In the age of Kali, a time of deep darkness descends upon the world. People, driven by unrighteousness, turn against one another, seeking to fulfill their desires even through violence and killing. This era is marked by a devotion to adharma, so much so that the Kali age is said to be shrouded in gloom. As Kali takes hold, the very fabric of human life weakens—lifespans grow shorter, strength diminishes, and beauty fades. Yet, as the Kali Yuga draws to its close, O best of twice-born, a change stirs among the blessed; they begin to practice righteousness once more. The measure of dharma itself alters with each age: in Treta Yuga, righteousness endures for a year, while in Dvapara, it lasts for a month. Such is the nature of the ages, and so too are their twilight periods, each with its own character. When the twilight of Kali approaches its end, a remarkable event occurs. In the lineage of the moon, a ruler named Pramati is born. He roams the earth for twenty years, and during his reign, Brahmins—armed and numbering in the hundreds and thousands—join with others as the king wages war against those of Shudra birth. Pramati does not spare even the excessively righteous, nor those from the north, the central, or the eastern regions. His wrath extends to the south as well, where he destroys the Dravidians and the Sinhalese, as well as the Tusharas, Barbaras, Chinese, Shulikas, Daradas, and Khasas. Pramati sets in motion the wheel of power, becoming a mighty destroyer of the mlecchas, the foreigners and outsiders, bringing their end as a lord of calamity. He is said to be born as a portion of the god Mādhava, a scion of the lunar race, and a prominent ruler in the former Kali Yuga. His sword spares none; he slays all beings, especially men, driven by mutual causes and sudden fits of anger. With his followers, Pramati claims supremacy over the lands between the Ganges and the Yamuna. In his wake, after destroying all the kings and countless mlecchas, only a few scattered people remain. These survivors, gripped by fear, turn on each other, hurling insults and blows. Overwhelmed by mutual dread, they become reckless with their own lives, suffering deeply without even knowing why. All restraint, grief, affection, and shame vanish from their hearts. They abandon their children and wives, their minds clouded by sorrow, and flee to the borderlands, forsaking their native countries. Now destitute and in great distress, these remnants survive on whatever they can find—meat, roots, and fruits. Their numbers dwindle, and they sink into a state of utter decline. Yet from this disillusionment, questions arise; from questioning, a sense of equilibrium is born. When those who remain in Kali finally attain tranquility, their minds are still subject to delusion, as if they are asleep or intoxicated. Then, at last, the pure Kṛta Yuga begins anew. In this age, perfected beings move unseen among men. The four orders—Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras—are present once more, preserving the seeds of society. Among them, the Seven Sages teach the ways of dharma to all. Thus, in the Kṛta age, people return to the righteous practices established by these wise ones, and the cycle of ages continues.