In an age when time itself was suffused with bliss, neither heat nor cold disturbed the world. From the nether regions, beings emerged upon the earth through the power of their meditation. Their bodies were ever pure, requiring no ritual cleansing, and youth clung to them unwaveringly. All were born alike, sharing the same appearance, and they rejoiced together in a spirit of perfect harmony. No distinction existed among them—whether in form, lifespan, skill, or activity. Action itself seemed to slumber, for the avenues leading to good and evil deeds were closed. Dwelling together, these people knew neither desire nor aversion. Their lives were mostly filled with happiness, untouched by sorrow, for they were born in the Krita age, that first and purest of epochs. Lacking longing, they enjoyed the objects of the world only through the mind, not through physical pursuit. No one harmed or aided another in those days. But as time moved on, conflict would arise in the Dvapara age, and theft would stain the Kali age. Understand that Kali is the most impure of all, its qualities and conduct steeped in the lower modes of existence. The Krita age itself spanned four thousand years—years as counted by humankind. When those years drew to a close, a twilight period followed, marking the gradual fading of that golden time. With the passing of twilight, the Krita Yuga vanished completely. Thereafter, the Treta Yuga dawned, and with it, a new kind of perfection was attained. Yet, the eight perfections that flourished in Krita began to wane, diminishing one after another. Throughout all the cosmic cycles, across the various Manvantaras, the four Yugas unfolded in their appointed order. The twilight of Krita, a quarter of its span, briefly held sway before yielding. With each age, the virtues of austerity, learning, strength, and lifespan steadily declined. The origin of Treta Yuga, O best of sages, was only partial compared to Krita. Yet, at its beginning, Treta was still a most pleasant time. As perfection in Treta waned, another form of accomplishment arose. From the clouds and thunder, rain began to fall, and from the backs of beings, discharge occurred. In this age, trees became the homes of living creatures, who dwelt among their branches at the start of Treta Yuga. But the nature of the world grew fickle and changed abruptly, a transformation brought by the force of the Yuga. Then, for the first time, sexual union occurred by the same process. Conception began to take place at improper times, following the onset of menstruation. The trees that had been their homes perished. Yet, those who remained steadfast in truthfulness of intent attained new forms of perfection. Garments, fruits, and ornaments began to appear, and the power of inquiry became great among them, with honey found in every cell. Empowered by these accomplishments, the people became free from illness. But soon, they began to seize the trees, forcibly taking honey and bees for themselves. The wish-fulfilling trees vanished, disappearing with their master here and there. With this loss, the pairs of opposites—pleasure and pain, gain and loss—arose among them, shaping the course of life from then on.