22. Chapter 22

भुशुण्ड उवाच । ततो जगति जातेषु भगवन्युष्मदादिषु । भरद्वाजपुलस्त्यात्रिनारदेन्द्रमरीचिषु ॥ १ ॥

bhuśuṇḍa uvāca | tato jagati jāteṣu bhagavanyuṣmadādiṣu | bharadvājapulastyātrināradendramarīciṣu || 1 ||

Bhusunda continued:—Moreover I will tell you sir, many other things that I remember to have occurred in the course of the world, and under the flight of by gone times. I remember the births of the seers Bharadwaja, Pulasta, Atri, Narada, Indra, the Marichis and yourselves also.

पुलहोद्दालकाद्येषु क्रतुभृग्वङ्गिरस्सु च । सनत्कुमारभृङ्गीशस्कन्देभवदनादिषु ॥ २ ॥

pulahoddālakādyeṣu kratubhṛgvaṅgirassu ca | sanatkumārabhṛṅgīśaskandebhavadanādiṣu || 2 ||

I bear in my mind the venerable Pulaha, Uddalaka, kratu, Bhrigu, Angiras and Sanatkumara, Bhringi and Ganesa, and Skanda and others in their train, who were known as Siddharshis or consummate sages of yore.

गौरीसरस्वतीलक्ष्मीगायत्र्याद्यासु भूरिषु । मेरुमन्दरकैलासहिमवद्दर्दुरादिषु ॥ ३ ॥

gaurīsarasvatīlakṣmīgāyatryādyāsu bhūriṣu | merumandarakailāsahimavaddardurādiṣu || 3 ||

I retain the memory of Guari, Sarasvati, Laxmi, Gayatri and many more famous females, who are reckoned as female personifications of divine attributes. I have seen the mountains Meru, Mandara, Kailasa, the Himalayas and the Dardura hills.

हयग्रीवहिरण्याक्षकालनेमिबलादिषु । हिरण्यकशिपुक्राथबलिप्रह्रादकादिषु ॥ ४ ॥

hayagrīvahiraṇyākṣakālanemibalādiṣu | hiraṇyakaśipukrāthabaliprahrādakādiṣu || 4 ||

I carry in my memory the exploits of the demons Hiranya ksha, Kalanimi, Hayagriva, Hiranya Kasipu, Vati and Prahlada and many others of the Danava or Demoniac race.

शिबिन्यङ्कुपृथूलाख्यवैन्यनाभागकेलिषु । नलमान्धातृसगरदिलीपनहुषादिषु ॥ ५ ॥

śibinyaṅkupṛthūlākhyavainyanābhāgakeliṣu | nalamāndhātṛsagaradilīpanahuṣādiṣu || 5 ||

I keep in my mind the remembrance of the renowned Sibi, Nyanku, Prithu, Vainya, Nala, Nabhaga, Mandhata, Sagara, Dilipa and Nahusa kings of men and rulers of earth.

आत्रेयव्यासवाल्मीकिशुकवात्स्यायनादिषु । उपमन्युमणीमङ्कीभगीरथशुकादिषु ॥ ६ ॥

ātreyavyāsavālmīkiśukavātsyāyanādiṣu | upamanyumaṇīmaṅkībhagīrathaśukādiṣu || 6 ||

I know by heart the names of Atriya, Vyasa, Valmiki, Sukadeva, Vatsyayana and other sages, and know by rote the names of Upamanyu, Manimanki, Bhagiratha and other pious princes of old.

अल्पकातीतकालेषु किंचिद्दूरेषु केषुचित् । तथाद्यतनसर्गेषु स्मरणे गणनैव का ॥ ७ ॥

alpakātītakāleṣu kiṃciddūreṣu keṣucit | tathādyatanasargeṣu smaraṇe gaṇanaiva kā || 7 ||

So there are many things of remote past times, and others of later ages and some relating to the present age; all of which are imprinted in the memory, wherefore it is needless to recount them over again.

मुने ते ब्रह्मपुत्रस्य जन्माष्टकमिदं किल । संस्मराम्यष्टमे सर्गे तस्मिंस्त्वं मम संगतः ॥ ८ ॥

mune te brahmaputrasya janmāṣṭakamidaṃ kila | saṃsmarāmyaṣṭame sarge tasmiṃstvaṃ mama saṃgataḥ || 8 ||

O thou Sagely son of Brahma! I remember thy eight births, in the eight different epochs of the world, and this is verily thy eight births in which thou hast become a guest to my nest.

कदाचिज्जायसे व्योम्नः कदाचिज्जायसे जलात् । कदाचिद्वायुतः शैलात्कदाचिज्जायसेऽनलात् ॥ ९ ॥

kadācijjāyase vyomnaḥ kadācijjāyase jalāt | kadācidvāyutaḥ śailātkadācijjāyase'nalāt || 9 ||

You are at one time born of air, and at another of heavenly fire; you are some time produced from water, and at others from empty vacuity or of the solid rock.

यादृशो यादृशाचारो यादृक्संस्थानदिग्गणः । सर्गोऽयं तादृशानेव त्रीन्सर्गान्संस्मराम्यहम् ॥ १० ॥

yādṛśo yādṛśācāro yādṛksaṃsthānadiggaṇaḥ | sargo'yaṃ tādṛśāneva trīnsargānsaṃsmarāmyaham || 10 ||

The constitution of created bodies, conforms us with the nature of the principle elements of which they are formed; and the positions of heavenly bodies, have a great influence on their production. I have witnessed three such formations of the world composed of igneous, aqueous and terrene substances at different times.

एकरूपाखिलाचारसंनिवेशधरामरान् । समकालान्स्थिरस्थैर्यान्दशसर्गान्स्मराम्यहम् ॥ ११ ॥

ekarūpākhilācārasaṃniveśadharāmarān | samakālānsthirasthairyāndaśasargānsmarāmyaham || 11 ||

I remember ten repeated creations, in which the usages of people were uniform and alike;and the gods were settled in their abodes (i.e., the Aryans led nomadic life). They were coeval with the Asuras whom they braved in battle, and were located in their homestead.

अन्तर्धानं गता धात्री वारपञ्चकमुद्धृता । मुने पञ्चसु सर्गेषु कूर्मेणैव पयोनिधेः ॥ १२ ॥

antardhānaṃ gatā dhātrī vārapañcakamuddhṛtā | mune pañcasu sargeṣu kūrmeṇaiva payonidheḥ || 12 ||

I saw the earth sinking five times under, and lifted up as many times by the divine Kurmamanantara, or incarnation of Vishnu in the form of the tortoise, from below the overflowing ocean.

मन्दराकर्षणावेगपर्याकुलसुरासुरम् । स्मरामि द्वादशं चेदममृताम्भोधिमन्थनम् ॥ १३ ॥

mandarākarṣaṇāvegaparyākulasurāsuram | smarāmi dvādaśaṃ cedamamṛtāmbhodhimanthanam || 13 ||

I witnessed the great tumult of Suras and Asuras or the Gods and demi-gods, in uprooting and uplifting the Mandara mountain, for churning out the last ambrosia from underneath the ocean for twelve times over.

सर्वौषधिरसोपेतां बलिग्राहस्तदा दिवः । वारत्रयहिरण्याक्षो नीतवान्वसुधामधः ॥ १४ ॥

sarvauṣadhirasopetāṃ baligrāhastadā divaḥ | vāratrayahiraṇyākṣo nītavānvasudhāmadhaḥ || 14 ||

Thrice have seen the imposing Hiranyaksha, that levied his tax upon the gods in heaven, hurling the fruitful earth with all her balmy and medicinal plants underneath the ocean.

रेणुकात्मजतां गत्वा षष्ठवारमिमं हरिः । बहुसर्गान्तरेणापि चकार क्षत्रियक्षयम् ॥ १५ ॥

reṇukātmajatāṃ gatvā ṣaṣṭhavāramimaṃ hariḥ | bahusargāntareṇāpi cakāra kṣatriyakṣayam || 15 ||

I beheld Hari to have come down six times in the shape of Renuka's son or Parashurama, and extirpate the Kshetriya race at the intervals of very long periods.

शतं कलियुगानां च हरेर्बुद्धदशाशतम् । शौकराजतयैवाप्तं स्मरामि मुनिनायक ॥ १६ ॥

śataṃ kaliyugānāṃ ca harerbuddhadaśāśatam | śaukarājatayaivāptaṃ smarāmi munināyaka || 16 ||

I remember, O Sage! the return of a hundred kaliyuga ages, and a hundred incarnations of Hari in the form of Buddha, and as the son of royal Suka or Suddhadana in the land of Kirata.

त्रिंशत्त्रिपुरविक्षोभान्द्वौ दक्षाध्वरसंक्षयौ । दशशक्रविघातांश्च चन्द्रमौलेः स्मराम्यहम् ॥ १७ ॥

triṃśattripuravikṣobhāndvau dakṣādhvarasaṃkṣayau | daśaśakravighātāṃśca candramauleḥ smarāmyaham || 17 ||

I bear in my remembrance the overthrow of tripura thrice ten times by Siva, and the discomfiture of Dakhas' ceremony for more than once by the irritated Hara; and I recall to my mind the downfall of ten Indras by the offending God, who bears the crescent moon on his forehead.

बाणार्थमष्टौ संग्रामाञ्ज्वरप्रमथमन्त्रकान् । विक्षोभितसुरानीकान्त्स्मरामि हरिशर्वयोः ॥ १८ ॥

bāṇārthamaṣṭau saṃgrāmāñjvarapramathamantrakān | vikṣobhitasurānīkāntsmarāmi hariśarvayoḥ || 18 ||

I recollect the battle that has been fought eight times between Hari and Hara, and the first appearance of Vishnu and Siva, jvaras or the cold typhoid fevers in these conflicts.

युगंप्रति धियां पुंसां न्यूनाधिकतया मुने । क्रियाङ्गपाठवैचित्र्ययुक्तान्वेदान्त्यराम्यहम् ॥ १९ ॥

yugaṃprati dhiyāṃ puṃsāṃ nyūnādhikatayā mune | kriyāṅgapāṭhavaicitryayuktānvedāntyarāmyaham || 19 ||

I remember, O silent Sage! the difference in the intellects of men at every succeeding age, and the various readings of vedas at the ceremonial observances of mankind.

एकार्थानि समग्राणि बहुपाठानि मेऽनघ । पुराणानि प्रवर्तन्ते प्रसृतानि युगंप्रति ॥ २० ॥

ekārthāni samagrāṇi bahupāṭhāni me'nagha | purāṇāni pravartante prasṛtāni yugaṃprati || 20 ||

O sinless saint! The puranas also though they agree in the main substance, are so full of interpolations, that they have been greatly multiplied in successive ages.

पुनस्तानेव तानेवमन्यानपि युगे युगे । वेदादिवित्प्ररचितानितिहासान्स्मराम्यहम् ॥ १ ॥

punastāneva tānevamanyānapi yuge yuge | vedādivitpraracitānitihāsānsmarāmyaham || 1 ||

Bhusunda continued:—Moreover I will tell you sir, many other things that I remember to have occurred in the course of the world, and under the flight of by gone times. I remember the births of the seers Bharadwaja, Pulasta, Atri, Narada, Indra, the Marichis and yourselves also.

इतिहासं महाश्चर्यमन्यं रामायणामिधम् । ग्रन्थलक्षप्रमाणं च ज्ञानशास्त्रं स्मराम्यहम् ॥ २२ ॥

itihāsaṃ mahāścaryamanyaṃ rāmāyaṇāmidham | granthalakṣapramāṇaṃ ca jñānaśāstraṃ smarāmyaham || 22 ||

I have the recollection of the other wondrous composition of legendary accounts, under the title of the Maharamayana a work comprising one hundred thousand slokas or tetrastichs, and replete with sound wisdom.

रामवद्व्यवहर्तव्यं न रावणविलासवत् । इति यत्र धियां ज्ञानं हस्ते फलमिवार्पितम् ॥ २३ ॥

rāmavadvyavahartavyaṃ na rāvaṇavilāsavat | iti yatra dhiyāṃ jñānaṃ haste phalamivārpitam || 23 ||

This work presents the conduct of Rama for the imitation of the men, and sets the misbehaviour of Ravana to the opprobrium of mankind. This precept contains the essence of all wisdom, and serves as the luscious fruit of the tree of knowledge, placed in the palm of all people.

कृतं वाल्मीकिना चैतदधुना यत्करिष्यति । अन्यच्च प्रकटं लोके स्थितं ज्ञास्यसि कालतः ॥ २८ ॥

kṛtaṃ vālmīkinā caitadadhunā yatkariṣyati | anyacca prakaṭaṃ loke sthitaṃ jñāsyasi kālataḥ || 28 ||

I remember also, O chief of Sages! many tales and novels and other sastras, composed in every age and Yuga; which have been written in a variety of styles and diction.

वाल्मीकिनाम्ना जीवेन तेनैवान्येन वा कृतम् । एतच्च द्वादशं वारं क्रियते विस्मृतिं गतम् ॥ २५ ॥

vālmīkināmnā jīvena tenaivānyena vā kṛtam | etacca dvādaśaṃ vāraṃ kriyate vismṛtiṃ gatam || 25 ||

This work whether it is a composition of Valmiki, or the composition of some other person, is published for the twelve times, and is now going to be almost forgotten by men.

द्वितीयमेतस्य समं भारतं नाम नामतः । स्मरामि प्राक्तनव्यासकृतं जगति विस्मृतम् ॥ २६ ॥

dvitīyametasya samaṃ bhārataṃ nāma nāmataḥ | smarāmi prāktanavyāsakṛtaṃ jagati vismṛtam || 26 ||

The other work of like importance, is known under the name of Bharata; I remember it to have been written by Vyasa at first, but is becoming obsolete at present.

व्यासाभिधेन जीवेन तेनैवान्येन वा कृतम् । एतत्तु सप्तमं वारं क्रियते विस्मृतिं गतम् ॥ २७ ॥

vyāsābhidhena jīvena tenaivānyena vā kṛtam | etattu saptamaṃ vāraṃ kriyate vismṛtiṃ gatam || 27 ||

Whether it is the composition of person known by the name of Vyasa, or a compilation of some other person, it has up to this time undergone its seventh edition, and is now going fastly to be forgotten.

आख्यानकानि शास्त्राणि निवृत्तानि युगंप्रति । विचित्रसंनिवेशानि संस्मरामि मुनीश्वर ॥ २८ ॥

ākhyānakāni śāstrāṇi nivṛttāni yugaṃprati | vicitrasaṃniveśāni saṃsmarāmi munīśvara || 28 ||

I remember also, O chief of Sages! many tales and novels and other sastras, composed in every age and Yuga; which have been written in a variety of styles and diction.

भूयस्तान्येव तान्येव तथान्यानि युगे युगे । साधो पदार्थजालानि प्रपश्यामि स्मरामि वै ॥ २९ ॥

bhūyastānyeva tānyeva tathānyāni yuge yuge | sādho padārthajālāni prapaśyāmi smarāmi vai || 29 ||

O good sage! I remember to have seen also many new productions and inventions, following one another in succeeding age; and it is impossible to enumerate this innumerable series of things.

राक्षसक्षतये विष्णोर्महीमवतरिष्यतः । अधुनैकादशं जन्म रामनाम्नो भविष्यति ॥ ३० ॥

rākṣasakṣataye viṣṇormahīmavatariṣyataḥ | adhunaikādaśaṃ janma rāmanāmno bhaviṣyati || 30 ||

I remember the Lord Vishnu descending many times on earth, for the destruction of ferocious Raksasas, and is now to appear here the eleventh time under the appellation of Rama.

नारसिंहेन वपुषा हिरण्यकशिपुं हरिः । जघान वारत्रितयं मृगेन्द्र इव वारणम् ॥ ३१ ॥

nārasiṃhena vapuṣā hiraṇyakaśipuṃ hariḥ | jaghāna vāratritayaṃ mṛgendra iva vāraṇam || 31 ||

I know the lord Hari to have thrice come down in his form of Nrisinha or leonine man, and thrashed the demon Hiranyakasipu as many times, as a lion kills a gigantic elephant.

वसुदेवगृहे विष्णोर्भुवो भारनिवृत्तये । अधुना षोडशं जन्म भविष्यति मुनीश्वर ॥ ३२ ॥

vasudevagṛhe viṣṇorbhuvo bhāranivṛttaye | adhunā ṣoḍaśaṃ janma bhaviṣyati munīśvara || 32 ||

Vishnu is yet to be born in his sixteenth incarnation at Vasudeva's abode, for the purpose of rescuing the earth from the burthen of the oppression of its tyrannic lords and despots.

जगन्मयी भ्रान्तिरियं न कदाचन विद्यते । विद्यते तु कदाचिच्च जलबुद्बुदवत्स्थिता ॥ ३३ ॥

jaganmayī bhrāntiriyaṃ na kadācana vidyate | vidyate tu kadācicca jalabudbudavatsthitā || 33 ||

This cosmic phenomenon is no reality, nor it is even in existence; it is but a temporary illusion, and appears as bubble of water to disappear in next moment.

दृश्यभ्रान्तिरनित्येयमन्तस्था संविदात्मनि । जायते लीयते चाशु लोला वीचिरिवाम्भसि ॥ ३४ ॥

dṛśyabhrāntiranityeyamantasthā saṃvidātmani | jāyate līyate cāśu lolā vīcirivāmbhasi || 34 ||

This temporary illusion of the phenomenals, rises and sets in the conscious soul of its own accord; as the boisterous billows heave and subside themselves in the bosom of the waters.

समेकसंनिवेशानि बहूनि विषमाणि च । तथार्धसमरूपाणि त्रिजगन्ति स्मराम्यहम् ॥ ३५ ॥

samekasaṃniveśāni bahūni viṣamāṇi ca | tathārdhasamarūpāṇi trijaganti smarāmyaham || 35 ||

I have known the world to be sometimes uniform in its course and in the state of things, at others there is a partial difference in their nature and order, and again total change has also been observed to take place in the constitution of things.

तान्येव तादृक्कर्माणि तथान्याचरणानि च । तत्कर्माणि तथान्यानि भूतानीह स्मराम्यहम् ॥ ३६ ॥

tānyeva tādṛkkarmāṇi tathānyācaraṇāni ca | tatkarmāṇi tathānyāni bhūtānīha smarāmyaham || 36 ||

I remember the former nature and state of things, and the manner and actions of bygone people and the usages of those times; I saw them give room to others in their turn and those again to be displaced by others.

प्रतिमन्वन्तरं ब्रह्मन्विपर्यस्ते जगत्क्रमे । संनिवेशेऽन्यथाजाते प्रयाते संश्रुते जने ॥ ३७ ॥

pratimanvantaraṃ brahmanviparyaste jagatkrame | saṃniveśe'nyathājāte prayāte saṃśrute jane || 37 ||

Every Manwantara or revolution of time; is attended O Brahman! with a reversion in the course of the world; and a new generation is born to supplant the old men of renown.

ममान्यान्येव मित्राणि अन्य एव च बन्धवः । अन्य एव नवा भृत्या अन्य एव समाश्रयाः ॥ ३८ ॥

mamānyānyeva mitrāṇi anya eva ca bandhavaḥ | anya eva navā bhṛtyā anya eva samāśrayāḥ || 38 ||

I have then a new set of friends and a new train of relatives; I get a new batch of servants, and a new habitation for my dwelling.

कदाचिदहमेकान्ते विन्ध्यकच्छकृतालयः । कदाचित्सह्यनिलयः कदाचिद्दर्दुरालयः ॥ ३९ ॥

kadācidahamekānte vindhyakacchakṛtālayaḥ | kadācitsahyanilayaḥ kadāciddardurālayaḥ || 39 ||

I had to remain some times in my solitary retreat by the side of the Vindhyan range, and some times on the ridge of the Sahya Mountain. I had at other times my residence on the Dardura Hills, and so my lodging is ever shifting from one place to another and never fixed in any spot forever.

कदाचिद्धिमवद्वासी कदाचिन्मलयाचलः । कदाचित्प्राक्तनेनैव संनिवेशेन भूधरम् ॥ ४० ॥

kadāciddhimavadvāsī kadācinmalayācalaḥ | kadācitprāktanenaiva saṃniveśena bhūdharam || 40 ||

I have often been a resident of the Himalayas, and of the Malaya Mountain in the South of India, and then led by destiny as described before, I have found my last abode on this mount of Meru.

चूतवृक्षे च शाखायां प्राप्य नीडं करोम्यहम् । अनाद्यन्तेषु यातेषु युगेषु मुनिनायक ॥ ४१ ॥

cūtavṛkṣe ca śākhāyāṃ prāpya nīḍaṃ karomyaham | anādyanteṣu yāteṣu yugeṣu munināyaka || 41 ||

By getting to it, I built my nest on the branch of an Amra or mango tree, and continued to live there, O chief of the Munis! for ages and time without end.

प्राक्तनेनैव जातोऽयं संनिवेशेन पादपः । देहं त्यक्त्वा सुखं साधो नातः परिणतिं गतः ॥ ४२ ॥

prāktanenaiva jāto'yaṃ saṃniveśena pādapaḥ | dehaṃ tyaktvā sukhaṃ sādho nātaḥ pariṇatiṃ gataḥ || 42 ||

It is by my pristine destiny that this tree has grown here for my residence, therefore, O sage! I can have no release from this body of mine to come to my desirable end.

तदीयेनैव जातोऽयं संनिवेशेन पादपः । ताते जीवति यैवाभूच्छोभास्य सुतरोस्तथा ॥ ४३ ॥

tadīyenaiva jāto'yaṃ saṃniveśena pādapaḥ | tāte jīvati yaivābhūcchobhāsya sutarostathā || 43 ||

It is by appointment of the predestination, that the same tree has grown here in the form of the kalpa arbour, which preserves the beauty even now, as it did at the time when my father Chanda had been living.

कृतप्राक्संनिवेशोऽयमहं स्थितिमिहागतः । नेहाभूदुत्तरा पूर्वं ककुब्नायं च भूधरः ॥ ४४ ॥

kṛtaprāksaṃniveśo'yamahaṃ sthitimihāgataḥ | nehābhūduttarā pūrvaṃ kakubnāyaṃ ca bhūdharaḥ || 44 ||

Being thus pre-ordained by destiny I was settled in this place, when there had been no distinction of the quarters of heaven as the north or east, nor of the sky or mountain.

दिगुत्तराभूदन्येयं पूर्वमेव महीधरः । एकैकदेहसंस्थानवीतब्रह्मनिशागमः ॥ ४५ ॥

diguttarābhūdanyeyaṃ pūrvameva mahīdharaḥ | ekaikadehasaṃsthānavītabrahmaniśāgamaḥ || 45 ||

Then the north was on another side, and this Meru was in another place;I was then one and alone, and devoid of any form or body, and was as bright as the essence, which is never shrouded by the darkness of night.

ध्यानान्ते तत्त्व एवैनं सर्गमालोक्य वेद्म्यहम् । अर्कादेर्ऋक्षसंच्चारान्मेर्वादिस्थानका दिशः ॥ ४६ ॥

dhyānānte tattva evainaṃ sargamālokya vedmyaham | arkāderṛkṣasaṃccārānmervādisthānakā diśaḥ || 46 ||

After awaking from the insensibility of my trance (at the beginning of another kalpa creation or of my generation), I saw and recognized all the objects of creation (as one comes to see and know the things about him after waking from the forgetfulness of his sleep); and knew the situations of the Meru and other hills and dales from the positions of the stars, and the motions of heavenly bodies.

संस्थानमन्यथा तस्मिन्स्थिते यान्ति दिशोऽन्यथा । न सन्नासज्जगन्मन्ये भ्रमयन्केवलं धियः ॥ ४७ ॥

saṃsthānamanyathā tasminsthite yānti diśo'nyathā | na sannāsajjaganmanye bhramayankevalaṃ dhiyaḥ || 47 ||

The site of the polar circle of Meru and the course of the planets being changed in different creations, there ensues an alteration of the points of the compass, and a difference in the sides of the quarters;therefore there is nothing as a positive truth, except our conception of it such and such.

आत्मस्पन्दचमत्कारविभवोऽयं विजृम्भते । पुत्रः पितृत्वमायाति मित्रं यात्यरितां तथा ॥ ४८ ॥

ātmaspandacamatkāravibhavo'yaṃ vijṛmbhate | putraḥ pitṛtvamāyāti mitraṃ yātyaritāṃ tathā || 48 ||

It is the vibration of the soul, that displays these wonderful conceptions in the mind; and excites the various phenomena in nature. It converts a son to a father and makes a son of the father, and represents a friend as a foe and again shows a foe in the light of a friend.

स्त्रीत्वं च शतशो यातान्पुंसश्चैव स्मराम्यहम् । कलौ कृतयुगाचारान्कृते कलियुगस्थितिम् ॥ ४९ ॥

strītvaṃ ca śataśo yātānpuṃsaścaiva smarāmyaham | kalau kṛtayugācārānkṛte kaliyugasthitim || 49 ||

I remember many men to become effeminate, and many women also to grow quite masculine; and I have seen the good manners of the golden age to prevail in Kali, and those of Iron-age gaining ground in its preceding ages.

त्रेतायां द्वापरे चैव संस्मरामि मुनीश्वर । अदृष्टवेदवेदार्थान्स्वसंकेतविहारिणः ॥ ५० ॥

tretāyāṃ dvāpare caiva saṃsmarāmi munīśvara | adṛṣṭavedavedārthānsvasaṃketavihāriṇaḥ || 50 ||

I have seen also many men in the Treta and Dwapara Yugas or the silver and brazen ages of the world, that were ignorant of the Vedas and unacquainted with their precepts; and followed the fictions of their own invention which led them to heterodoxy.

सर्गान्निरर्गलाचारान्क्वचित्कांश्चित्स्मराम्यहम् । ध्यातरि ब्रह्मणो ब्रह्मन्ससुरासुरमानुषम् ॥ ५१ ॥

sargānnirargalācārānkvacitkāṃścitsmarāmyaham | dhyātari brahmaṇo brahmansasurāsuramānuṣam || 51 ||

I remember also O Brahman! the laxity of manners and morals among the gods, demi gods and men since the beginning of the world.

चतुर्युगसहस्रान्ते जगच्छून्यं स्मराम्यहम् । मनोमनननिर्माणान्पार्थिवाकारवर्जितान् । व्याप्तान्वायुमयैर्भूतैर्दश सर्गान्स्मराम्यहम् ॥ ५२ ॥

caturyugasahasrānte jagacchūnyaṃ smarāmyaham | manomanananirmāṇānpārthivākāravarjitān | vyāptānvāyumayairbhūtairdaśa sargānsmarāmyaham || 52 ||

I remember after the lapse of a thousand cycles of the four Yuga ages, that Brahma created from his mind some aerial beings of unearthly forms; and these spiritual beings occupied a space extending over ten cycles of creations.

विचित्रसंस्थानविशेषदेशान्विचित्रकार्याकुलभूतकोशान् । विचित्रविन्यासविलासवेषान्स्मराम्यहं ब्रह्मदिनेष्वशेषाम् ॥ ५३ ॥

vicitrasaṃsthānaviśeṣadeśānvicitrakāryākulabhūtakośān | vicitravinyāsavilāsaveṣānsmarāmyahaṃ brahmadineṣvaśeṣām || 53 ||

I remember likewise the varying positions and boundaries of countries, and also the very changing and diversified actions and occupations of their people. I remember too the various costumes and fashions and amusements of men, during the ceaseless course of days and nights in the endless duration of time.