Shloka 2

The Earth Laughs at World-Conquering Kings; Yuga-Dharma and the Remedy for Kali

Devanagari script

काम एष नरेन्द्राणां मोघ: स्याद् विदुषामपि । येन फेनोपमे पिण्डे येऽतिविश्रम्भिता नृपा: ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

kāma eṣa narendrāṇāṁ moghaḥ syād viduṣām api yena phenopame piṇḍe ye ’ti-viśrambhitā nṛpāḥ

Translation

ഹേ നരേന്ദ്രന്മാരേ! ഈ കാമവാഞ്ഛ പണ്ഡിതന്മാരെയും പരാജയപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു. കാമപ്രേരിതരായി രാജാക്കന്മാർ നുരപോലെ ക്ഷണഭംഗുരമായ ദേഹപിണ്ഡത്തിൽ വലിയ വിശ്വാസം വെക്കുന്നു.

Synonyms

• कामः: desire, lust
• कामः: कर्ता/विधेय (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एषः: this
• एषः: विशेषण (of कामः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘कामः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• नरेन्द्राणाम्: of kings (lords of men)
• नरेन्द्राणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (नराणाम् इन्द्राः); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• मोघः: futile, vain
• मोघः: विधेय-विशेषण (predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण/विधेय (predicate adjective)

• स्यात्: would be / is (indeed)
• स्यात्: क्रिया (copula)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु √अस्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विदुषाम्: of the learned
• विदुषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध-निबन्धन (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवाद-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• येन: by which
• येन: करण/हेतु (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक

• फेन-उपमे: in a lump like foam
• फेन-उपमे: विशेषण (of पिण्डे)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फेन (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (फेन इव उपमः); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण (पिण्डे)

• पिण्डे: in the mass/lump (body)
• पिण्डे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• ये: who
• ये: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक

• अति-विश्रम्भिताः: overconfident
• अति-विश्रम्भिताः: विशेषण (of नृपाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग) + विश्रम्भ (धातु √श्रम्भ्/√श्रभ् ‘to trust, be confident’) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (नृपाः)

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

Characters & Entities

• narendra (kings)
• nṛpa (rulers)
• vidvān (learned persons)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about lust (kāma) in Kali-yuga?

This verse states that lust is ultimately fruitless; it makes even rulers and learned people place blind confidence in the temporary body, leading to delusion and downfall.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the body as ‘like foam’ (phena-upama)?

Foam appears substantial but vanishes quickly; likewise the body is fragile and short-lived, so becoming proud and overly trusting in it is a mistake.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Remember the body’s impermanence, reduce decisions driven by lust and ego, and cultivate restraint and devotion so leadership and personal life are guided by dharma rather than impulse.