Then, when the force of Dharma proved victorious, the assembly of sages recognized its triumph. With their purpose fulfilled, the sages departed from the sacrificial grounds, and the gods themselves completed the great sacrifice. From that moment onward, this sacred rite continued, evolving alongside the changing ages. As the Tretā age waned, the world entered the Dvāpara age. When Dvāpara, too, passed, the practices and traditions established before began to fade away. In this era, the distinctions between castes became blurred, and the proper duties of each group were reversed. The rites and activities of the people became entangled with passion and darkness, and this condition came to define the Dvāpara age. Confusion grew in Dvāpara, and with the onset of the Kali age, these practices fell into decline. During Kali, the Veda and the traditions took on dual forms, no longer unified as before. Because the attainment of truth became uncertain, the very essence of Dharma was obscured. Differences in views multiplied, leading to confusion and debate, and the diversity of causes and the uncertainty of their effects gave rise to a multitude of scriptures, each reflecting divided opinions. Through the decline of virtue and the shortening of human lifespans, the teachings became scattered during the Dvāpara ages. The arrangement of mantras and Brāhmaṇa texts, along with changes in pronunciation and syllables, led to further variations—some traditions remained common, while others were altered wherever disagreements arose. New paths were set forth by some, only to be opposed by others. The singular Ādhvaryava tradition that once existed became twofold, and through the many procedures of the Ādhvaryava, confusion only increased. Thus, in the Dvāpara age, rituals continued, but always amid disagreement and uncertainty. Though these rites persisted for a time, they ultimately perished in the Kali age. The world became afflicted by drought, death, and widespread disease. Out of disillusionment, people began to question how they might escape suffering. Yet, even as they recognized faults, ignorance took root in Dvāpara, and obstacles to understanding the scriptures arose. Divisions appeared not only in spiritual matters, but also in the sciences of wealth and reasoning. The Smṛti scriptures themselves became fragmented, and separate traditions emerged. People struggled to maintain their livelihoods through mind, action, and speech, often finding it difficult to do so. Greed became commonplace, trade the chief occupation, and certainty about the true nature of things was lost. The established classes and stages of life broke down, and desire and anger flourished. It was during this time that Vyasa divided the single Veda into four parts, adapting to the needs of the Dvāpara and later ages. Though righteousness persisted in Dvāpara, it was stripped of its former qualities. Listen now to what remains at the end of Dvāpara, in the age known as Tishya. In that time, violence, envy, falsehood, deceit, and the killing of ascetics prevailed. This marked the complete decline of righteousness, as Dharma itself was greatly diminished. In the Kali age, deadly diseases became constant, and hunger and fear were ever-present. In Tishya, the authority of memory was lost throughout the worlds. Even elders sometimes died in childhood, and the faults in the actions of the Brahmins gave rise to widespread fear among the people. In Tishya, attachment and greed arose in all beings, marking the sorrowful condition of the age.