of the lord of all creatures, the highest of the high,
called also Govinda! Beholding this foremost of all gods, this
ever-victorious Being, attired in yellow robes, this chief of the Vrishni
race, my recollection cometh back to me! This Madhava is the father and
mother of all creatures! Ye bulls of the Kuru race, seek ye the refuge of
this Protector!'

Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed, the sons of Pritha and those
bulls among men--the twins, along with Draupadi, all bowed down unto
Janardana. And that tiger among men deserving of every respect thus
revered by the sons of Pandu, then consoled them all with words of great
sweetness."

SECTION CLXXXIX

"Vaisampayana said Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, once more asked the
great Muni Markandeya about the future course of the government of the
Earth.

"And Yudhishthira said, 'O thou foremost of all speakers, O Muni of
Bhrigu's race, that which we have heard from thee about the destruction
and re-birth of all things at the end of the Yuga, is, indeed, full of
wonder! I am filled with curiosity, however, in respect of what may
happen in the Kali age. When morality and virtue will be at an end, what
will remain there! What will be the prowess of men in that age, what
their food, and what their amusements? What will be the period of life at
the end of the Yuga? What also is the limit, having attained which the
Krita age will begin anew? Tell me all in detail, O Muni, for all that
thou narratest is varied and delightful.'

"Thus addressed, that foremost of Munis began his discourse again,
delighting that tiger of the Vrishni race and the sons of Pandu as well.
And Markandeya said, 'Listen, O monarch, to all that hath been seen and
heard by me, and to all, O king of kings, that hath been known to me by
intuition from the grace of the God of gods! O bull of the Bharata race,
listen to me as I narrate the future history of the world during the
sinful age. O bull of the Bharata race, in the Krita age, everything was
free from deceit and guile and avarice and covetousness; and morality
like a bull was among men, with all the four legs complete. In the Treta
age sin took away one of these legs and morality had three legs. In the
Dwapara, sin and morality are mixed half and half; and accordingly
morality is said to have two legs only. In the dark age (of Kali), O thou
best of the Bharata race, morality mixed with three parts of sin liveth
by the side of men. Accordingl