Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 3

Dhruva’s Humiliation, Sunīti’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Bhakti-Yoga Instruction

Devanagari script

तयो: समभवल्लोभो निकृतिश्च महामते । ताभ्यां क्रोधश्च हिंसा च यद्दुरुक्ति: स्वसा कलि: ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

tayoḥ samabhaval lobho nikṛtiś ca mahā-mate tābhyāṁ krodhaś ca hiṁsā ca yad duruktiḥ svasā kaliḥ

Translation

O Großgesinnter, aus Dambha und Māyā gingen Lobha (Gier) und Nikṛti (List) hervor. Aus ihnen entstanden Krodha (Zorn) und Hiṁsā (Gewalt); und aus Krodha und Hiṁsā wurden Kali und seine Schwester Durukti (harte Rede) geboren.

Synonyms

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), द्विवचन; ‘of those two’

• समभवत्: arose; came to be
• समभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग ‘सम्’

• लोभः: greed
• लोभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निकृतिः: deceit; fraud
• निकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• महामते: O great-minded one
• महामते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘महान् मतिः यस्य’ (O great-minded)

• ताभ्याम्: from those two
• ताभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), द्विवचन; ‘from/by those two’

• क्रोधः: anger
• क्रोधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• हिंसा: violence
• हिंसा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिंसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; relative pronoun (linking to following apposition)

• दुरुक्तिः: abusive speech
• दुरुक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर् + उक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्ग-तत्पुरुषः ‘दुष्टा उक्तिः’ (harsh speech)

• स्वसा: sister
• स्वसा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वसृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘sister’

• कलिः: Kali
• कलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Vidura
• Kali

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kali and harsh speech?

This verse links Kali with “durukti” (abusive, harsh speech), indicating that quarrel and spiritual decline flourish where speech becomes cruel, offensive, and irreverent.

Why does Maitreya describe greed and deceit as the source of anger and violence?

He explains a moral chain: when greed and deceit dominate, frustration and conflict naturally grow, which then manifest as anger and harm toward others—classic symptoms of adharma.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Watch the sequence: curb greed, avoid dishonest dealings, and discipline speech—because harsh words often ignite anger and lead to violence in relationships and society.