'O Devarsi, is it well with you? And does virtue deteriorate.'* And, why, O you honoured of deities, and Gandharvas, do you come?' *The Original has: "Do not virtue wane." This in English would imply the very reverse what Nārada intends to say. He says: 'Do religion deteriorate?' i.e. 'I hope, religion does not deteriorate.' This is an idiom and natural usage accounts for it, although that usage must in the nature of things be based on a subtle ground of season.
कच्चित्क्षेमं नु देवर्षे कच्चिद्धर्मो न नश्यति। किमागनकृत्यं ते देवगन्धर्वसेवित ॥