Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 44

Bhāgavata-Māhātmya and the Complete Summary of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Devanagari script

युगलक्षणवृत्तिश्च कलौ नृणामुपप्लव: । चतुर्विधश्च प्रलय उत्पत्तिस्त्रिविधा तथा ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

yuga-lakṣaṇa-vṛttiś ca kalau nṝṇām upaplavaḥ catur-vidhaś ca pralaya utpattis tri-vidhā tathā

Translation

This work also describes people’s characteristics and behavior in the different ages, the chaos men experience in the Age of Kali, the four kinds of annihilation and the three kinds of creation.

Synonyms

• yuga-lakṣaṇa-vṛttiḥ: the account of yuga-characteristics
• yuga-lakṣaṇa-vṛttiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuga + lakṣaṇa + vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुषः (yugasya lakṣaṇasya vṛttiḥ = description/account of the characteristics of the yugas)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• kalau: in Kali (yuga)
• kalau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; (in the Kali age)

• nṝṇām: of men
• nṝṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• upaplavaḥ: calamity/disturbance
• upaplavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upaplava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• catur-vidhaḥ: fourfold
• catur-vidhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुषः (caturṇāṁ vidhānām = fourfold); विशेषण (qualifies pralayaḥ)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• pralayaḥ: dissolution (pralaya)
• pralayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pralaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• utpattiḥ: creation/origination
• utpattiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utpatti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• tri-vidhā: threefold
• tri-vidhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुषः (trīṇāṁ vidhānām = threefold); विशेषण (qualifies utpattiḥ)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/so)

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Mahārāja Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kali Yuga calamities (upaplava)?

This verse notes that the Bhāgavatam includes descriptions of the upheavals and disturbances that afflict humanity in Kali-yuga, as part of its yuga (age) teachings.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī speak about yuga-lakṣaṇa, pralaya, and creation to Mahārāja Parīkṣit?

In Canto 12, Chapter 12, Śukadeva summarizes the Bhāgavatam’s subject matter for Parīkṣit, highlighting that it covers time (yugas), Kali-yuga troubles, dissolutions (pralaya), and creation (utpatti).

Practical application: how does knowing Kali-yuga symptoms help in modern life?

Recognizing Kali-yuga disturbances helps a seeker stay spiritually alert, reduce misplaced faith in unstable material conditions, and take refuge in bhakti as the steady remedy recommended throughout the Bhāgavatam.