Bhagavata Purana

मन्दाः सुमन्दमतयो मन्दभाग्या हि उपद्रुताः । पाखण्डनिरताः संतो विरक्ताः सपरिग्रहाः

People are dull, of poor understanding, unfortunate, and afflicted. The good are few, absorbed in hypocrisy, and even the renunciants maintain households.

तरुणीप्रभुता गेहे श्यालको बुद्धिदायकः । कन्याविक्रयिणो लोभाद् दंपतीनां च कल्कनम्

Young women rule the household, brothers-in-law give counsel, daughters are sold out of greed, and discord arises between husband and wife.

आश्रमा यवनै रुद्धाः तीर्थानि सरितस्तथा । देवतायतनान्यत्र दुष्टैः नष्टानि भूरिशः

The āśramas are obstructed by foreigners, as are the holy rivers; many temples of the gods have been destroyed by the wicked.

न योगी नैव सिद्धो वा न ज्ञानी सत्क्रियो नरः । कलिदावानलेनाद्य साधनं भस्मतां गतम्

There is no yogī, nor any accomplished one, nor a wise man, nor a person of good conduct; in the wildfire of Kali, all spiritual practices have been reduced to ashes.

अट्टशूला जनपदाः शिवशूला द्विजातयः । कामिन्यः केशशूलिन्यः संभवन्ति कलौ इह

Villages are plagued by bandits, the twice-born are struck by the trident of Śiva, and women, their hair disheveled, become lustful in this age of Kali.

एवं पश्यन् कलेर्दोषान् पर्यटन् अवनीं अहम् । यामुनं तटमापन्नो यत्र लीला हरेरभूत्

Thus, seeing the faults of the age of Kali, I wandered the earth; I came to the bank of the Yamunā, where the Lord's pastimes had taken place.

तत्राश्चर्यं मया दृष्टं श्रूयतां तन्मुनीश्वराः । एका तु तरुणी तत्र निषण्णा खिन्नमानसा

There I saw a wonder—listen to it, O great sages: there sat a young woman, her mind weary and distressed.

वृद्धौ द्वौ पतितौ पार्श्वे निःश्वसन्तौ अचेतनौ । शुश्रूषन्ती प्रबोधन्ती रुदती च तयोः पुरः

Beside her lay two old men, collapsed, breathing faintly and unconscious; she served them, tried to rouse them, and wept before them.

दशदिक्षु निरीक्षन्ती रक्षितारं निजं वपुः । वीज्यमाना शतस्त्रीभिः बोध्यमाना मुहुर्मुहुः

She looked in all ten directions for her protector, her own form being fanned by hundreds of women, who repeatedly tried to awaken her.

दृष्ट्वा दुराद् गतः सोऽहं कौतुकेन तदन्तिकम् । मां दृष्ट्वा चोत्थिता बाला विह्वला चाब्रवीद् वचः

Seeing this from a distance, I approached out of curiosity; seeing me, the young woman rose, agitated, and spoke these words.

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.