Nasty Yuga

Chapter 2, 3

The kings are not just victims of Kali-yuga, but the ones who spread its influence by promoting irreligion and materialism.

The symptoms of this all-pervading ignorance are described: society is troubled by crime, leaders become exploitative, social orders are negligent in their duties, saintly character and good qualities disappear, relationships between living entities break down, religion is misrepresented, habits and lifestyle become destructive, and atheism reigns supreme. Thus, the peace, prosperity and progressiveness of civilisation gradually disintegrates and people struggle on personal, social, economic, political and spiritual levels.

When the burden of these kings becomes overwhelming, the Lord descends as Kalki avatara to remove them all. Sukadeva Goswami thus predicted the birth, family lineage and activities of Kalki, along with two incognito kings who will reestablish Satya-yuga.

Mother Earth was astonished to witness the materialistic leaders who selfishly attempt to fulfil their mundane desires and exploit material nature. Her reflections on the situation (Bhumi-gita) reveal how the inescapable laws of material nature destroy their foolish plans. The gradual degradation from Satya-yuga (goodness), to Treta-yuga (passion), to Dvapara-yuga (passion and ignorance), to Kali-yuga (ignorance) is explained. With the passing of each age, the four legs of religion, namely truthfulness, mercy, austerity, and charity, are progressively destroyed. In these difficult times, a unique concession is open to one and all. Despite being an ocean of faults, Kali-yuga is glorified by the sages since it offers one the opportunity to easily attain spiritual perfection through the chanting of the holy name.