decay of the senses.  And there was neither malice, nor pride, nor hypocrisy, nor discord, nor ill-will, nor cunning, nor fear, nor misery, nor envy, nor covetousness.  And for this, that prime refuge of Yogis, even the Supreme Brahma, was attainable to all.  And Narayana wearing a white hue was the soul of all creatures.  And in the Krita Yuga, the distinctive characteristics of Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, and Sudras were natural and these ever stuck to their respective duties.  And then Brahma was the sole refuge, and their manners and customs were naturally adapted to the attainment of Brahma and the objects of their knowledge was the sole Brahma, and all their acts also had reference to Brahma.  In this way all the orders attained merit.  And one uniform Soul was the object of their meditation; and there was only one mantra (the Om), and there was one ordinance.  And although of different characteristics, all of them followed a single Veda; and they had one religion.  And according to the divisions of time, they led the four modes of life, without aiming at any object, and so they attained emancipation.  The religion consisting in the identification of self with Brahma indicates the Krita Yuga.  And in the Krita Yuga, the virtue of the four orders is throughout entire in four-fold measure.  Such is the Krita Yuga devoid of the three qualities.  Do thou also hear from me of the character of the Treta Yuga.  In this age, sacrifices are introduced, and virtue decreaseth by a quarter.  And Narayana (who is the Soul of all creatures) assumeth a red colour.  And men practise truth, and devote themselves to religion and religious rites.  And thence sacrifices and various religious observances come into existence.  And in the Treta Yuga people begin to devise means for the attainment of an object; and they attain it through acts and gifts.  And they never deviate from virtue.  And they are devoted to asceticism and to the bestowal of gifts.  And the four orders adhere to their respective duties; and perform rites.  Such are the men of the Treta Yuga.  In the Dwapara Yuga, religion decreaseth by one half.  And Narayana weareth a yellow hue.  And the Veda becometh divided into four parts.  And then some men retain (the knowledge of) the four Vedas, and some of three Vedas, and some of one Veda, while others do not know even the Richs.  And on the Shastras becoming thus divided, acts become multiplied.  And largely influenced by passion, people engage in asceticism and gifts.  And from their incapacity to study the entire Veda, it becomes divided into several parts.  And in consequence of intellect having decreased, few are established in truth.  And when people fall off from truth, they become subject to various diseases; and then lust, and natural calamities ensue.  And afflicted with these, people betake themselves to penances.  And some celebrate sacrifices, desiring to enjoy the good things of life, or attain heaven.  On the coming of the Dwapara Yuga, men