Linga Purana

शूद्रानभ्यर्चयन्त्यल्पश्रुतभाग्यबलान्विताः न प्रेक्षन्ते गर्विताश् च शूद्रा द्विजवरान् द्विज

Those endowed with little learning, fortune, and strength worship Shudras; the proud Shudras do not look at the best of the twice-born, O Brahmin.

सेवावसरम् आलोक्य द्वारे तिष्ठन्ति वै द्विजाः वाहनस्थान् समावृत्य शूद्राञ्शूद्रोपजीविनः

Seeing an opportunity for service, Brahmins stand at the door; Shudras and those living off Shudras surround those on vehicles.

सेवन्ते ब्राह्मणास्तत्र स्तुवन्ति स्तुतिभिः कलौ तपोयज्ञफलानां च विक्रेतारो द्विजोत्तमाः

There, Brahmins serve and praise with hymns in the Kali age; the best of the twice-born sell the fruits of austerity and sacrifice.

यतयश् च भविष्यन्ति बहवो ऽस्मिन्कलौ युगे पुरुषाल्पं बहुस्त्रीकं युगान्ते समुपस्थिते

In this Kali age, there will be many ascetics; as the age ends, men will be few and women will be many.

निन्दन्ति वेदविद्यां च द्विजाः कर्माणि वै कलौ कलौ देवो महादेवः शङ्करो नीललोहितः

In the Kali age, the twice-born criticize Vedic knowledge and actions; in Kali, the god Mahadeva Shankara, blue and red in hue—

प्रकाशते प्रतिष्ठार्थं धर्मस्य विकृताकृतिः ये तं विप्रा निषेवन्ते येन केनापि शङ्करम्

—appears in a distorted form for the sake of establishing dharma; Brahmins serve Shankara in whatever manner they can.

कलिदोषान् विनिर्जित्य प्रयान्ति परमं पदम् श्वापदप्रबलत्वं च गवां चैव परिक्षयः

Overcoming the faults of Kali, they attain the supreme state; wild beasts become powerful, and cows are diminished.

साधूनां विनिवृत्तिश् च वेद्या तस्मिन्युगक्षये तदा सूक्ष्मो महोदर्को दुर्लभो दानमूलवान्

The departure of the virtuous is to be known at the end of the age; then, subtle yet immense, rare, and rooted in charity.

चातुराश्रमशैथिल्ये धर्मः प्रतिचलिष्यति अरक्षितारो हर्तारो बलिभागस्य पार्थिवाः

When the four stages of life become lax, righteousness will falter; rulers will neither protect nor collect tribute, but will plunder instead.

युगान्तेषु भविष्यन्ति स्वरक्षणपरायणाः अट्टशूला जनपदाः शिवशूलाश्चतुष्पथाः

At the end of the age, people will be devoted only to self-preservation; villages will be plagued by thieves, and crossroads by those bearing Shiva's trident.

प्रमदाः केशशूलिन्यो भविष्यन्ति कलौ युगे चित्रवर्षी तदा देवो यदा प्राहुर्युगक्षयम्

Women will wear their hair loose in the Kali age; when the god is said to announce the end of the age, there will be strange rains.

सर्वे वणिग्जनाश्चापि भविष्यन्त्यधमे युगे कुशीलचर्याः पाषण्डैर् वृथारूपैः समावृताः

All merchants will become corrupt in the lowest age, practicing deceitful trades, surrounded by impostors in vain forms.

बहुयाजनको लोको भविष्यति परस्परम् नाव्याहृतक्रूरवाक्यो नार्जवी नानसूयकः

People will perform many sacrifices, but among themselves will speak harsh words, lacking honesty and full of slander.

न कृते प्रतिकर्ता च युगक्षीणे भविष्यति निन्दकाश्चैव पतिता युगान्तस्य च लक्षणम्

There will be no one to reciprocate good deeds when the age declines; slanderers will fall, and this is a mark of the end of the age.

नृपशून्या वसुमती न च धान्यधनावृता मण्डलानि भविष्यन्ति देशेषु नगरेषु च

The earth will be devoid of kings, and not covered with grain or wealth; regions and cities will become barren.

अल्पोदका चाल्पफला भविष्यति वसुंधरा गोप्तारश्चाप्यगोप्तारः सम्भविष्यन्त्यशासनाः

The earth will yield little water and little fruit; those who should protect will fail to do so, and lawless rulers will arise.

हर्तारः परवित्तानां परदारप्रधर्षकाः कामात्मानो दुरात्मानो ह्य् अधमाः साहसप्रियाः

There will be thieves of others' wealth, violators of others' wives, those driven by desire, evil-minded, base, and fond of violence.

प्रनष्टचेष्टनाः पुंसो मुक्तकेशाश् च शूलिनः जनाः षोडशवर्षाश् च प्रजायन्ते युगक्षये

Men will lose proper conduct, wear their hair loose, and bear tridents; at the end of the age, children will be born at sixteen years.

शुक्लदन्ताजिनाक्षाश् च मुण्डाः काषायवाससः शूद्रा धर्मं चरिष्यन्ति युगान्ते समुपस्थिते

With white teeth, skins, and eyes, shaven heads, and wearing ochre robes, Shudras will practice righteousness at the approach of the end of the age.

सस्यचौरा भविष्यन्ति दृढचैलाभिलाषिणः चौराश्चोरस्वहर्तारो हर्तुर्हर्ता तथापरः

There will be thieves of crops, those desiring sturdy garments; thieves will steal from other thieves, and even from the thief's thief.

योग्यकर्मण्युपरते लोके निष्क्रियतां गते कीटमूषकसर्पाश् च धर्षयिष्यन्ति मानवान्

When proper work ceases and the world becomes inactive, insects, mice, and snakes will attack humans.

सुभिक्षं क्षेममारोग्यं सामर्थ्यं दुर्लभं तदा कौशिकीं प्रतिपत्स्यन्ते देशान्क्षुद्भयपीडिताः

Abundance, safety, health, and capability will be rare then; people afflicted by hunger and fear will seek refuge in the Kauśikī regions.

दुःखेनाभिप्लुतानां च परमायुः शतं तदा दृश्यन्ते न च दृश्यन्ते वेदाः कलियुगे ऽखिलाः

For those overwhelmed by suffering, the highest lifespan will be a hundred years; then, the Vedas will not be seen at all in the Kali age.

उत्सीदन्ति तदा यज्ञाः केवलाधर्मपीडिताः काषायिणो ऽप्यनिर्ग्रन्थाः कापालीबहुलास्त्विह

Sacrifices will perish, afflicted only by unrighteousness; even those in ochre robes, without ties, and many skull-bearers will be seen here.

वेदविक्रयिणश्चान्ये तीर्थविक्रयिणः परे वर्णाश्रमाणां ये चान्ये पाषण्डाः परिपन्थिनः

Some will sell the Vedas, others will sell holy places; others, impostors, will obstruct the orders of caste and stage of life.

उत्पद्यन्ते तदा ते वै सम्प्राप्ते तु कलौ युगे अधीयन्ते तदा वेदाञ् शूद्रा धर्मार्थकोविदाः

Then, when the Kali age arrives, those people arise; at that time, the Shudras, skilled in dharma and wealth, study the Vedas.

यजन्ते चाश्वमेधेन राजानः शूद्रयोनयः स्त्रीबालगोवधं कृत्वा हत्वा चैव परस्परम्

Kings born of Shudra lineage perform Ashvamedha sacrifices, having killed women, children, and cows, and also slain each other.

उपद्रवांस्तथान्योन्यं साधयन्ति तदा प्रजाः दुःखप्रभूतमल्पायुर् देहोत्सादः सरोगता

At that time, people cause disturbances to one another; suffering becomes abundant, lifespans are short, bodies decay, and all are afflicted with disease.

अधर्माभिनिवेशित्वात् तमोवृत्तं कलौ स्मृतम् प्रजासु ब्रह्महत्यादि तदा वै सम्प्रवर्तते

Because of attachment to unrighteousness, the Kali age is said to be enveloped in darkness; among the people, acts like killing Brahmins and others arise.