03.148
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
evam-ukto mahābāhur-bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān। praṇipatya tataḥ prītyā bhrātaraṃ hṛṣṭamānasaḥ॥ uvāca ślakṣṇayā vācā hanūmantaṃ kapīśvaram॥03-148-1॥
After being thus addressed, the mighty-armed and illustrious Bhīmasena bowed down with affection to his brother, his mind delighted, and then spoke gently to Hanuman, the lord of the monkeys. (03-148-1)
mayā dhanyataro nāsti yad āryaṃ dṛṣṭavān aham। anugraho me sumahāṃs tṛptiś ca tava darśanāt ॥03-148-2॥
There is none more fortunate than I, for I have seen you, O noble one. I have received very great favor and satisfaction from seeing you. (03-148-2)
evaṃ tu kṛtam icchāmi tvayā ārya ādyam priyaṃ mama। yat te tad āsīt plavataḥ sāgaraṃ makarālayam ॥ rūpam apratimaṃ vīra tad icchāmi nirīkṣitum ॥03-148-3॥
Thus, O noble one, I wish you would now do what is most dear to me. That form of yours which existed when you leaped over the ocean, the abode of makaras, O hero—that incomparable form I wish to behold. (03-148-3)
evaṃ tuṣṭo bhaviṣyāmi śraddhāsyāmi ca te vacaḥ। evam-uktaḥ sa tejasvī prahasya harir-abravīt ॥03-148-4॥
"Thus I shall be pleased and shall have faith in your words." Thus addressed, the radiant Hari laughed and said. (03-148-4)
na tac chakyaṁ tvayā draṣṭuṁ rūpaṁ nānyena kenacit। kālāvasthā tadā hy anyā vartate sā na sāmpratam ॥03-148-5॥
That form is not possible for you to see, nor for anyone else. For at that time, a different state prevails; that is not the present (now). (03-148-5)
anyaḥ kṛtayuge kālas tretāyāṃ dvāpare'paraḥ। ayaṃ pradhvaṃsanaḥ kālo nādya tadrūpam asti me॥03-148-6॥
There was a different age in the Kṛta Yuga, another in the Tretā Yuga, and another in the Dvāpara; now, this is the time of destruction—my form is not as it was then. (03-148-6)
bhūmirnadyo nagāḥ śailāḥ siddhā devā maharṣayaḥ। kālaṃ samanuvartante yathā bhāvā yuge yuge॥ balavarṣmaprabhāvā hi prahīyantyudbhavanti ca॥03-148-7॥
Earth, rivers, mountains, rocks, perfected beings, gods, and great sages all follow time, just as all things do in every age; indeed, strength, bodies, and powers diminish and arise. (03-148-7)
tad alaṁ tava tad rūpaṁ draṣṭuṁ kurukulo̱dvaha. yugaṁ samanuvartāmi kālo hi duratikramaḥ ॥03-148-8॥
Therefore, enough of you beholding that form, O best of the Kurus. I follow the age; for time is indeed difficult to overcome. (3-148-8)
bhīma uvāca॥
Bhīma said.
yugasaṅkhyāṃ samācakṣva ācāraṃ ca yuge yuge. dharmakāmārthabhāvāṃśca varṣma vīryaṃ bhavābhavau ॥03-148-9॥
Tell me the number of yugas, the conduct appropriate to each yuga, the aspects of dharma, kāma, and artha, as well as the body, energy, and existence and non-existence. (03-148-9)
hanūmān uvāca॥
Hanuman said.
kṛtaṃ nāma yugaṃ tāta yatra dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ। kṛtaṃ eva na kartavyaṃ tasmin kāle yugottame ॥03-148-10॥
The age known as Kṛta, dear one, is when Dharma is eternal; in that supreme age, what has been done alone should not be done again. (03-148-10)
na tatra dharmāḥ sīdanti na kṣīyante ca vai prajāḥ। tataḥ kṛtayugaṃ nāma kālena guṇatāṃ gatam ॥03-148-11॥
There, dharmas do not decline nor do creatures diminish; therefore, that period is called Kṛta Yuga, having attained a state of excellence by time. (03-148-11)
devadānavagandharvayakṣarākṣasapannagāḥ। nāsankṛtayuge tāta tadā na krayavikrayāḥ॥03-148-12॥
Gods, demons, gandharvas, yakṣas, rākṣasas, and serpents — in the Kṛta yuga, O dear one, buying and selling did not exist at that time. (03-148-12)
na sāmayajur̥gvarṇāḥ kriyā nāsīc ca mānavī | abhidyāya phalaṃ tatra dharmaḥ saṃnyāsa eva ca ॥03-148-13॥
There were neither reciters of Sāma, Yajur, and Ṛg Vedas nor ritual actions nor human activities. There, the fruit was attained through contemplation; righteousness and renunciation alone prevailed. (03-148-13)
na tasmin yuga-saṁsarge vyādhayaḥ na indriya-kṣayaḥ। na asūyā na api ruditam na darpaḥ na api paiśunam ॥03-148-14॥
At that junction of the ages, there were no diseases, no decline of the senses, no envy, no weeping, no arrogance, and no malice. (03-148-14)
na vigrahaḥ kutas tandrī na dveṣo nāpi vaikṛtam। na bhayaṃ na ca santāpo na cerṣyā na ca matsaraḥ॥03-148-15॥
There is no conflict; from where could there be sloth? There is no hatred, nor any distortion. There is no fear, nor affliction, nor jealousy, nor envy. (03-148-15)
tataḥ paramakaṃ brahma yā gatiryogināṃ parā। ātmā ca sarvabhūtānāṃ śuklo nārāyaṇastadā ॥03-148-16॥
Then, the supreme Brahman, which is the highest goal of yogins—the pure Nārāyaṇa, the Self of all beings—manifested at that time. (03-148-16)
brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāś ca kṛtalakṣaṇāḥ। kṛte yuge samabhavan svakarmaniratāḥ prajāḥ ॥03-148-17॥
In the Kṛta Yuga, brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras, marked by the qualities of that age, were all born as people devoted to their own respective duties. (03-148-17)
samāśramaṃ samācāraṃ samajñānam-atībalam। tadā hi samakarmāṇo varṇā dharmān-avāpnuvan ॥03-148-18॥
At that time, when everyone belonged to the same order of life, had the same conduct, knowledge, and great strength, the castes, all performing the same actions, attained their duties. (03-148-18)
ekavedasamāyuktā ekamantravidhikriyāḥ। pṛthagdharmāstveka vedā dharmamekamanuvratāḥ॥03-148-19॥
Those endowed with one Veda have only one mantra, ritual, and action; but those who possess only one Veda (their) duties are distinct, following only one (specific) duty. (03-148-19)
cāturāśramyayuktena karmaṇā kālayoginā। akāmaphalasaṃyogātprāpnuvanti parāṃ gatim ॥03-148-20॥
By action performed with observance of the four āśramas, at the proper time, and without attachment to the desired fruit, they attain the highest state. (03-148-20)
ātmayoga-samāyukto dharmo’yaṁ kṛta-lakṣaṇaḥ। kṛte yuge catuṣpādaś cāturvarṇyasya śāśvataḥ॥03-148-21॥
This dharma, endowed with self-union and marked by the Kṛta age, is eternally established with its fourfold foundation in the Kṛta Yuga for the four varṇas. (03-148-21)
etat kṛtayugaṃ nāma traiguṇya-parivarjitam। tretām api nibodha tvaṃ yasmin satraṃ pravartate॥03-148-22॥
This is called the Kṛta Yuga, free from the three guṇas. Know also the Tretā Yuga, in which the sacrificial ritual is performed. (03-148-22)
pādena hrasate dharmo raktatāṃ yāti cācyutaḥ। satyapravṛtṭāś ca narāḥ kriyādharmaparāyaṇāḥ॥03-148-23॥
Dharma decreases by a quarter, Acyuta (Vishnu) becomes tinged with redness, and people remain steadfast in practicing truth and performing their duties. (03-148-23)
tato yajñāḥ pravartante dharmāś ca vividhāḥ kriyāḥ। tretāyāṃ bhāvasaṅkalpāḥ kriyādānaphalodayāḥ॥03-148-24॥
From then sacrifices began, as well as duties and various rituals. In the Tretā Yuga, mental resolutions, actions, gifts, and the arising of their results came into being. (03-148-24)
pracalanti na vai dharmāt tapo-dāna-parāyaṇāḥ। sva-dharma-sthāḥ kriyā-vanto janās tretā-yuge'bhavan ॥03-148-25॥
People devoted to austerity and gifts, firmly established in their own dharma and engaged in actions, did not stray from dharma; such people existed in the Tretā Yuga. (03-148-25)
dvāpare'pi yuge dharmo dvibhāgo naḥ pravartate। viṣṇur vai pītatāṃ yāti caturdhā veda eva ca॥03-148-26॥
In the Dvāpara age as well, righteousness prevails in two parts. Viṣṇu assumes a yellow hue, and the Veda becomes fourfold. (03-148-26)
tato'nye ca caturvedās trivedāś ca tathāpare। dvivedāś caikavedāś cāpy anṛcaś ca tathāpare ॥03-148-27॥
Thereafter, there were others—the knowers of the four Vedas, the knowers of the three Vedas, likewise others; the knowers of two Vedas, the knowers of one Veda, and also those not versed in hymns, and still others. (03-148-27)
evaṃ śāstreṣu bhinneṣu bahudhā nīyate kriyā। tapo-dāna-pravṛttā ca rājasī bhavati prajā ॥03-148-28॥
Thus, in the various differing scriptures, action is directed in many ways. The people engaged in penance and gifts also become rajasic in nature. (03-148-28)
ekavedasya cājñānād vedās te bahavaḥ kṛtāḥ। satyasya ceha vibhraṃśāt satye kaścid avasthitaḥ ॥03-148-29॥
From ignorance regarding the one Veda, many Vedas were made. With the loss of truth here, only someone abides in truth. (03-148-29)
satyāt pracyavamānānāṃ vyādhayo bahavo'bhavan। kāmāś copadravāś caiva tadā daivatakāritāḥ॥03-148-30॥
For those who fell away from truth, many diseases arose. Desires and afflictions, too, then were caused by the deities. (03-148-30)
yairardyamānāḥ subhṛśaṃ tapastapyanti mānavāḥ। kāmakāmāḥ svargakāmā yajñāṃstanvanti cāpare॥03-148-31॥
Those by whom, being greatly afflicted, humans perform severe austerities, and others, desiring desires or heaven, perform sacrifices. (03-148-31)
evaṃ dvāparam āsādya prajāḥ kṣīyanty adharmataḥ। pādenaikena kaunteya dharmaḥ kali-yuge sthitaḥ ॥03-148-32॥
Thus, on reaching the Dvāpara age, people decline due to unrighteousness. O son of Kuntī, in the Kali era, righteousness stands on only one foot. (03-148-32)
tāmansaṃ yugam-āsādya kṛṣṇo bhavati keśavaḥ। vedācārāḥ praśāmyanti dharma-yajña-kriyās-tathā॥03-148-33॥
When the age of darkness arrives, Keśava takes the form of Kṛṣṇa; Vedic conduct and the practices of dharma and sacrifice decline also. (03-148-33)
ītayo vyādhayas tandrī doṣāḥ krodhādayas tathā। upadravāś ca vartante ādhayo vyādhayas tathā॥03-148-34॥
Distresses, diseases, sloth, faults, anger and the like also occur, as well as disturbances, afflictions, and diseases. (03-148-34)
yugeṣv āvartamāneṣu dharmo vyāvartate punaḥ। dharme vyāvartamāne tu loko vyāvartate punaḥ ॥03-148-35॥
As the ages revolve, dharma declines again and again. But when dharma declines, the world, too, withdraws again. (03-148-35)
loke kṣīṇe kṣayaṃ yānti bhāvā lokapravartakāḥ। yugakṣayakṛtā dharmāḥ prārthanāni vikurvate॥03-148-36॥
When the world declines, the qualities that sustain it are destroyed. The righteous codes created at the end of an age distort requests. (03-148-36)
etat-kali-yugaṃ nāma acirād yat pravartate। yuga-anuvartanaṃ tu etat kurvanti cirajīvinaḥ॥03-148-37॥
This age named Kali-yuga, which will commence shortly; the long-lived beings perform the succession of the yugas. (3-148-37)
yacca te matparijñāne kautūhalam ariṃdama। anarthakeṣu kaḥ bhāvaḥ puruṣasya vijānataḥ ॥03-148-38॥
O subduer of enemies, that eagerness of yours for understanding me—what significance does unfavorable things hold for a person of knowledge? (03-148-38)
etat te sarvam ākhyātam yan māṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi. yuga-saṅkhyāṃ mahā-bāho svasti prāpnuhu gamyatām ॥03-148-39॥
All this which you asked me about has been told to you; the number of yugas, O mighty-armed one. Be well, attain welfare, now go. (03-148-39)
