Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 40
The Earth Laughs at World-Conquering Kings; Yuga-Dharma and the Remedy for Kali
नित्यमुद्विग्नमनसो दुर्भिक्षकरकर्शिता: । निरन्ने भूतले राजननावृष्टिभयातुरा: ॥ ३९ ॥ वासोऽन्नपानशयनव्यवायस्नानभूषणै: । हीना: पिशाचसन्दर्शा भविष्यन्ति कलौ प्रजा: ॥ ४० ॥
nityam udvigna-manaso durbhikṣa-kara-karśitāḥ niranne bhū-tale rājan anāvṛṣṭi-bhayāturāḥ
In the Age of Kali, people’s minds will always be agitated. They will become emaciated by famine and taxation, my dear King, and will always be disturbed by fear of drought. They will lack adequate clothing, food and drink, will be unable to properly rest, have sex or bathe themselves, and will have no ornaments to decorate their bodies. In fact, the people of Kali-yuga will gradually come to appear like ghostly, haunted creatures.
The symptoms described here are already prevalent in many countries of the world and will gradually spread to other places engulfed by impiety and materialism.
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva says that in Kali-yuga people become constantly anxious and will suffer from famine, lack of food, and fear of drought due to failed rains.
Parīkṣit was about to leave the world and asked about the age of Kali; Śukadeva explains Kali-yuga’s symptoms so the King (and listeners) can recognize degradation and take shelter of bhakti.
Use the warning as motivation to simplify life, strengthen sādhana, and take steady shelter of Hari-nāma and devotional service rather than relying on unstable material arrangements.