Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

शाकमूलामिषक्षौद्रफलपुष्पाष्टिभोजना: । अनावृष्टय‍ा विनङ्‌क्ष्यन्ति दुर्भिक्षकरपीडिता: ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

śāka-mūlāmiṣa-kṣaudra- phala-puṣpāṣṭi-bhojanāḥ anāvṛṣṭyā vinaṅkṣyanti durbhikṣa-kara-pīḍitāḥ

Translation

Von Hungersnot und übermäßigen Abgaben bedrängt, werden die Menschen Blätter, Wurzeln, Fleisch, wilden Honig, Früchte, Blüten und Samen essen. Von Dürre getroffen, werden sie völlig zugrunde gehen.

Synonyms

• शाकमूलामिषक्षौद्रफलपुष्पाष्टिभोजनाः: having food of vegetables, roots, meat, honey, fruits, flowers, bones
• शाकमूलामिषक्षौद्रफलपुष्पाष्टिभोजनाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाक + मूल + आमिष + क्षौद्र + फल + पुष्प + अस्थि + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक-समाहार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies implied प्रजाः); समाहार-द्वन्द्व: (शाकादि) भोजनं येषाम्/येषां भोजनम् (those whose food is vegetables, roots, meat, honey, fruits, flowers, bones)

• अनावृष्ट्या: by lack of rain
• अनावृष्ट्या: Karana (करण/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनावृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Feminine, Instrumental, Singular)

• विनङ्क्ष्यन्ति: will perish
• विनङ्क्ष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + न√श् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (भविष्यत्/Future), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (3rd person plural); परस्मैपदम्

• दुर्भिक्षकरपीडिताः: afflicted by famine-causing (conditions)
• दुर्भिक्षकरपीडिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्भिक्ष + कर + पीडित (प्रातिपदिक; √पीड् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (Masculine, Nominative, Plural); तत्पुरुष: दुर्भिक्षं करोति इति (famine-causing) + क्त-कृदन्त ‘पीडित’ (afflicted)

Purport

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam authoritatively describes the future of our planet. Just as a leaf disconnected from a plant or tree dries up, withers and disintegrates, when human society is disconnected from the Supreme Lord it withers up and disintegrates in violence and chaos. Despite our computers and rockets, if the Supreme Lord does not send rain we shall all starve.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about drought and famine in Kali Yuga?

This verse states that when rains fail (anāvṛṣṭi), famine will arise and people will be forced to eat whatever is available—roots, vegetables, meat, honey, fruits, flowers, even bones—and many will perish under the pressure of scarcity.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing such harsh conditions to King Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva is outlining the symptoms of Kali-yuga so Parīkṣit can understand the age’s decline and recognize the urgency of taking shelter of bhakti and the Lord’s message as the true protection.

Practical application: how should a devotee respond to Kali-yuga hardships like scarcity?

A devotee should cultivate simplicity and gratitude, avoid waste, practice compassion and charity during crises, and deepen reliance on nāma-saṅkīrtana and devotion—seeing material instability as a reminder to seek lasting shelter in Bhagavān.