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.
सर्ववेदान्तसारं हि धर्मान् वेदनिदर्शितान्
Indeed, the essence of all Vedanta is the dharmas shown in the Vedas.
विजित्यकलिजान् दोषान् यान्ति ते परमं पदम्
Having conquered the faults born of Kali, they attain the supreme state.
अनेकदोषदुष्टस्य कलेरेष महान् गुणः
This is the great virtue of Kali, though it is corrupted by many faults.
विशेषाद् ब्राह्मणो रुद्रमीशानं शरणं व्रजेत्
Especially, a Brahmin should seek refuge in Rudra, the Lord.
प्रसन्नचेतसो रुद्रं ते यान्ति परमं पदम्
Those whose minds are serene go to Rudra and attain the supreme state.
अन्यदेवनमस्कारान्न तत्फलमवाप्नुयात्
By worshipping other gods, one does not obtain that fruit.
महादेवनमस्कारो ध्यानं दानमिति श्रुतिः
Worship of Mahadeva, meditation, and giving—so declares the scripture.
समाश्रयेद् विरूपाक्षं यदीच्छेत् परमं पदम्
One should take refuge in Virupaksha if one desires the supreme state.
तेषां दानं तपो यज्ञो वृथा जीवितमेव च
Their charity, austerity, sacrifice, and even their life are in vain.
त्र्यम्बकाय त्रिनेत्राय योगिनां गुरवे नमः
Salutations to Tryambaka, the three-eyed one, the guru of yogis.