Text 37] The Pandavas Retire Timely 817

yudhisthirah— Maharaja Yudhisthira; tat—that ; parisarpanam—expansion;
budhah—thoroughly experienced; pure—in the capital; ca—as also; rastre—
in the state; ca—and; grhe—at home; tathad—as also; atmani—in person;
vibhavya—in creating; lobha—avarice; anrta—untruth; jihma—diplomacy;
himsanadi—violence, envy; adharma—irreligion; cakram—a vicious circle;
gamanaya—for departure; paryadhat— dressed himself accordingly.

TRANSLATION

Maharaja Yudhisthira was intelligent enough to understand the influ-
ence of the age of Kali (characterized by increasing avarice, falsehood,
cheating and violence throughout the capital, state and home and among
individuals). So he wisely prepared himself to leave home, and he dressed
accordingly.

PURPORT

The present age is influenced by the specific qualities of Kali, and
since the days of the Battle of Kuruksetra, about five thousand years ago,
the influence of the age of Kali began manifesting, and from authentic
scriptures it is learned that the age of Kali is still to run on for 427,000
years. The symptoms of the Kali-yuga, as mentioned above, namely
avarice, falsehood, diplomacy, cheating, nepotism, violence and all such
things, are already in vogue, and no one can imagine what is going to
happen gradually with further increase of the influence of Kali till the day
of annihilation. We have already come to know that the influence of the
age of Kali is meant for godless so-called civilized man, otherwise those
who are under the protection of the Lord have nothing to fear from this
horrible age. Maharaja Yudhisthira was a great devotee of the Lord, and
there was no necessity of his being afraid of the age of Kali, but he pre-
ferred to retire from active household life and prepare himself to go back
home, back to Godhead. The Pandavas are eternal companions of the
Lord, and therefore they are more interested in the company of the Lord
than anything else. Besides that, being an ideal king, Maharaja Yudhisthira
wanted to retire just to set an example for others. As soon as there is some
young fellow to look after the household affairs, one should at once
retire from family life to uplift oneself to spiritual realization. No one
should rot in the dark well of household life till one is dragged by the will
of Yamaraja. Modern politicians should take lessons from Maharaja
Yudhisthira about voluntary retirement from active life and should make
raam far the vounser generation. Also retired old gentlemen should take a
