“Yudhishthira said, ’When the high righteousness suffers decay and is transgressed by all, when unrighteousness becomes righteousness, and righteousness assumes the form of its reverse, when all wholesome restraints disappear, and all truths in respect of righteousness are disturbed and confounded, when people are oppressed by kings and robbers, when men of all the four modes of life become stupefied in respect of their duties, and all acts lose their merit, when men see cause of fear on every direction in consequence of lust and covetousness and folly, when all creatures cease to trust one another, when they slay one another by deceitful means and deceive one another in their mutual dealings, when houses are burnt down throughout the country, when the Brahmanas become exceedingly afflicted, when the clouds do not pour a drop of rain, when every one’s hand is turned against every one’s neighbour, when all the necessaries of life fall under the power of robbers, when, indeed, such a season of terrible distress sets in, by what means should a Brahmana live who is unwilling to cast off compassion and his children?  How, indeed, should a Brahmana maintain himself at such a time?  Tell me this, O grandsire!  How also should the king live at such a time when sinfulness overtakes the world?  How, O scorcher of foes, should the king live so that he might not fall away from both righteousness and profit?’

“Bhishma said, ’O mighty-armed one, the peace and prosperity of subjects,[425] sufficiency and seasonableness of rain, disease, death and other fears, are all dependent on the king.[426] I have no doubt also in this.  O bull of Bharata’s race, that Krita, Treta, Dwapara, and Kali, as regards their setting in, are all dependent on the king’s conduct.  When such a season of misery as has been described by thee sets in, the righteous should support life by the aid of judgment.  In this connection is cited the old story of the discourse between Viswamitra and the Chandala in a hamlet inhabited by Chandalas.  Towards the end of Treta and the beginning of Dwapara, a frightful drought occurred, extending over twelve years, in consequence of what the gods had ordained.  At that time which was the end of Treta and the commencement of Dwapara, when the period came for many creatures superannuated by age to lay down their lives, the thousand-eyed deity of heaven poured no rain.  The planet Vrihaspati began to move in a retrograde course, and Soma abandoning his own orbit, receded towards the south.  Not even could a dew-drop be seen, what need then be said of clouds gathering together?  The rivers all shrank into narrow streamlets.  Everywhere lakes and wells and springs disappeared and lost their beauty in consequence of that order of things which the gods brought about.  Water having become scarce, the places set up by charity for its distribution became desolate.[427] The Brahmanas abstained from sacrifices and recitation of the Vedas.  They no longer uttered Vashats and performed other