Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 12
The Curse on the Yadus Begins: Kṛṣṇa’s Plan to Withdraw His Dynasty
कर्माणि पुण्यनिवहानि सुमङ्गलानि गायज्जगत्कलिमलापहराणि कृत्वा । कालात्मना निवसता यदुदेवगेहे पिण्डारकं समगमन् मुनयो निसृष्टा: ॥ ११ ॥ विश्वामित्रोऽसित: कण्वो दुर्वासा भृगुरङ्गिरा: । कश्यपो वामदेवोऽत्रिर्वसिष्ठो नारदादय: ॥ १२ ॥
karmāni puṇya-nivahāni su-maṅgalāni gāyaj-jagat-kali-malāpaharāṇi kṛtvā kālātmanā nivasatā yadu-deva-gehe piṇḍārakaṁ samagaman munayo nisṛṣṭāḥ
The sages Viśvāmitra, Asita, Kaṇva, Durvāsā, Bhṛgu, Aṅgirā, Kaśyapa, Vāmadeva, Atri and Vasiṣṭha, together with Nārada and others, performed supremely auspicious rites that bestow abundant piety, and whose very recitation removes the sins of Kali-yuga from the world. They duly completed these ceremonies in the home of Vasudeva, chief of the Yadus, where Śrī Kṛṣṇa dwelt as Time personified; and, respectfully sent off by Śrī Kṛṣṇa at the conclusion, the sages went to the holy place called Piṇḍāraka.
In this verse, Śukadeva Gosvāmī begins to narrate the story of the brahminical curse that arose against the Yadu dynasty by the Lord’s desire. According to Śrīdhara Svāmī, certain religious rituals, such as the aśvamedha-yajña, generate pious reactions. On the other hand, activities such as caring for one’s children give immediate pleasure in the present only, whereas rituals performed as atonement take away sinful reactions. But the religious activities mentioned in verse 11, which are indicated by the words karmāṇi puṇya-nivahāni su-maṅgalāni gāyaj-jagat-kali-malāpaharāṇi, were pious in all respects. They produced abundant pious results and great joy and were so potent that merely glorifying these rituals relieves one from all the sinful reactions of Kali-yuga.
FAQs
This verse indicates that auspicious acts and especially the glorification of such acts—centered on the Lord—remove the world’s Kali-yuga impurity (kali-mala).
They assembled by divine arrangement: the Lord, present as Time within all beings, impelled the sages to gather at Piṇḍāraka in the Yadu Lord’s sacred region, setting the stage for the coming events at Prabhāsa.
Engage in auspicious devotional practices—especially hearing and chanting the Lord’s glories—so that the mind and environment are purified from Kali-yuga influences.