Shloka 18

Kṛṣṇa Leads Kālayavana to Mucukunda; The Yavana Is Burned; Mucukunda’s Prayers and Boon of Bhakti

Devanagari script

सुता महिष्यो भवतो ज्ञातयोऽमात्यमन्त्रिण: । प्रजाश्च तुल्यकालीना नाधुना सन्ति कालिता: ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

sutā mahiṣyo bhavato jñātayo ’mātya-mantrinaḥ prajāś ca tulya-kālīnā nādhunā santi kālitāḥ

Translation

Deine Kinder, Königinnen, Verwandten, Minister, Ratgeber und Untertanen deiner Zeit leben nicht mehr; die Zeit hat sie alle hinweggerafft.

Synonyms

• sutāḥ: sons
• sutāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• mahiṣyaḥ: queens
• mahiṣyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahiṣī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• bhavataḥ: of you
• bhavataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun of respect; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• jñātayaḥ: kinsmen
• jñātayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• amātya-mantriṇaḥ: ministers and counselors
• amātya-mantriṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amātya (प्रातिपदिक) + mantrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; द्वन्द्व (इतरेतर): ‘ministers and counselors’

• prajāḥ: subjects
• prajāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Anvaya (अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction (समुच्चय)

• tulya-kālīnāḥ: of the same time (contemporaries)
• tulya-kālīnāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tulya (प्रातिपदिक) + kālīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; तत्पुरुष: ‘of equal time/age’ → ‘contemporaneous’; agrees with the preceding nominative plurals collectively

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• adhunā: now
• adhunā: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adhunā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• santi: are
• santi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kālitāḥ: driven/consumed by time
• kālitāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kal (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; predicate: ‘made (so) by time’

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Mucukunda

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the power of Time (kāla)?

This verse states that even one’s sons, queens, relatives, ministers, and contemporaries are eventually taken away—Time removes everyone, showing the inevitability of impermanence.

Why did Krishna say this to King Mucukunda?

Mucukunda had awakened after a long sleep and expected to find his former world; Krishna reminds him that many ages have passed and all his contemporaries have been swept away by Time.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Remembering life’s impermanence helps reduce anxiety and attachment, inspiring one to prioritize dharma, devotion, and lasting spiritual goals over temporary status and relationships.