एषां स्वभावं सूताद्य कथयस्व समासतः
O Sūta and others, briefly describe their nature.
पार्थः परमधर्मात्मा पाण्डवः शत्रुतापनः
Pārtha, the supremely righteous soul, the Pāṇḍava, subduer of foes,
अपश्यत् पथि गच्छन्तं कृष्णद्वैपायनं मुनिम्
Saw the sage Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana walking on the path.
पपात दण्डवद् भूमौ त्यक्त्वा शोकं तदार्ऽजुनः
Arjuna then fell to the ground in prostration, casting off his sorrow.
इदानीं गच्छसि क्षिप्रं कं वा देशं प्रति प्रभो
Now, where are you going so quickly, O lord, and to which place?
इदानीं मम यत् कार्यं ब्रूहि पद्मदलेक्षण
Now, tell me what task is mine, O lotus-eyed one.
उपविश्य नदीतिरे शिष्यैः परिवृतो मुनिः
The sage, surrounded by his disciples, sat down on the riverbank.
ततो गच्छामि देवस्य वाराणसीं महापुरीम्
Then I go to the great city of Vārāṇasī, the abode of the god.
भविष्यन्ति महापापा वर्णाश्रमविवर्जिताः
There will arise great sinners, devoid of caste and stage of life.
सर्वपापप्रशमनं प्रायश्चित्तं कलौ युगे
In the Kali age, expiation is the remedy for all sins.
भविष्यन्ति महात्मानो धार्मिकाः सत्यवादिनः
There will be great souls, righteous and speakers of truth.
पालयाद्य परं धर्मं स्वकीयं मुच्यसे भयात्
If you uphold your own supreme duty today, you will be freed from fear.
पृष्टवान् प्रणिपत्यासौ युगधर्मान् द्विजोत्तमाः
Having bowed down, he asked the best of twice-born about the duties of the ages.
प्रणम्य देवमीशानं युगधर्मान् सनातनान्
Having bowed to the god Īśāna, he asked about the eternal duties of the ages.
न शक्यते मया पार्थ विस्तरेणाभिभाषितुम्
O Pārtha, I am not able to speak of it to you in detail.
तृतीयं द्वापरं पार्थ चतुर्थं कलिरुच्यते
The third is called Dvāpara, O Pārtha, and the fourth is called Kali.
द्वापरे यज्ञमेवाहुर्दानमेव कलौ युगे
In the Dvapara age, sacrifice alone is declared; in the Kali age, charity alone.
द्वापरे दैवतं विष्णुः कलौ रुद्रो महेश्वरः
In the Dvapara age, the deity is Vishnu; in the Kali age, Rudra, the great lord.
पूज्यते भगवान् रुद्रश्चतुर्ष्वपि पिनाकधृक्
The blessed Rudra, bearer of the Pinaka, is worshipped in all four ages.
त्रिपादहीनस्तिष्ये तु सत्तामात्रेण तिष्ठति
In the Tishya age, lacking three quarters, existence remains only in essence.
प्रजास्तृप्ताः सदा सर्वाः सदानन्दाश्च भोगिनः
All creatures are always satisfied, always joyful, and enjoy pleasures.
तुल्यमायुः सुखं रूपं तासां तस्मिन् कृते युगे
Equal lifespan, happiness, and beauty belong to them in that Krita age.
ध्याननिष्ठास्तपोनिष्ठा महादेवपरायणाः
Firm in meditation and austerity, devoted to Mahadeva above all.
पर्वतोदधिवासिन्यो ह्यनिकेतः परन्तप
Dwelling in mountains and oceans, homeless, O scorcher of foes.
तस्यां सिद्धौ प्रणष्टायामन्या सिद्धिरवर्तत
When that perfection was lost, another perfection arose.
मेघेभ्यः स्तनयित्नुभ्यः प्रवृत्तं वृष्टिसर्जनम्
Rain began to fall from clouds and thunder.
प्रादुरासंस्तदा तासां वृक्षा वै गृहसंज्ञिताः
Then, for them, trees appeared, known as houses.
वर्तयन्ति स्म तेभ्यस्तास्त्रेतायुगमुखे प्रजाः
At the beginning of the Treta age, the people lived from those trees.
रागलोभात्मको भावस्तदा ह्याकस्मिको ऽभवत्
Then, suddenly, a disposition of passion and greed arose.
प्रणश्यन्ति ततः सर्वे वृक्षास्ते गृहसंज्ञिताः
Thereafter, all those trees known as houses perished.