Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 1
The Curse on the Yadus Begins: Kṛṣṇa’s Plan to Withdraw His Dynasty
श्रीशुक उवाच कृत्वा दैत्यवधं कृष्ण: सरामो यदुभिर्वृत: । भुवोऽवतारयद् भारं जविष्ठं जनयन् कलिम् ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca kṛtvā daitya-vadhaṁ kṛṣṇaḥ sa-rāmo yadubhir vṛtaḥ bhuvo ’vatārayad bhāraṁ javiṣṭhaṁ janayan kalim
Śrī Śuka dit : Śrī Kṛṣṇa, accompagné de Balarāma et entouré des Yadus, accomplit la mise à mort des démons. Puis, afin d’alléger le fardeau de la terre, Il arrangea très promptement le grand conflit qui ferait naître Kali.
The Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam begins with a reference to the pastimes executed by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa in the Tenth Canto. The beginning of the Tenth Canto describes that when the earth was overburdened by demoniac rulers, the personified earth, Bhūmi, approached Lord Brahmā with tears in her eyes, begging for relief, and Brahmā immediately went with the demigods to approach the Supreme Lord in His form of Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. As the demigods waited respectfully on the shore of the Milk Ocean, the Supreme Lord announced through Brahmā that He would soon incarnate on earth and that the demigods should also descend to assist in His pastimes. Thus from the very beginning of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s appearance it was understood that He would descend to the earth to remove the demons.
FAQs
This verse states that Krishna, along with Balarama and the Yadus, swiftly removed the earth’s burden by destroying demonic forces.
The verse indicates that as Krishna concluded His demon-slaying mission and the earth’s burden was lifted, the conditions were set for Kali to manifest—signaling a shift in cosmic time and human conduct.
It reminds a devotee that divine order operates in cycles; even when Kali’s influence rises, one can stay protected by remembering Krishna’s purpose and aligning life with dharma and devotion.