins of the world.

बहुधा तव वाक्येन दुःखशान्तिर्भविष्यति । यदा भाग्यं भवेद् भूरि भवतो दर्शनं तदा

By your many words, relief from suffering will come; when great fortune arises, then your presence is obtained.

नारद उवाच - कासि त्वं कौ इमौ चेमा नार्यः काः पद्मलोचनाः । वद देवि सविस्तारं स्वस्य दुःखस्य कारणम्

Nārada said: Who are you? Who are these two, and who are these lotus-eyed women? Tell me in detail, O goddess, the cause of your distress.

बालोवाच - अहं भक्तिरिति ख्याता इमौ मे तनयौ मतौ । ज्ञानवैराग्य नामानौ कालयोगेन जर्जरौ

The girl said: I am known as Bhakti; these two are my sons, called Jñāna and Vairāgya, now aged and worn by the influence of time.

गङ्‌गाद्या स्मरितश्चेमा मत्सेवार्थं समागताः । तथापि न च मे श्रेयः सेवितायाः सुरैरपि

These, headed by Gaṅgā, have come here, remembering me, to serve me; yet, though even the gods have served me, I have gained no true welfare.

इदानीं श्रुणु मद्वार्तां सचित्तस्त्वं तपोधन । वार्ता मे वितताप्यस्ति तां श्रुत्वा सुखमावह

Now, listen attentively, O sage rich in austerity, to my story; though it is well known, hearing it will bring you happiness.

उत्पन्ना द्रविडे साहं वृद्धिं कर्नाटके गता । क्वचित् क्वचित् महाराष्ट्रे गुर्जरे जीर्णतां गता

I was born in Drāviḍa, grew up in Karṇāṭaka, and in some places in Mahārāṣṭra and Gurjara I became aged.

तत्र घोर कलेर्योगात् पाखण्डैः खण्डिताङ्गका । दुर्बलाहं चिरं याता पुत्राभ्यां सह मन्दताम्

There, due to the terrible influence of Kali, I was attacked by heretics and became weak; for a long time, I remained feeble along with my sons.

वृन्दावनं पुनः प्राप्य नवीनेव सुरूपिणी । जाताहं उवती सम्यक् श्रेष्ठरूपा तु सांप्रतम्

Having reached Vṛndāvana again, I became youthful and beautiful, a young woman in her prime, now possessing the best form.

इमौ तु शयितौ अत्र सुतौ मे क्लिश्यतः श्रमात् । इदं स्थानं परित्यज्य विदेशं गम्यते मया

But here my two sons lie exhausted from fatigue; leaving this place, I am about to go to another land.

जरठत्वं समायातौ तेन दुःखेन दुःखिता । साहं तु तरुणी कस्मात् सुतौ वृद्धौ इमौ कुतः

They have become old, and I am pained by this sorrow; though I am young, why are my sons so aged?

त्रयाणां सहचारित्वात् वैपरीत्यं कुतः स्थितम् । घटते जरठा माता तरुणौ तनयौ इति

How has this reversal come about, though the three of us have always been together? It is natural for the mother to age and the sons to be young.

अतः शोचामि चात्मानं विस्मयाविष्टमानसा । वद योगनिधे धीमन् कारणं चात्र किं भवेत्

Therefore, I grieve for myself, my mind filled with wonder; tell me, O treasure of yoga, O wise one, what could be the cause here?

नारद उवाच - ज्ञानेनात्मनि पश्यामि सर्वं एतत् तवानघे । न विषादः त्वया कार्यो हरिः शं ते करिष्यति

Nārada said: By knowledge, O sinless one, I perceive all this within the Self; you should not be despondent, for Hari will bring you auspiciousness.

सूत उवाच - क्षणमात्रेण तज्ज्ञात्वा वाक्यं ऊचे मुनीश्वरः

Sūta said: Instantly understanding that statement, the great sage spoke.

नारद उवाच - श्रुणुष्ववहिता बाले योगोऽयं दारुणा कलिः । तेन लुप्तः सदाचारो योगमार्गः तपांसि च

Nārada said: Listen attentively, child; this yoga and the fierce Kali age have caused the disappearance of good conduct, the path of yoga, and austerities.

जना अघासुरायन्ते शाठ्यदुष्कर्मकारिणः । इह सन्तो विषीदन्ति प्रहृष्यन्ति हि असाधवः । धत्ते धैर्यं तु यो धीमान् स धीरः पण्डितोऽथवा

People have become like Aghāsura, engaging in deceit and wicked deeds; here, the virtuous are distressed while the unrighteous rejoice; but the wise person who maintains courage is truly steadfast and learned.

अस्पृश्यान् अवलोक्येयं शेषभारकरी धरा । वर्षे वर्षे क्रमात् जाता मंगलं नापि दृश्यते

Seeing these untouchables, this earth has become a burden-bearer; year by year, gradually, no auspiciousness is seen.

न त्वामपि सुतैः साकं कोऽपि पश्यति सांप्रतम् । उपेक्षितानुरागान्धैः जर्जरत्वेन संस्थिता

Now, no one even sees you together with your sons, neglected by those blinded by attachment, and reduced to a state of decrepitude.

वृन्दावनस्य संयोगात् पुनस्त्वं तरुणी नवा । धन्यं वृन्दावनं तेन भक्तिः नृत्यति यत्र च

By union with Vṛndāvana, you again became young and fresh; blessed is Vṛndāvana, where devotion also dances.

अत्रेमौ ग्राहकाभावात् न जरामपि मुञ्चतः । किञ्चित् आत्मसुखेनेह प्रसुप्तिः मन्यतेऽनयोः

Here, due to the absence of those who would receive them, even old age does not leave these two; with a little self-contentment, they consider themselves at rest.

भक्तिरुवाच - कथं परीक्षिता राज्ञा स्थापितो ह्यशुचिः कलिः । प्रवृत्ते तु कलौ सर्वसारः कुत्र गतो महान्

Devotion said: How was impure Kali established by King Parīkṣit? With the onset of Kali, where did the essence of all virtue go?

करुणापरेण हरिणापि अधर्म कथमीक्ष्यते । इमं मे संशयं छिन्धि त्वद्वाचा सुखितास्म्यहम्

Even by the compassionate Hari, how is unrighteousness witnessed? Remove this doubt of mine with your words; I will be happy.

नारद उवाच - यदि पृष्टस्त्वया बाले प्रेमतः श्रवणं कुरु । सर्वं वक्ष्यामि ते भद्रे कश्मलं ते गमिष्यति

Nārada said: Since you have asked, child, listen with affection; I will tell you everything, O fortunate one, and your confusion will depart.

यदा मुकुन्दो भगवान् क्ष्मां त्यक्त्वा स्वपदं गतः । तद्‌दिनात् कलिरायातः सर्वसाधनबाधकः

When Mukunda, the Lord, left the earth and returned to His own abode, from that day Kali arrived, obstructing all means of virtue.

दृष्टो दिग्विजये राज्ञा दीनवत् शरणं गतः । न मया मारणीयोऽयं सारंग इव सरभुक्

Seen by the king during his conquest of the directions, Kali, miserable, sought refuge; I did not kill him, like a bee spared by the honey-gatherer.

यत्फलं नास्ति तपसा न योगेन समाधिना । तत्फलं लभते सम्यक् कलौ केशवकीर्तनात्

The result not attained by austerity, yoga, or meditation is fully obtained in Kali by the praise of Keśava.

एकाकारं कलिं दृष्ट्वा सारवत्सारनीरसम् । विष्णुरातः स्थापितवान् कलिजानां सुखाय च

Seeing Kali as uniform, devoid of essence and substance, Viṣṇurāta established him for the happiness of those born in Kali.

कुकर्माचरनात्सारः सर्वतो निर्गतोऽधुना । पदार्थाः संस्थिता भूमौ बीजहीनास्तुषा यथा

Because of evil deeds, the essence has now departed from everywhere; objects remain on earth like husks without seed.