Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 37

Kali-yuga Dynasties and the Degradation of Kingship

Devanagari script

सिन्धोस्तटं चन्द्रभागां कौन्तीं काश्मीरमण्डलम् । भोक्ष्यन्ति शूद्रा व्रात्याद्या म्‍लेच्छाश्चाब्रह्मवर्चस: ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

sindhos taṭaṁ candrabhāgāṁ kauntīṁ kāśmīra-maṇḍalam bhokṣyanti śūdrā vrātyādyā mlecchāś cābrahma-varcasaḥ

Translation

സിന്ധു നദിയുടെ തീരപ്രദേശങ്ങളും ചന്ദ്രഭാഗ, കൗന്തി, കാശ്മീർ മണ്ഡലങ്ങളും ശൂദ്രന്മാരും പതിതരായ ബ്രാഹ്മണരും മ്ലേച്ഛന്മാരും ഭരിക്കും. വൈദിക സംസ്കാരം ഉപേക്ഷിച്ചതിനാൽ അവർക്ക് ആത്മീയ തേജസ്സ് നഷ്ടപ്പെടും.

Synonyms

• sindhoḥ: of the Sindhu (Indus)
• sindhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sindhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• taṭam: bank/shore
• taṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• candrabhāgām: Candrabhāgā (river/region)
• candrabhāgām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candrabhāgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नदी/प्रदेशवाचक

• kauntīm: Kauntī (region)
• kauntīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kauntī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रदेशवाचक

• kāśmīra-maṇḍalam: the Kashmir region
• kāśmīra-maṇḍalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāśmīra + maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—काश्मीरस्य मण्डलम् (region of Kashmir)

• bhokṣyanti: will rule
• bhokṣyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; अर्थः—भोक्ष्यन्ति (will rule/enjoy)

• śūdrāḥ: Śūdras
• śūdrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• vrātya-ādyāḥ: beginning with the vrātyas
• vrātya-ādyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vrātya + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि विशेषण; समासः—व्रात्य-आदि (beginning with/including vrātyas)

• mlecchāḥ: foreigners/barbarians
• mlecchāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mleccha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• abrahma-varcasaḥ: devoid of brahminical luster
• abrahma-varcasaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-brahma + varcas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि विशेषण; समासः—अ + ब्रह्मवर्चस् (without brahminical splendor)

Characters & Entities

• Sindhu
• Candrabhāgā
• Kauntī
• Kāśmīra

FAQs

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

This verse states that in Kali-yuga, various regions will be governed by śūdra-like, vrātya and mleccha rulers—leaders lacking brahminical qualities such as purity, self-control, and spiritual culture.

Why did Shukadeva Goswami describe these Kali Yuga predictions to King Parikshit?

Śukadeva speaks to Parīkṣit to reveal the coming decline of dharma and social order in Kali-yuga, strengthening the king’s urgency to seek the highest shelter—exclusive devotion to Śrī Kṛṣṇa—before death.

How can devotees apply this teaching in modern life?

Rather than depending on worldly leadership for dharmic guidance, one should cultivate brahminical virtues—truthfulness, cleanliness, self-control—and take steady shelter of bhakti through hearing and chanting the Lord’s names.