Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 7

The Earth Laughs at World-Conquering Kings; Yuga-Dharma and the Remedy for Kali

Devanagari script

मत्कृते पितृपुत्राणां भ्रातृणां चापि विग्रह: । जायते ह्यसतां राज्ये ममताबद्धचेतसाम् ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

mat-kṛte pitṛ-putrāṇāṁ bhrātṝṇāṁ cāpi vigrahaḥ jāyate hy asatāṁ rājye mamatā-baddha-cetasām

Translation

To conquer Me, those absorbed in matter fight among themselves. Bound in heart by possessiveness for political power, fathers oppose sons, and brothers contend with brothers.

Synonyms

• मत्कृते: for my sake
• मत्कृते: Hetu (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मद्/अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + कृते (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (mat-kṛte = ‘for my sake’); कृते (सप्तमी/locative of ‘kṛta’ used idiomatically)

• पितृपुत्राणाम्: of fathers and sons
• पितृपुत्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (pitṛ-putra = ‘fathers and sons’)

• भ्रातॄणाम्: of brothers
• भ्रातॄणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• विग्रहः: conflict, quarrel
• विग्रहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जायते: arises, is born
• जायते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ निपात (indeed/for)

• असताम्: of the wicked
• असताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of the wicked/impious’

• राज्ये: in the kingdom
• राज्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (in the realm/kingdom)

• ममताबद्धचेतसाम्: whose minds are bound by possessiveness
• ममताबद्धचेतसाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ममता (प्रातिपदिक) + बद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (mamatā-baddha-cetas = ‘whose minds are bound by possessiveness’), विशेषण of असताम्

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about family quarrels in Kali Yuga?

This verse says that in Kali Yuga, for the sake of wealth, even close family members like fathers and sons or brothers will fight, because people become bound by possessiveness and society is led by irreligious rulers.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe conflict between fathers, sons, and brothers?

He is listing the symptoms of Kali Yuga to Mahārāja Parīkṣit, showing how greed and the sense of “mine” corrupt relationships and destroy natural affection and dharma.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam teaching in modern life?

Reduce possessiveness, simplify desires, and prioritize dharma and devotion over accumulation—so money does not become the center of identity and relationships.