Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 15
Kali-yuga Dynasties and the Degradation of Kingship
अग्निमित्रस्ततस्तस्मात् सुज्येष्ठो भविता तत: । वसुमित्रो भद्रकश्च पुलिन्दो भविता सुत: ॥ १५ ॥ ततो घोष: सुतस्तस्माद् वज्रमित्रो भविष्यति । ततो भागवतस्तस्माद् देवभूति: कुरूद्वह ॥ १६ ॥ शुङ्गा दशैते भोक्ष्यन्ति भूमिं वर्षशताधिकम् । तत: काण्वानियं भूमिर्यास्यत्यल्पगुणान्नृप ॥ १७ ॥
agnimitras tatas tasmāt sujyeṣṭho bhavitā tataḥ vasumitro bhadrakaś ca pulindo bhavitā sutaḥ
My dear King Parīkṣit, after Agnimitra will come Sujyeṣṭha. Then will follow Vasumitra, Bhadraka, and Bhadraka’s son Pulinda. Next Pulinda’s son Ghoṣa will rule, followed by Vajramitra, then Bhāgavata, and then Devabhūti, O foremost hero of the Kurus. Thus ten Śuṅga kings will govern the earth for more than one hundred years. Thereafter the earth will pass under the sway of the Kāṇva dynasty, whose kings will possess but few virtues.
According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, the Śuṅga dynasty began when General Puṣpamitra killed his king, Bṛhadratha, and assumed power. After Puṣpamitra came Agnimitra and the rest of the Śuṅga dynasty, which lasted for 112 years.
FAQs
In Canto 12, Chapter 1, Śukadeva lists successive Śuṅga rulers in order—here naming Agnimitra’s line through Sujyeṣṭha, Vasumitra, Bhadraka, and Pulinda.
Parīkṣit asked about the course of Kali-yuga, and Śukadeva answered by outlining coming dynasties to show how worldly power changes while spiritual shelter in Bhagavān remains the true refuge.
It reminds us that political and material success is temporary; lasting benefit comes from bhakti—hearing and remembering the Lord beyond changing historical cycles.