Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 17

The Earth Laughs at World-Conquering Kings; Yuga-Dharma and the Remedy for Kali

Devanagari script

युगानि युगधर्मांश्च मानं प्रलयकल्पयो: । कालस्येश्वररूपस्य गतिं विष्णोर्महात्मन: ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

yugāni yuga-dharmāṁś ca mānaṁ pralaya-kalpayoḥ kālasyeśvara-rūpasya gatiṁ viṣṇor mahātmanaḥ

Translation

Please explain the different ages of universal history, the special qualities of each age, the duration of cosmic maintenance and destruction, and the movement of time, which is the direct representation of the Supreme Soul, the Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu.

Synonyms

• yugāni: ages (yugas)
• yugāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

• yuga-dharmān: duties/characteristics of the yugas
• yuga-dharmān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuga + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (युगस्य धर्माः)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• mānam: measure, duration
• mānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• pralaya-kalpayoḥ: of dissolution and creation-cycles
• pralaya-kalpayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pralaya + kalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (Genitive/Locative), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (प्रलयश्च कल्पश्च)

• kālasya: of Time
• kālasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• īśvara-rūpasya: of the form of the Lord
• īśvara-rūpasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara + rūpa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ईश्वरस्य रूपम्)

• gatim: course, movement
• gatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• mahātmanaḥ: of the great-souled
• mahātmanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (महान् आत्मा यस्य सः) विशेषण (qualifying viṣṇoḥ)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about yuga-dharma (the religion of each age)?

This verse introduces Śukadeva’s explanation of the yugas and their specific dharmas, indicating that spiritual practice is taught in harmony with the conditions of each age.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī speak about pralaya (dissolution) and kalpa (creation cycles) to King Parīkṣit?

As Parīkṣit nears death, Śukadeva teaches the Lord’s governance of time and cosmic cycles to establish detachment from temporary history and faith in Viṣṇu as the supreme controller.

How can the teaching that Viṣṇu appears as Time (Kāla) be applied in modern life?

Remembering time as the Lord’s power helps one prioritize devotion and dharma, reduce anxiety about change, and use each day intentionally for spiritual practice.