Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 14

Kali-yuga Dynasties and the Degradation of Kingship

Devanagari script

मौर्या ह्येते दश नृपा: सप्तत्रिंशच्छतोत्तरम् । समा भोक्ष्यन्ति पृथिवीं कलौ कुरुकुलोद्वह ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

mauryā hy ete daśa nṛpāḥ sapta-triṁśac-chatottaram samā bhokṣyanti pṛthivīṁ kalau kuru-kulodvaha

Translation

Wahai yang termulia dari wangsa Kuru, sepuluh raja Maurya ini akan memerintah bumi selama 137 tahun pada Kali-yuga.

Synonyms

• mauryāḥ: the Mauryas
• mauryāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maurya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधानार्थ/हेतौ (emphasis/indeed)

• ete: these
• ete: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Deictic of mauryāḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Saṅkhyā-viśeṣaṇa (संख्या-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या (indeclinable numeral used adjectivally); here qualifying nṛpāḥ

• nṛpāḥ: kings
• nṛpāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• sapta-triṁśat-śata-uttaram: one hundred and thirty-seven (in excess of a hundred by thirty-seven)
• sapta-triṁśat-śata-uttaram: Parimāṇa (परिमाण/Measure)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta + triṁśat + śata + uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास (compound numeral expression): ‘शतोत्तरं सप्तत्रिंशत्’ = 137; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; here used adverbially with samāḥ (years) as measure

• samāḥ: years
• samāḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); कालपरिमाण (time measure)

• bhokṣyanti: will rule/enjoy
• bhokṣyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• pṛthivīm: the earth
• pṛthivīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• kalau: in the Kali age
• kalau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• kuru-kulodvaha: O upholder of the Kuru dynasty
• kuru-kulodvaha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuru-kula + udvaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘कुरुकुलस्य उद्वहः’ (bearer/ornament of Kuru dynasty)

Purport

Although nine kings are mentioned by name, Daśaratha appeared after Sujyeṣṭha, before the rule of Saṅgata, and thus there are ten Maurya kings.

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit
• Maurya kings

FAQs

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

In Bhagavatam 12.1.14, Śukadeva states that ten Maurya kings will rule the earth in Kali-yuga for a total of 137 years.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī speak about future dynasties to King Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva was describing the course of Kali-yuga—its rulers and decline of dharma—to give Parīkṣit a clear view of worldly impermanence and strengthen his detachment and devotion.

What is the practical lesson of Bhagavatam 12.1.14 for modern life?

Worldly power and political rule are temporary; seeing history as fleeting encourages focus on lasting spiritual practice—bhakti, remembrance of the Lord, and living by dharma.