Shloka 18
Kali-yuga Dynasties and the Degradation of Kingship
शुङ्गं हत्वा देवभूतिं काण्वोऽमात्यस्तु कामिनम् । स्वयं करिष्यते राज्यं वसुदेवो महामति: ॥ १८ ॥
śuṅgaṁ hatvā devabhūtiṁ kāṇvo ’mātyas tu kāminam svayaṁ kariṣyate rājyaṁ vasudevo mahā-matiḥ
देवभूतिं शुङ्गराजं कामिनं हत्वा काण्वकुलोत्पन्नो महामतिरमात्यः वसुदेवः स्वयं राज्यं करिष्यति।
Apparently, because King Devabhūti was lusty after the wives of other men, his minister killed him, assuming leadership and thus beginning the Kāṇva dynasty.
FAQs
This verse describes a political overthrow: a lust-driven king (Devabhūti of the Śuṅgas) is killed, and his own minister (Vasudeva of the Kāṇvas) seizes the kingdom—illustrating instability and moral decline in Kali-yuga rulership.
Devabhūti is named as a Śuṅga ruler characterized as kāmin (lustful). The verse states he is killed by a Kāṇva minister, Vasudeva, who then takes the throne.
Worldly power is unstable and often driven by desire; therefore a seeker should place lasting trust in dharma and devotion (bhakti) rather than in changing political arrangements.