Bhagavata Purana

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.

विप्रैर्भागवती वार्ता गेहे गेहे जने जने । कारिता कणलोभेन कथासारस्ततो गतः

By the brāhmaṇas, the Bhāgavata teaching was made known in every home and to every person, but because of greed for a fee, the essence of the stories has departed.

अत्युग्रभूरिकर्माणो नास्तिका रौरवा जनाः । तेऽपि तिष्ठन्ति तीर्थेषु तीर्थसारस्ततो गतः

Those who perform extremely terrible and abundant deeds, the atheistic, hellish people—even they remain at holy places, but the essence of the holy places has departed.

कामक्रोध महालोभ तृष्णाव्याकुलचेतसः । तेऽपि तिष्ठन्ति तपसि तपःसारस्ततो गतः

Even those whose minds are agitated by great desire, anger, greed, and thirst remain engaged in austerity, but the true essence of austerity is thus lost.

मनसश्चाजयात् लोभाद् दंभात् पाखण्डसंश्रयात् । शास्त्रान् अभ्यसनाच्चैव ध्यानयोगफलं गतम्

Because of the defeat of the mind, out of greed, hypocrisy, and resorting to heresy, and even from the mere study of scriptures, the fruit of meditation and yoga is lost.

पण्डितास्तु कलत्रेण रमन्ते महिषा इव । पुत्रस्योत्पादने दक्षा अदक्षा मुक्तिसाधने

The learned delight with their wives like buffaloes, skillful in producing sons, but unskilled in attaining liberation.

न हि वैष्णवता कुत्र संप्रदायपुरःसरा । एवं प्रलयतां प्राप्तो वस्तुसारः स्थले स्थले

Nowhere is true Vaiṣṇavism found, even among the leaders of the traditions; thus, the true essence of reality has perished everywhere.

अयं तु युगधर्मो हि वर्तते कस्य दूषणम् । अतस्तु पुण्डरीकाक्षः सहते निकटे स्थितः

But this is the nature of the age; who can be blamed? Therefore, the Lotus-eyed Lord endures, standing nearby.

सूत उवाच - इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विस्मयं परमं गता । भक्तिरूचे वचो भूयः श्रूयतां तच्च शौनक

Sūta said: Hearing these words, they were filled with great wonder. Bhakti spoke again, 'Let this also be heard, O Śaunaka.'

भक्तिरुवाच - सुरर्षे त्वं हि धन्योऽसि मद्‌भाग्येन समागतः । साधूनां दर्शनं लोके सर्वसिद्धिकरं परम्

Bhakti said: O sage among the gods, you are truly blessed, for you have come here by my good fortune. The sight of the virtuous in this world bestows all perfections.

(मालिनी) जयति जयति मायां यस्य कायाधवस्ते वचनरचनमेकं केवलं चाकलय्य । ध्रुवपदमपि यातो यत्कृपातो ध्रुवोऽयं सकलकुशलपात्रं ब्रह्मपुत्रं नतास्मि

Victory, victory to him whose body is the basis of illusion, who, by a single utterance, creates all speech! By his grace, Dhruva attained the eternal state. I bow to the son of Brahmā, the vessel of all auspiciousness.