The signs of advanced Kali are already visible all over the earth at the present moment, nay, even of its most degenerated stage, especially in the West—signs and symptoms which are manifesting themselves here and there even in men of the Root Race. What a horrid state of affairs the closing period of Kali will bring about may be judged from the prophesies made five thousand years ago by the illuminated sages of this Root Race, prophesies which are correct in startling exactitude and some of which are on all fours with the signs and characteristics of our present period, as will be seen from a few extracts from them given below.
The conditions of the different stages of Kali have been described in all the eighteen Purānas, and the Mahābhārata which embody the history of the human race from creation to destruction—the past, present and future phases of human society of all times and of all climes. The following few details translated from a minute description of the early, middle and final stages of the Kali, given by the Mārkandeya, in reply to questions put in to Kali by King Yudhisthira in an assemblage of saints, kings and nobles, inspired by incarnated Krishna, who was present in person, will be of interest to most of my readers:
Raja Yudhisthira, Emperorer of Bhārat-varsha, the central of the seven continents of the ancient world (now known as all the world), during his sojourn among the Rishis (saints) of Kāmyak Forest, with a view to ascertain the future state of the world, asked the immortal saint (Brahmarshi) Mārkandeya, "Holy one! After having beard your wonderful accounts of the creation and the destruction of the universe, we have become anxious to hear about Kali Yuga, and we beg you to describe this age in detail to us. What results will be produced by the destruction of the Root Religion? What will the valor, strength, food, behavior, costume and longevity of the human race he like? And how long after will commence the Satya Yuga (Golden Age) again?"
Saint Mārkandeya answered: "O King! In the Satya Yuga, virtue being void of the least touch of greed, deception and other evil qualities of the mind, was like a full four-footed bull. In the Tretā, it lost one and in the Dwāpar two feet. In the Dark Age it will be only one-footed, the other three feet being destroyed by vice.
"The longevity, heroism, intelligence, strength and mind-force of mankind are gradually decreasing age by age; they will decrease still more in the Kali. The Kings, Brāhmans, Vaishyas and Sudras will practice false piety, and this false piety will be turned into a means for cheating others. Love of truth will decline in men; decline in love of truth will cause shortness of life; shortness of life will prevent the proper cultivation of wisdom, Little wisdom will beget ignorance, ignorance will beget greed, greed anger, anger delusion. And swayed by greed, anger, delusion and sensuality, they will be envious of and antagonistic to each other.
"The twice-born castes will become void of truth and holy meditation. The mean Chandals (pariahs) will behave like Kshatriyas and Kshatriyas will imitate the ways of the Chandals. Husbands will become extremely henpecked; feed upon fish, flesh and milk of goat and sheep. Man will aggress upon and develop an irreligious, atheistic and thievish nature.
"People will not discriminate about the eatableness or uneatableness of any food. Brāhmans will cease performing spiritual practices, will denounce the Vedas, and being deluded by false discussion give up holy ceremonials and engage themselves in mean actions. Father and son will feel no compunction in killing each other, but will rather feel delighted at the deed and call it an act of God.
"The whole world will become Mlechha (unclean and barbarous) void of religious performances and ceremonials, gladness and festivities. Almost all people will be miserly, defame their friends and defraud and steal the money of poor unprotected widows. They will possess little strength and no energy, yet be greedy and filled with material, sensual attachments; will gladly listen to the advices of well-known bad persons and accept charity by false pretences.
"Conceited yet illiterate kings will challenge one another to fight, will try to kill one another, and will be like thorns in the sides of their subjects. Setting at naught their duties of protecting the people, they will, swayed by greed and pride, be ever anxious to rob and punish them, and, prompted by their cruel heart, they will snatch away the property and wives of honest and pious men.
"None will ask a father for his daughter to marry, and no father will offer his daughter in marriage. The daughters will choose and marry their own choice without consulting anybody or going through any ceremonials.