Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

प्रजा हि लुब्धै राजन्यैर्निर्घृणैर्दस्युधर्मभि: । आच्छिन्नदारद्रविणा यास्यन्ति गिरिकाननम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

prajā hi lubdhai rājanyair nirghṛṇair dasyu-dharmabhiḥ ācchinna-dāra-draviṇā yāsyanti giri-kānanam

Translation

Para penguasa yang tamak dan tanpa belas kasih akan bertingkah seperti pencuri; rakyat yang kehilangan istri dan harta akan melarikan diri ke pegunungan dan hutan.

Synonyms

• प्रजाः: the people
• प्रजाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Plural)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/emphasis)

• लुब्धैः: greedy
• लुब्धैः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लुब्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; qualifies राजन्यैः)

• राजन्यैः: by the rulers/kṣatriyas
• राजन्यैः: Karana (करण/Instrument; agent causing suffering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural)

• निर्घृणैः: merciless
• निर्घृणैः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्घृण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; qualifies राजन्यैः)

• दस्युधर्मभिः: having the ways of bandits
• दस्युधर्मभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दस्यु + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: दस्यूनां धर्मः यस्य (having the conduct of bandits)

• आच्छिन्नदारद्रविणाः: deprived of wife/family and wealth
• आच्छिन्नदारद्रविणाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ√छिद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → आच्छिन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + दार + द्रविण (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies प्रजाः); समाहार-द्वन्द्व: दारं च द्रविणं च (wife/family and wealth) + क्त-कृदन्त ‘आच्छिन्न’ (deprived/robbed)

• यास्यन्ति: will go
• यास्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (भविष्यत्/Future), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (3rd person plural)

• गिरिकाननम्: to the mountain forest
• गिरिकाननम्: Karma (कर्म/Goal-object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि + कानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); तत्पुरुष: गिरौ काननम् (forest in the mountains)

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about corrupt rulers in Kali Yuga?

This verse says that rulers will become greedy and merciless, acting like bandits, and will plunder the people of wealth and even family security.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī say this to King Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva was describing the future symptoms of Kali-yuga to Parīkṣit Mahārāja, warning how society deteriorates when leadership loses dharma.

What is the practical application of this teaching in modern life?

It urges seekers to value dharmic leadership, simplicity, and spiritual shelter, and to protect family and integrity rather than trusting blindly in exploitative systems.