ते वा पुंनति च जगन्ति शरीरसंगात् संभाषणादपि ततो हरिरेव पूज्यः
They purify the worlds even by bodily contact or conversation; therefore, Hari alone is to be worshipped.
तत्रैव सकलं भद्रं यथा निम्ने जलं द्विज
There, all auspiciousness gathers, just as water flows into a low place, O twice-born.
हरिरेव ततः पूज्यो यतश्चेतन्यकारणम्
Hari alone is to be worshipped, for he is the cause of consciousness.
पृज्यस्य मुनिश्रेष्ठ परं श्रेयो भविष्यति
For the one who is worshipped, O best of sages, the highest welfare will result.
तेषां विष्णुः प्रसन्नात्मा सर्वान्कामान् प्रयच्छति
For them, Vishnu, with a pleased heart, grants all desires.
स प्राप्नोत्यश्वमेधस्य फलं मुनिवरोत्तम
He attains the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice, O foremost among sages.
संकोचविस्तराभ्यां तु किमन्यत्कथयामि ते
What else shall I tell you, whether in brief or in detail?
इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि युगानां स्थितिलक्षणम्
Now I wish to hear about the characteristics of the ages and their duration.
युगधर्मान्प्रबक्ष्यामि सर्वलोकोपकारकान्
I shall explain the duties of the ages, which benefit all worlds.
तथा विनासमायाति धर्ंम एव महीतले
Thus, when destruction approaches, only dharma remains on earth.
दिव्यैर्द्वादशभिर्ज्ञेयं वत्सरैस्तत्र सत्तम
O noble one, there, a year is to be understood as consisting of twelve divine months.
कालतो वेदितव्यानि इत्युक्तं तत्त्वा दर्शिभिः
These measures of time are to be known as declared by those who perceive the truth.
ततश्च द्वापरं प्राहुः कलिमन्त्यं विदुः क्रमात्
Thereafter, they speak of the Dvāpara age, and then, in order, they know Kali as the last.
नासन्कृतयुगे विप्र सर्वे देवसमाः स्मृताः
O brāhmaṇa, in the Kṛta age, all were regarded as equal to the gods.
वेदानां च विभागश्च न युगे कृतसंज्ञके
And there was no division of the Vedas in the age known as Kṛta.
सदा नारायणपरास्तपोध्यानपरायणाः
They were always devoted to Nārāyaṇa, intent on austerity and meditation.
धर्मसाधनचित्ताश्च गतासूया अदांभिकाः
Their minds were set on the practice of righteousness, free from envy and deceit.
वेदाध्ययनसंपन्नाः सर्वशास्त्रविचक्षणाः
They were accomplished in the study of the Vedas, and discerning in all the scriptures.
अकामफलसंयोगाः प्रयान्ति परमां गतिम्
United with the fruit of desirelessness, they attain the supreme state.
त्रेताधर्मान्प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुष्व सुसमाहितः
I will now declare to you the dharmas of the Tretā age; listen attentively.
हरिस्तु रक्तातां याति किञ्चित्क्लेशान्विता जनाः
Hari assumes a reddish hue, and people become somewhat afflicted with hardship.
सत्यव्रता ध्यानपराः सदाध्यानपरायणाः
They are devoted to truth and vows, intent on meditation, always dedicated to contemplation.
हरिः पीतत्वमायाति वेदश्चापि विभज्यते
Hari takes on a yellow hue, and the Veda is also divided.
ब्राह्मणाद्याश्च वर्णाः स्युः केचिद्रागादिदुर्गुणाः
The classes beginning with brāhmaṇas arise, and some possess faults such as passion and others.
केचिद्धनादिकामाश्च केचित्कल्मषचेतसः
Some are desirous of wealth and other objects, and some have impure minds.
अधर्मस्य प्रभावेण क्षीयन्ते च प्रजास्तथा
Due to the influence of unrighteousness, people likewise diminish.
केचित्पुण्यरतान् दृष्ट्वा असूयां विप्र कुर्वते
Seeing some devoted to virtue, O brāhmaṇa, others become envious.
धर्मः कलियुगे प्राप्ते पादेनैकेन वर्तते
When the Kali age arrives, righteousness remains only in one foot.
यः कश्चिदपि धर्मात्मा यज्ञाचारान्करोति च
Whoever, even anyone at all, is devoted to righteousness and performs sacrificial rites—
नरं धर्मरतं दृष्ट्वा सर्वे ऽसूयां प्रकुर्वते
Upon seeing a man devoted to righteousness, all become envious of him.