चत्वार्याहुः सहस्राणि वर्षाणां तु कृतं युगम् तस्य तावच्छती संध्या द्विगुणा रविनन्दन
They say the Kṛta age is four thousand years; its twilight is a hundred years, and twice that, O son of the Sun.
यत्र धर्मश्चतुष्पादस् त्व् अधर्मः पादविग्रहः स्वधर्मनिरताः सन्तो जायन्ते यत्र मानवाः
In that age, righteousness stands on four feet, unrighteousness is weak; people are devoted to their own duties, and the virtuous are born.
विप्राः स्थिता धर्मपरा राजवृत्तौ स्थिता नृपाः कृष्यामभिरता वैश्याः शूद्राः शुश्रूषवः स्थिताः
Brahmins are steadfast in righteousness, kings are established in royal duties, Vaiśyas are devoted to agriculture, and Śūdras remain in service.
तदा सत्यं च शौचं च धर्मश्चैव विवर्धते सद्भिराचरितं कर्म क्रियते ख्यायते च वै
Then truth, purity, and righteousness flourish; actions performed by the good are carried out and become renowned.
एतत्कार्तयुगं वृत्तं सर्वेषामपि पार्थिव प्राणिनां धर्मसङ्गानाम् अपि वै नीचजन्मनाम्
This is the conduct of the Kṛta age, O prince, for all beings, for those devoted to righteousness, and even for those of low birth.
त्रीणि वर्षसहस्राणि त्रेतायुगमिहोच्यते तस्य तावच्छती संध्या द्विगुणा परिकीर्त्यते
Three thousand years are called the Tretā age; its twilight is a hundred years, and twice that, it is said.
द्वाभ्यामधर्मः पादाभ्यां त्रिभिर्धर्मो व्यवस्थितः यत्र सत्यं च सत्त्वं च त्रेताधर्मो विधीयते
In that age, unrighteousness stands on two feet, righteousness on three; truth and virtue prevail, and the law of Tretā is established.
त्रेतायां विकृतिं यान्ति वर्णास्त्वेते न संशयः चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य वैकृत्याद् यान्ति दौर्बल्यमाश्रमाः
In Tretā, these castes undergo change, without doubt; due to the distortion of the fourfold order, the stages of life become weakened.
एषा त्रेतायुगगतिर् विचित्रा देवनिर्मिता द्वापरस्य तु या चेष्टा तामपि श्रोतुमर्हसि
This is the varied course of the Tretā age, created by the gods; now you should hear of the conduct in Dvāpara.
द्वापरं द्वे सहस्रे तु वर्षाणां रविनन्दन तस्य तावच्छती संध्या द्विगुणा युगमुच्यते
Dvāpara is two thousand years, O son of the Sun; its twilight is a hundred years, and twice that, and this is called a yuga.
तत्र चार्थपराः सर्वे प्राणिनो रजसा हताः सर्वे नैष्कृतिकाः क्षुद्रा जायन्ते रविनन्दन
There, all beings are intent on material gain, overcome by passion; all are petty and ignoble, O son of the Sun.
द्वाभ्यां धर्मः स्थितः पद्भ्याम् अधर्मस्त्रिभिरुत्थितः विपर्ययाच्छनैर्धर्मः क्षयमेति कलौ युगे
In that age, righteousness stands on two feet, unrighteousness rises on three; by reversal and gradual decline, righteousness perishes in the Kali age.
ब्राह्मण्यभावस्य ततस् तथौत्सुक्यं विशीर्यते व्रतोपवासास्त्यज्यन्ते द्वापरे युगपर्यये
Then the nature of the Brahmin fades, and zeal is destroyed; vows and fasting are abandoned in the Dvāpara age's transition.
तथा वर्षसहस्रं तु वर्षाणां द्वे शते अपि संध्यया सह संख्यातं क्रूरं कलियुगं स्मृतम्
Thus, a thousand years, plus two hundred years with twilight, are counted; this is known as the cruel Kali age.
यत्राधर्मश्चतुष्पादः स्याद्धर्मः पादविग्रहः कामिनस्तपसा हीना जायन्ते तत्र मानवाः
Where unrighteousness stands on four feet and righteousness is reduced to a single foot, where men are devoid of austerity and given to desire, there human beings are born.
नैवातिसात्त्विकः कश्चिन् न साधुर्न च सत्यवाक् नास्तिका ब्रह्मभक्ता वा जायन्ते तत्र मानवाः
There, no one is exceedingly pure, nor virtuous, nor truthful in speech; neither are there atheists nor devotees of Brahman among those born there.
अहंकारगृहीताश्च प्रक्षीणस्नेहबन्धनाः विप्राः शूद्रसमाचाराः सन्ति सर्वे कलौ युगे
And the Brāhmaṇas, seized by pride, with affection and kinship diminished, all behave like Śūdras in the Kali age.
आश्रमाणां विपर्यासः कलौ सम्परिवर्तते वर्णानां चैव संदेहो युगान्ते रविनन्दन
In the Kali age, O descendant of the Sun, there is a reversal of the orders of life, and at the end of the age, confusion arises regarding the classes.
विद्याद्द्वादशसाहस्रीं युगाख्यां पूर्वनिर्मिताम् एवं सहस्रपर्यन्तं तदहर्ब्राह्ममुच्यते
One should know the age called Yuga consists of twelve thousand (divine) years, as established previously; up to a thousand such cycles, that day is called a day of Brahmā.
ततो ऽहनि गते तस्मिन् सर्वेषामेव जीविनाम् शरीरनिर्वृतिं दृष्ट्वा लोकसंहारबुद्धितः
When that day has passed, seeing the dissolution of the bodies of all living beings, the intention for the destruction of the worlds arises.
देवतानां च सर्वासां ब्रह्मादीनां महीपते दैत्यानां दानवानां च यक्षराक्षसपक्षिणाम्
Of all the deities, beginning with Brahmā, O king, and of the Daityas, Dānavas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and birds,
गन्धर्वाणामप्सरसां भुजंगानां च पार्थिव पर्वतानां नदीनां च पशूनां चैव सत्तम तिर्यग्योनिगतानां च सत्त्वानां कृमिणां तथा
Of Gandharvas, Apsarases, serpents, O king, mountains, rivers, animals, the best of beings, those born in non-human wombs, and likewise worms,
महाभूतपतिः पञ्च हृत्वा भूतानि भूतकृत् जगत्संहरणार्थाय कुरुते वैशसं महत्
The Lord of the great elements, having withdrawn the five elements, for the purpose of the dissolution of the world, brings about a great destruction.
भूत्वा सूर्यश्चक्षुषी चाददानो भूत्वा वायुः प्राणिनां प्राणजालम् भूत्वा वह्निर्निर्दहन्सर्वलोकान् भूत्वा मेघो भूय उग्रो ऽप्यवर्षत्
Becoming the sun, he takes away sight; becoming the wind, he draws in the vital airs of beings; becoming fire, he burns all the worlds; becoming a fierce cloud, he rains down again.
भूत्वा नारायणो योगी सत्त्वमूर्तिर्विभावसुः गभस्तिभिः प्रदीप्ताभिः संशोषयति सागरान्
Assuming the form of Nārāyaṇa, the yogi, the embodiment of existence, blazing with radiant rays, dries up the oceans.
ततः पीत्वार्णवान् सर्वान् नदीः कूपांश्च सर्वशः पर्वतानां च सलिलं सर्वमादाय रश्मिभिः
Then, having drunk up all the oceans, all the rivers, and all the wells, he draws up all the water from the mountains with his rays.
भित्त्वा गभस्तिभिश्चैव महीं गत्वा रसातलात् पातालजलमादाय पिबते रसमुत्तमम्
Piercing the earth with his rays, reaching down to the netherworld, he takes up the water of Pātāla and drinks the finest essence.
मूत्रासृक्क्लेदम् अन्यच्च यदस्ति प्राणिषु ध्रुवम् तत्सर्वमरविन्दाक्ष आदत्ते पुरुषोत्तमः
Whatever moisture, blood, or other fluids exist in living beings, all of that, O lotus-eyed one, the Supreme Person takes up.
वायुश्च बलवान्भूत्वा विधुन्वानो ऽखिलं जगत् प्राणापानसमानाद्यान् वायून् आकर्षते हरिः
And becoming the powerful wind, shaking the entire world, Hari draws in the vital airs—prāṇa, apāna, samāna, and others.
ततो देवगणाः सर्वे भूतान्येव च यानि तु गन्धो घ्राणं शरीरं च पृथिवीं संश्रिता गुणाः
Then all the hosts of gods and all beings, and the qualities—scent, smell, and body—residing in earth, are withdrawn.