Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 31
The Earth Laughs at World-Conquering Kings; Yuga-Dharma and the Remedy for Kali
तस्मात् क्षुद्रदृशो मर्त्या: क्षुद्रभाग्या महाशना: । कामिनो वित्तहीनाश्च स्वैरिण्यश्च स्त्रियोऽसती: ॥ ३१ ॥
tasmāt kṣudra-dṛśo martyāḥ kṣudra-bhāgyā mahāśanāḥ kāmino vitta-hīnāś ca svairiṇyaś ca striyo ’satīḥ
ゆえにカリ・ユガの悪徳によって、人々は視野が狭く、幸薄く、貪り食い、欲に溺れ、貧しくなる。女性もまた貞節を失い、気ままに一人の男から別の男へとさまよう。
In the Age of Kali certain pseudointellectuals, seeking individual freedom, support sexual promiscuity. In fact, identification of the self with the body and the pursuit of “individual freedom” in the body rather than in the soul are signs of the most dismal ignorance and slavery to lust. When women are unchaste, many children are born out of wedlock as products of lust. These children grow up in psychologically unfavorable circumstances, and a neurotic, ignorant society arises. Symptoms of this are already manifest throughout the world.
FAQs
In Bhagavatam 12.3.31, Śukadeva describes Kali-yuga people as narrow-minded, unfortunate, prone to overeating, driven by lust, and often lacking true prosperity—signs of dharma weakening.
He was answering Parīkṣit’s inquiry about the future course of Kali-yuga, outlining the moral and societal degradation so the king (and later listeners) could recognize the age and take shelter of bhakti.
Use it as a mirror: avoid narrow-mindedness, regulate eating and senses, cultivate chastity and integrity, and strengthen spiritual life through nāma-saṅkīrtana and sādhana to counter Kali-yuga’s pull.