The Symptoms
Chapter Summary
This chapter relates that, when the bad qualities of the age of Kali will increase to an intolerable level, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will descend as Kalki to destroy those who are fixed in irreligion. After that, a new Satya-yuga will begin. As the age of Kali progresses, all good qualities of men diminish and all impure qualities increase. Atheistic systems of so-called religion become predominant, replacing the codes of Vedic law. The kings become just like highway bandits, the people in general become dedicated to low occupations, and all the social classes become just like sudras. All cows become like goats, all spiritual hermitages become like materialistic homes, and family ties extend no further than the immediate relationship of marriage. When the age of Kali has almost ended, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will incarnate. He will appear in the village Sambhala, in the home of the exalted brahmana Visnuyasa, and will take the name Kalki. He will mount His horse Devadatta and, taking His sword in hand, will roam about the earth killing millions of bandits in the guise of kings. Then the signs of the next Satya-yuga will begin to appear. When the moon, sun and the planet Brhaspati enter simultaneously into one constellation and conjoin in the lunar mansion Pusya, Satya-yuga will begin. In the order of Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali, the cycle of four ages rotates in the society of living entities in this universe. The chapter ends with a brief description of the future dynasties of the sun and moon coming from Vaivasvata Manu in the next Satya-yuga. Even now two saintly ksatriyas are living who at the end of this Kali-yuga will reinitiate the pious dynasties of the sun-god, Vivasvan, and the moon-god, Candra. One of these kings is Devapi, a brother of Maharaja Santanu, and the other is Maru, a descendant of Iksvaku. They are biding their time incognito in a village named Kalapa. SB 12.2.1 sri-suka uvaca SYNONYMS sri-sukah uvaca—Sukadeva Gosvami said; tatah—then; ca—and; anudinam—day after day; dharmah—religion; satyam—truth; saucam—cleanliness; ksama—tolerance; daya—mercy; kalena—by the force of time; balina—strong; rajan—O King Pariksit; nanksyati—will become ruined; ayuh—duration of life; balam—strength; smrtih—memory. TRANSLATION Sukadeva Gosvami said: Then, O King, religion, truthfulness, cleanliness, tolerance, mercy, duration of life, physical strength and memory will all diminish day by day because of the powerful influence of the age of Kali. PURPORT During the present age, Kali-yuga, practically all desirable qualities will gradually diminish, as described in this verse. For example, dharma, which indicates a respect for higher authority that leads one to obey religious principles, will diminish. In the Western world, theologians have been unable to scientifically present the laws of God or, indeed, God Himself, and thus in Western intellectual history a rigid dichotomy has arisen between theology and science. In an attempt to resolve this conflict, some theologians have agreed to modify their doctrines so that they conform not only to proven scientific facts but even to pseudoscientific speculations and hypotheses, which, though unproven, are hypocritically included within the realm of "science." On the other hand, some fanatical theologians disregard the scientific method altogether and insist on the veracity of their antiquated, sectarian dogmas. Thus bereft of systematic Vedic theology, material science has moved into the destructive realm of gross materialism, while speculative Western philosophy has drifted into the superficiality of relativistic ethics and inconclusive linguistic analysis. With so many of the best Western minds dedicated to materialistic analysis, naturally much of Western religious life, separated from the intellectual mainstream, is dominated by irrational fanaticism and unauthorized mystic and mystery cults. People have become so ignorant of the science of God that they often lump the Krsna consciousness movement in with this odd assortment of fanciful attempts at theology and religion. Thus dharma, or true religion, which is strict and conscious obedience to God’s law, is diminishing. Satyam, truthfulness, is also diminishing, simply because people do not know what the truth is. Without knowing the Absolute Truth, one cannot clearly understand the real significance or purpose of life merely by amassing huge quantities of relative or hypothetical truths. Ksama, tolerance or forgiveness, is diminishing as well, because there is no practical method by which people can purify themselves and thus become free of envy. Unless one is purified by chanting the holy names of the Lord in an authorized program of spiritual improvement, the mind will be overwhelmed by anger, envy and all sorts of small-mindedness. Thus daya, mercy, is also decreasing. All living beings are eternally connected by their common participation in the divine existence of God. When this existential oneness is obscured through atheism and agnosticism, people are not inclined to be merciful to one another; they cannot recognize their self-interest in promoting the welfare of other living beings. In fact, people are no longer even merciful to themselves: they systematically destroy themselves through liquor, drugs, tobacco, meat-eating, sexual promiscuity and whatever other cheap gratificatory processes are available to them. Because of all these self-destructive practices and the powerful influence of time, the average life span (ayur) is decreasing. Modern scientists, seeking to gain credibility among the mass of people, often publish statistics supposedly showing that science has increased the average duration of life. But these statistics do not take into account the number of people killed through the cruel practice of abortion. When we figure aborted children into the life expectancy of the total population, we find that the average duration of life has not at all increased in the age of Kali but is rather decreasing drastically. Balam, bodily strength, is also decreasing. The Vedic literature states that five thousand years ago, in the previous age, human beings—and even animals and plants—were larger and stronger. With the progress of the age of Kali, physical stature and strength will gradually diminish. Certainly smrti, memory, is weakening. In former ages human beings possessed superior memory, and they also did not encumber themselves with a terrible bureaucratic and technical society, as we have done. Thus essential information and abiding wisdom were preserved without recourse to writing. Of course, in the age of Kali things are dramatically different. SB 12.2.2 vittam eva kalau nrnam SYNONYMS vittam—wealth; eva—alone; kalau—in the age of Kali; nrnam—among men; janma—of good birth; acara—good behavior; guna—and good qualities; udayah—the cause of manifestation; dharma—of religious duty; nyaya—and reason; vyavasthayam—in the establishment; karanam—the cause; balam—strength; eva—only; hi—indeed. TRANSLATION In Kali-yuga, wealth alone will be considered the sign of a man’s good birth, proper behavior and fine qualities. And law and justice will be applied only on the basis of one’s power. PURPORT In the age of Kali, a man is considered high class, middle class or low class merely according to his financial status, regardless of his knowledge, culture and behavior. In this age there are many great industrial and commercial cities with luxurious neighborhoods reserved for the wealthy. On beautiful tree-lined roads, within apparently aristocratic homes, it is not unusual to find many perverted, dishonest and sinful activities taking place. According to Vedic criteria, a man is considered high class if his behavior is enlightened, and his behavior is considered enlightened if his activities are dedicated to promoting the happiness of all creatures. Every living being is originally happy, because in all living bodies there is an eternal spiritual spark that partakes of the divine conscious nature of God. When our original spiritual awareness is revived, we become naturally blissful and satisfied in knowledge and peace. An enlightened, or educated, man should endeavor to revive his own spiritual understanding, and he should help others experience the same sublime consciousness. The great Western philosopher Socrates stated that if a man is enlightened he will automatically act virtuously, and Srila Prabhupada confirmed this fact. But in the Kali-yuga this obvious truth is disregarded, and the search for knowledge and virtue has been replaced by a vicious, animalistic competition for money. Those who prevail become the "top dogs" of modern society, and their consumer power grants them a reputation as most respectable, aristocratic and well educated. This verse also states that in the age of Kali brute strength (balam eva) will determine law and "justice." We should keep in mind that in the progressive, Vedic culture, there was no artificial dichotomy between the spiritual and the public realms. All civilized people took it for granted that God is everywhere and that His laws are binding upon all creatures. The Sanskrit word dharma, therefore, indicates one’s social, or public, obligation as well as one’s religious duty. Thus responsibly caring for one’s family is dharma, and engaging in the loving service of God is also dharma. This verse indicates, however, that in the age of Kali the principle of "might makes right" will hold sway. In the first chapter of this canto we observed how this principle infiltrated India’s past. Similarly, as the Western world achieved political, economic and technological hegemony over Asian lands, bogus propaganda was disseminated to the effect that Indian, and in general all non-Western, religion, theology and philosophy are somehow primitive and unscientific—mere mythology and superstition. Fortunately this arrogant, irrational view is now dissipating, and people all over the world are beginning to appreciate the staggering wealth of spiritual philosophy and science available in the Sanskrit literature of India. In other words, many intelligent people no longer consider traditional Western religion or empirical science, which has virtually superseded religion as the official Western dogma, necessarily authoritative merely because the West has politically and economically subdued other geographic and ethnic configurations of humanity. Thus there is now hope that spiritual issues can be contested and resolved on a philosophical level and not merely by a crude test of arms. Next this verse points out that the rule of law will be applied unequally to the powerful and the powerless. Already in many nations justice is available only to those who can pay and fight for it. In a civilized state, every man, woman and child must have equal and rapid access to a fair system of laws. In modern times we sometimes refer to this as human rights. Certainly human rights are one of the more obvious casualties of the age of Kali. SB 12.2.3 dampatye ’bhirucir
hetur SYNONYMS dam-patye—in the relationship of husband and wife; abhirucih—superficial attraction; hetuh—the reason; maya—deceit; eva—indeed; vyavaharike—in business; stritve—in being a woman; pumstve—in being a man; ca—and; hi—indeed; ratih—sex; vipratve—in being a brahmana; sutram—the sacred thread; eva—only; hi—indeed. TRANSLATION Men and women will live together merely because of superficial attraction, and success in business will depend on deceit. Womanliness and manliness will be judged according to one’s expertise in sex, and a man will be known as a brahmana just by his wearing a thread. PURPORT Just as human life as a whole has a great and serious purpose—namely spiritual liberation—fundamental human institutions such as marriage and child-rearing should also be dedicated to that great objective. Unfortunately, in the present age the satisfaction of the sex impulse has become the overriding, if not the exclusive, reason for marriage. The sexual impulse, which induces the male and female of almost every species to combine physically, and in higher species also emotionally, is ultimately not a natural urge, because it is based on the unnatural identification of the self with the body. Life itself is a spiritual phenomenon. It is the soul that lives and gives apparent life to the biological machine called the body. Consciousness is the soul’s manifest energy, and thus consciousness, awareness itself, is originally an entirely spiritual event. When life, or consciousness, is confined within a biological machine and falsely mistakes itself to be that machine, material existence occurs and sex desire arises. God intends human life to be an opportunity for us to rectify this illusory mode of existence and return to the vast satisfaction of pure, godly existence. But because our identification with the material body is a long historical affair, it is difficult for most people to immediately break free from the demands of the materially molded mind. Therefore the Vedic scriptures prescribe sacred marriage, in which a so-called man and a so-called woman may combine in a regulated, spiritual marriage sheltered by overarching religious injunctions. In this way the candidate for self-realization who has selected family life can derive adequate satisfaction for his senses and simultaneously please the Lord within his heart by obeying religious injunctions. The Lord then purifies him of material desire. In Kali-yuga this deep understanding has been almost lost, and, as stated in this verse, men and women combine like animals, solely on the basis of mutual attraction to bodies made of flesh, bone, membrane, blood and so on. In other words, in our modern, godless society the weak, superficial intelligence of humanity rarely penetrates beyond the gross physical covering of the eternal soul, and thus family life has in most cases lost its highest purpose and value. A corollary point established in this verse is that in the age of Kali a woman is considered "a good woman" if she is sexually attractive and, indeed, sexually efficient. Similarly, a sexually attractive man is "a good man." The best example of this superficiality is the incredible attention twentieth-century people give to materialistic movie stars, music stars and other prominent figures in the entertainment industry. In fact, pursuing sexual experiences with various types of bodies is similar to drinking old wine from new bottles. But few people in the Kali-yuga can understand this. Finally, this verse states that in the age of Kali a man will become known as a priest, or brahmana, merely by wearing ceremonial dress. In India, brahmanas wear a sacred thread, and in other parts of world members of the priestly class have other ornaments and symbols. But in the age of Kali the symbols alone will suffice to establish a person as a religious leader, despite his ignorance of God. SB 12.2.4 lingam evasrama-khyatav SYNONYMS lingam—the external symbol; eva—merely; asrama-khyatau—in knowing a person’s spiritual order; anyonya—mutual; apatti—of exchange; karanam—the cause; avrttya—by lack of livelihood; nyaya—in credibility; daurbalyam—the weakness; panditye—in scholarship; capalam—tricky; vacah—words. TRANSLATION A person’s spiritual position will be ascertained merely according to external symbols, and on that same basis people will change from one spiritual order to the next. A person’s propriety will be seriously questioned if he does not earn a good living. And one who is very clever at juggling words will be considered a learned scholar. PURPORT The previous verse stated that in the age of Kali the priestly class will be recognized by external symbols alone, and this verse extends the same principle to the other orders of society, namely the political or military class, the business or productive class, and finally the laborer or artisan class. Modern sociologists have demonstrated that in those societies chiefly governed by the Protestant ethic, poverty is considered a sign of indolence, dirtiness, stupidity, immorality and worthlessness. In a God-conscious society, however, many persons voluntarily decide to dedicate their lives not to material acquisition but rather to the pursuit of knowledge and spirituality. Thus a preference for the simple and the austere may indicate intelligence, self-control and sensitivity to the higher purpose of life. Of course, in itself poverty does not establish these virtues, but it may sometimes be the result of them. In the Kali-yuga, however, this possibility is often forgotten. Intellectuality is another casualty of the bewildering age of Kali. Modern so-called philosophers and scientists have created a technical, esoteric terminology for each branch of learning, and when they give lectures people consider them learned simply because of their ability to speak that which no one else can understand. In Western culture, the Greek Sophists were among the first to systematically argue for rhetoric and "efficiency" above wisdom and purity, and sophistry certainly flourishes in the twentieth century. Modern universities have very little wisdom, though they do possess a virtual infinity of technical data. Although many modern thinkers are fundamentally ignorant of the higher, spiritual reality, they are, so to speak, "good talkers," and most people simply don’t notice their ignorance. SB 12.2.5 anadhyataivasadhutve SYNONYMS anadhyata—poverty; eva—simply; asadhutve—in one’s being unholy; sadhutve—in virtue, or success; dambhah—hypocrisy; eva—alone; tu—and; svi-karah—verbal acceptance; eva—alone; ca—and; udvahe—in marriage; snanam—bathing with water; eva—alone; prasadhanam—cleaning and decorating of the body. TRANSLATION A person will be judged unholy if he does not have money, and hypocrisy will be accepted as virtue. Marriage will be arranged simply by verbal agreement, and a person will think he is fit to appear in public if he has merely taken a bath. PURPORT The word dambha indicates a self-righteous hypocrite—someone not so much concerned with being saintly as with appearing saintly. In the age of Kali there is a rather large number of self-righteous, hypocritical religious fanatics claiming to have the only way, the only truth and the only light. In many Muslim countries this mentality has resulted in brutal repression of religious freedom and thus destroyed the opportunity for enlightened spiritual dialectic. Fortunately, in much of the Western world there is a system of free religious expression. Even in the West, however, self-righteous hypocrites consider sincere and saintly followers of other disciplines to be heathens and devils. Western religious fanatics are usually addicted to many bad habits, such as smoking, drinking, sex, gambling and animal slaughter. Although the followers of the Krsna consciousness movement strictly avoid illicit sex, intoxication, gambling and animal-killing, and although they dedicate their lives to the constant glorification of God, self-righteous hypocrites claim that such strict austerity and devotion to God are "tricks of the devil." Thus the sinful are promoted as religious, and the saintly are decried as demonic. This pathetic incapacity to grasp the most rudimentary criteria of spirituality is a prominent symptom of Kali-yuga. In this age, the institution of marriage will degenerate. Indeed, already a marriage certificate is sometimes cynically rejected as "a mere piece of paper." Forgetting the spiritual purpose of marriage and misunderstanding sex to be the goal of family life, lusty men and women directly engage in sexual affairs without the troublesome formalities and responsibilities of a legal relationship. Such foolish people argue that "sex is natural." But if sex is natural, pregnancy and childbirth are equally natural. And for the child it is certainly natural to be raised by a loving father and mother and in fact to have the same father and mother throughout his life. Psychological studies confirm that a child needs to be cared for by both his father and his mother, and thus it is obviously natural for sex to be accompanied by a permanent marriage arrangement. Hypocritical people justify unrestricted sex by saying "it is natural" but to avoid the natural consequence of sex—pregnancy—they use contraceptives, which certainly do not grow on trees. Indeed, contraceptives are not at all natural. Thus hypocrisy and foolishness abound in the age of Kali. The verse concludes by saying that people will neglect to ornament their bodies properly in the present age. A human being should decorate his body with various religious ornaments. Vaisnavas mark their bodies with tilaka blessed with the holy name of God. But in the age of Kali, religious and even material formalities are thoughtlessly discarded. SB 12.2.6 dure vary-ayanam tirtham daksyam kutumba-bharanam SYNONYMS dure—situated far away; vari—of water; ayanam—a reservoir; tirtham—holy place; lavanyam—beauty; kesa—hair; dharanam—carrying; udaram-bharata—filling the belly; sva-arthah—the goal of life; satyatve—in so-called truth; dharstyam—audacity; eva—simply; hi—indeed; daksyam—expertise; kutumba-bharanam—maintaining a family; yasah—fame; arthe—for the sake of; dharma-sevanam—observance of religious principles. TRANSLATION A sacred place will be taken to consist of no more than a reservoir of water located at a distance, and beauty will be thought to depend on one’s hairstyle. Filling the belly will become the goal of life, and one who is audacious will be accepted as truthful. He who can maintain a family will be regarded as an expert man, and the principles of religion will be observed only for the sake of reputation. PURPORT In India there are many sacred places through which holy rivers flow. Foolish persons eagerly seek redemption from their sins by bathing in these rivers but do not take instruction from learned devotees of the Lord who reside in such places. One should go to a holy place seeking spiritual enlightenment and not just for ritualistic bathing. In this age, people tirelessly arrange their hair in different styles, trying to enhance their facial beauty and sexuality. They do not know that actual beauty comes from within the heart, from the soul, and that only a person who is pure is truly attractive. As the difficulties of this age increase, filling one’s belly will be the mark of success, and one who can maintain his own family will be considered brilliant in economic affairs. Religion will be practiced, if at all, only for the sake of reputation and without any essential understanding of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. SB 12.2.7 evam prajabhir dustabhir SYNONYMS evam—in this way; prajabhih—with populace; dustabhih—corrupted; akirne—being crowded; ksiti-mandale—the earth globe; brahma—among the brahmanas; vit—vaisyas; ksatra—ksatriyas; sudranam—and sudras; yah—whoever; bali—the strongest; bhavita—he will become; nrpah—the king. TRANSLATION As the earth thus becomes crowded with a corrupt population, whoever among any of the social classes shows himself to be the strongest will gain political power. SB 12.2.8 praja hi lubdhai
rajanyair SYNONYMS prajah—the citizens; hi—indeed; lubdhaih—avaricious; rajanyaih—by the royal order; nirghrnaih—merciless; dasyu—of ordinary thieves; dharmabhih—acting according to the nature; acchinna—taken away; dara—their wives; dravinah—and property; yasyanti—they will go; giri—to the mountains; kananam—and forests. TRANSLATION Losing their wives and properties to such avaricious and merciless rulers, who will behave no better than ordinary thieves, the citizens will flee to the mountains and forests. SB 12.2.9 saka-mulamisa-ksaudra- SYNONYMS saka—leaves; mula—roots; amisa—meat; ksaudra—wild honey; phala—fruits; puspa—flowers; asti—and seeds; bhojanah—eating; anavrstya—because of drought; vinanksyanti—they will become ruined; durbhiksa—by famine; kara—and taxation; piditah—tormented. TRANSLATION Harassed by famine and excessive taxes, people will resort to eating leaves, roots, flesh, wild honey, fruits, flowers and seeds. Struck by drought, they will become completely ruined. PURPORT Srimad-Bhagavatam authoritatively describes the future of our planet. Just as a leaf disconnected from a plant or tree dries up, withers and disintegrates, when human society is disconnected from the Supreme Lord it withers up and disintegrates in violence and chaos. Despite our computers and rockets, if the Supreme Lord does not send rain we shall all starve. SB 12.2.10 sita-vatatapa-pravrd- SYNONYMS sita—by cold; vata—wind; atapa—the heat of the sun; pravrt—torrential rain; himaih—and snow; anyonyatah—by quarrel; prajah—the citizens; ksut—by hunger; trdbhyam—and thirst; vyadhibhih—by diseases; ca—also; eva—indeed; santapsyante—they will suffer great distress; ca—and; cintaya—by anxiety. TRANSLATION The citizens will suffer greatly from cold, wind, heat, rain and snow. They will be further tormented by quarrels, hunger, thirst, disease and severe anxiety. SB 12.2.11 trimsad vimsati varsani SYNONYMS trimsat—thirty; vimsati—plus twenty; varsani—years; parama-ayuh—the maximum duration of life; kalau—in Kali-yuga; nrnam—of men. TRANSLATION The maximum duration of life for human beings in Kali-yuga will become fifty years. SB 12.2.12-16 ksiyamanesu dehesu pasanda-pracure dharme sudra-prayesu varnesu anu-prayasv osadhisu ittham kalau gata-praye SYNONYMS ksiyamanesu—having become smaller; dehesu—the bodies; dehinam—of all living entities; kali-dosatah—by the contamination of the age of Kali; varna-asrama-vatam—of the members of varnasrama society; dharme—when their religious principles; naste—have been destroyed; veda-pathe—the path of the Vedas; nrnam—for all men; pasanda-pracure—mostly atheism; dharme—religion; dasyu-prayesu—mostly thieves; rajasu—the kings; caurya—banditry; anrta—lying; vrtha-himsa—useless slaughter; nana—various; vrttisu—their occupations; vai—indeed; nrsu—when men; sudra-prayesu—mostly low-class sudras; varnesu—the so-called social orders; chaga-prayasu—no better than goats; dhenusu—the cows; grha-prayesu—just like materialistic homes; asramesu—the spiritual hermitages; yauna-prayesu—extending no further than marriage; bandhusu—family ties; anu-prayasu—mostly very small; osadhisu—plants and herbs; sami-prayesu—just like sami trees; sthasnusu—all the trees; vidyut-prayesu—always manifesting lightning; meghesu—the clouds; sunya-prayesu—devoid of religious life; sadmasu—the homes; ittham—thus; kalau—when the age of Kali; gata-praye—is almost finished; janesu—the people; khara-dharmisu—when they have assumed the characteristics of asses; dharma-tranaya—for the deliverance of religion; sattvena—in the pure mode of goodness; bhagavan—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; avatarisyati—will descend. TRANSLATION By the time the age of Kali ends, the bodies of all creatures will be greatly reduced in size, and the religious principles of followers of varnasrama will be ruined. The path of the Vedas will be completely forgotten in human society, and so-called religion will be mostly atheistic. The kings will mostly be thieves, the occupations of men will be stealing, lying and needless violence, and all the social classes will be reduced to the lowest level of sudras. Cows will be like goats, spiritual hermitages will be no different from mundane houses, and family ties will extend no further than the immediate bonds of marriage. Most plants and herbs will be tiny, and all trees will appear like dwarf sami trees. Clouds will be full of lightning, homes will be devoid of piety, and all human beings will have become like asses. At that time, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will appear on the earth. Acting with the power of pure spiritual goodness, He will rescue eternal religion. PURPORT Significantly, these verses point out that most so-called religions in this age will be atheistic (pasanda-pracure dharme). In confirmation of the Bhagavatam’s prediction, the United States Supreme Court has recently ruled that to be considered a religion a system of belief need not recognize a supreme being. Also, many atheistic, voidistic belief systems, often imported from the Orient, have attracted the attention of modern atheistic scientists, who expound on the similarities between Eastern and Western voidism in fashionable, esoteric books. These verses vividly describe many unsavory symptoms of the age of Kali. Ultimately, at the end of this age, Lord Krsna will descend as Kalki and remove the thoroughly demonic persons from the face of the earth. SB 12.2.17 caracara-guror visnor SYNONYMS cara-acara—of all moving and nonmoving living beings; guroh—of the spiritual master; visnoh—the Supreme Lord, Visnu; isvarasya—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; akhila—of all; atmanah—of the Supreme Soul; dharma-tranaya—for the protection of religion; sadhunam—of saintly men; janma—the birth; karma—of their fruitive activities; apanuttaye—for the cessation. TRANSLATION Lord Visnu—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the spiritual master of all moving and nonmoving living beings, and the Supreme Soul of all—takes birth to protect the principles of religion and to relieve His saintly devotees from the reactions of material work. SB 12.2.18 sambhala-grama-mukhyasya SYNONYMS sambhala-grama—in the village Sambhala; mukhyasya—of the chief citizen; brahmanasya—of the brahmana; maha-atmanah—the great soul; bhavane—in the home; visnuyasasah—of Visnuyasa; kalkih—Lord Kalki; pradurbhavisyati—will appear. TRANSLATION Lord Kalki will appear in the home of the most eminent brahmana of Sambhala village, the great soul Visnuyasa. SB 12.2.19-20 asvam asu-gam aruhya vicarann asuna ksaunyam SYNONYMS asvam—His horse; asu-gam—swift-traveling; aruhya—mounting; devadattam—named Devadatta; jagat-patih—the Lord of the universe; asina—with His sword; asadhu-damanam—(the horse who) subdues the unholy; asta—with eight; aisvarya—mystic opulences; guna—and transcendental qualities of the Personality of Godhead; anvitah—endowed; vicaran—traveling about; asuna—swift; ksaunyam—upon the earth; hayena—by His horse; apratima—unrivaled; dyutih—whose effulgence; nrpa-linga—with the dress of kings; chadah—disguising themselves; dasyun—thieves; kotisah—by the millions; nihanisyati—He will slaughter. TRANSLATION Lord Kalki, the Lord of the universe, will mount His swift horse Devadatta and, sword in hand, travel over the earth exhibiting His eight mystic opulences and eight special qualities of Godhead. Displaying His unequaled effulgence and riding with great speed, He will kill by the millions those thieves who have dared dress as kings. PURPORT These verses describe the thrilling pastimes of Lord Kalki. Anyone would be attracted by the sight of a powerful, beautiful man riding on a wonderful horse at lightning speed, chastising and devastating cruel, demonic people with the sword in His hand. Of course, fanatical materialists may argue that this picture of Lord Kalki is a mere anthropomorphic creation of the human mind—a mythological deity created by people who need to believe in some superior being. But this argument is not logical, nor does it prove anything. It is merely the opinion of certain people. We need water, but that does not mean man creates water. We also need food, oxygen and many other things that we do not create. Since our general experience is that our needs correspond to available objects existing in the external world, that we appear to need a Supreme Lord would tend to indicate that in fact there is a Supreme Lord. In other words, nature endows us with a sense of need for things that actually exist and that are in fact necessary for our well-being. Similarly, we experience a need for God because we are in fact part of God and cannot live without Him. At the end of Kali-yuga this same God will appear as the mighty Kalki avatara and beat the pollution out of the demons. SB 12.2.21 atha tesam bhavisyanti paura-janapadanam vai SYNONYMS atha—then; tesam—of them; bhavisyanti—will become; manamsi—the minds; visadani—clear; vai—indeed; vasudeva—of Lord Vasudeva; anga—of the body; raga—from the cosmetic decorations; ati-punya—most sacred; gandha—having the fragrance; anila—by the wind; sprsam—of those who have been touched; paura—of the city-dwellers; jana-padanam—and the residents of the smaller towns and villages; vai—indeed; hatesu—when they have been killed; akhila—all; dasyusu—the rascal kings. TRANSLATION After all the impostor kings have been killed, the residents of the cities and towns will feel the breezes carrying the most sacred fragrance of the sandalwood paste and other decorations of Lord Vasudeva, and their minds will thereby become transcendentally pure. PURPORT Nothing can surpass the sublime experience of being dramatically rescued by a great hero who happens to be the Supreme Lord. The death of the demons at the end of Kali-yuga is accompanied by fragrant spiritual breezes, and thus the atmosphere becomes most enchanting. SB 12.2.22 tesam praja-visargas ca SYNONYMS tesam—of them; praja—of progeny; visargah—the creation; ca—and; sthavisthah—abundant; sambhavisyati—will be; vasudeve—Lord Vasudeva; bhagavati—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sattva-murtau—in His transcendental form of pure goodness; hrdi—in their hearts; sthite—when He is situated. TRANSLATION When Lord Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appears in their hearts in His transcendental form of goodness, the remaining citizens will abundantly repopulate the earth. SB 12.2.23 yadavatirno bhagavan SYNONYMS yada—when; avatirnah—incarnates; bhagavan—the Supreme Lord; kalkih—Kalki; dharma-patih—the master of religion; harih—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; krtam—Satya-yuga; bhavisyati—will begin; tada—then; praja-sutih—the creation of progeny; ca—and; sattviki—in the mode of goodness. TRANSLATION When the Supreme Lord has appeared on earth as Kalki, the maintainer of religion, Satya-yuga will begin, and human society will bring forth progeny in the mode of goodness. SB 12.2.24 yada candras ca suryas ca SYNONYMS yada—when; candrah—the moon; ca—and; suryah—the sun; ca—and; tatha—also; tisya—the asterism Tisya (more commonly known as Pusya, extending from 3° 20´ to 16° 40´ Cancer); brhaspati—and the planet Jupiter; eka-rasau—in the same constellation (Cancer); samesyanti—will enter simultaneously; bhavisyati—will be; tada—then; krtam—Satya-yuga. TRANSLATION When the moon, the sun and Brhaspati are together in the constellation Karkata, and all three enter simultaneously into the lunar mansion Pusya—at that exact moment the age of Satya, or Krta, will begin. SB 12.2.25 ye ’tita vartamana
ye SYNONYMS ye—those who; atitah—past; vartamanah—present; ye—who; bhavisyanti—will be in the future; ca—and; parthivah—kings of the earth; te te—all of them; uddesatah—by brief mention; proktah—described; vamsiyah—the members of the dynasties; soma-suryayoh—of the sun-god and the moon-god. TRANSLATION Thus I have described all the kings—past, present and future—who belong to the dynasties of the sun and the moon. SB 12.2.26 arabhya bhavato janma SYNONYMS arabhya—beginning from; bhavatah—of your good self (Pariksit); janma—the birth; yavat—up until; nanda—of King Nanda, the son of Mahanandi; abhisecanam—the coronation; etat—this; varsa—years; sahasram—one thousand; tu—and; satam—one hundred; panca-dasa-uttaram—plus fifty. TRANSLATION From your birth up to the coronation of King Nanda, 1,150 years will pass. PURPORT Although Sukadeva Gosvami previously described approximately fifteen hundred years of royal dynasties, it is understood that some overlapping occurred between kings. Therefore the present chronological calculation should be taken as authoritative. SB 12.2.27-28 saptarsinam tu yau purvau tenaiva rsayo yuktas SYNONYMS sapta-rsinam—of the constellation of the seven sages (the constellation known to Westerners as Ursa Major); tu—and; yau—which two stars; purvau—first; drsyete—are seen; uditau—risen; divi—in the sky; tayoh—of the two (named Pulaha and Kratu); tu—and; madhye—between; naksatram—the lunar mansion; drsyate—is seen; yat—which; samam—on the same line of celestial longitude, as their midpoint; nisi—in the night sky; tena—with that lunar mansion; eva—indeed; rsayah—the seven sages; yuktah—are connected; tisthanti—they remain; abda-satam—one hundred years; nrnam—of human beings; te—these seven sages; tvadiye—in your; dvijah—the elevated brahmanas; kale—in the time; adhuna—now; ca—and; asritah—are situated; maghah—in the asterism Magha. TRANSLATION Of the seven stars forming the constellation of the seven sages, Pulaha and Kratu are the first to rise in the night sky. If a line running north and south were drawn through their midpoint, whichever of the lunar mansions this line passes through is said to be the ruling asterism of the constellation for that time. The Seven Sages will remain connected with that particular lunar mansion for one hundred human years. Currently, during your lifetime, they are situated in the naksatra called Magha. SB 12.2.29 visnor bhagavato bhanuh SYNONYMS visnoh—of Visnu; bhagavatah—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhanuh—the sun; krsna-akhyah—known as Krsna; asau—He; divam—to the spiritual sky; gatah—having returned; tada—then; avisat—entered; kalih—the age of Kali; lokam—this world; pape—in sin; yat—in which age; ramate—take pleasure; janah—the people. TRANSLATION The Supreme Lord, Visnu, is brilliant like the sun and is known as Krsna. When He returned to the spiritual sky, Kali entered this world, and people then began to take pleasure in sinful activities. SB 12.2.30 yavat sa pada-padmabhyam SYNONYMS yavat—as long as; sah—He, Lord Sri Krsna; pada-padmabhyam—with His lotus feet; sprsan—touching; aste—remained; rama-patih—the husband of the goddess of fortune; tavat—for that long; kalih—the age of Kali; vai—indeed; prthivim—the earth; parakrantum—to overcome; na—not; ca—and; asakat—was able. TRANSLATION As long us Lord Sri Krsna, the husband of the goddess of fortune, touched the earth with His lotus feet, Kali was powerless to subdue this planet. PURPORT Although even during the time of Lord Krsna’s presence on earth Kali had entered the earth to a slight extent through the impious activities of Duryodhana and his allies, Lord Krsna consistently suppressed Kali’s influence. Kali could not flourish until Lord Krsna had left the earth. SB 12.2.31 yada devarsayah sapta SYNONYMS yada—when; deva-rsayah sapta—the seven sages among the demigods; maghasu—in the lunar mansion Magha; vicaranti—are traveling; hi—indeed; tada—then; pravrttah—begins; tu—and; kalih—the age of Kali; dvadasa—twelve; abda-sata—centuries [These twelve hundred years of the demigods equal 432,000 earth years]; atmakah—consisting of. TRANSLATION When the constellation of the seven sages is passing through the lunar mansion Magha, the age of Kali begins. It comprises twelve hundred years of the demigods. SB 12.2.32 yada maghabhyo yasyanti SYNONYMS yada—when; maghabhyah—from Magha; yasyanti—they will go; purva-asadham—to the next lunar mansion, Purvasadha; maha-rsayah—the seven great sages; tada—then; nandat—beginning from Nanda; prabhrti—and his descendants; esah—this; kalih—age of Kali; vrddhim—maturity; gamisyati—will attain. TRANSLATION When the great sages of the Saptarsi constellation pass from Magha to Purvasadha, Kali will have his full strength, beginning from King Nanda and his dynasty. SB 12.2.33 yasmin krsno divam yatas SYNONYMS yasmin—on which; krsnah—Lord Sri Krsna; divam—to the spiritual world; yatah—gone; tasmin—on that; eva—same; tada—then; ahani—day; pratipannam—obtained; kali-yugam—the age of Kali; iti—thus; prahuh—they say; pura—of the past; vidah—the experts. TRANSLATION Those who scientifically understand the past declare that on the very day that Lord Sri Krsna departed for the spiritual world, the influence of the age of Kali began. PURPORT Although technically Kali-yuga was to begin during the time of Lord Krsna’s presence on earth, this fallen age had to wait meekly for the departure of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. SB 12.2.34 divyabdanam sahasrante SYNONYMS divya—of the demigods; abdanam—years; sahasra—of one thousand; ante—at the end; caturthe—in the fourth age, Kali; tu—and; punah—again; krtam—the Satya-yuga; bhavisyati—will be; tada—then; nrnam—of men; manah—the minds; atma-prakasakam—self-luminous. TRANSLATION After the one thousand celestial years of Kali-yuga, the Satya-yuga will manifest again. At that time the minds of all men will become self-effulgent. SB 12.2.35 ity esa manavo vamso SYNONYMS iti—thus (in the cantos of this Srimad-Bhagavatam); esah—this; manavah—descending from Vaivasvata Manu; vamsah—the dynasty; yatha—as; sankhyayate—it is enumerated; bhuvi—upon the earth; tatha—in the same way; vit—of the vaisyas; sudra—sudras; vipranam—and brahmanas; tah tah—the situations of each; jneyah—are to be understood; yuge yuge—in each age. TRANSLATION Thus I have described the royal dynasty of Manu, as it is known on this earth. One can similarly study the history of the vaisyas, sudras and brahmanas living in the various ages. PURPORT Just as the dynasty of kings includes exalted and insignificant, virtuous and wicked monarchs, varieties of human character are found in the intellectual, commercial and laboring orders of society. SB 12.2.36 etesam nama-linganam SYNONYMS etesam—of these; nama—their names; linganam—which are the only means of remembering them; purusanam—of the personalities; maha-atmanam—who were great souls; katha—the stories; matra—merely; avasistanam—whose remaining portion; kirtih—the glories; eva—only; sthita—are present; bhuvi—on the earth. TRANSLATION These personalities, who were great souls, are now known only by their names. They exist only in accounts from the past, and only their fame remains on the earth. PURPORT Although one may consider oneself to be a great, powerful leader, he will ultimately end up as a name in a long list of names. In other words, it is useless to be attached to power and position in the material world. SB 12.2.37 devapih santanor bhrata SYNONYMS devapih—Devapi; santanoh—of Maharaja Santanu; bhrata—the brother; maruh—Maru; ca—and; iksvaku-vamsa-jah—born in the dynasty of Iksvaku; kalapa-grame—in the village Kalapa; asate—the two of them are living; maha—great; yoga-bala—with mystic power; anvitau—endowed. TRANSLATION Devapi, the brother of Maharaja Santanu, and Maru, the descendant of Iksvaku, both possess great mystic strength and are living even now in the village of Kalapa. SB 12.2.38 tav ihaitya kaler ante SYNONYMS tau—they (Maru and Devapi); iha—to human society; etya—returning; kaleh—of the age of Kali; ante—at the end; vasudeva—by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva; anusiksitau—instructed; varna-asrama—the divine system of occupational and spiritual orders of society; yutam—comprising; dharmam—the code of eternal religion; purva-vat—just as previously; prathayisyatah—they will promulgate. TRANSLATION At the end of the age of Kali, these two kings, having received instruction directly from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, will return to human society and reestablish the eternal religion of man, characterized by the divisions of varna and asrama, just as it was before. PURPORT According to this and the previous verse, the two great kings who will reestablish human culture after the end of Kali-yuga have already descended to the earth, where they are patiently waiting to render their devotional service to Lord Visnu. SB 12.2.39 krtam treta dvaparam ca SYNONYMS krtam—Satya-yuga; treta—Treta-yuga; dvaparam—Dvapara-yuga; ca—and; kalih—Kali-yuga; ca—and; iti—thus; catuh-yugam—the cycle of four ages; anena—by this; krama—sequential; yogena—pattern; bhuvi—in this world; pranisu—among living beings; vartate—goes on continuously. TRANSLATION The cycle of four ages—Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali—continues perpetually among living beings on this earth, repeating the same general sequence of events. SB 12.2.40 rajann ete maya prokta SYNONYMS rajan—O King Pariksit; ete—these; maya—by me; proktah—described; nara-devah—kings; tatha—and; apare—other human beings; bhumau—upon the earth; mamatvam—possessiveness; krtva—exerting; ante—in the end; hitva—giving up; imam—this world; nidhanam—destruction; gatah—met. TRANSLATION My dear King Pariksit, all these kings I have described, as well as all other human beings, come to this earth and stake their claims, but ultimately they all must give up this world and meet their destruction. SB 12.2.41 krmi-vid-bhasma-samjnante SYNONYMS krmi—of worms; vit—stool; bhasma—and ashes; samjna—the designation; ante—in the end; raja-namnah—going by the name "king"; api—even though; yasya—of which (body); ca—and; bhuta—of living beings; dhruk—an enemy; tat-krte—for the sake of that body; sva-artham—his own best interest; kim—what; veda—does he know; nirayah—punishment in hell; yatah—because of which. TRANSLATION Even though a person’s body may now have the designation "king," in the end its name will be "worms," "stool" or "ashes." What can a person who injures other living beings for the sake of his body know about his own self-interest, since his activities are simply leading him to hell? PURPORT After death, the body may be buried and eaten by worms, or it may be thrown in the street or forest to be eaten by animals who will pass out its remnants as stool, or it may be burned and converted into ashes. Therefore one should not pave his way to hell by using his temporary body to injure the bodies of other living beings. In this verse the word bhuta includes nonhuman life forms, who are also creatures of God. One should give up all envious violence and learn to see God in everything by the process of Krsna consciousness. SB 12.2.42 katham seyam akhanda bhuh SYNONYMS katham—how; sa iyam—this same; akhanda—unbounded; bhuh—earth; purvaih—by the predecessors; me—my; purusaih—by the personalities; dhrta—held in control; mat-putrasya—of my son; ca—and; pautrasya—of the grandson; mat-purva—now under my sway; vamsa-jasya—of the descendant; va—or. TRANSLATION [The materialistic king thinks:] "This unbounded earth was held by my predecessors and is now under my sovereignty. How can I arrange for it to remain in the hands of my sons, grandsons and other descendants?" PURPORT This is an example of foolish possessiveness. SB 12.2.43 tejo-’b-anna-mayam
kayam SYNONYMS tejah—fire; ap—water; anna—and earth; mayam—composed of; kayam—this body; grhitva—accepting; atmataya—with the sense of "I"; abudhah—the unintelligent; mahim—this earth; mamataya—with the sense of "my"; ca—and; ubhau—both; hitva—giving up; ante—ultimately; adarsanam—disappearance; gatah—they have obtained. TRANSLATION Although the foolish accept the body made of earth, water and fire as "me" and this earth as "mine," in every case they have ultimately abandoned both their body and the earth and passed away into oblivion. PURPORT Although the soul is eternal, our so-called family tradition and earthly fame will certainly pass into oblivion. SB 12.2.44 ye ye bhu-patayo rajan SYNONYMS ye ye—whatever; bhu-patayah—kings; rajan—O King Pariksit; bhunjate—enjoy; bhuvam—the world; ojasa—with their power; kalena—by the force of time; te—they; krtah—have been made; sarve—all; katha-matrah—mere accounts; kathasu—in various histories; ca—and. TRANSLATION My dear King Pariksit, all these kings who tried to enjoy the earth by their strength were reduced by the force of time to nothing more than historical accounts. PURPORT The word rajan, "O King," is significant in this verse. Pariksit Maharaja was preparing to give up his body and go back home, back to Godhead, and Sukadeva Gosvami, his most merciful spiritual master, devastated any possible attachment that he might have to the position of king by showing the ultimate insignificance of such a position. By the causeless mercy of the spiritual master one is prepared to go back home, back to Godhead. The spiritual master teaches one to relax one’s strong grip on material illusion and leave the kingdom of maya behind. Although Sukadeva Gosvami speaks very bluntly within this chapter about the so-called glory of the material world, he is exhibiting the causeless mercy of the spiritual master, who takes his surrendered disciple back to the kingdom of Godhead, Vaikuntha. Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to the Twelfth Canto, Second Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "The Symptoms of Kali-yuga." |
