Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 51

Śrī Rāmacandra-avatāra — Vow, Exile, Laṅkā-vijaya, and Rāma-rājya

Concise Bhāgavata Account

Devanagari script

त्रेतायां वर्तमानायां काल: कृतसमोऽभवत् । रामे राजनि धर्मज्ञे सर्वभूतसुखावहे ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

tretāyāṁ vartamānāyāṁ kālaḥ kṛta-samo ’bhavat rāme rājani dharma-jñe sarva-bhūta-sukhāvahe

Translation

Bien que le Seigneur Rāmacandra régnât durant le Tretā-yuga, grâce à son gouvernement fondé sur le dharma, l’époque devint semblable au Satya-yuga. Tous étaient vertueux et parfaitement heureux.

Synonyms

• tretāyām: in the Tretā (age)
• tretāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tretā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• vartamānāyām: while (it) was current
• vartamānāyām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛt (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—शतृ (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘while (it) was prevailing’ (agreeing with tretāyām)

• kālaḥ: time/era
• kālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kṛta-samaḥ: equal to the Kṛta (Satya) age
• kṛta-samaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: कर्मधारय (‘kṛta iva samaḥ’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (agreeing with kālaḥ)

• abhavat: became/was
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• rāme: when Rama (was)
• rāme: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन

• rājani: as king
• rājani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; apposition to rāme

• dharma-jñe: knowing dharma
• dharma-jñe: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष (‘dharmaṃ jānāti’), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (agreeing with rāme/rājani)

• sarva-bhūta-sukha-āvahe: bringing happiness to all beings
• sarva-bhūta-sukha-āvahe: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + āvaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘bringing happiness to all beings’

Purport

Among the four yugas — Satya, Tretā, Dvāpara and Kali — the Kali-yuga is the worst, but if the process of varṇāśrama-dharma is introduced, even in this Age of Kali, the situation of Satya-yuga can be invoked. The Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, is meant for this purpose.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Rāma-rājya (the rule of Lord Rāma)?

This verse says that when Lord Rāma ruled as a dharma-knowing king, the age’s influence became like Satya-yuga—peaceful and virtuous—because all beings experienced welfare and happiness.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe Tretā-yuga as becoming like Kṛta-yuga during Rāma’s reign?

He highlights that the character of an ideal ruler shapes society: under Rāma’s dharmic governance, truth, order, and well-being prevailed, resembling the purity of Satya-yuga.

Practical application of ‘dharma-jña leadership’ in modern life?

Lead with integrity and duty-first decision-making; when leaders prioritize dharma and the good of all, the environment around them becomes calmer, safer, and more harmonious.