In plain words
Our ways must change. The holy days came into being to change our ways. Of all festivals, Sankrānti is the sweetest. How are we spending such a Sankrānti? The zest of people today has cooled. Through hatred, envy and jealousy toward one another they breed quarrels and drive joy away.
Not the Kali age but an age of quarrels, an age of impurity
Today unity has decayed in families. When a son is married, the daughter-in-law comes into the house; on the second day after she comes, she divides the house in two. Because they separate in this way, quarrels are growing in the home. In ancient times, parents-in-law, parents, brothers-in-law, all lived together under one roof as a joint family. If any difference of opinion arose between them, the elders would give fitting counsel and settle the matter. There were no quarrels in the home at all. They took the command of their elders upon their heads.
But today quarrels are growing within families. This Kali age has come to be called the age of quarrels. It has turned into an age of impurity. From everyone’s mouth come only harsh words. In the old days, if guests came to the house, people would welcome them warmly: “Come in, sir! Are you well? Come, have your meal.” Hearing those soft and sweet words, the guests were more satisfied than by the meal itself. But today, even on festival days, people cannot go to one another’s homes. If they hear that friends are coming, they shut their doors. Not only that: “Ah, sir! You have eaten before coming, haven’t you! Do sit down,” they say. The large heart that would give even a handful of rice to a hungry guest has become scarce today. Even in little children they are fostering such ugly feelings.
Parents today hope that if their children study something big, they will earn big salaries.