A bad kali dream

Every virtue had been engulfed by the sins of Kali; all good books had disappeared; impostors had promulgated a number of creeds which they had invented out of their own wit. The people had all fallen a prey to delusion and all pious acts had been swallowed by greed. while I describe a few peculiarities of Kali No one follows the duties of one.s own varna, and the four stages of life also disappear. Every man and woman takes delight in revolting against the Vedas. The brhmin sell the Vedas; the kings bleed their subjects; no one respects the injunction of the Vedas. The right course for every individual is that which one takes a fancy to; a man of erudition is he who plays the braggart. Whoever launches spurious undertakings and is given over to hypocrisy, him does everyone call a saint. He alone is clever, who robs another of his wealth; he who puts up false appearances is an ardent follower of established usage. He who is given to lying and is clever at joking is spoken of as a man of parts in the Kali age. He alone who is a reprobate and has abandoned the path of the Vedas is a man of wisdom and dispassion in the Kali age. He alone who has grown big nails and long locks of matted hair is a renowned ascetic in the Kali age They alone who put on an unsightly garb and ornaments, eat anything and everything, no matter whether it is worth eating or not, are ascetics; they alone are perfect men and they are worth adoring in the Kali age. They who are of maleficent conduct are held in great esteem and they alone are worthy of honour. Even so they alone who are babblers in thought, word and deed are orators in the Kali age. Dominated by women, my lord, all men dance to their tune like a monkey controlled by its trainer. Sudr instruct the twice-born in spiritual wisdom and, wearing the sacred thread, accept the worst type of gifts. All men are given over to sensuality and greed and irascible too, and are hostile to the gods; the brhms, the Vedas as well as to the saints. Unfortunate wives desert their accomplished and handsome husband and bestow their heart on a paramour. Wives having their husband alive have no ornament on their person, while widows adorn themselves in the latest style. The disciple and the preceptor severally resemble a deaf man and a blind man : the one would not listen, while the other cannot see. A spiritual guide who robs his disciple of money but fails to rid him of his sorrow is cast into a terrible hell. Parents call their children and teach them such religion as may fill their belly.Men and women talk of nothing else than the Knowledge of Brahman; while in their greed they would kill a gentle or, for the matter of that, even their own spiritual guide for the sake of a single shell. sdras argue with the twice-born : .Are we in anyway inferior to you? A good brhm is he who knows the truth of Brahman !. and defiantly glower at them. They alone who are covetous of antother.s wife and are clever at wiles and steeped in delusion, malice and worldly attachment are enlightened men swearing by the identity of the individual soul with Brahman. Doomed themselves, such people bring ruin even to those rare souls who tread the path of virtue. They who find fault with the Vedas by dint of logic are condemned to each hell for a whole Kalpa (cycle). People of the lowest grade in society such as lit., those who cook and feed on the flesh of a dog, the distillers of spirituous liquors get their heads shaved and enter the order of sanyasa (renunciation) when their wife is no more in this world and they have lost their household property. They allow themselves to be worshipped by the gentle and bring ruin to themselves here as well as hereafter. As for the brhms, they are unlettered, grasping, lascivious, reprobate and stupid and marry low women of a lewd character. on the other hand, practise Japa (the muttering of prayers) and austere penance, undertake sacred vows of various kinds and expound the Puranas from an exalted seat. All men follow a course of conduct of their own imagination; the endless variety of wrongdoing cannot be described in words. In the age of Kali there ensues a confusion of castes (due to promiscuous intermarriages) and everyone infringes the sacred laws. Men perpetrate sins and reap suffering terror, disease, sorrow and desolation.

 Overcome by delusion they walk not in the path of Devotion to god, conjoined with dispassion and wisdom.a path which has the approval of the Vedas.and invent diverse creeds of their own. The so-called recluses build themselves houses and furnish them at considerable expense; dispassion is no more to be seen in them, the same having been wiped out by their sensuality. The so-called ascetics grow wealthy and householders go penniless: the freaks of the Kali age are beyond all telling. Men drive out a well-born and virtuous wife and bring home some servant-girl, casting to the winds all good usage. Sons respect their father and mother only so long as they have not seen the face of their wife. From the time they take a fancy to their wife.s kinsfolk they begin to look upon their own people as their enemies. Kings get addicted to sin and cease to have anything to do with piety. They ever persecute their subjects by inflicting unmerited punishment on them. The meanest churl, if he is rich, is accounted noble is known only by his sacred thread, and an ascetic by his naked body. He who refuses to recognize the Vedas and Puranas is a true saint and servant of Hari in the Kali age. Poets are seen in large numbers; but the munificent (who reward them) are seldom heard of. Those who find fault with others. virtues can be had in any number, but no one possessing virtues. In the Kali age famines are of frequent occurrence: for want of foodgrains people perish miserably en masse. : in the age of Kali duplicity, perversity, hypocrisy, malice, heresy, pride, infatuation, concupiscence and arrogance etc., pervade the whole universe. Men practise Japa (the muttering of prayers), austere penance and charity, perform sacrifices and undertake sacred vows with some unholy motive. The gods rain not upon the earth and foodgrains sown in the soil do not germinate. Women have no ornament except their tresses and have an enormous appetite. Though miserable for want of money, they are rich in attachment of various kinds. Though hankering after happiness they love not piety, stupid as they are. Though they are poor in wits, their mind is hardened and knows no tenderness. As for men, they are tormented with diseases and find no enjoyment anywhere. They are conceited and contend with others without any rhyme or reason. Men.s life is short, extending to not more than five or ten years; yet in their pride they reckon on surviving the end of creation. The age of Kali has driven men mad: no one respects the sanctity even of one.s sister or daughter. There is no contentment, nor discernment, nor composure. People of all classes, whether high or low, have taken to begging. Envy, harsh words and covetousness are rampant; while evenness of mind is absent. People are all smitten with bereavement and deep sorrow. The duties and rules of conduct prescribed for the four orders of society and stages in life are neglected. Self-control, charity, compassion and wisdom disappear; while stupidity and fraud multiply to a large extent. Men and women all pamper their body; while slanderers are diffused all over the world