Chapter 1 – King Parikshit and Kali Yuga

After the birth of the universe, its cosmic age was distinguished in four different eras. Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga and Kali Yuga.

First one is ‘Satya Yuga’, which can be said to be the Golden age. In this era, all living creatures had very long lifespans and they lived without conflicts.

Second cosmic age is called ‘Treta Yuga’, can also be called as silver age. Span of this era was three fourths of Satya Yuga. In this era, conflicts started between everyone and morality of people dropped. It can be said that out of four people, three people were good and one was crooked.

The third cosmic age is called ‘Dvapara Yuga’ and can also be called Bronze age. The span of this era was half of ‘Satya Yuga’. In this era, the morality of people dropped to half. All in average, out of two people, one was good and one was crooked.

The fourth and last era ‘Kali Yuga’ is the current era. We can also call it the Iron age. This current era’s span is quarter of Satya Yuga. It is said that out of four people, three people are crooked. As compared to Satya Yuga, as morality among people reduced, average lifespan of individuals was also reduced.

War of Mahabharat took place at the end of the Dvapara Yuga. After the war, it was the beginning of the new era ‘Kali Yuga’ but, as Lord Shree Krishna was still alive, Kali Yuga didn’t show its effects because Lord Shree Krishna was able to control it.

As a cosmic rule for the cycle of life, whoever gets born will follow death one day. Lord Shree Krishna also passed away. Pandavas who were also very close to Lord Shree Krishna, after hearing news of his death, they handed over kingdom of Hastinapur to their grandson ‘Parikshit’, son of Abhimanyu and went on journey toward Himalaya to follow path of Lord Shree Krishna by getting themselves frozen to death.

The effects of Kali Yuga were spreading widely and as a good ruler, king Parikshit tried his best to control it. He performed many Yagnas and donations to divert people's attention towards religious activities so they wouldn't be affected by Kali Yuga.

One day, when king Parikshit was performing Yagna, at the end of Yagna, he noticed that one person was hurting cows which were sitting nearby. The person was morally degraded and atheist. In other words, he was fully influenced by Kali Yuga. As cow was considered holy, king couldn't let the person leave alive who hurts cows so he pulled his sword to kill him.

Seeing that the king was coming towards him, the person ran away and the king followed behind. With fear, while running, he asked, "King, I am a small person who couldn't catch the attention of anybody. Why do you, who is on top of this nation, want to kill me?"

While following behind, king Parikshit reverted, "Don't you know it's sin to harm cows? Who are you and why are you hurting them?"

Person replied, "King, I can be called Kali Purush and I don't believe in Gods. I simply live my life as I please. There is nothing wrong in living my life as I please. You kings also live like that."

King responded, "It's nothing wrong with living life as you please but you are completely influenced by Kali Yuga. If I leave you alive, you will affect other people and they will also morally degrade themselves. So, I must eliminate you."

Kali Purush pleaded, "King, there are many people like me. How many will you kill? We don't have any place we belong to, so we wander around. Instead of killing us, why don't you provide us a place to live so we wouldn't affect good people?"

Hearing this, king Parikshit started thinking while chasing him. After some time, he stopped and told Kali Purush, “Ok. I will give you a place to stay.  You can live in places where gambling, alcoholism, debauchery and violence is taking place.”

Kali Purush stopped and replied, “These places are not enough to live our life. Please provide us with mediums.”

King thought about something and replied, “How about this? You take gold as a medium to live your life?”

Kali Purush smiled and replied, “We accept your generosity. As you have given your words, you will also be bound by it. As you choose gold as medium for our living, your crown is also made of gold. If you hand it over, you will not be infected by us.”

Listening to his words, the king replied, this crown symbolises responsibility and I can’t hand it to you. And be sure that this much gold will not affect me.”

After that, the king returned back and announced his decision. Places with gambling, alcoholism, debauchery and violence, where people leave their moral values, were considered as home of Kali Yuga and gold as a medium to spread its effects. He told people to avoid these things to protect themselves from getting influenced by Kali Yuga. King himself also followed his declaration to spread positive vibes.