तथा सरस्वती देवी चूतवृक्षाद्विनिर्गता
Likewise, the goddess Sarasvatī came forth from the mango tree.
कथमत्र समायातः केदारश्चात्र कौतुकम्
How did Kedāra come here? This is a matter of wonder.
शृणुष्वावहितो भूत्वा यथा जातं श्रुतं तु वै
Listen attentively to how it happened, as it has been heard.
गंगाद्यानि च तीर्थानि केदाराद्या दिवौकसः
The holy places beginning with Gaṅgā and the celestial sites beginning with Kedāra,
ब्रह्माणं प्रति राजेन्द्र गताः सर्वे महर्षयः
All the great sages went to Brahmā, O king of kings.
समुदाये च देवानां सर्वतीर्थानि पार्थिव
In the assembly of the gods, all the sacred places, O king,
ततः कथाप्रसंगेन इन्द्रः प्राह चतुर्मुखम्
Then, in the course of the conversation, Indra spoke to the four-faced one.
इन्द्र उवाच भगवन्पुण्यमाहात्म्यं श्रोतुमिच्छामि सांप्रतम्
Indra said: O Lord, I wish to hear now about the merit and greatness.
अष्टाविंशतिभिः सार्द्धं सहस्रैः कृतमुच्यते ॥ 7.3.10.
It is said that the Kṛta Yuga consists of twenty-eight thousand years.
लक्षद्वादशभिः प्रोक्तं युगं त्रेताभिसंज्ञितम्
The Tretā Yuga is declared to be one million two hundred thousand years.
लक्षाण्यष्टौ चतुःषष्टिसहस्रैः परिकीर्तितम्
It is described as eight hundred thousand and sixty-four thousand years.
लक्षैश्चतुर्भिर्विख्यातो द्वात्रिंशद्भिः कलिस्तथा
The Kali Yuga is known as four hundred and thirty-two thousand years.
चतुष्पदः कृते धर्मः शुक्लवर्णो जनार्दनः
In the Kṛta Yuga, dharma stands on four legs, and Janārdana is of white hue.
क्रियते च तदा धर्मो नाकाले मरणं नृणाम्
At that time, dharma is practiced, and there is no untimely death for people.
कामः क्रोधो भयं लोभो मत्सरश्चाभ्यसूयता
Desire, anger, fear, greed, envy, and malice are absent.
ततस्त्रेतायुगे जातस्त्रिपादो धर्म एव च
Then, in the Tretā Yuga, dharma stands on three legs.
तस्मिन्यज्ञाः प्रवर्त्तंते प्राणिनामिष्टदायिनः
In that age, sacrifices are performed by living beings, bestowing desired results.
तपसा ब्रह्मचर्येण स्नानैर्दानैः पृथग्विधैः
Through austerity, celibacy, bathing, and various kinds of charity.
ततस्तु द्वापरं नाम तृतीयं युग मुच्यते 7.3.10.
Then, the third age is called Dvāpara Yuga.
फलाकांक्षाप्रवृत्तानि जपयज्ञतपांसि च
There, acts of recitation, sacrifice, and austerity are performed with desire for results.
तत्रान्योन्यं महीपाला युयुधुर्वसुधातले
In that age, kings fought one another upon the earth.
ततः कलियुगं घोरं चतुर्थं तु प्रव र्त्तते
Then, the dreadful Kali Yuga, the fourth, begins.
कृष्णवर्णो भवेद्विष्णुः पापाधिक्यं प्रवर्तते
Viṣṇu becomes dark in color, and the prevalence of sin arises.
अर्थलुब्धास्तथा भूपा लोभमोहशतान्विताः
Kings become greedy for wealth, filled with hundreds of desires and delusions.
अल्पक्षीरास्तथा गावः सत्यहीना द्विजातयः
Cows yield little milk, and the twice-born are devoid of truth.
सत्यहीनास्तथा पापा भविष्यंति कलौ युगे
Likewise, in the Kali Yuga, the wicked will be devoid of truth.
नार्यो द्वादशमे वर्षे भविष्यंति सुगर्भिताः
In the twelfth year, women will become pregnant.
एकाकारा भविष्यंति सर्ववर्णाश्रमाश्च वै
All castes and stages of life will become indistinguishable.
व्यर्थानि तत्र तीर्थानि म्लेच्छस्पृष्टानि सर्वशः 7.3.10.
There, the sacred fords will be rendered useless, entirely defiled by foreigners.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा ततो वाक्यं ब्रह्मणोऽव्यक्तजन्मनः
Hearing this, they then spoke these words to Brahmā, the one of unmanifest birth: