Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 30

Vasudeva and Devakī Glorify Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; The Recovery of Devakī’s Six Sons from Sutala

Devanagari script

कालविध्वस्तसत्त्वानां राज्ञामुच्छास्‍त्रवर्तिनाम् । भूमेर्भारायमाणानामवतीर्णौ किलाद्य मे ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

kala-vidhvasta-sattvānāṁ rājñām ucchāstra-vartinām bhūmer bhārāyamāṇānām avatīrṇau kilādya me

Translation

Taking birth from me, You have now descended to this world in order to kill those kings whose good qualities have been destroyed by the present age, and who thus defy the authority of revealed scriptures and burden the earth.

Synonyms

• काल-विध्वस्त-सत्त्वानाम्: of those whose virtue/strength is ruined by time
• काल-विध्वस्त-सत्त्वानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + विध्वस्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ध्वंस्) + सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘कालेन विध्वस्तं सत्त्वं (बल/सद्गुणः) येषाम्’—समासार्थः (genitive plural of those whose goodness/strength is destroyed by time)

• राज्ञाम्: of kings
• राज्ञाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• उत्-शास्त्र-वर्तिनाम्: of those acting outside scripture (lawless)
• उत्-शास्त्र-वर्तिनाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत् (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘उच्छास्त्रे (शास्त्रात् बहिः) वर्तन्ते ये’—‘lawless/acting outside scripture’

• भूमेः: of the earth
• भूमेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भार-आयमाणानाम्: of those increasing the burden
• भार-आयमाणानाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भार (प्रातिपदिक) + आयमाण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √यम् with ā-; शानच्/आन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययः—‘भारं आयमयन्ति/वर्धयन्ति ये’ (those who are increasing the burden)

• अवतीर्णौ: (you two) have descended
• अवतीर्णौ: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-तॄ (धातु) → अवतीर्ण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle) प्रयुक्तः विधेय-रूपे; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन—‘descended’ (as predicate of ‘you two’)

• किल: indeed
• किल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अर्थः—‘indeed/it is said’

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-एकवचन (Gen./Dat. sg. enclitic); अत्र षष्ठी—‘my’

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma
• Bhūmī (Earth)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s purpose in descending to earth?

This verse states that when kings lose virtue due to the influence of Time and follow irreligious paths, they burden the earth; Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma descend to relieve that burden and reestablish dharma.

Why did Vasudeva say this to Krishna and Balarama?

In the context of Kṛṣṇa’s teachings to Vasudeva, Vasudeva acknowledges the divine mission of the Lord and His brother—recognizing their descent as a response to the earth’s oppression by adharmic rulers.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

When power or leadership becomes disconnected from ethics and genuine spiritual principles, society suffers; the verse encourages aligning governance and personal conduct with dharma rather than “false doctrines” driven by time-bound passions.