The Sages’ Concern About Kali Yuga
Once, as Kali Yuga was approaching, the great sages were very worried about the upcoming time. They were concerned about the problems people would face in this age and thought they should approach the greatest sage of their time, the all-knowing Bhagavan Veda Vyasa, an incarnation of Lord Krishna, for a solution.
Unexpected Glorification
Upon arriving at his ashrama, they found Veda Vyasa bathing in the river Ganga and shouting: “Jaya Kali Yuga! Jaya Kali Yuga! Jaya Kali Yuga!” The sages were amazed and confused by what they heard. They had come to ask for a solution to the problems of Kali Yuga, but instead, they heard the sage glorifying this worst of all ages.
Veda Vyasa’s Explanation
As Veda Vyasa emerged from the water, he welcomed the sages with proper respect and asked how he could serve them. The sages explained their intention to ask for a solution to the problems of Kali Yuga, but they were puzzled by his glorification of Kali Yuga. They asked him to explain this mystery.
Three Glories of Kali Yuga
Smiling, Veda Vyasa replied to them:
1. Jaya Kali Yuga for Women
“Glorious are the women in Kali Yuga who are dedicated to their husbands. They just need to love and serve their husbands, and they are given complete protection. They achieve perfection through their husbands without doing any tapasya or spiritual sadhana.”
2. Jaya Kali Yuga for Dedicated Servants
“Servants just need to serve their masters. Masters sometimes must engage in deceitful activities to maintain business or get involved in politics, accumulating sins. But the servant just needs to serve and is not responsible for the master’s actions. In the same time, he gets all benefits and protection.”
3. Jaya Kali Yuga for the Chanting of the Holy Name
“In this age, almost all efforts are full of mistakes and problems. But by seriously taking up the chanting of the holy name, one can very quickly cross the ocean of material existence and achieve the Supreme abode of the Lord, Vaikuntha.”
Lesson to Be Learned
The sages were instructed by the great sage Veda Vyasa, and they took very seriously the chanting of the holy name on their lips as they returned to their abodes.
Moral of the Story
From Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.51:
kaler dosha-nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunah kirtanad eva krishnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet
“My dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.”
Prayer
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
May we all take refuge in the holy names of the Lord, chant with sincerity and devotion, and overcome the challenges of Kali Yuga.
PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward and share these moral/instructive stories so that everyone can be benefited by hearing about Krishna and His dear devotees.
