In the age of decline, the world became distorted in its values and customs. Victory in disputes was no longer won through truth, but through falsehood alone. Land was claimed not by right or merit, but simply by elevation. The Brahma-sutra, rather than inner realization or conduct, became the sole criterion for being recognized as a Brahmin. Esteem was granted merely by the possession of gems and metals, regardless of virtue. To belong to an āśrama, it was enough only to wear its marks, without following its true discipline. Livelihood came through injustice, while weakness led to deprivation and lack of livelihood. Bold words uttered without fear became the measure of scholarship, and poverty itself was mistaken for virtue. Bathing alone sufficed for adornment, and giving, without consideration of motive or righteousness, became the sole cause of righteousness. Marriage was reduced to mere acceptance, and wearing fine clothes alone was seen as the mark of worthiness. Water brought from distant places was regarded as creating a sacred ford, and greatness was attributed merely to assuming a deceptive appearance. Thus, on earth, in all castes, whoever was the strongest among them would become king, even though many faults abounded. Under the rule of excessively greedy kings, people would be oppressed and forced to seek refuge in the valleys of the mountains. Their food would consist of honey, vegetables, roots, fruits, leaves, and flowers. They would wear garments made of tree bark, leaves, and coarse cloth, enduring cold, wind, heat, and rain. No one would live beyond twenty-three years, and in this Kali age, all people would steadily decline without interruption. When the duties prescribed by the Vedas and Smriti are utterly destroyed, and only a remnant of virtue remains, then a portion of the all-pervading, self-formed, Brahman-essence Lord Vāsudeva, without beginning, middle, or end, endowed with all qualities and powers, will descend as Kalki into the house of Viṣṇuyaśas, the chief Brāhmaṇa of the village of Śambhala. There, he will destroy all the mlecchas, thieves, and those of evil conduct and mind, fully restoring all duties to their proper place. Immediately after the end of Kali, at the end of the night, the minds of the people of those regions will become pure and clear, like flawless crystal petals, as if awakened from sleep. Among these purified people, even those who are mature will produce offspring appropriate to the new time, and those children will be in accordance with 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, the kings of the two lineages—past, present, and future—have thus been described. From the birth of Parīkṣit until the coronation of Nanda, this period is known as one thousand and fifty years. Of the Seven Sages, those two who are seen rising first in the sky—between them, the constellation that is seen 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 twice-born, they were in Maghā. Then, the Kali age began, consisting of twelve hundred years. When the divine portion of Lord Viṣṇu, born in the family of Vasudeva, ascended to heaven, then Kali entered the world. As long as he touched this earth with his lotus feet, Kali could not embrace the earth. When that eternal portion of Viṣṇu departed from the earth to heaven, Dharma's son Yudhiṣṭhira, along with his brothers, renounced the kingdom. Seeing inauspicious omens, the Pāṇḍava, after Kṛṣṇa had departed, performed the coronation of Parīkṣit. When those great sages are about to proceed to Pūrvāṣāḍhā, from that time onward, this increase in movement will occur. On the very day when Kṛṣṇa ascended to heaven, know that the Kali Yuga began; its duration is as follows: by human reckoning, Kali Yuga will last three hundred thousand and sixty thousand years. Those are seven hundred and five in divine years; when that is completed, the Kṛta Yuga will arise again. O best of the twice-born, in every age, thousands of great souls have been born among brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras. Because of the multitude of names and their repetition and similarity in each lineage, all have not been enumerated.