In the age of Kali, humanity suffers from a slow pace, dull intelligence, and short lifespans. Nights slip away in sleep, while days are squandered in fruitless pursuits. Amidst these troubled times, Sūta begins his narration: When King Parīkṣit, residing in the land of the Kurus, learned the unwelcome news that Kali had entered his kingdom, the valiant archer immediately took up his bow, determined to protect his realm. He ascended his splendid chariot, adorned with a lion banner and drawn by dark-hued horses. Surrounded by his formidable army—chariots, horses, elephants, and infantry—he set out to conquer all directions. Parīkṣit subdued the regions of Bhadrāśva, Ketumāla, Bhārata, the northern Kurus, Kimpuruṣa, and many others, collecting tribute from each. He overcame cities and forests, rivers of pure waters, men who seemed divine, and women of enchanting beauty. Everywhere he went, Parīkṣit witnessed wondrous sights: magnificent dwellings and women who rivaled celestial nymphs. In these places and beyond, he heard the praises of his noble ancestors, songs that celebrated their greatness and revealed the glory of Krishna. He also listened to tales of his own miraculous rescue from the fiery weapon of Ashvatthāman, the affection between the Vṛṣṇis and the sons of Pāṇḍu, and their unwavering devotion to Keśava. Pleased by the devotion and warmth he encountered, Parīkṣit, his eyes wide with joy, generously bestowed wealth, garments, and necklaces upon the people. The king, ever devoted to the lotus feet of Viṣṇu, served the Pāṇḍavas with affection—acting as their charioteer, companion, attendant, friend, envoy, sharing their valor, following them, praising and bowing to them. Through such conduct, he brought the world to bow before Viṣṇu. While Parīkṣit continued in this noble manner, following the ways of his forebears day by day, a marvelous event unfolded nearby. Listen as Sūta recounts: Dharma, moving on only one foot, saw the Earth, her shadow diminished, weeping like a cow separated from her calf. Dharma approached her and asked with concern, “O gentle one, is all well with you? Why do you appear so pale and withered? I sense a deep sorrow—are you grieving for a distant relative, O mother?” Dharma continued, “Are you mourning your missing limb, fearing destruction by the wicked, or for the gods whose sacrificial shares have been stolen, or for the people, since Indra no longer sends rain? Is your grief for women and children left unprotected, suffering at the hands of cruel men? Or for the sacred speech of the goddess, corrupted among the brahmins, or for noble families degraded by unrighteous kings?” He pressed on, “Is it for the kṣatriya clans afflicted by Kali, or the kingdoms they have ruined? Or for people wandering in search of food, drink, shelter, and baths, their livelihoods disrupted? Or, O mother, do you remember the deeds of Hari, who incarnated to relieve your heavy burden but has now departed, delaying your deliverance?” “Tell me, O Earth, what is the root of your distress? Has your good fortune, worshipped by the gods, been taken away by Time, the strongest of the strong?” The Earth replied, “O Dharma, you already know all that you ask of me, for you uphold the four legs that bring happiness to the world. Truth, purity, compassion, forgiveness, renunciation, contentment, straightforwardness, tranquility, self-control, austerity, equanimity, forbearance, withdrawal, and learning—knowledge, detachment, lordliness, heroism, brilliance, strength, memory, independence, skill, beauty, courage, and gentleness—boldness, humility, good conduct, endurance, vigor, strength, prosperity, depth, steadiness, faith, fame, honor, and absence of pride—all these and other great qualities reside ever in you. Those who desire greatness seek them, for they never diminish in you.” “Therefore, I grieve for the world, bereft of the presence of Śrīnivāsa, the worthy vessel of all virtues, and afflicted by the sinful gaze of Kali. I lament for myself, for you—the best among rulers—for the gods, ancestors, sages, all the virtuous, and for all the social orders and stages of life. Even Brahmā and the others, longing for a mere sidelong glance, performed severe austerities, surrendering to the Lord; yet the very goddess Śrī, abandoning her own abode in the lotus forest, lovingly worships the dust of His feet, adorned with auspicious marks.” “I was adorned by the glorious footprints of the Lord—marked with the lotus, thunderbolt, goad, banner, and other symbols. Yet, having attained such splendor, I did not find favor with Him; in the end, He cast me aside, and the worlds, too, rejected me with disdain. He, by His own power, removed the unbearable burden of the earth—the hundred armies of demonic kings—established you, though your position was unstable and diminished, in your own strength, and delighted the Yadu dynasty by bearing their charming forms.” “Who could endure separation from the Supreme Person, whose loving glances, radiant smiles, and sweet words steal away the steadfastness even of honey-bees—when the very dust of His feet, marked with auspicious signs, brings a thrill to my being?” As the Earth and Dharma conversed in this manner, at that very moment, King Parīkṣit, the royal sage, arrived at the eastern bank of the Sarasvatī river. At this sacred juncture, salutations are offered: O Lord, Supreme Person, great soul, abode of all beings, source of all, transcendent, Supreme Self—salutations to You. You are the treasure-house of knowledge and wisdom, the Absolute, of infinite power, beyond qualities, unchanging, and not of this world. Salutations to Time, the source of time, the witness of its divisions, the universe itself, the overseer of all, the creator and cause of the universe. To the Self of elements, senses, life-breath, mind, intellect, and inner disposition, who is experienced inwardly yet concealed by identification with the three qualities—salutations. Salutations to the infinite, the subtle, the immutable, the all-knowing, who accommodates all doctrines, and is the power behind both the spoken and the unspoken. Salutations to the root of all valid knowledge, the sage, the source of the scriptures, the path of action and renunciation, the Veda itself—again and again, salutations. Salutations to Kṛṣṇa, to Rāma, to the son of Vasudeva, to Pradyumna, to Aniruddha, and to the Lord of the Sātvatas. Salutations to the lamp of the qualities, to the one who veils Himself with the qualities, who is perceived through their functions, the seer of the qualities, and the inner consciousness. To Him who sports in the unmanifest, who perfects all that is manifest, Hṛṣīkeśa, salutations to You, the sage, the silent ascetic. Salutations to You, who knows the course of the higher and lower, who is the overseer of all, who is both the unmanifest and the manifest, the seer of all this and its cause.