Markandeya, the venerable sage, continued his narration of the vision divine, recounting how he had been enlightened by the Boy-God, who was none other than Lord Vishnu Himself. The Eternal Lord spoke thus to the astonished sage: “O noble one, even the gods and seers cannot comprehend the vastness of My glory. You are endowed with great wisdom and virtue, and your devotion has pleased Me. Hear then of My nature.
The word Nara signifies water, and as My abode is in the waters, I am called Narayana. I am eternal, ruling forever, rejoicing in the bliss of wisdom. In such delight, I create the worlds, sustain them, and dissolve them at will. The lotus-seated Brahma, Indra the king of gods, Kubera the lord of wealth, Varuna the god of waters, and all the rest — these are but forms of My manifestation.
The four quarters of the earth are My feet; Agni is My mouth; the Sun and Moon are My eyes; and the sky is My head. With this great cosmic form, I pervade and govern the universe. I am the spirit of sacrifice and the giver of gifts.
The learned Brahmins who delight in knowledge, the valiant and righteous kings, the virtuous and prosperous merchants — all worship Me through their deeds, offerings, and devotion, which I accept with joy. In ancient time, when the earth sank beneath the waters, I raised it again, assuming the form of a wild boar.
The earth, with her mountains and oceans, rests upon the thousand hoods of Adisesha, who is Myself. I drink up the seven seas in the form of the fiery Badavagni and release them again at the end of each age.
From My mouth, arms, thighs, and feet have arisen the four orders of men, and from My breath emerge the Vedas — Rig, Yajur, Sama, and Atharva. All things at dissolution return unto Me and are purified in My being. Those who are free from pride, wrath, and jealousy, who abandon greed and self-conceit, and who abide in truth and self-awareness — they ever find refuge in Me. The stars, the heavens, the winds, and the directions — all these are portions of My body. Upon the ocean’s expanse, I recline in blissful repose. The marks of saintliness are truth, penance, wisdom, and compassion.
Yet know that even the darker passions — desire, ignorance, anger, and anxiety — dwell within Me, for I am the source of all. Hear well, O wise one: the manifest universe is My visible form, and the unmanifest too is Myself — this is truth supreme, beyond reason’s grasp. Whenever virtue declines, and evil prevails, whenever cruelty and falsehood reign, then I manifest Myself upon the earth. To uphold righteousness and protect the good, I am born in various ages. In the age of Krita, I shine white in purity; in Treat, I appear red with creative power; in Dvapara, I am dark with might; and in Kali, I am yellow with compassion.
Thus, in every cycle, I restore balance and order. When time’s end arrives, I become the Lord of Death and consume the worlds. This, O sage, is My divine glory, which I reveal to lighten thy mind with bliss. The Creator Himself is but half of My being. I am Narayana, assuming this child-form upon the banyan leaf, floating over the cosmic waters through a thousand ages in deep meditation. When the dissolution filled thee with fear, I revealed the whole creation within My form to release thee from dread and to show My affection.
Now go, guided by thy thought and free will. Behold the Creator Brahma, who, seated on the lotus springing from My navel, shapes the worlds anew. Thus spoke the Lord, and vanished from sight, leaving me lost in awe and wonder. That divine Boy, who once revealed Himself to me, has now descended as Krishna — thy friend, counsellor, and protector. I have beheld Him, that soft-eyed, gracious Lord in human guise, the fruit of my penance. By His grace I endured the great dissolution, witnessed the birth and decay of beings, and became freed from grief, resting in perfect equanimity.
O Dharmaja, the vision of Krishna revived my ancient memory, enabling me to describe the creation and its mysteries. Therefore, seek refuge in Him, the Eternal Person, in whom lies all virtue.” Hearing this, King Dharmaja was overwhelmed with reverence and entreated the sage to reveal further how virtue wanes in the age of Kali. The sage replied: “In the age of truth, virtue stands complete in all four parts.
In Treta, one-part declines; in Dvapara, two; and in Kali, only one remains. As truth diminishes, so do lifespan, learning, and joy. Ignorance breeds delusion; delusion gives birth to desire; desire becomes anger; anger grows into malice and vengeance; and from these spring violence, division, and decay. The social order will crumble; the code of duty shall fade. Brahmins will forget the Vedas and pursue selfish penance; kings will become tyrants, oppressing their people; and villages will lose their peace.
Beasts and serpents shall invade human homes; courage will fade, and fear shall fill the air. Tribes of cruelty will rise, looting and ruling by terror; virtue will become mere display; and the serenity of rural life will perish beneath the pretence of progress. Crops will fail, waters dry, and the earth’s richness will be lost to greed and wrong cultivation. Atheism, clothed in logic and false wisdom, will mock the ancient truths.
New creeds will spring up, proclaiming the body as all. Seasons will falter, trade will turn deceitful, and wealth will flow to the wicked. The pious will suffer; the sinful will thrive. False teachers will sell sacred knowledge; charity will be hollow; devotion, mere spectacle. Women will lose chastity, families their unity, and affection will become a bargain. Sons will scorn their fathers, wives will rule their husbands, and virtue will be bartered for gain. Scholars will hunger, honesty will perish, and theft will be common custom.
Violence will reign under the name of protection; rulers will plunder their subjects; the weak will despair; and fear will haunt every home. The learned will wander unhonoured; truth will find no refuge; and confusion will veil every path. Such, O king, is the age of Kali — when the night masquerades as day, when power usurps virtue, and the world forgets its own soul. Thus spoke the sage Markandeya, the ancient seer of ages, foretelling the decline of dharma and the cycle of the world’s decay.”
