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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 12: Chapter 3: Verses 14-25
These stories of glorious men who, having spread their fame in the worlds, passed away have been narrated to you with intent to impart to you the knowledge of the unsubstantial nature of worldly enjoyments and teach you how to develop a distaste for them, 0 lord ! They are (however) a mere display of words and have no bearing on the highest truth. The exposition, on the other hand, of the virtues of Lord Visnu (of excellent renown), which is constantly extolled (by the righteous), puts an end to (all) evil. One eager to attain pure devotion to Sri Krsna should repeatedly hear it everyday.
The king (Pariksit) submitted: (Pray,) tell me in detail, 0 divine sage, the way in which men will (be able to)shake off the accumulated evils of the Kali age in the Kali age (itself). (Also) tell me (something) about the Yugas (aeons), the courses of conduct prescribed for each Yuga, the duration of life of the cosmos as well as of the period of its final dissolution and the course of Kala (the Time-Spirit),a potency of Lord Visnu, the Supreme Spirit, the Director (even) of the Rulers of the universe (Brahma, Siva and so on). Sri Suka replied: In the Satyayuga, 0 protector of men, Dharma (virtue) runs its course
on (all) its four feet, and is held fast by the people of the age. Truth, compassion, People and affording protection to all are the (four) feet (of virtue in its integral form). of that age are mostly contented, compassionate, friendly (to all living beings) an equal eye
forbearing. They practise self-control, take delight in the Self, look upo all and take pains for Self-Realization. In the Treta age a quarter of all the (four) feet of Dharma (virtue) gets gradually encroached upon by falsehood, violence, discontent and discord-the (four) feet of Adharma (unrighteousness). In that age (of Treta) people remain devoted to the performance of Vedic rites and austerities. They are not given to much violence nor lewd. They pursue the three objects of human endeavour (viz., religious merit, worldly possessions and sense-enjoyment). People are advanced in Vedic rites and among (the four) grades of society the Brahmanas form a majority, 0 protector of men ! Assailed by the four feet of Adharma, violence, discontent, falsehood and hatred, those of Dharmacompassion, austerity, truthfulness and a charitable disposition----diminish by one half each in the Dwapara age. The people of that age are fond of glory and given to the performance of great sacrifices, take delight in learning the Vedas, are affluent and happy, and maintain big families. Among the (four) grades of society the Brahmanas and Ksatriyas are predominant. In the Kali age, however, a quarter (alone) of the (four) feet of Dharma remains. (Nay,) due to the feet of Adharma gaining ground that too steadily declines and ultimately disappears altogether. People in that age turn out to be greedy, immoral and merciless, enter into hostility without cause and are unlucky and extremely covetous. The Sudras, fishermen and the like take the lead.
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