Bhagavata Purana

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.

श्रीमद्‌भागवतमाहात्म्यम् - द्वितीयोऽध्यायः भक्तेः क्लेशनिवृत्तये नारदस्य उद्योगः नारद उवाच - (अनुष्टुप्) वृथा खेदयसे बाले अहो चिन्तातुरा कथम् । श्रीकृष्णचरणाम्भोजं स्मर दुःखं गमिष्यति

The glory of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam – Chapter Two. Narada's effort for the removal of Bhakti's distress. Narada said: Child, why do you grieve in vain, so troubled by anxiety? Remember the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa—your sorrow will depart.

द्रौपदी च परित्राता येन कौरवकश्मलात् । पालिता गोपसुन्दर्यः स कृष्णः क्वापि नो गतः

It was he who rescued Draupadī from the calamity of the Kauravas and protected the cowherd women; where has that Kṛṣṇa gone now?

त्वंतु भक्तिः प्रिया तस्य सततं प्राणतोऽधिका । त्वयाऽऽहूतस्तु भगवान् याति नीचगृहेष्वपि

But you, Bhakti, are always dearer to him than life itself. When you call, the Lord comes even to the houses of the lowly.

सत्यादित्रियुगे बोध वैराग्यौ मुक्तिसाधकौ । कलौ तु केवला भक्तिः ब्रह्मसायुज्यकारिणी

In the first three ages, truth and knowledge, along with detachment, are the means to liberation; but in Kali, only Bhakti grants union with Brahman.

इति निश्चित्य चिद्‌रूपः सद्‌रूपां त्वां ससर्ज ह । परमानन्दचिन्मूर्ति सुंदरीं कृष्णवल्लभाम्

Thus, having decided, the Conscious One created you, who are of the same nature, as a beautiful form of supreme bliss, beloved of Kṛṣṇa.

बद्ध्वांजलिं त्वया पृष्टं किं करोमीति चैकदा । त्वां तदाऽऽज्ञापयत् कृष्णो मद्‌भक्तान् पोषयेति च

With folded hands, you once asked, 'What shall I do?' Then Kṛṣṇa instructed you: 'Nourish my devotees.'

अंगीकृतं त्वया तद्वै प्रसन्नोऽभूत् हरिस्तदा । मुक्तिं दासीं ददौ तुभ्यं ज्ञानवैराग्यकौ इमौ

You accepted that command, and Hari was pleased. He gave you Mukti as a maidservant, and these two—Jñāna and Vairāgya.

पोषणं स्वेन रूपेण वैकुण्ठे त्वं करोषि च । भूमौ भक्तविपोषाय छायारूपं त्वया कृतम्

In Vaikuṇṭha, you nourish by your own form; on earth, to nourish devotees, you manifest a shadow-form.

मुक्तिं ज्ञानं विरक्तिं च सह कृत्वा गता भुवि । कृतादि द्वापरस्यान्तं महानन्देन संस्थिता

With Mukti, Jñāna, and Vairāgya, you came to earth, and remained in great joy until the end of Dvāpara, beginning from Kṛta.

कलौ मुक्तिः क्षयं प्राप्ता पाखण्डामयपीडिता । त्वद् आज्ञया गता शीघ्रं वैकुण्ठं पुनरेव सा

In Kali, Mukti was destroyed, afflicted by heresy; by your command, she quickly returned again to Vaikuṇṭha.