When Vyasa forewarned dvapara yuga's end spells the collapse of dharma
Janamejaya said, "O brahmana! I do not know about what is imminent, nor about what the future will bring. Therefore, I wish to know about what will happen after the end of dvapara yuga. Driven by our thirst for dharma, we desire an era when, through a little bit of deeds, one can obtain happiness and achieve dharma. The end of the yuga has arrived, causing anxiety among subjects. O one who knows about dharma! You should tell me about the signs of dharma being destroyed."'
Suta replied, "The illustrious one thinks about the true nature of future destinations and was thus asked about the signs that come at the end of the yuga." Earlier, he had replied.
Vyasa said, "At the end of the yuga, there will be kings who will use their powers to only protect their own shares. The shares of sacrifices will no longer be protected, because they will seize these for themselves. Those who aren't kshatriyas will become kings. Brahmanas will obtain a livelihood through modes meant for shudras. This is unclear, presumably to bar entry. This is generally a description of kali yuga. This is interpreted as Janamejaya not knowing whether he will die soon, or will live for a long time.
When the yuga is destroyed, shudras will follow the conduct meant for brahmanas. O bull among the Bharata lineage! O Janamejaya! When it is the end of a yuga, kandaprishthas and learned brahmanas will be seated in the same row and eat the sacrificial food together. O Janamejaya! When it is the end of a yuga, there will be men who are artisans, those who are devoted to falsehood, those who are addicted to liquor and flesh and those who regard their wives as enemies.
Thieves will follow the conduct of kings and kings will follow the conduct of thieves. When it is the end of a yuga, servants will enjoy what they have not been instructed to enjoy. Riches will be praised and the conduct of the virtuous will not be revered.
When it is the end of a yuga, those who are outcasts will not be condemned. Mortals will be devoid of their senses. They will sport dishevelled hair, or shave their heads. Without attaining the age of sixteen years, men will have children. When it is the end of a yuga, inhabitants will sell food, auspicious objects will be sold at the crossroads and women will sell their hair. Everyone will speak about the brahman.
Everyone will be accomplished in the Vedas. When it is the end of a yuga, shudras will say bho. The brahmanas will sell austerities, sacrifices and the truth of the Vedas. When it is the end of a yuga, the seasons will behave in contrary fashion. Shudras will observe dharma, following the livelihood indicated by Shakya Buddha. They will display their white teeth and not lower their eyes. They will shave their heads and dress themselves in ochre garments. There will be a large number of predatory beasts and the number of cattle will decline.
Outcasts will reside in the centre and those who should be in the centre will reside where outcasts should be. When it is the end of a yuga, inferior subjects will be allowed to go everywhere. When the yuga is destroyed, two-year-old bulls will be used to plough and till and the rain will shower down in extraordinary ways.
When the yuga withdraws itself, men will no longer follow dharma. The land will become a desert and highways will traverse through the interiors of cities. When it is kali yuga, everyone will become a trader. Sons will no longer render offerings to their ancestors.
Driven by avarice and falsehood, they will act against each other and steal each other's shares. When it is the end of a yuga, women who have lost their beauty, form and riches, will still decorate their hair. When it is the end of a yuga, householders will no longer possess a refuge and will be terrified. They will believe that no one should be loved as much as a wife.
There will be many who are wicked in conduct and ignoble. Nevertheless, they will be handsome. When it is the end of a yuga, one of the signs is that there will be few men and many women. There will be many beggars in this world and they will give to each other.
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| Harivamsha; Penguin; Rs 599. |
The kings will punish and afflict those who are not thieves and people will face destruction. Seeds sown will not lead to crops. The young will follow the conduct of the old. When the yuga is over, people will be happy with whatever they obtain in this world. Harsh winds will blow during the rainy season, inferior and laced with showers of stones.
When it is the end of a yuga, there will be suspicion about the world hereafter. Kings will follow the conduct of vaishyas and earn a living from riches and grain. When the yuga is over, brahmanas will also follow this kind of conduct. There will be violations of agreements and contracts. As the yuga starts to decay, debts will not be repaid. When the yuga is destroyed, pursuit of future fruits will be unsuccessful.
When kshatriyas engage in contrary deeds, brahmanas will not restrain them. When the end of the yuga presents itself, kings will generally be thieves. O Janamejaya! When there is an end of the yuga, kundas, shudras, deceitful people and drunkards become expounders of the brahman and perform horse sacrifices.
When the end of the yuga presents itself, brahmanas become greedy for riches and perform sacrifices for those for whom sacrifices should not be performed and eat that which should not be eaten. They desire objects of pleasure and do not study anything. Women adorn themselves with a single conch shell and bind themselves up with gavedhuka.
There are no nakshatras and the directions reverse themselves. When that next yuga appears, the red hue of evening burns in all the directions. Sons engage fathers in tasks and daughters-in-law employ mothers-in-law. Men will intercourse with women who are not from their own varnas.
Men who observe agnihotra sacrifices will eat without having performed the required rites earlier. With offering shares of sacrifices as alms, men will themselves eat them first. While husbands are asleep, wives will cheat and go to someone else.
While wives are asleep, men will go to the wives of others. Everyone will have some disease and some kind of mental suffering. Everyone will envy others. When the era ends, people will harm others, without having been injured earlier."'
After how many measures of time, will krita yuga arrive again?"' 'Vyasa replied, "Dharma falls down from its elevated status and people are devoid of qualities. They give up good conduct for evil conduct and their life spans diminish. As the life spans diminish, their strength also suffers. As the strength suffers, they become pale. As they become pale, they suffer from diseases and ill health. Because of diseases and ill health, they lose their learning. From this state of lack of knowledge, awareness about the atman will arise.
Once this awakening occurs, they will become attached to the conduct of dharma. In this fashion, after several measures of time are over, krita yuga will be obtained again. Some will be instructed about the conduct of dharma. Some will follow the middle path. Some will be prone to debating. Others will be curious about the cause behind everything. Some will be determined to follow what can be witnessed and proved. Others will pride themselves on their learning and not believe in proofs, arguing that nothing exists.
Other people will see that what has been spoken about in the Vedas has not been proved. Some will be non-believers. Some will bring about the destruction of dharma. Men will be foolish and wicked, priding themselves on their learning. Unconscious about the knowledge of the sacred texts, they will be disrespectful and only believe in the present. They will be insolent and addicted to arguing.
Dharma will be dislodged in this way.