Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 12
The Earth Laughs at World-Conquering Kings; Yuga-Dharma and the Remedy for Kali
श्रीशुक उवाच पृथु: पुरूरवा गाधिर्नहुषो भरतोऽर्जुन: । मान्धाता सगरो राम: खट्वाङ्गो धुन्धुहा रघु: ॥ ९ ॥ तृणबिन्दुर्ययातिश्च शर्याति: शन्तनुर्गय: । भगीरथ: कुवलयाश्व: ककुत्स्थो नैषधो नृग: ॥ १० ॥ हिरण्यकशिपुर्वृत्रो रावणो लोकरावण: । नमुचि: शम्बरो भौमो हिरण्याक्षोऽथ तारक: ॥ ११ ॥ अन्ये च बहवो दैत्या राजानो ये महेश्वरा: । सर्वे सर्वविद: शूरा: सर्वे सर्वजितोऽजिता: ॥ १२ ॥ ममतां मय्यवर्तन्त कृत्वोच्चैर्मर्त्यधर्मिण: । कथावशेषा: कालेन ह्यकृतार्था: कृता विभो ॥ १३ ॥
pṛthuḥ purūravā gādhir nahuṣo bharato ’rjunaḥ māndhātā sagaro rāmaḥ khaṭvāṅgo dhundhuhā raghuḥ
シュリー・シュカデーヴァは語った。プṛトゥ、プルーラヴァー、ガーディ、ナフシャ、バラタ、カルタヴィールヤ・アルジュナ、マーンダータ、サガラ、ラーマ、カトヴァーンガ、ドゥンドゥハー、ラグ、トリナビンドゥ、ヤヤーティ、シャリヤーティ、シャーンタヌ、ガヤ、バギーラタ、クヴァラヤーシュヴァ、カクツスタ、ナイシャダ、ヌリガ、ヒラニヤカシプ、ヴリトラ、全世界を嘆かせたラーヴァナ、ナムチ、シャンバラ、バウマ、ヒラニヤークシャ、ターラカ—さらに多くのアスラや大権を持つ王たち—は皆、知恵に満ち、勇猛で、万物を征し、征服され難かった。だが、全能の主よ、彼らは私を我がものにしようと執着して生きても、死すべき法と時の流れに支配され、ついには物語として残るのみで、永遠の支配を打ち立てる者は一人もいなかった。
According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, and as confirmed by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, the King Rāma mentioned here is not the incarnation of Godhead Rāmacandra. Pṛthu Mahārāja is understood to be an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead who completely exhibited the characteristics of an earthly king, claiming proprietorship over the entire earth. A saintly king like Pṛthu Mahārāja, however, controls the earth on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whereas a demon such as Hiraṇyakaśipu or Rāvaṇa tries to exploit the earth for his personal sense gratification. Nevertheless, both saintly kings and demons must leave the earth. In this way their political supremacy is ultimately neutralized by the force of time.
FAQs
This verse notes that many Daitya kings were extraordinarily learned and heroic, conquering others, yet their greatness still could not protect them from being overcome by higher forces like Time and the Supreme Lord.
He is illustrating to King Parīkṣit that worldly power, learning, and victory are temporary—countless “unconquerable” rulers still pass away—therefore one should seek the eternal shelter of Bhagavān.
Use success and influence responsibly, but don’t base identity on them; cultivate bhakti and remembrance of the Lord, knowing that all worldly achievements are ultimately limited by time.