kaliḿ sabhājayanty āryā guṇa jñāḥ sāra-bhāginaḥ yatra sańkīrtanenaiva sarva-svārtho 'bhilabhyate SYNONYMS kalim — the age of Kali; sabhājayanti — they praise; āryāḥ — progressive souls; guṇa-jñaḥ — who know the true value (of the age); sāra-bhāginaḥ — who are able to pick out the essence; yatra — in which; sańkīrtanena — by the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Supreme Lord; eva — merely; sarva — all; sva-arthaḥ — desired goals; abhilabhyate — are attained. TRANSLATION Those who are actually advanced in knowledge are able to appreciate the essential value of this age of Kali. Such enlightened persons worship Kali-yuga because in this fallen age all perfection of life can easily be achieved by the performance of sańkīrtana. PURPORT It is stated here that among the four ages — Satya, Tretā, Dvāpara and Kali — Kali-yuga is actually the best because in this age the Lord mercifully distributes the highest perfection of consciousness, namely Kṛṣṇa consciousness, very freely. The word ārya has been defined by Śrīla Prabhupāda as "one who is advancing spiritually." The nature of an advanced person is to search for the essence of life. For example, the essence of the material body is not the body itself but the spirit soul that is within the body; therefore an intelligent person gives more attention to the eternal spirit soul than to the temporary body. Similarly, although Kali-yuga is considered to be an ocean of contamination, there is also an ocean of good fortune in Kali-yuga, namely the sańkīrtana movement. In other words, all of the degraded qualities of this age are completely counteracted by the process of chanting the holy names of the Lord. Thus it is stated in the Vedic language, dhyāyan kṛte yajan yajñais tretāyāḿ dvāpare 'rcayan yad āpnoti tad āpnoti kalau sańkīrtya keśavam "Whatever is achieved in Satya-yuga by meditation, in Tretā by offering ritual sacrifices and in Dvāpara by temple worship is achieved in Kali-yuga by chanting the names of Lord Keśava congregationally." The Vedic process gradually lifts the conditioned entity out of the darkness of ahańkāra, or false identification with the gross material body, and brings him to the platform of self-realization, or ahaḿ brahmāsmi, "I am spirit soul. I am eternal." One has to make further progress to discover that although one is eternal, there is a superior eternal entity, who is the Lord Himself within one's own heart and within every atom in the material universe. Beyond this second phase of self-realization there is the third and final stage of perfection, which is realization of Bhagavān, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His own abode. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is not primarily the superintendent of this world but rather the enjoyer of His own world, which is beyond the most fantastic dreams of the conditioned living entity. In other words, although the king or president of a country is ultimately the controller of the prison department, the king or president derives actual pleasure within his own palace and not in administering justice to the foolish prisoners. Similarly, the Lord appoints the demigods to administer the material creation on His behalf while He Himself personally enjoys the ocean of transcendental bliss in His own transcendental kingdom. Thus, realization of the Lord within His own kingdom is far superior to the primitive understanding that the Lord is the "creator" of the prison of the material world. This realization of Bhagavān begins with understanding that there are innumerable Vaikuṇṭha planets in the spiritual sky and that on each of them a particular expansion of Nārāyaṇa dwells with His innumerable devotees who are attached to that particular form. The central and chief planet in the spiritual sky is called Kṛṣṇaloka, and there the Personality of Godhead exhibits His supreme and original form of Govinda. As confirmed by Lord Brahmā, govindam ādi-puruṣaḿ tam ahaḿ bhajāmi **. Lord Brahmā also states: īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ anādir ādir govindaḥ sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam (Brahma-saḿhitā 5.1) Thus, love of Kṛṣṇa and entrance into Kṛṣṇa's planet in the spiritual sky is the most supremely perfect and exalted status of life available anywhere, at any time, throughout the totality of existence. That perfection is available in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the holy names of God: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. Therefore every sane man, woman or child should deeply understand the unprecedented opportunity offered by Caitanya Mahāprabhu and seriously take up this chanting process. Only the most unfortunate and irrational person will neglect this transcendental opportunity. Just as there are four seasons which can easily be predicted. There is the winter season , the summer season, the autumn season, the spring season. Here in India we have the rainy season, according to their scheduled progressive order. Even when we are in one season we know for sure what is to come. In the same way it explains those who are advanced in knowledge, they gain their knowledge by hearing the Vedas and by hearing from those great personalities who are representing god by repeating the words of the scriptures. Therefore such persons know that there are 4 ages. Satya yuga which is the golden age, the age where people have long lives, where people can live over 1000 years, where practically 100% of population is pure in heart , pious, charitable, very religious and deeply attached to perfecting their life in god consciousness. Treta yuga 3/4th of population, but as the amount for the sacrifice for the pleasure of the lord, as the religious way of life decreases, sinful activities increase. Proper spiritual atmosphere around us becomes polluted and gradually it affects even the life span of the living being. In Dwapara Yuga half the population is god consciousness and half are terribly materialistic. And in Kaliyuga it is called the age of darkness, the age of quarrel, the age of hypocrisy, the age of immense suffering whoever you are, wherever you live. It is the nature of this season, of this age, that there is tremendous amount of misery. Just look around us prosecution of government, abusive taxes, no protection, corruption, terrible terrible diseases rampant everywhere. And any one of us could be victim to these deadly diseases at any moment. It used to be that it is practically unheard of that a child would die before its parent. Previous Kali yuga it was practically impossible to ever find such an instance, because everyone lived long long life until they grow old and naturally died. In kaliyuga it is very rare to find a person, who can even live to the duration of natural death. So much disease, war, starvation. Too much heat, too much cold, too much rain. This is the age of Kali. And people simple cannot get along, people are in so much mental anxiety and distress. That Even people with the own family become envious of one another, become bitter enemies. It is described here, that people who are advanced in knowledge, even those living in Satyayuga, the age of golden, the age where is there is no such thing as disease, did u know that in SATYA YUGA there is no such disease. There is no such thing as dying young, its unheard of. There is no such thing as poverty. Everyone has everything they want. There is no criminals, crooks. On only very very rare occasion does anyone have demoniac qualities at all. Everyone is pious, charitable loving and are all religious as anything. Practically the whole population is willing to go to Himalayas for 60000 years control their sex life completely, fast, give up sleeping, sit immersed in meditation. What type of civilization is this? But it is said in the advancement of Kali they worship this age of Kali. Where there is quarrel, where there is battle going on everywhere in the world, for no reason at all. There are aids and cancer and all sorts of disease coming every day. Where there is terrible drought, it is getting worse and worse. This is only the beginning of Kaliyuga. why is it that such great personalities worship this age? "manda sumanda mathayo, manda bhagya hi upadrta" It is a ocean of false, it is the ocean of bad qualities. It is the time of great suffereing distress. We may not think we are suffering now. We may think may be others are suffering. I have nice bank balance, I have good security, I have a warm loving family, but you just wait and see you get yours. You cannot avoid it you cannot escape it; it is the age of kali. There are millions and billions and trillions of ways u can be attacked with frustration , anxiety and suffering. And u cannot escape it. So why is it such soft hearted, kind hearted persons who are always thinking in terms of good for others, para dukha dukhi, it is explained that a saintly person, a religious person cannot tolerate to see the suffering of others. And such a person is only happy seeing the happiness of others. So why is it that such learned gentle hearted saint, they worship this age of Kaliyuga and they worship no other age? Because they know it is supreme fortune to be born in the age of kali. Because in satyayuga, everything so nice. Although they can fast give up sleep they can control the sense like anything, the atmosphere so wonderful that it is almost impossible to helplessly cry out the mercy of god…. Because everything is too nice. But they know in this kaliyuga, that anyone who has even a drop of sanity and sees the truth of what is going on all along. Anyone who pick up a news paper and reads one article and anyone who sees for 5 minutes. And looks around in the society and sees what is going on. He has to throw his hands in the air and cry out Krishna save me I am hopeless, helpless since everything around me is like a jungle, I am lost. The government is supposed to be protecting me but what are they doing. Every government in this world is corrupt without exception.They are supposed to be our protector? And in business, in politics, in medicine, in every field of life people are ready to kill each other and cut each others throat competitive for money. Death strikes at any moment. Pollution in air, pollution in the oceans. Here in Bombay the ocean, such a massive body of water. The Indian Ocean or it is the Arabian sea, it is the largest toilet bowl in the world. No sane man will touch it. This is the age of Kaliyuga. Therefore such people become so much crunched by the conditions around them that are totally out of their control, that they are the most fortunate people in all existence. Because such people from the bottom of their heart helplessly and sincerely and intensely call out the holy name of god. The chanting of Hare Krishna mantra is the yuga dharma. It is the recommended process in this age, but factually it has the same effect in every age. If you chant the holy names of god in satya yuga, tretayuga, dwaparyuga; it has the same effect. But in the previous age they don’t take the name of god very serious, they think it is too simple. I can fast for 50, for a 1000 yrs, give up sleeping. I am so pious I can give heaps and heaps of charity. Just by moving my tongue Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. That is so easy, that is all I have to do. It is not a challenge. It is like asking the champion heavy weight boxer of the world to fight with priyavrath. He would say what is the use, it is no challenge no fun. Little dubey no, he has his gadha. Ha…so ppl they are so crazy, in that sense that they think themselves so pious and so capable to do tapasya. The atmosphere is so pleasing the so nice so wonderful. It is very very difficult to cry out in desperation Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare Therefore They have to go thru’ everything else. But they know in kaliyuga things are so miserable, that if u want any hope in life, you have to desperately cry out the name of Krishna. So therefore when suffereings and miseries , when insults and problems come your way understand that it is the benediction of god. Because without such conditions of life who will call out the names of god with sincereity. Without such conditions of life, kirtan is simply like a form of entertainment, it is fun. But when devotees although we enjoy kirtan like anything, why do we enjoy it because it gives us the only relief from the influence of kaliyuga all around us. We take shelter of the holy name, we take the shelter of the assembly of vaishnavas, the devotees. There are other shelters in this age. kaler dosha-nidhe rajann
asti hy eko mahan gunah
kirtanad eva krishnasya
mukta-sangah param vrajet This age of kali is an ocean of contamination, but there is one benediction. What is it? The association of vaishnavas, the association of sincere devotees. Because in their association we can come together and be relieved of all the suffering, all the anxieties. We can be relieved from the cycle of birth and death altogether, by chanting the holy names of the lord Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare SO do not be surprised when misery comes and think why it is happening to me. Count your blessings. Thank the lord. You are so kind you are giving me this ultimate chance to perfect my life. You are setting the ground so perfectly for me to take shelter of your holy name. Not just chant your holy name but take shelter of your holy name. Tad tenu kampam sushumiksha…. A devotee, with folded hands thanks the lord under any condition. There is the story of the learned scholar. And this learned scholar was just so anxious to perfect his life and become god conscious. So he was praying and praying and praying fervently to god please direct me someone who can show me the way to you. I cannot do it by myself. I have studied the shastra. I am very pious, I have given in great charity. But I need direction. Please my lord. Please direct me to someone, who will show me the way to your loving service, to that liberated platform of your lotus feet. So for weeks and month and years he prayed like this. One day the supreme personality of godhead spoke to him. And said you go to a particular place and he told him the place, it is a quite place and you be there just at the time of sunrise tomorrow morning, and there you will find the person who will show you the way to the supreme perfection of life So he went right before the sunrise, to this auspicious place and the sun was rising and he looked all around and there was nobody around, nobody. And he was looking and searching, he was looking for a great sadhu for a guru or a pandit or someone, but there was nobody around. Then he looked under a tree, there was a poor beggar was laying there, practically naked, whatever clothes he was wearing were all torn up. He was cold, he was shivering, his feet were all swollen, bleeding. He was covered with dirt. He was really a beggar - a vagabond. So this scholar just went up to him. He said I don’t know where this saintly person is supposed to be so he went up to this person and said good morning. This person said never in my life I had a bad morning. He said good luck, He said never in my life I ever I had bad luck. So, may you be happy. He said never in my life have I ever experienced even the slightest unhappiness. So this very wealthy scholar from a very high caste of society, he was very much confused, what does this all mean. He said, this man is so poor he has no food; he said I pray that may you have good wealth. And the man said Wealth! I am a king. Well where is your kingdom? He said I have conquered my mind and my senses. Therefore I am king. And because I have conquered my mind and my senses, I am always seeing the love of god everywhere. You wished me good morning, every day of my life is good morning. Because when I rise every morning I thank Krishna whatever you are giving me is good. Everything is perfect it is coming by your mercy. Why should I not be grateful? I have two eyes to see. I have ears to hear. Who am I to complain? Whatever god gives is good. It is his love. He said sometimes you asked me and told me good luck. My whole life in nothing but good luck. Because I am so fortunate that I am part and parcel of Krishna, and every moment not a blade of grass moves without his love. Some days I do not eat for 3, 4, 5 days at a time how thankful I am for that opportunity to take the names of Krishna. How thankful I am if food comes, I offer to the lord and have Prasad. Cannot you see what a fortune I have? And you look at my feet. But whatever pain is there is always bringing my heart closer to the name of god. It is all the gift of god, it is all coming by the love of god. How fortunate I am , how lucky I am. And u wished that I can be happy, I am simply joyous. What do I need? I have no home, I have no money, I have no Food, I have no clothes. You have all those things, but you have no love , you have no peace. But because I am thanking god and chanting his name in every situation. I have never experience a moment in my life of unhappiness. It is the supreme treasure, the supreme wealth, which is the awe of everything in this world for those who are really looking for peace and joy is in the name of god Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. And in the association of those who love . He said I have this wealth. And thru’ the association of gods devotees in god’s name my life is perfect and let death come any day I will welcome it. Let starvation, let disease come any day I will welcome it with a smile and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, because these are all the blessed fortune ,the blessed gifts, the jewels of god’s love to help you come closer to Him. So this learned scholar realized that this is the man, this beggar on the street…. This is the man god had sent to show him the way. So this is why the great sages worship kali yuga. Because in this material world of a-brahma-bhuvanal lokah
punar avartino ’rjuna
mam upetya tu kaunteya
punar janma na vidyate Everywhere we go from the highest planet to the lowest they are all places of birth and death. There is only one way out of this cycle of death. sarva-dharman parityajya 
mam ekam saranam vraja 
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo 
moksayisyami ma sucah To surrender all types of religion and to surrender to Krishna. And in this blessed age of Kali, we have so many wonderful opportunities to surrender to Krishna. To surrender to the association of his devotees and take his name. So take advantage, in your next birth, if you act too pious and too good and you don’t shelter of Krishna name then you will take birth in satyuga. You may enjoy life like anything. But love of god is very difficult to attain. In the age of Kali the love of god is most available. Because in the face of all contradictions, all around us the supreme Lord Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu advents in this kaliyuga in his most munificent of all forms. Because in the previous ages the lord has come as Rama, Krishna, Narasingha, Vamana, Vrishnigarbha. And they come to give a path by which everyone can perfect their lives. But the paths that they have given for the residents of kaliyuga are very difficult to follow. Therefore that same Godhead comes in this age namo maha-vadanyaya
krishna-prema-pradaya te
krishnaya krishna-chaitanya-
namne gaura-tvishe nama To give the opportunity to everyone and anyone who simply so desires to perfect their life, in few years of this life, what took 60 000 yrs and practically impossible to attain in satyayuga in few short years we can attain that ultimate perfection of god’s love by simply chanting in the association of gods devotees. Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. So my sincere request to you friends, understand your good fortune. No matter what happens in your life good or bad, happiness or distress, health or disease. Understand your good fortune. It is rare, it is so rare. It is so precious, every moment that we have in this life is the moment we can make strides of progress towards the perfection of god’s love. And whatever situation we are in it is the absolute arrangement, most perfect arrangement to perfect our life. Krishna is perfect and complete. His mercy is through. We must have this faith. And we must learn how to take shelter of guru, vaishnavas, and the holy name. Thank you very much! Hare Krishna