with virtue and profit have become covetous of Earth.  Endued with activity, they would even cast away their lives in battle, from hunger of wealth.  Earth is certainly the refuge of creatures endued with celestial bodies as also of creatures endued with human bodies.[64] Desirous of enjoying Earth, the kings, O chief of the Bharatas, have become like dogs that snatch meat from one another.  Their ambition is unbounded, knowing no gratification.[65] It is for this that the Kurus and the Pandavas are striving for possession of Earth, by negotiation, disunion, gift, and battle, O Bharata.  If Earth be well looked after, it becometh the father, mother, children, firmament and heaven, of all creatures, O bull among men.’”

SECTION X

“Dhritarashtra said,—­’Tell me, O Sanjaya, of the period of life, the strength, the good and bad things, the future, past and present, of the residents, O Suta, of this Varsha of Bharata, and of the Himavat-varsha, as also of Hari-varsha, in detail.”

“Sanjaya said,—­’O bull of Bharata’s race, four Yugas set in Bharata’s Varsha, viz., Krita, Treta, Dwapara, and Kali.  The Yuga that sets in first is Krita.  O Lord; after the expiry of Krita comes Treta; after expiry of Treta comes Dwapara; and after that last of all, sets in Kali.  Four thousand years, O best of the Kurus, are reckoned as the measure of life, O best of kings, in the Krita epoch.  Three thousand years is the period in Treta, O ruler of men.  At present in Dwapara, persons live on Earth for two thousand years.  In Kali, however, O bull of Bharata’s race, there is no fixed limit of life’s measure, in so much that men die while in the womb, as also soon after birth.  In the Krita age, O king, men are born and beget children, by hundreds and thousands, that are of great strength and great power, endued with the attribute of great wisdom, and possessed of wealth and handsome features.  In that age are born and begotten Munis endued with wealth of asceticism, capable of great exertion, possessed of high souls, and virtuous, and truthful in speech.  The Kshatriyas also, born in that age are of agreeable features, able-bodied, possessed of great energy, accomplished in the use of the bow, highly skilled in battle and exceedingly brave.  In the Treta age, O king, all the Kshatriya kings were emperors ruling from sea to sea.  In Treta are begotten brave Kshatriyas not subject to any one, endued with long lives, possessed of heroism, and wielding the bow in battle with great skill.  When Dwapara sets in, O king, all the (four) orders born become capable of great exertion, endued with great energy, and desirous of conquering one another.  The men born in Kali, O king, are endued with little energy, highly wrathful, covetous, and untruthful.  Jealousy, pride, anger, deception, malice and covetousness, O Bharata, are the attributes of creatures in the Kali age.  The portion that remains, O king, of this the Dwapara age, is small, O ruler of men.  The Varsha known as Haimavat is superior to Bharatavarsha, while Harivarsha is superior to Hainavatvarsha, in respect of all qualities.’