Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 17
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
Ô Parīkṣit, le plus éminent des héros Kuru : après Agnimitra régnera Sujyeṣṭha ; puis viendront Vasumitra, Bhadraka et Pulinda, fils de Bhadraka. Ensuite gouvernera Ghoṣa, fils de Pulinda ; puis Vajramitra, puis Bhāgavata et enfin Devabhūti. Ainsi, dix rois Śuṅga domineront la terre plus de cent ans. Puis la terre passera sous la sujétion des rois de la dynastie Kāṇva, aux vertus bien maigres.
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 Bhagavatam 12.1.17, Śukadeva states that ten Śuṅga rulers will govern for a little over one hundred years, after which the realm will pass to the Kāṇvas, described as having lesser virtue (alpa-guṇān).
Because this section narrates the progressive decline of royal dharma in Kali-yuga; Śukadeva highlights that later rulers will possess fewer noble qualities, contrasting with earlier standards of righteous kingship.
Worldly leadership and institutions change and often degrade over time; the verse encourages seekers to anchor their hope in timeless devotion and dharma rather than relying on political power for lasting well-being.