Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 4

Kali-yuga Dynasties and the Degradation of Kingship

Devanagari script

शिशुनागस्ततो भाव्य: काकवर्णस्तु तत्सुत: । क्षेमधर्मा तस्य सुत: क्षेत्रज्ञ: क्षेमधर्मज: ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

śiśunāgas tato bhāvyaḥ kākavarṇas tu tat-sutaḥ kṣemadharmā tasya sutaḥ kṣetrajñaḥ kṣemadharma-jaḥ

Translation

Nandivardhana aura un fils nommé Śiśunāga, et son fils sera connu sous le nom de Kākavarṇa. Le fils de Kākavarṇa sera Kṣemadharmā, et le fils de Kṣemadharmā sera Kṣetrajña.

Synonyms

• शिशुनागः: Śiśunāga
• शिशुनागः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशुनाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरता-वाचक (thereafter)

• भाव्यः: will be (the next)
• भाव्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भू धातु (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भविष्यदर्थक ‘यत्’ (to be, destined); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शिशुनागस्य विशेषणम्

• काकवर्णः: Kākavarṇa
• काकवर्णः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘काक इव वर्णः यस्य’ (name); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: and/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोधार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• तत्-सुतः: his son
• तत्-सुतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘तस्य सुतः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्षेमधर्मा: Kṣemadharmā
• क्षेमधर्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेम (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (नाम): ‘क्षेमः धर्मः यस्य/क्षेमधर्मः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• सुतः: son
• सुतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्षेत्रज्ञः: Kṣetrajña
• क्षेत्रज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘क्षेत्रं जानाति’/‘क्षेत्रस्य ज्ञः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्षेमधर्म-जः: born of Kṣemadharmā
• क्षेमधर्म-जः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षेमधर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘क्षेमधर्मस्य जः’ (born of Kṣemadharmā); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्षेत्रज्ञस्य विशेषणम्

Characters & Entities

• Śiśunāga
• Kākavarṇa
• Kṣemadharmā
• Kṣetrajña

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the succession of kings in Kali-yuga?

In Canto 12, Chapter 1, Śukadeva Gosvāmī lists the coming rulers of Kali-yuga in genealogical order, naming successive kings and their sons, as in this verse describing Śiśunāga and his descendants.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe future dynasties to Mahārāja Parīkṣit?

He was answering Parīkṣit’s inquiries about the nature of Kali-yuga and its effects, illustrating the age’s decline through foretold political lineages and the changing quality of leadership.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam verse in modern life?

The verse reminds readers that worldly power and dynasties rapidly change; therefore one should seek lasting shelter in bhakti and spiritual practice rather than placing ultimate hope in political arrangements.