O Nanak, the supreme human form has one chariot and one charioteer. The wise know that these change from age to age. In Satyuga contentment was the chariot and dharma was the driver. In Treta continence was the chariot and might was the driver. In Dwapar penance was the chariot and virtue was the driver. In Kaliyuga fire is the chariot and falsehood is the driver.

1. 1
How We Lost Power
Adi Granth: 470-1 to 3, Raag Asa
सलोकु मः १ ॥
नानक मेǽ सरȣर का इकु रथु इकु रथवाहु ॥
जुगु जुगु फे ǐर वटाईअǑह ͬगआनी बुझǑह ताǑह ॥
सतजुͬग रथु संतोख का धरमु अगै रथवाहु ॥
ğेतै रथु जतै का जोǽ अगै रथवाहु ॥
दुआपुǐर रथु तपै का सतु अगै रथवाहु ॥
कलजुͬग रथु अगǓन का कू ड़ु अगै रथवाहु ॥१॥
Guru Nanak:
Slok, First Guru
O Nanak, the supreme human form1
has one chariot and one
charioteer. The wise know that these change from age to age.
In Satyuga contentment was the chariot and dharma was the
driver. In Treta continence was the chariot and might was the
driver.
In Dwapar penance was the chariot and virtue was the driver. In
Kaliyuga fire is the chariot and falsehood is the driver2
. [1]
Note:
1. The supreme human form (mer sareer): Mer is the principal or head
bead of a rosary; the counting of a round of prayers begins and ends
with mer. Since the mer is the first step, the highest, or the leading
bead, mer sareer figuratively denotes the human form, the top of
creation.
2. In Satyuga…the driver: Guru Nanak briefly comments on the
characteristics of each of the four yugas – Satyuga, Tretayuga,
Dwaparyuga and Kaliyuga – to show that dissolution is built into the
system of creation. A cycle of four yugas starts with Satyuga, in which
people live by the norms of dharma. In gradual succession through the
ages, moral degeneration begins to set in.

2. 2
The cycle that started with society’s unflinching adherence to dharma
ends with complete moral degeneration in Kaliyuga, wherein people
burn in the fires of lust, anger and greed; relationships are built on
narrow self-interest; and the affairs of society are run through
falsehood, cunning and deceit.
It is believed that after the four yugas have run their course the old
order is destroyed and a period of void or non-creation ensues, after
which a cycle of four yugas is set in motion.
Satyuga
Contentment: Happiness with one's situation in life; the state of
being contented; satisfaction.
Dharma: (Duties for Mankind) - Four legs of dharma are
austerity, cleanliness (of body and mind), mercy and
truthfulness.
Austerity: The trait of great self-denial (especially refraining
from worldly pleasures).
Tretayuga
Continence: Self-restraint; moderation; partial or complete
abstention from sexual activity; self-restraint or
abstinence in regard to sexual activity; the exercise
of self-constraint in sexual matters.
Might: Strength or ability to do something; power, force, or
vigour, especially of a great or supreme kind (to
observe continence); physical strength.
Dwaparyuga
Penance: An act of self-mortification or devotion performed
voluntarily to show sorrow for a sin or other
wrongdoing; a feeling of regret for one's
wrongdoings.
Virtue: Moral excellence and righteousness; goodness; the
quality or practice of moral excellence or
righteousness; chastity; virginity; conformity of

3. 3
one's life and conduct to moral and ethical
principles; rectitude; the quality of doing what is
right and avoiding what is wrong.
Kaliyuga
Fire: Intense passion; ardour; to arouse to strong
emotion; to inflame, as with passion; fill with
ardour.
Passion: A powerful emotion, such as love, joy, hatred, or
anger; strong sexual desire; lust; any strongly felt
emotion, such as love, hate, envy, etc.; compelling
emotion; an outburst of emotion; violent anger;
wrath; rage; a strong feeling or emotion.
Falsehood: The quality of being untrue; the act of deceiving or
lying; lack of conformity to truth or fact; falsity; an
untrue statement; a lie.
In Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1 – Creation Chapter 17, Punishment
and Reward of Kali, Verse 1.17.24 it is stated:
tapaḥ śaucaḿ dayā satyam
iti pādāḥ kṛte kṛtāḥ
adharmāḿśais trayo bhagnāḥ
smaya-sańga-madais tava
Meanings
Tapaḥ — austerity; śaucam — cleanliness (of body and mind); dayā —
mercy; satyam — truthfulness; iti — thus; pādāḥ — legs; kṛte —
in the age of Satya; kṛtāḥ — established; adharma — irreligion; aḿśaiḥ — by
the parts; trayaḥ — three combined; bhagnāḥ — broken; smaya —
pride; sańga — too much association with women; madaiḥ — intoxication;
tava — your
Adharma: (Irreligion) Crime, dishonesty, falsehood, infidelity,
injustice, vice, iniquity, immorality.

4. 4
Translation
In Satyuga four legs of dharma were established by the four
principles of austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness. But
three of the four legs are broken due to rampant irreligion in the
form of pride, lust for women, and intoxication.
• Austerity has classic virtues of temperance and moderation
which are lost due to impatience; greed; crime; litigation and
intoxication.
• Cleanliness has classic virtues of prudence, discretion and
foresight which are lost due to illicit sexual activity; wanton lust;
excessive lascivious obsessions; too much association with
women and prolific pornography.
• Mercy has classic virtues of fortitude, bravery and courage which
are lost due to cruelty; violence; road rage; war and legal
disputes.
• Truthfulness has classic virtues of justice, morality, chivalry which
are lost due to anxiety; paranoia (intense fear or suspicion, esp.
when unfounded); cheating; financial devastation and gambling.
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