Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

यदावतीर्णो भगवान् कल्किर्धर्मपतिर्हरि: । कृतं भविष्यति तदा प्रजासूतिश्च सात्त्विकी ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

yadāvatīrṇo bhagavān kalkir dharma-patir hariḥ kṛtaṁ bhaviṣyati tadā prajā-sūtiś ca sāttvikī

Translation

When Bhagavān Hari, the maintainer of dharma, descends upon the earth as Kalki, then Satya-yuga (Kṛta-yuga) will begin, and human society will bring forth progeny in the mode of goodness (sattva).

Synonyms

• यदा: when
• यदा: कालाधिकरण (Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• अवतीर्णः: descended/incarnated
• अवतीर्णः: विशेषण (of भगवान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव + तॄ (धातु) → अवतीर्ण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकृदन्त (PPP)

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कल्किः: Kalki
• कल्किः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्कि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समनाधिकरण (in apposition to भगवान्)

• धर्म-पतिः: lord of dharma
• धर्म-पतिः: समनाधिकरण (apposition to भगवान्/कल्किः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: धर्मस्य पतिः

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: समनाधिकरण (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समनाधिकरण

• कृतम्: Kṛta (Satya) age
• कृतम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक; कॄ धातोः PPP)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); युगनाम (name of age)

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• प्रजा-सूतिः: birth/production of progeny
• प्रजा-सूतिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक) + सूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: प्रजायाः सूतिः

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सात्त्विकी: sattvic, pure
• सात्त्विकी: विशेषण (of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सात्त्विक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (of प्रजा-सूतिः)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Kalki

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Kalki and the end of Kali Yuga?

This verse states that when Lord Hari descends as Kalki, He will re-establish dharma and the age will turn into Kṛta (Satya-yuga) again.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe Kalki to King Parīkṣit in Canto 12?

Śukadeva is concluding his description of time, the yugas, and Kali-yuga’s degradation by revealing how the Lord ultimately intervenes—by appearing as Kalki to restore righteousness.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life during Kali Yuga?

It encourages steadiness in dharma and devotion despite Kali-yuga conditions, trusting that the Lord’s order and justice prevail over time.