Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 13
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
Шри Шукадева сказал: такие цари, как Притху, Пурурава, Гадхи, Нахуша, Бхарата, Картавирья Арджуна, Мандхата, Сагара, Рама, Кхатванга, Дхундхуха, Рагху, Тринбинду, Яяти, Шарьяти, Шантану, Гая, Бхагиратха, Кувалаяшва, Какутстха, Найшадха, Нрига, Хираньякашипу, Вритра, Равана, заставивший весь мир рыдать, Намучи, Шамбара, Бхаума, Хираньякша и Тарака,—а также многие другие асуры и цари, обладавшие великим владычеством,—все были всеведущи, доблестны, всепобеждающи и непобедимы. И всё же, о всемогущий Владыка, хотя они жили, пылая желанием присвоить меня, будучи под властью смертного закона, время обратило их лишь в остаток преданий; никто не смог утвердить власть навечно.
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 says that even the most celebrated people, absorbed in the mentality of “mine,” are eventually reduced by Time to mere story-remnants, with their worldly aims left incomplete.
He emphasizes impermanence: when Time passes, power and possessions vanish, and what remains is only narration—names remembered in history—showing the futility of pride without spiritual purpose.
Reduce the ‘mine’ mentality, remember that status and achievements are temporary, and prioritize lasting spiritual goals—bhakti, humility, and service—over short-lived recognition.