Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 37
Kali-yuga Dynasties and the Degradation of Kingship
सिन्धोस्तटं चन्द्रभागां कौन्तीं काश्मीरमण्डलम् । भोक्ष्यन्ति शूद्रा व्रात्याद्या म्लेच्छाश्चाब्रह्मवर्चस: ॥ ३७ ॥
sindhos taṭaṁ candrabhāgāṁ kauntīṁ kāśmīra-maṇḍalam bhokṣyanti śūdrā vrātyādyā mlecchāś cābrahma-varcasaḥ
Les terres le long du fleuve Sindhu, ainsi que les districts de Candrabhaga, Kaunti et Kasmira, seront gouvernées par des śūdras, des brāhmaṇas déchus et des mlecchas. Ayant abandonné la voie de la civilisation védique, ils auront perdu toute force spirituelle.
FAQs
This verse states that in Kali-yuga, various regions will be governed by śūdra-like, vrātya and mleccha rulers—leaders lacking brahminical qualities such as purity, self-control, and spiritual culture.
Śukadeva speaks to Parīkṣit to reveal the coming decline of dharma and social order in Kali-yuga, strengthening the king’s urgency to seek the highest shelter—exclusive devotion to Śrī Kṛṣṇa—before death.
Rather than depending on worldly leadership for dharmic guidance, one should cultivate brahminical virtues—truthfulness, cleanliness, self-control—and take steady shelter of bhakti through hearing and chanting the Lord’s names.