Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.4.16

parāvara-jñaḥ sa ṛṣiḥ

kālenāvyakta-raḿhasā

yuga-dharma-vyatikaraḿ

prāptaḿ bhuvi yuge yuge

SYNONYMS

para-avara — past and future; jñaḥ — one who knows; saḥ — he; ṛṣiḥ — Vyāsadeva; kālena — in the course of time; avyakta — unmanifested; raḿhasā — by great force; yuga-dharma — acts in terms of the millennium; vyatikaram — anomalies; prāptam — having accrued; bhuvi — on the earth; yuge yuge — different ages.

TRANSLATION

The great sage Vyāsadeva saw anomalies in the duties of the millennium. This happens on the earth in different ages, due to unseen forces in the course of time.

PURPORT

The great sages like Vyāsadeva are liberated souls, and therefore they can see clearly past and future. Thus he could see the future anomalies in the Kali age, and accordingly he made arrangement for the people in general so that they can execute a progressive life in this age, which is full of darkness. The people in general in this age of Kali are too much interested in matter, which is temporary. Because of ignorance they are unable to evaluate the assets of life and be enlightened in spiritual knowledge.