Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 13

Kali-yuga Dynasties and the Degradation of Kingship

Devanagari script

सुयशा भविता तस्य सङ्गत: सुयश:सुत: । शालिशूकस्ततस्तस्य सोमशर्मा भविष्यति । शतधन्वा ततस्तस्य भविता तद् बृहद्रथ: ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

suyaśā bhavitā tasya saṅgataḥ suyaśaḥ-sutaḥ śāliśūkas tatas tasya somaśarmā bhaviṣyati śatadhanvā tatas tasya bhavitā tad-bṛhadrathaḥ

Translation

Após Aśokavardhana virá Suyaśā, cujo filho será Saṅgata. Seu filho será Śāliśūka; o filho de Śāliśūka será Somaśarmā; o filho de Somaśarmā será Śatadhanvā; e seu filho será conhecido como Bṛhadratha.

Synonyms

• suyaśāḥ: Suyaśā (name)
• suyaśāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suyaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• bhavitā: will be
• bhavitā: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• tasya: of him/of that (king)
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masc/Neut), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• saṅgataḥ: Saṅgata (name)
• saṅgataḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅgata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √gam धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• suyaśaḥ-sutaḥ: son of Suyaśā
• suyaśaḥ-sutaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of saṅgataḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suyaśas + suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive determinative): ‘सुयशसः सुतः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śāliśūkaḥ: Śāliśūka (name)
• śāliśūkaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāliśūka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anukrama (काल/अनुक्रम-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• somaśarmā: Somaśarmā (name)
• somaśarmā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: somaśarman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• bhaviṣyati: will be
• bhaviṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• śatadhanvā: Śatadhanvā (name)
• śatadhanvā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatadhanvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anukrama (काल/अनुक्रम-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• bhavitā: will be
• bhavitā: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• tat: that (one)
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Deictic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; here used as demonstrative with following name

• bṛhadrathaḥ: Bṛhadratha (name)
• bṛhadrathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhadratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Suyaśā
• Saṅgata
• Śāliśūka
• Somaśarmā
• Śatadhanvā
• Bṛhadratha

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the kings of Kali Yuga in Canto 12 Chapter 1?

This verse continues Śukadeva Gosvāmī’s enumeration of successive rulers in Kali-yuga, listing the next kings in the line—Suyaśā, Saṅgata, Śāliśūka, Somaśarmā, Śatadhanvā, and Bṛhadratha.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī listing so many kings to King Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva is summarizing future dynasties to show the historical course and degradation of governance in Kali-yuga, helping Parīkṣit (and listeners) develop detachment from worldly power and take shelter of bhakti.

What is the practical application of these dynasty lists for modern life?

The rapid succession of rulers highlights the temporary nature of political prestige and worldly legacy, encouraging one to prioritize lasting spiritual practice—hearing and chanting about the Lord—over anxiety for changing material leadership.