In the last canto of the Bhagavad Purana, there is a list of predictions and prophecies about the dark times for the present age of Kali Yuga. These predictions are so true in nature that for every prediction, you can find 100s of examples.
Age of diminishing returns
Religion, truthfulness, cleanliness, tolerance, mercy, duration of life, physical strength and memory – all will diminish day by day because of the powerful influence of the age of Kali. (Source: Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.1)
It’s all about money, baby
In Kali Yuga, wealth alone will be considered the sign of a man’s good birth, proper behaviour and fine qualities. And, law and justice will be applied only on the basis of one’s power. (Source: Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.2)
Superficiality will rule
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 ones expertise in sex, and a man will be known as a brahman just by his wearing a thread. (Source: Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.3)
Clever and scholarly
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. (Source: Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.4)
Hail hypocrisy!
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. (Source: Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.5)
Reputation in religion
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. (Source: Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.6)
Corruption to rule the roost
As the earth thus becomes crowded with a corrupt population, whoever among any of their social classes shows himself to be the strongest will gain political power. (Source: Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.7)
Nature only saviour
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. (Source: Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.9)
Vagaries of the weather
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. (Source: Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.10)
Only half-a-century of life
The maximum duration of life for human beings in Kali Yuga will become 50 years. (Source: Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.11)
Fratricide for the sake of money
In Kali Yuga men will develop hatred for each other even over a few coins. Giving up all friendly relations, they will be ready to lose their own lives and kill even their own relatives. (Source: Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.41)
Nothing religious about it
Uncultured men will accept charity on behalf of the Lord and will earn their livelihood by making a show of austerity and wearing a mendicant’s dress. Those who know nothing about religion will mount a high seat and presume to speak on religious principles. (Source: Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.38)
No money, no service
Servants will abandon a master who has lost his wealth, even if that master is a saintly person of exemplary character. Masters will abandon an incapacitated servant, even if that servant has been in the family for generations. (Source: Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.36)
Can you depend on your family?
Men will no longer protect their elderly parents. “Na rakshishyanti manujah….sthavirau pitarav api” (Source: Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.42)
