Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 20

Kali-yuga’s Degradation, the Advent of Kalki, and the Reset of the Yuga Cycle

Devanagari script

अश्वमाशुगमारुह्य देवदत्तं जगत्पति: । असिनासाधुदमनमष्टैश्वर्यगुणान्वित: ॥ १९ ॥ विचरन्नाशुना क्षौण्यां हयेनाप्रतिमद्युति: । नृपलिङ्गच्छदो दस्यून्कोटिशो निहनिष्यति ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

aśvam āśu-gam āruhya devadattaṁ jagat-patiḥ asināsādhu-damanam aṣṭaiśvarya-guṇānvitaḥ

Translation

Tuhan Kalki, Penguasa alam semesta, akan menunggang kuda cepat bernama Devadatta; dengan pedang di tangan Ia menjelajah bumi, menampakkan delapan kemegahan mistik dan sifat-sifat ilahi-Nya. Bersinar dengan cahaya tiada banding dan bergerak sangat cepat, Ia akan membinasakan berjuta-juta perampok yang berani menyamar sebagai raja.

Synonyms

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), discourse particle (अनन्तरार्थक)

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• bhaviṣyanti: will become
• bhaviṣyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (Simple Future/लृट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Plural

• manāṁsi: minds
• manāṁsi: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• viśadāni: clear, pure
• viśadāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; agreeing with manāṁsi

• vai: indeed
• vai: Prayojaka (प्रयोग/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक)

• vāsudeva-aṅga-rāga-ati-puṇya-gandha-anila-spṛśām: of those touched by the wind bearing the supremely holy scent of Vāsudeva’s body-ointment
• vāsudeva-aṅga-rāga-ati-puṇya-gandha-anila-spṛśām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + rāga (प्रातिपदिक) + ati (अव्यय) + puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + anila (प्रातिपदिक) + spṛś (धातु) → spṛś (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-आधार)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; long तत्पुरुष-समासः qualifying paura-jānapadānām: ‘of those whom the wind (anila) carrying the exceedingly holy fragrance (ati-puṇya-gandha) of Vāsudeva’s body-ointment (aṅga-rāga) touches’

• paura-jānapadānām: of the townspeople and countryfolk
• paura-jānapadānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paura (प्रातिपदिक) + jānapada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; द्वन्द्व-समासः (पौराश्च जानपदाश्च)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Prayojaka (प्रयोग/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), emphatic particle

• hateṣu: when (they are) slain
• hateṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; Locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु) → hata (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त/भूतकर्मणि), Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; locative absolute with akhila-dasyuṣu

• akhila-dasyuṣu: among all the bandits
• akhila-dasyuṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; with hateṣu forming locative absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक) + dasyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; कर्मधारय-समासः (अखिलाः दस्यवः)

Purport

These verses describe the thrilling pastimes of Lord Kalki. Anyone would be attracted by the sight of a powerful, beautiful man riding on a wonderful horse at lightning speed, chastising and devastating cruel, demonic people with the sword in His hand.

Characters & Entities

• Kalki
• Devadatta

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Kalki avatara in Kali Yuga?

This verse describes the Lord appearing as Kalki, mounting the swift horse Devadatta and wielding a sword to subdue the wicked at the end of Kali Yuga.

Why is Kalki described as carrying a sword in the Bhagavatam?

The sword signifies decisive divine intervention—Kalki’s mission is to chastise irreligious rulers and destroy rampant adharma when it becomes unbearable for the world.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

It reminds a devotee that dharma is ultimately protected by the Lord; one should align with righteousness and devotion rather than the corrupt trends of Kali Yuga.