Shloka 28

Kali-yuga Dynasties and the Degradation of Kingship

Devanagari script

ततोऽष्टौ यवना भाव्याश्चतुर्दश तुरुष्कका: । भूयो दश गुरुण्डाश्च मौला एकादशैव तु ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

tato ’ṣṭau yavanā bhāvyāś caturdaśa turuṣkakāḥ bhūyo daśa guruṇḍāś ca maulā ekādaśaiva tu

Translation

ततोऽष्टौ यवनाः भाव्याः, चतुर्दश तुरुष्ककाः। भूयः दश गुरुण्डाः, मौलाः एकादशैव तु॥

Synonyms

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb); अर्थे: ‘thereafter/then’

• aṣṭau: eight
• aṣṭau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या-विशेषण (numeral adjective); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• yavanāḥ: Yavanas (Greeks/foreigners)
• yavanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• bhāvyāḥ: will be (to come)
• bhāvyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāvya (कृदन्त; √bhū धातु, भाव्य-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भविष्यत्-अर्थक कृदन्त (to be/going to be); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; यवनाः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• caturdaśa: fourteen
• caturdaśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturdaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या-विशेषण (numeral); अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (indeclinable-like numeral)

• turuṣkakāḥ: Turuṣkas (Turks)
• turuṣkakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: turuṣkaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• bhūyaḥ: further
• bhūyaḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyas (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb); अर्थे: ‘again/further/more’

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या-विशेषण (numeral); अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (indeclinable-like numeral)

• guruṇḍāḥ: Guruṇḍas
• guruṇḍāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guruṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• maulāḥ: Maulas (Mūlas)
• maulāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• ekādaśa: eleven
• ekādaśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekādaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या-विशेषण (numeral); अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (indeclinable-like numeral)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

Characters & Entities

• Yavana
• Turuṣka
• Guruṇḍa
• Maula

FAQs

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

In this verse, Śukadeva Gosvāmī foretells that in Kali-yuga various foreign (mleccha) ruling groups—Yavanas and Turuṣkas among them—will rise in successive numbers, indicating political decline from Vedic dharma.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī listing future dynasties to King Parīkṣit?

He is describing the progression of Kali-yuga and the weakening of righteous governance, helping Parīkṣit understand the age’s decline and the urgency of taking shelter of pure devotion to the Lord.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam verse in modern life?

The verse reminds one not to place ultimate hope in changing political powers; instead, cultivate steady bhakti and dharmic conduct, which remain reliable even amid societal instability.