Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 12

Parīkṣit Confronts Kali; Dharma and Bhūmi Lament Kṛṣṇa’s Departure

Devanagari script

भद्राश्वं केतुमालं च भारतं चोत्तरान् कुरून् । किम्पुरुषादीनि वर्षाणि विजित्य जगृहे बलिम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

bhadrāśvaṁ ketumālaṁ ca bhārataṁ cottarān kurūn kimpuruṣādīni varṣāṇi vijitya jagṛhe balim

Translation

மகாராஜா பரீக்ஷித் பத்ராஷ்வம், கேதுமாலம், பாரதம், வடக்கு குருக்கள், கிம்புருஷம் முதலிய வர்ஷங்களை வென்று, அங்குள்ள அரசர்களிடமிருந்து காணிக்கை (பலியை) பெற்றார்.

Synonyms

• भद्राश्वम्: Bhadrāśva (region)
• भद्राश्वम्: कर्म (Object; of विजित्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्राश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; देश/वर्ष-नाम

• केतुमालम्: Ketumāla (region)
• केतुमालम्: कर्म (Object; of विजित्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतुमाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; देश-नाम

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भारतम्: Bhārata (India)
• भारतम्: कर्म (Object; of विजित्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; देश-नाम

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• उत्तरान्: northern
• उत्तरान्: विशेषण (Qualifier of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘कुरून्’ इति विशेषण

• कुरून्: the Kurus (people/land)
• कुरून्: कर्म (Object; of विजित्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• किम्पुरुष-आदीनि: Kimpuruṣa and other (regions)
• किम्पुरुष-आदीनि: विशेषण (Qualifier of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किम्पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (किम्पुरुषाः आदयः येषु/यत्र) ‘etc.’; ‘वर्षाणि’ इति विशेषण

• वर्षाणि: regions/lands (varṣas)
• वर्षाणि: कर्म (Object; of विजित्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• विजित्य: having conquered
• विजित्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + जि (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• जगृहे: accepted; took
• जगृहे: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• बलिम्: tribute
• बलिम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Purport

Bhadrāśva: It is a tract of land near Meru Parvata, and it extends from Gandha-mādana Parvata to the saltwater ocean. There is a description of this varṣa in the Mahābhārata ( Bhīṣma-parva 7.14-18). The description was narrated by Sañjaya to Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

Characters & Entities

• Mahārāja Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about Parikshit Maharaja’s rule over the world?

This verse states that Parīkṣit conquered major varṣas such as Bhadrāśva, Ketumāla, Bhārata, Uttara-Kuru and regions like Kimpuruṣa, and then accepted their tribute—indicating sovereign, dharma-based kingship.

Why did Parikshit Maharaja accept tribute (bali) after conquering these lands?

As a universal monarch acting in rāja-dharma, he maintained order and protection; the tribute represents acknowledged authority and support for righteous governance rather than exploitative taxation.

What is the practical lesson of this shloka for modern life?

Leadership should be grounded in responsibility and protection: authority is legitimate when it serves the welfare of others, and resources collected should support dharma and public good.