If a Brahmin has committed some fault or a woman has committed some fault or a child has committed some fault or a cow has transgressed the law, oh, there is no punishment for them. Dayā. They should be shown always mercy. They require protection, especially. These five items have been especially enjoined that they should be given protection. That is required in human civilization.
Cow protection is very important. Women's protection is very important. Brahmin's protection is very important. Children's protection is very important. Of course, nowadays there is protection for children, of course, from the state. But that is also artificial. There is killing process also. So many children in the womb are killed. But, according to Vedic civilization, they are greatest offense. So dayā. Dayā means you should show your mercifulness those who are weak. So this will reduce, dayā.
And āyuḥ, duration of life. Duration of life. In the Satya-yuga, the duration of life was 100,000's of years. A man used to live for 100,000's of years. Then in the Tretā-yuga it reduced ten times. They used to live for 10,000 years. Then in Dvāpara-yuga, it reduced again ten times; they used to live for 1,000 years. And now, in the Kali-yuga, the duration of life is prescribed as one hundred years. But you see that it is reducing.
Everyone may note it. Perhaps your grandfather lived for hundred years. Your father lived for eighty years. And nowadays, sixty or seventy years. Gradually, it will so reduce, we shall come to that statement that if a man lives from twenty to thirty years he will be considered a very grand old man. If he lives for twenty to thirty years he'll be considered, "Oh, you have got very good life." That will come, gradually.
This is the progressive age. Progressive age for material civilization. We are proud of making advancement of our civilization, but these nice things are being reduced. That means . . . we are advancing means reducing the nice things. This is advanced.