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.
अभिध्यायन्ति तां सिद्धिं सत्याभिध्यायिनस्तदा
Those who were truthful then contemplated that perfection.
वस्त्राणि ते प्रसूयन्ते फलान्याभरणानि च
Clothes, fruits, and ornaments were produced for them.
अमाक्षिकं महावीर्यं पुटके पुटके मधु
Honey of great potency, pure and unadulterated, was found in every hive.
हृष्टपुष्टास्तया सिद्ध्या सर्वा वै विगतज्वराः
By that perfection, all were delighted, nourished, and free from disease.
वृक्षांस्तान् पर्यगृह्णन्त मधु चामाक्षिकं बलात्
They seized those trees and the honey of bees by force.
प्रणष्टामधुना सार्धं कल्पवृक्षाः क्वचित् क्वचित्
Along with the loss of honey, the wish-fulfilling trees also disappeared here and there.
द्वन्द्वैः संपीड्यमानास्तु चक्रुरावरणानि च
Oppressed by dualities, they created enclosures.
नष्टेषु मधुना सार्धं कल्पवृक्षेषु वै तदा
When the honey and the wish-fulfilling trees were lost at that time,
वार्तायाः साधिका ह्यन्या वृष्टिस्तासां निकामतः
Another means of livelihood, abundant rain, arose for them.
अवहन् वृष्टिसंतत्या स्त्रोतः स्थानानि निम्नगाः
With the continuous fall of rain, the rivers filled their channels.