The sage Narada was pacifying a distraught young lady called Bhakti, whose two sons Jnana and Vairagya had gotten old and were lying down unconscious. He narrates to her the qualities of the gory age called the Kali Yuga. In these times, people pursue evil actions and hence righteousness is nowhere to be seen.
Just like the husk that is removed from paddy, everything in this world has no essence. People repeat the words of god with a view to earning some food grains.
The essence of every activity has gone. Meditation is not possible because the mind has not been won over. It is filled with greed, pride and atheism. Doers of terrible actions, the non-believers, cruel people are all occupying positions in holy places.
Hence, the divine essence cannot be found in places of worship too. The essence has left austerities as people who are filled with desire, anger, greed and thirst for pleasure are performing them. Even learned scholars are focused on enjoying physical pleasures only. They are very skilful in increasing population and are unskilled in pursuit of sadhana to gain liberation of the mind.
Narada said this was the spirit of the times we live in, and who indeed can be blamed? Sri Vishnu, whose eyes are like lotuses of compassion, puts up with all this.
The Sutaji, who is narrating this story of the dialogue between Narada and Bhakti to the Shaunaka rishis at Naimisharanya, said, “Listen O Shaunaka, Bhakti who listened to all this was amazed. She said, ‘O seer among the gods, you are indeed blessed. You are here in front of me owing to my good luck. The blessing of meeting with good people like you leads to all supreme achievements in the world. O son of Brahmaji, I salute you by whose one advice, Prahlada, the son of Kayadu, conquered Maya and because of whom the little boy Dhruva attained the everlasting abode’.”
Narada consoled Bhakti, saying: “O child, you are unduly getting vexed. Think of the lotus feet of Sri Krishna and your sorrow will vanish. The Krishna by whom Draupadi was protected by the evil-minded Kauravas, the Krishna by whom the women of Vraja were protected has gone nowhere. As for you Bhakti, you are very dear to Krishna, more than his live. If you call, the Lord even visits the houses of the meanest persons.”
In the Satya, Treta and Dwapara yugas, knowledge and dispassion were the means for liberating the mind. In Kali Yuga, devotion alone is the means of attaining oneness with god. With this view, the Lord created you in this beautiful form and ordered you to take care of his devotees. He was very happy when you accepted it and sent Mukti—liberation—as your maid, and Jnana and Vairagya as your two sons.
(www.sharanyachaitanya.blogspot.in)