As the sages gathered, their minds brimming with wisdom and concern, one among them turned to Suta and spoke: “O wise Suta, there remains a secret we long to hear. If you would grant us your favor, please reveal it to us.” Their hearts were troubled by the shadow looming over the world—the arrival of the dreadful Kali age. In this era, they observed, people would be stripped of virtue, delighting instead in wickedness, turning away from truth and righteousness. They would become engrossed in slander, coveting the wealth of others, their minds attached to others’ wives, and their intentions bent on harming one another. Delusion would spread, causing people to mistake the body for the self. Atheistic views would flourish, and minds would become animal-like. Even the bonds of family would fray, with children hating their parents, and worship directed toward women and gods in service of desire. Brahmins, once revered for their wisdom, would be seized by greed and delusion, living by selling the Vedas and studying only for wealth. Intoxication and bewilderment would reign, and the duties of their own class would be abandoned. Deception would become common, the three daily rituals neglected, and knowledge of Brahman lost. Mercilessness would prevail, even among those who considered themselves learned. They would neglect their own conduct and vows, devote themselves to agriculture, act with cruelty, and harbor impure intentions. The Kshatriyas, too, would forsake their duties, associate with the wicked, delight in sinful acts, and become devoted to adultery. Heroism would vanish; instead, they would find joy in forests, become petty thieves, and surrender their minds to desire. Knowledge of weapons and missiles would disappear, cows and Brahmins would be abandoned, and protection and shelter would be lacking. Like deer pursued by lust, they would wander, bereft of proper governance or righteous conduct. Absorbed in pleasures, these wicked ones would destroy people and joyfully commit violence against living beings. The Vaiśyas would neglect proper rites, abandon their own duties, follow wrong paths, pursue self-gain, and engage in dishonest weighing and conduct. Devotion to teachers, gods, and the twice-born would be absent; their intellects would be corrupt, and they would rarely feed Brahmins, becoming miserly and tight-fisted. Adulterous relationships would flourish, their minds impure, confused by greed and delusion, and good works and charity would be forsaken. The Śūdras, too, would imitate Brahmin conduct, appearing bright yet acting foolishly, prone to abandoning their own duties. They would perform austerities, but in doing so, diminish the brilliance of the twice-born, cause premature death among children, and become devoted to reciting mantras. Worship would be directed toward stones, village idols, and the like; their thoughts would be contrary and crooked, and they would defame the twice-born. Wealth would not guarantee virtue, for the wealthy would engage in wicked deeds. Even the learned would become quarrelsome, reciting stories and teachings of dharma, yet undermining righteousness. Noble rulers would appear, boastful, generous, and arrogant, considering the service of Brahmins and others as their own mastery. Without proper duty, foolish and mixed in origin, cruel-minded and ever proud, they would destroy the four classes. Those born in good families would consider themselves superior, causing confusion among the four classes, corrupting all castes, and acting foolishly, even while performing good deeds. Most women would become fallen, acting with disrespect toward their husbands, causing harm to their in-laws, fearless, and consuming impure food. Deceit and false appearances would prevail, skill in trickery would grow, passion would overwhelm, and adulterous relations would become common, estranging them from their husbands. Children would lose devotion to their parents, harbor wicked intentions, neglect learning, and suffer bodies afflicted by disease. With intellect lost and a tendency to abandon their own duties, the sages wondered, “O Suta, how can there be any path, either here or in the next world?” Troubled by these thoughts, the sages proclaimed, “Indeed, there is no greater dharma than helping others. By what simple means can the heavy burden of suffering be destroyed? Out of compassion, please reveal that by which all doctrines may be truly understood.” Hearing these words, Suta, whose mind was purified, remembered Śaṅkara in his heart and spoke to the sages: “O virtuous ones, your question is well asked, for the benefit of all the worlds. Remembering the Guru, and out of affection for you, I shall speak—listen with reverence. This supreme Śaiva Purāṇa is the very essence and entirety of Vedānta. It has the power to remove all heaps of sin and bestow the highest truth in the hereafter. Within its pages, the supreme glory of Śiva ever expands, destroying the impurities of the Kali age and granting the fruits of the four aims of life to the Brāhmaṇas. O best of the twice-born, by merely studying this most excellent Śaiva Purāṇa, one attains the highest and most auspicious state. Sin, led by the killing of a Brāhmaṇa, will flourish as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed in the world—alas! Great calamities of the Kali age will roam about fearlessly as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed—alas! All the scriptures will dispute with one another as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed—alas! Even the great will find Śiva’s true nature difficult to comprehend as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed—alas! Cruel messengers of Yama will roam about fearlessly as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed—alas! All the other Purāṇas will thunder forth on earth as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed—alas! All the sacred places will dispute among themselves as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed—alas! All the mantras will dispute among themselves as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed on earth. Thus, Suta revealed to the sages the supreme remedy for the ills of the Kali age, proclaiming the sanctity and power of the Śiva Purāṇa as the beacon of righteousness and truth for all the worlds.