Risabha Deva

Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: Jain Mitra Mandal

Page 67

PEEPING INTO THE FUTURE
'51
The sixteenth and the last dream consisted in the sight of dried up old leaves, and meant that the power of even great medicines would deterio: rate in the end !
As regards the wisdom of the establishment of the Brāhmana' class, Bharata was told that his action was justified so for. as regarded the requirements of his times, but that the 'class' would be filled with 'conceit for its high bir h, and Brāhmanas would take to eating meat in many cases and would become generally hosti'e to the true Dharma (Jainism) in the panchama kala!
Wo may be sure that Bharata was not quite pleased with the forebodings or with the step he had taken 'in creating : the fourth, namely, the Brāhmana varna. He went back to his kingdom from the Samavasarana of the WORLD TEACHER ard began to enjoy the fruits of his pervious good karmas, as the first 'great chakravarti king!
The panchama (fifth) kâla (time) hence the period of time is the one that is actually current now. It is the period of deterioration, characterized by conditions of existence that would slowly become very painful and distressing. It commenced only 2460 years ago, and has still got 18540 vears to run. There will be wars, famines and pestilences during this period, with the result that men will be halfstarved and will grow stunted in size, till at the end of the period they will be no more than one cubit in height, and twenty years in age.