Shloka 21

Kali-yuga’s Degradation, the Advent of Kalki, and the Reset of the Yuga Cycle

Devanagari script

अथ तेषां भविष्यन्ति मनांसि विशदानि वै । वासुदेवाङ्गरागातिपुण्यगन्धानिलस्पृशाम् । पौरजानपदानां वै हतेष्वखिलदस्युषु ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

atha teṣāṁ bhaviṣyanti manāṁsi viśadāni vai vāsudevāṅga-rāgāti- puṇya-gandhānila-spṛśām paura-jānapadānāṁ vai hateṣv akhila-dasyuṣu

Translation

Wenn alle betrügerischen Könige mit räuberischer Gesinnung getötet sind, werden die Bewohner von Städten und Dörfern die Brise spüren, die den höchst heiligen Duft der Sandelpaste und der göttlichen Zierden des Herrn Vāsudeva trägt; dadurch werden ihre Herzen transzendental rein.

Synonyms

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रसङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सर्वनाम), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• भविष्यन्ति: will become / will be
• भविष्यन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• मनांसि: minds
• मनांसि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• विशदानि: clear, pure
• विशदानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘मनांसि’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/प्रमाणार्थक (indeed)

• वासुदेव-अङ्ग-राग-अति-पुण्य-गन्ध-अनिल-स्पृशाम्: of those who are touched by the wind carrying the exceedingly holy fragrance of Vāsudeva’s body-ointment
• वासुदेव-अङ्ग-राग-अति-पुण्य-गन्ध-अनिल-स्पृशाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + राग (प्रातिपदिक) + अति (अव्यय) + पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + अनिल (प्रातिपदिक) + स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: बहुपद-समास (मुख्यतः तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला); अन्ते ‘स्पृश्’ धातोः शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त ‘स्पृशत्’ → ‘स्पृशाम्’ (षष्ठी/सम्बन्धे बहुवचन) ; ‘पौरजानपदानाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पौर-जानपदानाम्: of townspeople and villagers
• पौर-जानपदानाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौर (प्रातिपदिक) + जानपद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (पौराः च जानपदाः च); षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक

• हतेषु: when (they are) slain
• हतेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त ‘हत’ (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसके, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; ‘दस्युषु’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अखिल-दस्युषु: among all the bandits
• अखिल-दस्युषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक) + दस्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

Purport

Nothing can surpass the sublime experience of being dramatically rescued by a great hero who happens to be the Supreme Lord. The death of the demons at the end of Kali-yuga is accompanied by fragrant spiritual breezes, and thus the atmosphere becomes most enchanting.

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.21 say about peace returning in Kali Yuga?

It says people’s minds become clear and peaceful when lawlessness (symbolized by bandits and plunderers) is removed and when they are touched by the purifying influence connected with Lord Vāsudeva.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī mention the fragrance of Vāsudeva’s body?

To convey that the Lord’s presence is intrinsically purifying—so powerful that even the wind carrying His sanctified fragrance can calm and cleanse the minds of the people.

How can this verse be applied in modern life for mental clarity?

Reduce sources of “plunder” in life (harmful habits, exploitative influences) and increase contact with Vāsudeva through nāma-japa, kīrtana, and devotional remembrance, which brings inner clarity and steadiness.