Yuga is a time scale widely popular in Indian subcontinents. As we refer to one century as a hundred years, hundreds of centuries become one Yuga. Hindu texts say there are four yugas which equal one Maha Yuga.

    There are different theories regarding the total number of years comprising four yugas. Based on astrological data and research, most scholars today believe that we already passed the dark age of Kali about 300 years ago. This was first mentioned In the book “The Holy Science” by Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri.

    Modern science says time is relative and is also considered an illusion. One can live in Kali Yuga while others in Dwapara Yuga or any other Yuga. Ancient hindu texts also support what modern philosophers and spiritual guru says about this scale of time and the traits of people living in various Yugas.

    Kalki Avatar of Lord Vishnu

    Whatever age or Yuga we live in, we wanted to look into one of the most popular Puranas of Hindu dharma, Srimad Bhagavatam.

    Chapter Two of Canto Twelve of Srimad Bhagavatam or Srimad Bhagavata Purana Talks about the Kali Yuga. In this chapter, you can find the list of predictions and prophecies about the dark times of the Kali Yuga.

    The last avatar of Lord Vishnu will descend as Kalki to destroy the effects of Kali, and Satya Yuga will begin, according to Srimad Bhagavata Purana.

    In the order of Satya, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali, the cycle of four ages rotates in the society of living entities in this universe. The chapter ends with a brief description and predictions of the future dynasties of the sun and moon coming from Vaivasvata Manu in the next Satya-yuga.

    The Symptoms of Kali Yuga

    The Symptoms of Kaliyuga - Ancient Hindu Predictions

    SB 12.2.1

    sri-suka uvaca
    tatas canu-dinam dharmah
    satyam saucam ksama daya
    kalena balina rajan
    nanksyaty ayur balam smrtih

    Translation

    Sukadeva Gosvami said: Then, O King, religion, truthfulness, cleanliness, tolerance, mercy, duration of life, physical strength, and memory will all diminish day by day because of the powerful influence of the age of Kali.

    SB 12.2.2

    vittam eva kalau nrnam
    janmacara-gunodayah
    dharma-nyaya-vyavasthayam
    karanam balam eva hi

    Translation

    In Kali-yuga, wealth alone will be considered the sign of a man’s good birth, proper behavior, and fine qualities. And law and justice will be applied only based on one’s power.

    SB 12.2.3

    dampatye ’bhirucir hetur
    mayaiva vyavaharike
    stritve pumstve ca hi ratir
    vipratve sutram eva hi

    Translation

    Men and women will live together merely because of superficial attraction, and success in business will depend on deceit. Womanliness and manliness will be judged according to one’s expertise in sex, and a man will be known as a brahmana just by his wearing a thread.

    SB 12.2.4

    lingam evasrama-khyatav
    anyonyapatti-karanam
    avrttya nyaya-daurbalyam
    panditye capalam vacah

    Translation

    A person’s spiritual position will be ascertained merely according to external symbols, and on that same basis people will change from one spiritual order to the next. A person’s propriety will be seriously questioned if he does not earn a good living. And one who is very clever at juggling words will be considered a learned scholar.

    SB 12.2.5

    anadhyataivasadhutve
    sadhutve dambha eva tu
    svikara eva codvahe
    snanam eva prasadhanam

    Translation

    A person will be judged unholy if he does not have money, and hypocrisy will be accepted as virtue. Marriage will be arranged simply by verbal agreement, and a person will think he is fit to appear in public if he has merely taken a bath.

    SB 12.2.6

    dure vary-ayanam tirtham
    lavanyam kesa-dharanam
    udaram-bharata svarthah
    satyatve dharstyam eva hi

    daksyam kutumba-bharanam
    yaso ’rthe dharma-sevanam

    Translation

    A sacred place will be taken to consist of no more than a reservoir of water located at a distance, and beauty will be thought to depend on one’s hairstyle. Filling the belly will become the goal of life, and one who is audacious will be accepted as truthful. He who can maintain a family will be regarded as an expert man, and the principles of religion will be observed only for the sake of reputation.

    SB 12.2.7

    evam prajabhir dustabhir
    akirne ksiti-mandale
    brahma-vit-ksatra-sudranam
    yo bali bhavita nrpah

    Translation

    As the earth thus becomes crowded with a corrupt population, whoever among any of the social classes shows himself to be the strongest will gain political power.

    SB 12.2.8

    praja hi lubdhai rajanyair
    nirghrnair dasyu-dharmabhih
    acchinna-dara-dravina
    yasyanti giri-kananam

    Translation

    Losing their wives and properties to such avaricious and merciless rulers, who will behave no better than ordinary thieves, the citizens will flee to the mountains and forests.

    SB 12.2.9

    saka-mulamisa-ksaudra-
    phala-puspasti-bhojanah
    anavrstya vinanksyanti
    durbhiksa-kara-piditah

    Translation

    Harassed by famine and excessive taxes, people will resort to eating leaves, roots, flesh, wild honey, fruits, flowers, and seeds. Struck by drought, they will become completely ruined.

    SB 12.2.10

    sita-vatatapa-pravrd-
    himair anyonyatah prajah
    ksut-trdbhyam vyadhibhis caiva
    santapsyante ca cintaya

    Translation

    The citizens will suffer greatly from cold, wind, heat, rain, and snow. They will be further tormented by quarrels, hunger, thirst, disease, and severe anxiety.

    SB 12.2.11

    trimsad vimsati varsani
    paramayuh kalau nrnam

    Translation

    The maximum duration of life for human beings in Kali-yuga will become fifty years.

    SB 12.2.12-16

    ksiyamanesu dehesu
    dehinam kali-dosatah
    varnasramavatam dharme
    naste veda-pathe nrnam

    pasanda-pracure dharme
    dasyu-prayesu rajasu
    cauryanrta-vrtha-himsa-
    nana-vrttisu vai nrsu

    sudra-prayesu varnesu
    cchaga-prayasu dhenusu
    grha-prayesv asramesu
    yauna-prayesu bandhusu

    anu-prayasv osadhisu
    sami-prayesu sthasnusu
    vidyut-prayesu meghesu
    sunya-prayesu sadmasu

    ittham kalau gata-praye
    janesu khara-dharmisu
    dharma-tranaya sattvena
    bhagavan avatarisyati

    Translation

    By the time the age of Kali ends, the bodies of all creatures will be greatly reduced in size, and the religious principles of followers of varnashrama will be ruined. The path of the Vedas will be completely forgotten in human society, and the so-called religion will be mostly atheistic.

    The kings will mostly be thieves, the occupations of men will be stealing, lying, and needless violence, and all the social classes will be reduced to the lowest level of Sudras. Cows will be like goats, spiritual hermitages will be no different from mundane houses, and family ties will extend no further than the immediate bonds of marriage.

    Most plants and herbs will be tiny, and all trees will appear like dwarf sami trees. Clouds will be full of lightning, homes will be devoid of piety, and all human beings will have become like asses. At that time, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will appear on the earth. Acting with the power of pure spiritual goodness, He will rescue eternal religion.

    SB 12.2.17

    caracara-guror visnor
    isvarasyakhilatmanah
    dharma-tranaya sadhunam
    janma karmapanuttaye

    Translation

    Lord Visnu—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the spiritual master of all moving and nonmoving living beings, and the Supreme Soul of all—takes birth to protect the principles of religion and to relieve His saintly devotees from the reactions of material work.

    SB 12.2.18

    sambhala-grama-mukhyasya
    brahmanasya mahatmanah
    bhavane visnuyasasah
    kalkih pradurbhavisyati

    Translation

    Lord Kalki will appear in the home of the most eminent brahmana of Sambhala village, the great soul Visnuyasa.

    SB 12.2.19-20

    asvam asu-gam aruhya
    devadattam jagat-patih
    asinasadhu-damanam
    astaisvarya-gunanvitah

    vicarann asuna ksaunyam
    hayenapratima-dyutih
    nrpa-linga-cchado dasyun
    kotiso nihanisyati

    Translation

    Lord Kalki, the Lord of the universe, will mount His swift horse Devadatta and, sword in hand, travel over the earth exhibiting His eight mystic opulence and eight special qualities of Godhead. Displaying His unequaled effulgence and riding with great speed, He will kill the millions of those thieves who have dared dress as kings.

    SB 12.2.21

    atha tesam bhavisyanti
    manamsi visadani vai
    vasudevanga-ragati-
    punya-gandhanila-sprsam

    paura-janapadanam vai
    hatesv akhila-dasyusu

    Translation

    After all the impostor kings have been killed, the residents of the cities and towns will feel the breezes carrying the most sacred fragrance of the sandalwood paste and other decorations of Lord Vasudeva, and their minds will thereby become transcendentally pure.

    SB 12.2.22

    tesam praja-visargas ca
    sthavisthah sambhavisyati
    vasudeve bhagavati
    sattva-murtau hrdi sthite

    Translation

    When Lord Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appears in their hearts in His transcendental form of goodness, the remaining citizens will abundantly repopulate the earth.

    SB 12.2.23

    yadavatirno bhagavan
    kalkir dharma-patir harih
    krtam bhavisyati tada
    praja-sutis ca sattviki

    Translation

    When the Supreme Lord has appeared on earth as Kalki, the maintainer of religion, Satya-yuga will begin, and human society will bring forth progeny in the mode of goodness.

    SB 12.2.24

    yada candras ca suryas ca
    tatha tisya-brhaspati
    eka-rasau samesyanti
    bhavisyati tada krtam

    Translation

    When the moon, the sun, and Brihaspati are together in the constellation Karkata, and all three enter simultaneously into the lunar mansion Pusya—at that exact moment the age of Satya, or Krta, will begin.

    SB 12.2.25

    ye ’tita vartamana ye
    bhavisyanti ca parthivah
    te ta uddesatah prokta
    vamsiyah soma-suryayoh

    Translation

    Thus I have described all the kings—past, present, and future—who belong to the dynasties of the sun and the moon.

    SB 12.2.26

    arabhya bhavato janma
    yavan nandabhisecanam
    etad varsa-sahasram tu
    satam pancadasottaram

    Translation

    From your birth up to the coronation of King Nanda, 1,150 years will pass.

    SB 12.2.27-28

    saptarsinam tu yau purvau
    drsyete uditau divi
    tayos tu madhye naksatram
    drsyate yat samam nisi

    tenaiva rsayo yuktas
    tisthanty abda-satam nrnam
    te tvadiye dvijah kala
    adhuna casrita maghah

    Translation

    Of the seven stars forming the constellation of the seven sages, Pulaha and Kratu are the first to rise in the night sky. If a line running north and south were drawn through their midpoint, whichever of the lunar mansions this line passes through is said to be the ruling asterism of the constellation for that time.

    The Seven Sages will remain connected with that particular lunar mansion for one hundred human years. Currently, during your lifetime, they are situated in the nakshatra called Magha.

    SB 12.2.29

    visnor bhagavato bhanuh
    krsnakhyo ’sau divam gatah
    tadavisat kalir lokam
    pape yad ramate janah

    Translation

    The Supreme Lord, Visnu, is brilliant like the sun and is known as Krsna. When He returned to the spiritual sky, Kali entered this world, and people then began to take pleasure in sinful activities.

    SB 12.2.30

    yavat sa pada-padmabhyam
    sprsan aste rama-patih
    tavat kalir vai prthivim
    parakrantum na casakat

    Translation

    As long as Lord Sri Krishna, the husband of the goddess of fortune, touched the earth with His lotus feet, Kali was powerless to subdue this planet.

    SB 12.2.31

    yada devarsayah sapta
    maghasu vicaranti hi
    tada pravrttas tu kalir
    dvadasabda-satatmakah

    Translation

    When the constellation of the seven sages passes through the lunar mansion Magha, the age of Kali begins. It comprises twelve hundred years of the demigods.

    SB 12.2.32

    yada maghabhyo yasyanti
    purvasadham maharsayah
    tada nandat prabhrty esa
    kalir vrddhim gamisyati

    Translation

    When the great sages of the Saptarsi constellation pass from Magha to Purvasadha, Kali will have full strength, beginning with King Nanda and his dynasty.

    SB 12.2.33

    yasmin krsno divam yatas
    tasminn eva tadahani
    pratipannam kali-yugam
    iti prahuh pura-vidah

    Translation

    Those who scientifically understand the past declare that on the day that Lord Sri Krishna departed for the spiritual world, the influence of the age of Kali began.

    SB 12.2.34

    divyabdanam sahasrante
    caturthe tu punah krtam
    bhavisyati tada nrnam
    mana atma-prakasakam

    Translation

    After the one thousand celestial years of Kali-yuga, the Satya-yuga will manifest again. At that time the minds of all men will become self-effulgent.

    SB 12.2.35

    ity esa manavo vamso
    yatha sankhyayate bhuvi
    tatha vit-sudra-vipranam
    tas ta jneya yuge yuge

    Translation

    Thus I have described the royal dynasty of Manu as it is known on this earth. One can similarly study the history of the vaisyas, sudras and brahmanas living in the various ages.

    SB 12.2.36

    etesam nama-linganam
    purusanam mahatmanam
    katha-matravasistanam
    kirtir eva sthita bhuvi

    Translation

    These personalities, who were great souls, are now known only by their names. They exist only in accounts from the past, and only their fame remains on the earth.

    SB 12.2.37

    devapih santanor bhrata
    marus ceksvaku-vamsa-jah
    kalapa-grama asate
    maha-yoga-balanvitau

    Translation

    Devapi, the brother of Maharaja Santanu, and Maru, the descendant of Iksvaku, both possess great mystic strength and live even now in the village of Kalapa.

    SB 12.2.38

    tav ihaitya kaler ante
    vasudevanusiksitau
    varnasrama-yutam dharmam
    purva-vat prathayisyatah

    Translation

    At the end of the age of Kali, these two kings, having received instruction directly from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, will return to human society and reestablish the eternal religion of man, characterized by the divisions of varna and asrama, just as it was before.

    SB 12.2.39

    krtam treta dvaparam ca
    kalis ceti catur-yugam
    anena krama-yogena
    bhuvi pranisu vartate

    Translation

    The cycle of four ages—Satya, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali—continues perpetually among living beings on this earth, repeating the same general sequence of events.

    SB 12.2.40

    rajann ete maya prokta
    nara-devas tathapare
    bhumau mamatvam krtvante
    hitvemam nidhanam gatah

    Translation

    My dear King Parikshit, all these kings I have described, as well as all other human beings, come to this earth and stake their claims, but ultimately they all must give up this world and meet their destruction.

    SB 12.2.41

    krmi-vid-bhasma-samjnante
    raja-namno ’pi yasya ca
    bhuta-dhruk tat-krte svartham
    kim veda nirayo yatah

    Translation

    Even though a person’s body may now have the designation “king,” in the end, its name will be “worms,” “stool” or “ashes.” What can a person who injures other living beings for the sake of his body know about his own self-interest since his activities are simply leading him to hell?

    SB 12.2.42

    katham seyam akhanda bhuh
    purvair me purusair dhrta
    mat-putrasya ca pautrasya
    mat-purva vamsa-jasya va

    Translation

    [The materialistic king thinks:] “This unbounded earth was held by my predecessors and is now under my sovereignty. How can I arrange for it to remain in the hands of my sons, grandsons and other descendants?”

    SB 12.2.43

    tejo-’b-anna-mayam kayam
    grhitvatmatayabudhah
    mahim mamataya cobhau
    hitvante ’darsanam gatah

    Translation

    Although the foolish accept the body made of earth, water, and fire as “me” and this earth as “mine,” in every case, they have ultimately abandoned both their body and the earth and passed away into oblivion.

    SB 12.2.44

    ye ye bhu-patayo rajan
    bhunjate bhuvam ojasa
    kalena te krtah sarve
    katha-matrah kathasu ca

    Translation

    My dear King Parikshit, all these kings who tried to enjoy the earth by their strength were reduced by the force of time to nothing more than historical accounts.


    Thus end of the Twelfth Canto, Second Chapter of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “The Symptoms of Kali-yuga.”