O revered one, listen as the nature of the age of Kali unfolds—a time when the world is overtaken by darkness and confusion. In this dreadful era, all people, having turned away from righteousness, are drawn toward sin through repeated transgressions. Deluded and consumed by desires and anger, they become tormented by anxieties that serve no purpose, their minds restless and unsatisfied. In this topsy-turvy world, the excellent are brought low, while the lowly rise to high stations. Society is shaken from its roots, and the people suffer under the heavy burden of excessive taxes. Even the sanctity of marriage is lost, as husbands pursue forbidden unions, and all become engrossed in coveting the spouses and wealth of others. Indeed, O Brahmin, in the age of Kali, sin becomes the very devotion of mankind. On the banks of rivers, people wield spades to uproot the very medicinal plants that once brought healing. Women, too, are swept away by desire, seeking those who are charming in appearance and conduct, even among courtesans. The sacred Vedas, once revered, are now sold for profit, and twice-born men delight in behavior fit for Shudras. Brahmins, overcome by greed, abandon their vows and sacred duties. Rituals for ancestors and deities are performed only for show, devoid of true devotion. Even the veneration of cows, once a mark of piety, becomes driven by selfish desire for milk. Charity loses its meaning, as the lowest of men give gifts only to the unworthy. The hearts of the people, O Brahmin, turn away from Vishnu; devotion to the Lord fades from memory. When Krishna’s divine essence returns to Him, the wicked dare to strike the twice-born, and even gifts from the fallen are accepted without shame. As the age draws to its close, the holy name of Hari is forgotten, unspoken by any tongue. The twice-born, who should uphold purity, instead seek the food of the Shudras. Atheists flourish, mocking the four stages of life and reviling the ancient ways. The lowest, bearing the marks of heresy, take up the duties of the twice-born and, obsessed with false reasoning, presume to expound the duties of Shudras. Among Shudras, there will be those of wicked heart and even some who don the garb of renunciation. The community of ascetics is corrupted by atheists, skull-bearers, and the basest of mendicants. Shudras ascend to the highest seats and instruct others on duty, while heretics roam freely, defiling the Vedas. Righteousness is destroyed by most men, and the lowest become thieves, coveting and stealing the wealth of others. Self-praise becomes the norm, while slander of others is celebrated. In this age, O Brahmin, men become companions of unrighteousness, delighting in evil company. The very fabric of life unravels: a child is born only once in five years, and all abandon their own duties, becoming ungrateful and behaving in the same degraded way. Insulting others becomes a source of joy, and people rejoice in the homes of others rather than their own. They constantly find fault with their fathers, mothers, and even their own children. Intoxicated by wealth, learning, and youth, people plunge themselves into all manner of suffering, heedless of their own wicked deeds. They thrive in vanity, never considering the consequences of their actions. Trust is misplaced, given to those who merely pretend to righteousness. Shudras take pleasure in begging, while Brahmins, forsaking their dignity, serve them. The bonds of marriage dissolve; there is neither true wife nor husband in these mixed unions. Even Brahmins, abandoning all restraint, become sellers of liquors and juices. Thus, O Brahmin, the Kali age is marked by the collapse of virtue and the triumph of unrighteousness, as the world is swept away in a tide of confusion and sin.