owards all creatures as towards
their own selves. They never allowed the emission of the vital seed into
empty space, into inferior animals, into forbidden wombs, or on sacred
days. They were always distinguished for gifts, for cleverness, for
simplicity, for hopeful exertion, for humility, for friendliness, and for
forgiveness. And, O puissant one, truth, charity, penance, purity,
compassion, soft speeches and absence of animosity towards friends,--all
these were always in them. Slumber, procrastination, fretfulness, envy,
and want of foresight, discontent, melancholy, cupidity never assailed
them. In consequence of the Danavas having been distinguished for these
good qualities, I dwelt with them from the beginning of the creation for
many yugas together. Times were altered, and that alteration brought
about an alteration in the character of the Danavas. I saw that virtue
and morality deserted them and they began to own the sway of lust and
wrath. Persons, though themselves inferior in attainments, began to
cherish animosities towards seniors in age possessed of superior
qualifications, and while the latter, possessed of virtue and merit, used
to speak upon proper topics in the midst of assemblies, the former began
to ridicule or laugh at them. When reverend seniors in age came, the
younger individuals, seated at their ease, refused to adore the former by
rising up and saluting them with respect. In the presence of sires, sons
began to exercise power (in matters that concerned sires alone). They
that were not in receipt of wages accepted service and shamelessly
proclaimed the fact. Those amongst them that succeeded in amassing great
wealth by doing unrighteous and censurable deeds came to be held in
esteem.[860] During the night they began to indulge in loud screams and
shrieks. Their homa fires ceased to send bright and upward flames. Sons
began to lord it over sires, and wives dominated over husbands. Mothers,
fathers, aged seniors, preceptors, guests, and guides ceased to command
respect for their superior status. People ceased to bring up with
affection their own offspring but began to desert them. Without giving
away the defined portion in alms and reserving the fixed portion for
offering it unto the gods, every one ate what he had. Indeed, without
offering their goods to the deities in sacrifices and without sharing
them with the Pitris, the gods, guests, and reverend seniors, they
appropriated them to their own us