Start of Kali Yuga

Start of Kali Yuga | English Summary | B.ed | ICTE |

Start of Kali Yuga

-Devdutta pttanaik

Main Theme :

=> This story tells us that people were charitable in Satyayuga ,but they were greedy,injustice,sin,evil and selfish in Kaliyuga.

Characters:-

Shahadeva

Draupadi

Lord Krishna

Yudhishtira

Two farmers

Bhim

Mongoose

Nakula

SUMMARY

This story tells us that people were charitable in Satya Yuga but they are greedy and selfish in Kali Yuga. Yudhishtira’s Ashwamedha Yagna was the greatest Yagna in which all the Rishis who conducted the Yagna and chanted the Mantras were given food, clothing, and cows. In the ceremony, two farmers who refused to take the pot of gold came there and begged Yudhishtira to settle a dispute. One of the farmers had sold his land to the other and the other farmer found the pot of gold in the land and offered it to the old owner. But the old owner refused to take it. Being unable to settle the charitable dispute of the farmers, Yudhishtira sought Krishna’s advice. Krishna suggested leaving their pot of gold with the king and returning after three months. And after three months the same two farmers would come and fight furiously to be its sole owners. Three months later, Yudhishtira’s Yagna would conclude and the Kali-yuga would start. In Kaliyuga, men would live for pleasure, children would abandon responsibility, and human beings would engage in gratification. There would not be justice and pure love.

When all the ceremonies ended after three months, a Mongoose jumped into the fire-pit, rubbed its normal side on the charred remains of the ritual and then left the altar with a disappointed look. It complained that in an earlier rituals its half body turned into gold after rubbing but that ritual didn’t turn its remained body into gold that it hoped to be changed. It said that it rubbed its body earlier on the leaves on which food was offered to guests by poor family being themselves starved. The Rishis realized that Yudhishtira’s sacrifice was less charity and more about royal power. Hence, it was a lesser ritual. So ,with the down of Kaliyuga, the Pandavs would change their behavior. Arjun would submit to conceit, Bhim to gluttony, Nakul to pleasure and Shahadeva to arrogance. Only Yudhishtira would cling to his responsibility.

Meaning:

Conceit=too proud of yourself,vain

Gluttony=excess in eating or drinking

Gratification=satisfaction

Possible Question-Answer from this chapter

a)What is the moral of the story of the two farmers?

b)What does the Mongoose story suggest?

c)What, according to Krishna, would happen in Kali Yuga? Give details.

d)Are we live in a kaliyuga?

Ans. According to Lord Shree Krishna, in kaliyuga, a new age would commence where nothing would be as it was as compared to the previous Yuga. People will live for pleasure children abandon responsibility and human beings engage in gratification There would be no justice and pure love. People would be hypocritical. Human will copulate like beasts. The law and Justice will be applied only based on one's power Only, wealth will be considered the sign of a man's good birth, proper behaviour & good qualities Moreover, Kaliyuga would promote greediness, barbarism, disputes, war, destruction, discrimination and last but not least the downfall of human civilization.

d) Are we living in Kaliyuga ?

Ans. Yes, we are living in Kaliyuga. We are not as charitable as the people of Satya Yuga, We live for pleasure. Women are like men and men are like women. Now, power is respected, there is no justice in the world and nobody likes to sacrifice for charity. The people of the world are money minded and materialistic. Individual pleasure and selfish nature is found everywhere. People are more greedy and less helpful. In the name of wealth, people kill other; violence, rape, robbery, exploitation, etc. are common. People are more materialistic and less spiritual. They are wearing the mask of humanity but they behave like beasts. There is no true harmony in the society. The mind is full with greed and corruption. So, we are living in Kaliyuga.