Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 11
Kali-yuga’s Degradation, the Advent of Kalki, and the Reset of the Yuga Cycle
Devanagari script
त्रिंशद्विंशतिवर्षाणि परमायु: कलौ नृणाम् ॥ ११ ॥
Transliteration
triṁśad viṁśati varṣāṇi paramāyuḥ kalau nṛṇām
Translation
La duración máxima de la vida de los seres humanos en Kali-yuga será de cincuenta años.
Synonyms
त्रिंशत्thirty
त्रिंशत्:
Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootत्रिंशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्ययवत् संख्या-शब्दः; अत्र ‘त्रिंशत्’ (30) संख्याविशेषणम् (numeral used adjectivally)
विंशतिtwenty
विंशति:
Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootविंशति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्ययवत् संख्या-शब्दः; ‘विंशति’ (20) संख्याविशेषणम् (numeral used adjectivally)
वर्षाणिyears
वर्षाणि:
Karma (कर्म/Measure-object)
TypeNoun
Rootवर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Plural); संख्येयम् (counted noun with numerals)
परमायुःthe maximum lifespan
परमायुः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootपरम + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Neuter, Nominative, Singular); कर्मधारय: परमम् आयुः (supreme/maximum lifespan)
कलौin the Kali age
कलौ:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-location)
TypeNoun
Rootकलि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Masculine, Locative, Singular)
नृणाम्of men
नृणाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootनृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Plural)
FAQs
This verse states that in Kali-yuga the maximum lifespan of humans is about fifty years (thirty plus twenty).
Śukadeva is listing the symptoms of Kali-yuga to help Parīkṣit understand the decline of human strength and virtue and the urgency of spiritual practice.
Remembering life’s uncertainty and brevity encourages sincere bhakti—using one’s time for hearing, chanting, and living dharmically rather than postponing spiritual life.