In the course of time, the regions of Saurashtra, Avanti, and the lands along the Narmada and Marubhumi, as well as the domains of the Shudras and Abhiras, fell under the rule of outcaste Brahmanas, Abhiras, and Shudras. Likewise, the shores of Sindhu, the countries of Davi, Urvi, Chandrabhaga, and the kingdom of Kashmir came to be governed by outcastes, Mlecchas, and Shudras. All these groups, at the same time, became rulers upon the earth. These rulers, however, were marked by little kindness and great anger. They delighted in falsehood and unrighteousness, and were known to kill women, children, and cows. Coveting the wealth of others, they were devoid of true substance, enveloped in ignorance and darkness. Their rise and fall came swiftly, their lives were short, their desires great, their virtue meager, and their greed unbounded. Because of their influence, the people themselves became mixed, imitating the ways of these rulers, seeking the protection of kings, and adopting the customs of the Mlecchas. Acting contrary to dharma, they brought about their own destruction. Thus, day by day, as dharma and artha steadily declined and were interrupted, the world moved toward ruin. In this age, wealth alone determined noble lineage. Strength alone was seen as the measure of righteousness. Mere mutual attraction became the basis of marriage, and womanhood alone the cause of enjoyment. Falsehood alone brought victory in disputes, and elevation alone decided possession of land. The Brahma-sutra alone was considered the mark of a Brahmin. Possession of gems and metals became the source of esteem. Merely wearing the outward marks of an āśrama was deemed sufficient to belong to it. Injustice alone became the means of livelihood, while weakness led to destitution. Bold words, spoken without fear, were mistaken for scholarship. Poverty alone was taken as a sign of virtue, and bathing alone as adornment. Giving alone became the mark of righteousness, and mere acceptance was considered marriage. Wearing fine clothes became the measure of worthiness, and water from a distant place alone was held sacred as a ford. Assuming a deceptive appearance became the means to greatness. Thus, on earth, in every caste, whoever was the strongest became king, even though many faults abounded within them. Oppressed by these excessively greedy kings, people fled to the valleys of mountains for refuge. Their food consisted of honey, vegetables, roots, fruits, leaves, and flowers. The many people wore garments made of tree bark, leaves, and coarse cloth, enduring cold, wind, heat, and rain. No one lived beyond twenty-three years, and in this age of Kali, all people declined without interruption. When Vedic and Smriti-based duties were utterly destroyed, and only a remnant of virtue remained, then a portion of the all-pervading, self-formed, Brahman-essence Lord Vāsudeva—without beginning, middle, or end, endowed with all qualities and powers—would descend as Kalki. He would be born into the house of Viṣṇuyaśas, the chief Brahmana of the village of Śambhala. There, Kalki would destroy all the Mlecchas, thieves, and those of evil conduct and mind, and he would fully restore all duties to their proper place. Immediately after the end of Kali, at the close of that dark night, the minds of the people would become pure and clear as flawless crystal petals, as if awakened from a deep sleep. Among these purified people, even those who were mature would produce offspring suited to the renewed age. And those children would embody the standards of the Kṛta (Golden) Age. It is said that when the Moon, the Sun, and Jupiter (Bṛhaspati) all come together in one sign, then the Kṛta Age will indeed arise. O best of sages, thus have the kings of the two lineages—past, present, and future—been described. From the birth of Parīkṣit up to the coronation of Nanda, this period is to be known as one thousand and fifty years. Among the Seven Sages, those two who are first seen rising in the sky, the constellation seen between them at night is to be noted. The Seven Sages remain joined with that constellation for a hundred years of men. At the time of Parīkṣit, O best of the twice-born, they resided in Maghā. Then, the Kali age began, lasting for twelve hundred years.