Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

मुनयः शंसितात्मनस्सत्यव्रतपरायणाः महौजसो महाभागा महासत्रं वितेनिरे

Sages of disciplined souls, devoted to truth and vows, of great energy and fortune, performed a great sacrificial session.

तत्र सत्रं समाकर्ण्य व्यासशिष्यो महामुनिः आजगाम मुनीन्द्रष्टुं सूतः पौराणिकोत्तमः

Hearing of that sacrificial session, the great sage, disciple of Vyasa, Suta, foremost among narrators of the Puranas, came there to see the chief of sages.

तं दृष्ट्वा सूतमायांतं हर्षिता मुनयस्तदा चेतसा सुप्रसन्नेन पूजां चक्रुर्यथाविधि

Seeing Suta arriving, the sages then, with delighted minds, performed worship for him according to proper custom.

ततो विनयसंयुक्ता प्रोचुः सांजलयश्चते सुप्रसन्ना महात्मानः स्तुतिं कृत्वायथाविधि

Then, joined with humility, their hands folded, those great souls, well-pleased, offered praise to you as prescribed.

रोमहर्षण सर्वज्ञ भवान् वै भाग्यगौरवात् पुराणविद्यामखिलां व्यासात्प्रत्यर्थमीयिवान्

O Romaharshana, all-knowing, by the weight of your merit, you have learned the entire lore of the Puranas directly from Vyasa.

तस्मादाश्चर्यभूतानां कथानां त्वं हि भाजनम् रत्नानामुरुसाराणां रत्नाकर इवार्णवः

Therefore, you are the vessel of wondrous tales, like the ocean is the repository of countless precious gems.

यच्च भूतं च भव्यं च यच्चान्यद्वस्तु वर्तते न त्वया ऽविदितं किंचित्त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते

Whatever has been, whatever will be, and whatever else exists—nothing in the three worlds is unknown to you.

त्वं मद्दिष्टवशादस्य दर्शनार्थमिहागतः कुर्वन्किमपि नः श्रेयो न वृथा गंतुमर्हसि

You have come here by my destiny’s will, for this meeting; do something for our welfare—you should not come in vain.

तत्त्वं श्रुतं स्म नः सर्वं पूर्वमेव शुभाशुभम् न तृप्तिमधिगच्छामः श्रवणेच्छा मुहुर्मुहुः

All the truths, auspicious and inauspicious, we have already heard from you before, yet we never attain satisfaction—our desire to listen arises again and again.

इदानीमेकमेवास्ति श्रोतव्यं सूत सन्मते तद्रहस्यमपि ब्रूहि यदि ते ऽनुग्रहो भवेत्

Now, O wise Suta, there is one thing to be heard; tell us that secret also, if you would grant us your favor.

प्राप्ते कलियुगे घोरे नराः पुण्यविवर्जिताः दुराचाररताः सर्वे सत्यवार्तापराङ्मुखाः

When the dreadful Kali age arrives, people are devoid of merit, all delighting in wicked conduct, turning away from truth and righteousness.

परापवादनिरताः परद्रव्याभिलाषिणः परस्त्रीसक्तमनसः परहिंसापरायणाः

Engaged in slandering others, desiring others’ wealth, their minds attached to others’ wives, intent on harming others.

देहात्मदृष्टया मूढा नास्तिकाः पशुबुद्धयः मातृपितृकृतद्वेषाः स्त्रीदेवाः कामकिंकराः

Deluded by the view that the body is the self, atheistic, with animal-like minds, hating mother and father, worshipping women and gods, servants of desire.

विप्रा लोभग्रहग्रस्ता वेदविक्रयजीविनः धनार्जनार्थमभ्यस्तविद्या मदविमोहिताः

Brahmins seized by greed and delusion, living by selling the Vedas, studying for the sake of wealth, intoxicated and bewildered.

त्यक्तस्वजातिकर्माणः प्राय्हशःपरवंचकाः त्रिकालसंध्यया हीना ब्रह्मबोधविवर्जिताः

Abandoning the duties of their own class, mostly deceiving others, neglecting the three daily rituals, devoid of knowledge of Brahman.

अदयाः पंडितंमन्यास्स्वाचारव्रतलोपकाः कृष्युद्यमरताः क्रूरस्वभावा मलिनाशयाः

Merciless, thinking themselves learned, neglecting their own conduct and vows, devoted to agriculture, cruel by nature, with impure intentions.

क्षत्रियाश्च तथा सर्वे स्वधर्मत्यागशीलिनः असत्संगाः पापरता व्यभिचारपरायणाः

And likewise all the Kshatriyas, given to abandoning their own duty, associating with the wicked, delighting in sin, devoted to adultery.

अशूरा अरणप्रीताः पलायनपरायणाः कुचौरवृत्तयः शूद्राः कामकिंकरचेतसः

They are not heroic, delight in forests, are devoted to fleeing, live as petty thieves, and their minds are servants to desire.

शस्त्रास्त्रविद्यया हीना धेनुविप्रावनोज्झिताः शरण्यावनहीनाश्च कामिन्यूतिमृगास्सदा

Deprived of knowledge of weapons and missiles, abandoning cows and Brahmins, lacking protectors and shelter, they are ever like deer pursued by lust.

प्रजापालनसद्धर्मविहीना भोगतत्पराः प्रजासंहारका दुष्टा जीवहिंसाकरा मुदा

Without proper governance or righteous conduct, absorbed in pleasures, wicked destroyers of people, they joyfully commit violence against living beings.

वैश्याः संस्कारहीनास्ते स्वधर्मत्यागशीलिनः कुपथाः स्वार्जनरतास्तुलाकर्मकुवृत्तयः

The Vaiśyas lack proper rites, are inclined to forsake their own duty, follow wrong paths, are intent on self-gain, and engage in dishonest weighing and conduct.

गुरुदेवद्विजातीनां भक्तिहीनाः कुबुद्धयः अभोजितद्विजाः प्रायः कृपणा बद्धमुष्टयः

Without devotion to teachers, gods, or twice-borns, possessing corrupt intellects, mostly not feeding Brahmins, they are miserly and tight-fisted.

कामिनीजारभावेषु सुरता मलिनाशयाः लोभमोहविचेतस्काः पूर्तादिसुवृषोज्झिताः

In adulterous relationships, their minds are impure in intercourse, confused by greed and delusion, abandoning good works and charitable deeds.

तद्वच्छूद्राश्च ये केचिद्ब्राह्मणाचारतत्पराः उज्ज्वलाकृतयो मूढाः स्वधर्मत्यागशीलिनः

Likewise, those Śūdras who imitate Brahmin conduct, though bright in appearance, are foolish and prone to abandoning their own duty.

कर्तारस्तपसां भूयो द्विजतेजोपहारकाः शिश्वल्पमृत्युकाराश्च मंत्रोच्चारपरायणाः

They perform austerities but diminish the brilliance of the twice-born, cause premature death for children, and are devoted to reciting mantras.

शीलिग्रामशिलादीनां पूजकाहोमतत्पराः प्रतिकूलविचाराश्च कुटिला द्विजदूषकाः

Worshippers of stones, village idols, and the like, intent on offerings, their thoughts are contrary, crooked, and they defame the twice-born.

धनवंतः कुकर्माणो विद्यावन्तो विवादिनः आख्यायोपासना धर्मवक्तारो धर्मलोपकाः

Wealthy but engaged in wicked deeds, learned yet quarrelsome, they recite stories and teachings of dharma, but undermine righteousness.

सुभूपाकृतयो दंभाः सुदातारो महामदाः विप्रादीन्सेवकान्मत्वा मन्यमाना निजं प्रभुम्

With the appearance of noble rulers, boastful, generous, and greatly arrogant, considering the service of Brahmins and others as their own mastery.

स्वधर्मरहिता मूडाः संकराः क्रूरबुद्धयः महाभिमानिनो नित्यं चतुर्वर्णविलोपकाः

Without their own duty, foolish, mixed in origin, cruel-minded, ever greatly proud, they destroy the four classes.