Beware of the Effect of Kali

The Bhagavata Puran tells of Parikshit, the grandson of Arjuna. He was a virtuous and illustrious king. He saw a lame ox being beaten mercilessly by a stranger. The ox which had only one leg, was crying piteously. The ox appealed to Parikshit to save him, saying that he didn’t know why he was being tortured and by whom, but he was miserable.

Parikshit asked the stranger who he was and why he was beating the ox. The stranger fell at Parikshit’s feet, saying that he was Kali (Kali-yuga) and that he had not been given a place in Parikshit’s kingdom, so he was venting out his anger on the ox. He agreed to leave the ox alone, if Parikshit gave him a space in his kingdom.

Taking pity on Kali, Parikshit allowed him to reside in places of gambling, alcoholism, prostitution and animal slaughter. Kali said that places suchlike, were very few in Parikshit’s kingdom, so he wanted more. Parikshit conceded, saying that he may also reside in gold that was begotten by unfair or illegal means. Finally, Kali was satisfied and let the ox go.

One day, Parikshit found a beautiful gold crown, embellished with precious stones, in his palace vault. He wore it and went out for hunting. Tired and thirsty, he reached a hermitage. It was the dwelling of Rishi Samika, who sat deep in meditation while Parikshit yelled out, asking for water. The Rishi heard nothing. Parikshit saw a dead snake lying nearby. In a rage of anger, he garlanded the meditating sage’s neck with it, and stomped away.

Rishi Shringi, the son of Rishi Samika, saw the dead snake around his father’s neck and cursed whoever had done this misdeed, to insult his father. He said that the culprit would be bitten by a Takshak snake and would die on the seventh day.

When King Parikshit came to know about the curse that had befallen him, he realised his mistake and repented from his heart. He wanted to spend the last seven days of his life such that, he could attain Moksha. Many Rishis gathered there as Parikshit prepared to start his prayers. Shukadevji came by and recited to him, ‘The Bhagwat Puran’ that contains stories of God, written by Rishi Ved Vyasji.

The Takshak snake bit Parikshit on the seventh day and he died. But he attained Moksha because he had spent the last seven days of his life listening to the Bhagwad Puran!

Going back to the beginning … the Ox was Dharma. After Krishna left His body, the Pandavas left the kingdom to start their spiritual journey, and the decline of dharma started. Due to adharma's influence, the three legs of Dharma i.e. Penance, Purity and Compassion, had been destroyed. The ox was standing on the leg of Truth alone. Kali was beating it, so as to break the fourth leg too.

When Parikshit had asked Kali why he was beating the ox, Kali had touched the feet of Parikshit. That momentary physical contact with Kali was enough to pollute Parikshit’s mind and resulted in Parikshit’s conceding and sanctioning that Kali could stay in five places, in the kingdom of Parikshit! The lesson is huge … don’t give even a tiny portion of space to evil in your life. If evil enters, it surely spreads its tentacles far and wide. It has to be nipped in the bud.

The gold crown that Parikshit had found in the palace vault, was the crown of Jarasandha that had been snatched by the Pandavas, after killing him. It was gold that had been begotten by unfair means, and did not belong to the Pandavas, so the spirit of Kali was potent in it. Wearing it though unknowingly, polluted the mind of Parikshit, and he in a fit of anger and egoism, threw the dead snake around the neck of Rishi Samika!

Parikshit’s basic nature was virtuous. He would not normally have behaved as he did. But his behaviour at both times, was affected by the wrath of Kali! That is why it is said that one should stay at arm’s length from people whose character and morals are dubious, because a little touch can result in a flow of energy that could pollute our senses.

In India, our culture teaches us to join our hands and do Namaskar/ Namaste/ Pranaam. This signifies putting our mental faculties together to bow, greet and do naman (honour) to the divinity immanent in the other person. There being no physical contact, there is no unwanted exchange of energy. When the other person also says, “Namaskar/ Namaste,” he honours the divinity within us. Covid taught us that staying at arm’s length is the best way to control the spread of germs. And Namaskar, does just that. It always amazes me, how scientifically designed our customs are.

It is said that presently, Kali Yuga is at its peak. It is most potent in the five spaces aforementioned. In the contemporary world, shaking hands or even hugging is a way of greeting. It may not be possible to maintain physical distance from strangers, especially in crowded places like trains, buses, airports etc. It may be impossible to avoid places where flesh, liquor etc. are consumed, but we can gradually work towards eliminating them from our lives. The amount of crime, adultery, corruption, rape etc. that is rampant in society, is like never before. The desire for too much wealth (gold etc.) leads men to resort to unscrupulous means to acquire riches. This leads to downfall in morality. Let’s endeavour to keep the vices at bay, and stay safe from the clutches of Kali.

The Kali Yuga, is the fourth of the yugas. It commenced when Lord Krishna left his mortal coil. The Bhagavata Purana documents that the dark age of Kali would be the time of increasing deterioration, disorder and decline. But the Kali Yuga nevertheless, brings great opportunities because it is the time when spiritual advancement can be made easily and simply through Namasmarana, the remembrance of the Name of God!

Sri Sathya Sai Baba says, "This Kali Yuga is praised in the scriptures as incomparably conducive to the salvation of man, for he can now attain the Highest through the mere thought of God and remembering His Name. So of all the Yugas, this Yuga is described as the most holy, the most beneficent. Dhyana (meditation) was prescribed as the means of liberation for men in the Kritha Yuga, Ascetism as the means during the Tretha Yuga and ritual worship for the Dwapara Yuga. But, for people of this Yuga, the simple remedy prescribed is just Namasmarana, the constant awareness of the Name. In spite of this, it is a pity that men do not care for this path and so render their lives barren wastes."

If the astrological predictions are believed, the Kali yuga is coming to an end in just a few years. It would be only the God-loving, who would be under the protection of the Lord. Do think about this. This could lead to a life-changing resolutions!

Published in The Daily Guardian https://epaper.thedailyguardian.com/2025/10/31/chandigarh-01-november-2025/

 Dear reader, if you like the article, do subscribe to my blog and share this further please! I would be obliged ... God bless!