Kurma Purana

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.

अपां भूणेश्च संयोगादोषध्यस्तास्तदाभवन्

From the union of water and earth, herbs then came into being.

ऋतुपुष्पफलैश्चैव वृक्षगुल्माश्च जज्ञिरे

Trees and shrubs also arose, bearing flowers and fruits in their seasons.

अवश्यं भाविनार्ऽथे न त्रेतायुगवशेन वै

This was destined to happen, not merely due to the course of the Tretā age.

वृक्षगुल्मौषधीश्चैव प्रसह्य तु यथाबलम्

Trees, shrubs, and herbs were forcibly taken according to strength.

पितामहनियोगेन दुदोह पृथिवीं पृथुः

By the command of the Grandfather, Pṛthu milked the earth.

वसुदारधनाद्यांस्तु बलात् कालबलेन तु

He extracted treasures and riches from the earth by force, through the power of time.

ससर्ज क्षत्रियान् ब्रह्मा ब्राह्मणानां हिताय च

Brahmā created the kṣatriyas for the welfare of the brāhmaṇas.

यज्ञप्रवर्तनं चैव पशुहिंसाविवर्जितम्

And he established the performance of sacrifice, free from the killing of animals.

रागो लोभस्तथा युद्धं तत्त्वानामविनिश्चयः

Passion, greed, conflict, and uncertainty regarding principles arose.

वेदव्यासैश्चतुर्धा तु व्यस्यते द्वापरादिषु

By Vyāsa, the Veda was divided into four parts in the Dvāpara and later ages.