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Linga Purana [chap. 40] – The end of Kali Yuga

It is the lowest instincts that spur the men of the Kali Yuga on. They prefer to choose false ideas. They do not hesitate to persecute sages. Desire torments them. Slovenliness, illness, hunger, and fear spread. There will be severe droughts. The different regions of countries will be in conflict with each other.

The sacred books are no longer respected. Men will be without morals, irritable and sectarian. In the age of Kali false doctrines and misleading writings spread. People are afraid because they neglect the rules taught by the sages and no Ionger carry out the rites correctly.

Many will perish.

The number of princes and farmers gradually declines. The working classes want to claim regal power and share the knowledge, meals, and beds of the ancient princes.

Most of the new leaders are of working-class origin. They will hunt down the priests and upholders of knowledge. Fetuses will be killed in the stomachs of their mothers and heroes will be assassinated, The Shudra will claim to behave like Brahmans and the priests like labourers.

Thieves will become kings, and kings will be the thieves.

Women who have relationships with several men will be numerous.

Everywhere the stability and balance of the four classes of society and the four ages of life will disappear. The earth will produce plenty in some places and too little in others.

Rulers will confiscate property and use it badly. They will cease to protect the people.

Base men who have gained a certain amount of learning (without having the virtues necessary for its use) will be esteemed as sages.

Men who do not possess the virtues of warriors will become kings. Scholars will be in the service of mediocre, conceited, and malevolent men.

Priests will degrade themselves by selling the sacraments.

There will be many displaced persons, wandering from one country to another.

The number of men will decrease, while that of women will increase.

Predatory animals will be more violent. The number of cows will diminish. Men of integrity will cease to play an active role.

Ready-cooked food will be on sale.

The sacred books will be sold on street corners. Young girls will do trade in their virginity. The god of the clouds will be inconsistent in the distribution of the rains. Shopkeepers will run dishonest businesses. They will be surrounded by pretentious, false philosophers. There will be many beggars and unemployed people. Everyone will use hard and vulgar language. No one will be able to trust anyone else. People will be envious. No one will want to return a favour.

The degradation of virtues and the censorship of hypocritical and moralizing puritans characterize the period of the end of the Kali Yuga. There will no Ionger be any kings. Wealth and harvests will decrease. Groups of bandits will organize in towns and in the country. Water will be lacking and fruit scarce. Thieves will be numerous. Rapes will be frequent. Many people will be treacherous, Iustful, base, and foolhardy. They will have disheveled hair. There will be many children born whose life expectancy is no more than sixteen years. Adventurers will take on the appearance of monks with shaven heads, orange clothing, and rosary beads around their necks. Wheat supplies will be stolen. Thieves will steal from thieves. People will become inactive, Iethargic, and purposeless. Illness, rats, and noxious substances will plague them.  People suffering from hunger and fear will take refuge in "underground shelters" (knushika).

People who live for a hundred years will be few. The sacred texts will be adulterated. Rites will be neglected. Vagabonds will be numerous in every country.

Heretics will rebel against the principle of the four castes and the four periods of life. Unqualified people will pass as experts in matters of morals and religion.

People will massacre women, children, cows, and one another.