Shloka 4
Kali-yuga Dynasties and the Degradation of Kingship
शिशुनागस्ततो भाव्य: काकवर्णस्तु तत्सुत: । क्षेमधर्मा तस्य सुत: क्षेत्रज्ञ: क्षेमधर्मज: ॥ ४ ॥
śiśunāgas tato bhāvyaḥ kākavarṇas tu tat-sutaḥ kṣemadharmā tasya sutaḥ kṣetrajñaḥ kṣemadharma-jaḥ
وسيكون لنندي وردهن ابنٌ اسمه شِشُوناگ، وابنه يُعرف باسم كاكَوَرْنَ. وابن كاكَوَرْنَ هو كْشيمَدهَرْما، وابن كْشيمَدهَرْما هو كْشيتْرَجْنْيَ.
FAQs
In Canto 12, Chapter 1, Śukadeva Gosvāmī lists the coming rulers of Kali-yuga in genealogical order, naming successive kings and their sons, as in this verse describing Śiśunāga and his descendants.
He was answering Parīkṣit’s inquiries about the nature of Kali-yuga and its effects, illustrating the age’s decline through foretold political lineages and the changing quality of leadership.
The verse reminds readers that worldly power and dynasties rapidly change; therefore one should seek lasting shelter in bhakti and spiritual practice rather than placing ultimate hope in political arrangements.