Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 5

Kali-yuga Dynasties and the Degradation of Kingship

Devanagari script

विधिसार: सुतस्तस्याजातशत्रुर्भविष्यति । दर्भकस्तत्सुतो भावी दर्भकस्याजय: स्मृत: ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

vidhisāraḥ sutas tasyā- jātaśatrur bhaviṣyati darbhakas tat-suto bhāvī darbhakasyājayaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

Der Sohn Kṣetrajñas wird Vidhisāra sein, und dessen Sohn wird Ajātaśatru heißen. Ajātaśatru wird einen Sohn namens Darbhaka haben, und dessen Sohn wird Ajaya sein.

Synonyms

• विधिसारः: Vidhisāra
• विधिसारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (नाम): ‘विधेः सारः’/‘विधिसारः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुतः: son
• सुतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• अजातशत्रुः: Ajātaśatru (one without enemies)
• अजातशत्रुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (नञ्) + जात (कृदन्त from जन् धातु) + शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: ‘अजातः शत्रुः यस्य’ (one whose enemy is not born / who has no enemies); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधिसारस्य विशेषणम्

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू धातु (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• दर्भकः: Darbhaka
• दर्भकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्-सुतः: his son
• तत्-सुतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘तस्य सुतः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भावी: to be (in the future)
• भावी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भू धातु (धातु) + इन् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भविष्यदर्थक कृदन्त (future sense); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; दर्भकस्य विशेषणम्

• दर्भकस्य: of Darbhaka
• दर्भकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अजयः: Ajaya
• अजयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्मृतः: is said/remembered (as)
• स्मृतः: Kriya (क्रियासमान/Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ धातु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतभावे (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate)

Characters & Entities

• Vidhisāra
• Ajātaśatru
• Darbhaka
• Ajaya

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the kings who will rule in Kali-yuga?

In Canto 12, Chapter 1, Śukadeva Gosvāmī lists the future royal succession, naming kings generation by generation—here, Vidhisāra’s line through Ajātaśatru, Darbhaka, and Ajaya.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing dynasties and future kings in the Bhagavatam?

He is outlining the historical and prophetic royal lineages of Kali-yuga to show the progression of time, the decline of worldly rule, and to contrast it with the timeless shelter of bhakti.

What is a practical takeaway from this verse for modern life?

Worldly power and political succession continually change; remembering this helps one reduce attachment to temporary identities and take steadier refuge in devotional hearing and remembrance of the Lord.