विप्राणां कर्मदोषैश्च प्रजानां जायते भयम्
From the faults in the actions of the Brāhmaṇas, fear arises among the people.
यजन्त्यन्यायतो वेदान् पठन्ते चाल्पबुद्धयः
They perform sacrifices improperly, and those of little intelligence recite the Vedas.
भविष्यति कलौ तस्मिञ् शयनासनभोजनैः
In that Kali age, there will be indulgence in lying down, sitting, and eating.
भ्रूणहत्या वीरहत्या प्रजायेते नरेश्वर
O lord of men, the killing of embryos and heroes will occur.
अन्यानि चैव कर्माणि न कुर्वन्ति द्विजातयः
And the twice-born will not perform other prescribed actions.
आम्नायधर्मशास्त्राणि पुराणानि कलौ युगे
The Vedas, treatises on dharma, and Purāṇas in the Kali age—
स्वधर्मे ऽभिरुचिर्नैव ब्राह्मणानां प्रिजायते
Among Brāhmaṇas, no delight arises in their own dharma.
बहुयाचनको लोको भविष्यति परस्परम्
People will become greatly dependent on mutual begging.
प्रमदाः केशशूलिन्यो भविष्यन्ति कलौ युगे
Women will wear their hair loose in the Kali age.
शूद्रा धर्मं चरिष्यन्ति युगान्ते समुपस्थिते
At the end of the age, Śūdras will practice dharma.
चौराश्चौरस्य हर्तारो हर्तुर्हर्ता तथापरः
Thieves steal from other thieves, and others steal from the thief as well.
अधर्माभिनिवेशित्वात् तमोवृत्तं कलौ स्मृतम्
Because of attachment to unrighteousness, conduct dominated by darkness is regarded as characteristic of the Kali age.
वेदविक्रयिणश्चान्ये तीर्थविक्रयिणः परे
Some sell the Vedas, while others sell holy places.
ताडयन्ति द्विजेन्द्रांश्च शूद्रा राजोपजीविनः
Shudras who serve the king strike the foremost among twice-born.
ज्ञात्वा न हिंसते राजा कलौ कालबलेन तु
Knowing, the king does not harm; yet in Kali, due to the force of time, he does.
शूद्रानभ्यर्चयन्त्यल्पश्रुतभग्यबलान्विताः
Those endowed with little learning, fortune, and strength worship the Shudras.
सेवावसरमालोक्य द्वारि तिष्ठन्ति च द्विजाः
Seeing an opportunity for service, the twice-born stand at the door.
सेवन्ते ब्राह्मणास्तत्र स्तुवन्ति स्तुतिभिः कलौ
There, Brahmins serve and praise with hymns in the Kali age.
पठन्ति वैदिकान् मन्त्रान् नास्तिक्यं घोरमाश्रिताः
They recite Vedic mantras, yet embrace dreadful atheism.
यतयश्च भविष्यन्ति शतशो ऽथ सहस्त्रशः
Ascetics will arise by the hundreds and thousands.
गायन्ति लौकिकैर्गानैर्दैवतानि नराधिप
O king, they sing to the gods with worldly songs.
भविष्यन्ति कलौ तस्मिन् ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रियास्तथा
In that Kali age, Brahmins and Kshatriyas will exist.
कीटमूषकसर्पाश्च धर्षयिष्यन्ति मानवान्
Insects, mice, and serpents will harass human beings.
दधीचशापनिर्दग्धाः पुरा दक्षाध्वरे द्विजाः
The twice-born who were burned by Dadhichi's curse at Daksha's sacrifice long ago—
वृथा धर्मं चरिष्यन्ति कलौ तस्मिन् युगान्तिके
They will practice dharma in vain in that final age of Kali.
सर्वे ते च भविष्यन्ति ब्राह्मणाद्याः स्वजातिषु
All those, beginning with Brahmins, will be born in their own castes.
वेदबाह्यव्रताचारा दुराचारा वृथाश्रमाः
They will follow vows and practices outside the Vedas, behave badly, and their ashramas will be in vain.
तमसाविष्टमनसो वैडालवृत्तिकाधमाः
Their minds possessed by darkness, they will be degraded by the conduct of outcastes.
न देवता भवेन्नृणां देवतानां च दैवतम्
There is no deity for humans, nor is there a divinity for the gods.
श्रौतस्मार्तप्रतिष्ठार्थं भक्तानां हितकाम्यया
For the purpose of establishing rites from the Vedas and Smritis, and for the welfare of devotees.