विष्णुपुराणम् — षष्ठांशे प्रथमोऽध्यायः | viṣṇupurāṇam

अथ श्रीविष्णुमहापुराणे विष्णुचित्त्यात्मप्रकाशाख्यश्रीधरीय व्याख्याद्वयोपेते षष्ठांशः प्रारभ्यते । श्रीमते रामानुजाय नमः मैत्रेय उवाच व्याख्याता भवता सर्गवंशमन्वन्तरस्थितिः ।

६.१.१

वंशानुचरितं चैव ।
विस्तरेण महामुने ॥

Summary AI O great sage, please describe to me in detail the history of the dynasties.

६.१.२

श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं त्वत्तो यथावदुपसंहृतिम् ।
महाप्रलयसंज्ञां च कल्पान्ते च महामुने ॥

Summary AI O great sage, I desire to hear from you a proper account of the dissolution of the world and the mahāpralaya that occurs at the end of a kalpa.

श्रीपराशर उवाच ।

६.१.३

मैत्रेय श्रूयतां मत्तो यथावदुपसंहृतिः ।
कल्पान्ते प्राकृते चैव प्रलयो जायते यथा ॥

Summary AI Maitreya, listen to me describe the process of dissolution as it occurs at the end of a kalpa and during the natural elemental dissolution (prākṛta pralaya).

६.१.४

अहोरात्रं पितॄणां तु मासो ऽब्दस्त्रिदिवौकसाम् ।
चतुर्युगमहस्रे तु ब्रह्मणो वै द्विजोत्तम ॥

Summary AI O best of the twice-born, a day and night of the pitṛs equals a human month, and a day and night of the gods equals a human year. A thousand cycles of four ages constitutes a single day of Brahmā.

६.१.५

कृतं त्रेता द्वापरं च कलिश्चेति चतुर्युगम् ।
दिव्यैर्वर्षसहस्रैस्तु तद्द्वादशभिरुच्यते ॥

Summary AI The cycle of four ages, comprising Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara, and Kali, is said to span twelve thousand divine years.

६.१.६

चतुर्युगाण्यशेषाणि सदृशानि स्वरूपतः ।
आद्यं कृतयुगं मुक्त्वा मैत्रेयान्त्यं तथा कलिम् ॥

Summary AI Maitreya, all cycles of the four ages are identical in their nature, with the exception of the first Kṛta-yuga and the final Kali-yuga.

६.१.७

आद्ये कृतयुगे सर्गो ब्रह्मणा क्रियते यथा ।
क्रियते चोपसंहारस्तथांऽते च कलौ युगे ॥

Summary AI Just as creation is initiated by Brahmā in the first Kṛta-yuga, so is the final dissolution brought about at the end of the Kali-yuga.

मैत्रेय उवाच ।

६.१.८

कलेःस्वरूपं भगवन्विस्तराद्वक्तुमर्हसि ।
धर्मश्चतुष्पाद्भगवान्यस्मिन्विप्लवम् ऋच्छति ॥

Summary AI O Blessed One, please describe in detail the nature of Kali-yuga, the age in which the divine four-footed Dharma undergoes complete decline.

श्रीपराशर उवाच ।

६.१.९

कलेःस्वरूपं मैत्रेय यद्भवाञ्छ्रोतु मिच्छति ।
तन्निबोध समासेन वर्तते यन्महामुने ॥

Summary AI Maitreya, O great sage, listen as I briefly explain the nature of Kali-yuga as it exists, which you have expressed a desire to hear.

६.१.१०

वर्णाश्रमाचारवती प्रवृत्तिर्न कलौ नृणाम् ।
न सामऋग्यजुर्धर्मविनिष्पादनहैतुकी ॥

Summary AI In Kali-yuga, the conduct of men is not guided by the systems of varṇa and āśrama, nor is their behavior motivated by the religious duties prescribed in the Sāma, Ṛg, and Yajur Vedas.

६.१.११

विवाहा न कलौ धर्म्या न शिष्यगुरुसंस्थितिः ।
न दांपत्यक्रमो नैव वह्निदेवात्मकः क्रमः ॥

Summary AI In Kali-yuga, marriages are not performed according to sacred law, the proper relationship between student and teacher ceases, and there is no orderly domestic life or rituals involving fire and deities.

६.१.१२

यत्र कुत्र कुले जातो बली सर्वेश्वरः कलौ ।
सर्वेभ्य एव वर्णेभ्यो योग्यः कन्यावरोधने ॥

Summary AI In Kali-yuga, whoever possesses power becomes the supreme lord regardless of their birth. Such a person is considered eligible to take brides from any of the varṇas.

६.१.१३

येन केन च योगेन द्विजातिर्दीक्षितः कलौ ।
यैव सैव च मैत्रेय प्रायश्चित्तं कलौ क्रिया ॥

Summary AI Maitreya, in Kali-yuga, a twice-born person is initiated by any means possible, and any random act is considered a sufficient form of penance.

६.१.१४

सर्वमेव कलौ शास्त्रं यस्य यद्वजनं द्विज ।
देवता च कलौ सर्वा सर्वःसर्वस्य चाश्रमः ॥

Summary AI O twice-born, in Kali-yuga, whatever anyone says is accepted as scripture. Every entity is worshipped as a deity, and any stage of life is adopted by anyone without restriction.

६.१.१५

उपवासस्तथाऽयासौ वित्तोत्सर्गस्तपः कलौ ।
धर्मो यथाभिरुचितैरनुष्ठनैरनुष्ठितः ॥

Summary AI In Kali-yuga, penance consists merely of fasting, physical exertion, or spending wealth. Dharma is practiced through rituals performed solely according to personal whims.

६.१.१६

वित्तेन भविता पुंसां स्वल्पेनाढ्यमदः कलौ ।
स्त्रीणां रूपमदश्चैवं केशैरेव भविष्यति ॥

Summary AI In Kali-yuga, men will be filled with the pride of wealth even with very little money, and women will take pride in their beauty based solely on their hair.

६.१.१७

मुवर्णमणिरत्नादौ वस्त्रे चोपक्षयं गते ।
कलौ स्त्रियो भविष्यन्ति तदा केशैरलङ्कृताः ॥

Summary AI When gold, jewels, gems, and fine clothes have disappeared, women in Kali-yuga will resort to adorning themselves only with their hair.

६.१.१८

परित्यक्ष्यन्ति भर्तारं वित्तहीनं तथा स्त्रियः ।
भर्ता भविष्यति कलौ वित्तवानेव योषिताम् ॥

Summary AI In that age, women will abandon husbands who lose their wealth. In Kali-yuga, only a man who possesses riches will be accepted as a husband.

६.१.१९

यो वै ददाति बहुलं स्वं स स्वामी सदा नृणाम् ।
स्वामित्वहेतुःसंबन्धो न चाभिजनता तथा ॥

Summary AI He who gives away significant wealth becomes the master of men. Social relationships are based only on ownership, and noble lineage no longer carries any weight.

६.१.२०

गृहान्ता द्रव्य्संघाता द्रव्यान्ता च तथा मतिः ।
अर्थाश्चात्मोपभोग्यान्ता भविष्यन्ति कलौ युगे ॥

Summary AI In the Kali-yuga, the accumulation of wealth will be limited to what is in the house, the mind will be fixed only on material goods, and all resources will be spent solely on self-indulgence.

६.१.२१

स्त्रियः कलौ भविष्यन्ति स्वैरिण्यो ललितस्पृहाः ।
अन्यायादाप्तवित्तेषु पुरुषाः स्पृहयालबः ॥

Summary AI In the Kali age, women will be self-willed and fond of luxury. Men will be greedy, seeking wealth through unjust means.

६.१.२२

अभ्यर्थितापि सुहृदा स्वार्थमेव निरीक्ष्यते ।
पणार्धार्धाद्धमात्रे ऽपि करिष्यन्ति तथा स्पृहाम् ॥

Summary AI Even if requested by a friend, people will only consider their own interest; they will display greed even for the smallest fraction of a coin.

६.१.२३

समानपौरुषं चेतो भुवि विप्रेषु वै कलौ ।
क्षीरप्रदानसंबन्धि भावि गोषु च गौरवम् ॥

Summary AI In Kali, the minds of Brāhmaṇas will become like those of commoners, and respect for cows will only last as long as they yield milk.

६.१.२४

अनावृष्टिभयप्रायाः प्रजाः क्षुद्भयकातराः ।
भविष्यन्ति तदा सर्वे गगनासक्तदृष्टयः ॥

Summary AI People will be constantly terrified of drought and hunger, keeping their eyes fixed on the sky in hope of rain.

६.१.२५

कन्दमूलफलाहारास्तापसा इव मानवाः ।
आत्मानं घातयिष्यन्ति ह्यनावृष्ट्यादिदुःखिताः ॥

Summary AI Living on roots and fruits like ascetics, humans will suffer from drought and other miseries, leading to their eventual destruction.

६.१.२६

दुर्भिक्षमेव सततं तथा क्लेशमनीश्वराः ।
प्राप्स्यन्ति व्याहतसुखप्रमोदा मानवाः कलौ ॥

Summary AI In Kali, powerless people will endure perpetual famine and hardship, with their joy and happiness completely obstructed.

६.१.२७

अस्नानभोजिनो नाग्निदेवतातिथिपूजंनम् ।
करिष्यन्ति कलौ प्राप्ते न च पिण्डोदकक्रियाम् ॥

Summary AI When Kali arrives, people will eat without bathing and will fail to perform rituals for fire, deities, guests, or ancestors.

६.१.२८

लोलुपा ह्रस्वदेहाश्च बह्वन्नादनतत्पराः ।
बहुप्रजाल्पभाग्याश्च भविष्यन्ति कलौ स्त्रियः ॥

Summary AI In the Kali age, women will be gluttonous, short in stature, and devoted to excessive eating; they will have many children but little fortune.

६.१.२९

उभाभ्यामपि पाणिभ्यां शिरःकण्डूयनं स्त्रियः ।
कुर्वन्त्यो गुरुभर्तॄणामाज्ञां भर्त्स्यन्त्यनादराः ॥

Summary AI Women will scratch their heads with both hands and, being disrespectful, will scorn the commands of their elders and husbands.

६.१.३०

स्वपोषणपराः क्षुद्रा देहसंस्कारवर्जिताः ।
परुषानृतभाषिण्यो भविष्यन्ति कलौ स्त्रियः ॥

Summary AI Women in Kali will be devoted only to self-nourishment, mean, negligent of bodily cleanliness, and speakers of harsh lies.

६.१.३१

दुःशीला दुष्टशीलेषु कुर्वन्त्यःसततं स्पृहाम् ।
असद्वृत्ता भविष्यन्ति पुरुषेषु कुलाङ्गनाः ॥

Summary AI Even high-born women will become ill-mannered, following wicked conduct and constantly desiring men of bad character.

६.१.३२

वेदादानं करिष्यन्ति बटवश्चाकृतव्रताः ।
गृहस्थाश्च न होष्यन्ति न दास्यन्त्युचितान्यपि ॥

Summary AI Students will study the Vedas without observing vows, and householders will neither perform sacrifices nor give appropriate charities.

६.१.३३

वानप्रस्था भविष्यन्ति ग्राम्याहारपरिग्रहाः ।
भिक्षवश्चापि मित्रादिस्नेहसंबन्धयन्त्रणाः ॥

Summary AI Forest-dwellers will consume food meant for villagers, and monks will remain bound by the shackles of affection for friends and relatives.

६.१.३४

अरक्षितारो हर्तारः शुल्कव्याजेन पार्थिवाः ।
हारिणो जनवित्तानां संप्राप्ते तु कलौ युगे ॥

Summary AI In the Kali age, rulers will not protect their subjects; instead, they will seize the wealth of the people under the pretext of collecting taxes.

६.१.३५

योयो ऽश्वरथनागाढ्यःस स राजा भविष्यति ।
यश्च यश्चाबलः सर्वः स स भृत्यः कलौ युगे ॥

Summary AI In the Kali age, whoever possesses horses, chariots, and elephants will become king, while everyone who is weak will become a servant.

६.१.३६

वैश्याः कृषिवणिज्यादि संत्यज्य निजकर्म यत् ।
शूद्रवृत्त्या प्रवर्त्स्यन्ति कारुकर्मोपजीविनः ॥

Summary AI Vaiśyas will abandon their natural duties like agriculture and trade, instead adopting the life of Śūdras and living as artisans.

६.१.३७

भैक्षव्रतपराः शूद्रा प्रव्रज्यालिङ्गिनो ऽधमाः ।
पाषण्डसंश्रयां वृत्तिमाश्रयिष्यन्ति सत्कृताः ॥

Summary AI Lowly Śūdras will adopt the life of beggars, wearing the marks of mendicants and following heretical paths while being respected by others.

६.१.३८

दुर्भिक्षकरपीडाभिरतीवोपद्रुता जनाः ।
गोधूमान्नयवान्नाढ्यान्देशान्यास्यन्ति दुःखिताः ॥

Summary AI Oppressed by famine and the burden of taxes, distressed people will migrate to regions where wheat and barley are abundant.

६.१.३९

वेदमार्गे प्रलीने च पाषण्डाढ्ये ततो जने ।
अधर्मवृद्ध्या लोकानामल्पमायुर्भविष्यति ॥

Summary AI As the path of the Vedas disappears and people turn to heresy, the lifespan of humans will shorten due to the increase of unrighteousness.

६.१.४०

अशास्त्रविहितं घोरं तप्यमानेषु वै तपः ।
नरेषु नृपदोषेण बाल्ये मृत्युर्भविष्यति ॥

Summary AI Because of the faults of kings, people will perform terrible penances not prescribed by scriptures, causing death to occur in childhood.

६.१.४१

भविता योषितां सूतिः पञ्चषट्मप्तवार्षिकी ।
नवाष्टदशवर्षाणां मनुष्याणां तथा कलौ ॥

Summary AI In the Kali age, women will bear children at the age of five, six, or seven, while the lifespan of men will be limited to only eight, nine, or ten years.

६.१.४२

पलितोद्भवश्च भविता तथा द्वादशवार्षिकः ।
नातिजीवति वै कश्चित्कलौ वर्षाणि विंशतिः ॥

Summary AI Grey hair will appear on individuals by the age of twelve, and in the Kali age, no one will live beyond twenty years.

६.१.४३

अल्पप्रज्ञा वृथालिङ्गा दुष्टान्तःकरणाः कलौ ।
यतस्ततो विनङ्क्ष्यन्ति कालेनाल्पेन मानवाः ॥

Summary AI Possessing little wisdom, bearing false marks of piety, and having corrupt hearts, humans in the Kali age will perish in a short time from various causes.

६.१.४४

यदायादा हि मैत्रेय हानिर्धर्मस्य लक्ष्यते ।
तदातदा कलेर्वृद्धिरनुमेया विचक्षणैः ॥

Summary AI O Maitreya, whenever a decline in dharma is observed, wise men should infer that the influence of the Kali age is increasing.

६.१.४५

यदायदा हि पांषडवृद्धिर्मैत्रेय लक्ष्यते ।
तदातदा कलेर्वृद्धिरनुमेया महात्मभिः ॥

Summary AI O Maitreya, whenever an increase in heresy is seen, noble souls must conclude that the power of the Kali age is rising.

६.१.४६

यदायदा सतां हीनिर्वेदमार्गानुसारिणाम् ।
तदातदा कलेर्वृद्धिरनुमेया विचक्षणैः ॥

Summary AI Whenever the decline of virtuous people who follow the path of the Vedas occurs, the wise should infer the growth of the Kali age.