In the world of mortals, those who act with strength and authority within their homes are bound together as relatives by birth. The closeness among kin is shaped by the degree of their acquaintance, and thus, a man’s relatives are those with whom he is familiar. The four varnas—Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras—are determined not only by birth but also by conduct. Yet, as the age of Kali unfolds, the ways of society will change. The four varnas will forsake their traditional duties and adopt the ways of the mlecchas, and the ancient lineages of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas will find themselves serving the Shudras. They will become cooks, runners, and drivers of bullock-carts. The trees will bear no fruit, and women will be without children. Husbands and wives will lose affection for one another, and householders will find no happiness in their homes. Rivers, streams, ponds, and caves will dry up, holding no water. In this time, among hundreds of thousands, not even one truly virtuous person will remain. Instead, disgraceful occupations and wicked ways will prevail. People will live together in small huts, and even those dwelling in forests will be oppressed by heavy taxes. Fields will yield no crops, and the finest lands will no longer serve their purpose. Those born into noble lineages will become degraded, and in the age of Kali, the sinful and the virtuous, the undisciplined and the disciplined, will become indistinguishable from one another. Ascetics will become sinners, and even devotees of Vishnu will turn away from devotion. Rogues, wearing the garb of mendicants, will insult and mock others, and these deceivers, lacking true knowledge, will be honored by society. In Kali Yuga, people will have short lives, and old age will come upon them while they are still young. Girls of eight years will become young women, menstruating and even bearing children. Among thousands, some will be barren, especially in this age. Mothers, wives, and daughters-in-law will become intent on earning through adultery. There will be those who sell the sacred names of Hari for profit. Then, giving way to their own desires, people will transgress all bounds—violating what is given by themselves or by others, disregarding all restraints. Some will go to the wives of others, and some will wander everywhere without shame. Some will even approach their brothers’ wives, abandoning the dignity of their birth and wandering without purpose. People will fight over possessions, villages, and even each other, becoming mutually violent and killers of men. They will engage in the trade of lac, iron, juices, and especially salt. All will eat the food of the Shudras and become attached to women of low character. They will abandon the sacred thread of sacrifice, neglect twilight worship and purity. Promiscuous women, barbers, outcasts, procuresses, and menstruating women will mingle freely, and there will be no distinction regarding food or its origins. Thus, when Kali has fully arisen, all will become like mlecchas. Yet, in this dark age, hope remains. The son of a Brahmin, renowned for his devotion to Vishnu, will be born as Kalki. He will wield a long sword and ride a swift, long-legged horse. He will cleanse the earth of mlecchas, and then the earth itself will vanish. For six nights, the vast earth will be deluged with torrents of rain, washing away the remnants of the age of Kali.