Shloka 35

Kali-yuga Dynasties and the Degradation of Kingship

Devanagari script

प्रजाश्चाब्रह्मभूयिष्ठा: स्थापयिष्यति दुर्मति: । वीर्यवान् क्षत्रमुत्साद्य पद्मवत्यां स वै पुरि । अनुगङ्गमाप्रयागं गुप्तां भोक्ष्यति मेदिनीम् ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

prajāś cābrahma-bhūyiṣṭhāḥ sthāpayiṣyati durmatiḥ vīryavān kṣatram utsādya padmavatyāṁ sa vai puri anu-gaṅgam ā-prayāgaṁ guptāṁ bhokṣyati medinīm

Translation

బుద్ధిహీనుడైన రాజు విశ్వస్ఫూర్జి ప్రజలందరినీ అధార్మికులుగా ఉంచుతాడు మరియు క్షత్రియ ధర్మాన్ని పూర్తిగా నాశనం చేయడానికి తన శక్తిని ఉపయోగిస్తాడు. తన రాజధాని పద్మావతి నుండి గంగా నది మూలం నుండి ప్రయాగ వరకు విస్తరించి ఉన్న భూభాగాన్ని పాలిస్తాడు.

Synonyms

• prajāḥ: subjects/people
• prajāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

• abrahma-bhūyiṣṭhāḥ: mostly non-brahminical
• abrahma-bhūyiṣṭhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-brahma + bhūyiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासः—अ + ब्रह्म (not brahminical) + भूयिष्ठ (mostly/abounding)

• sthāpayiṣyati: will establish
• sthāpayiṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: णिच् (causative) + लृट् (Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; अर्थः—स्थापयति (will establish)

• durmatiḥ: the evil-minded (one)
• durmatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durmati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—दुर् + मति (evil-minded one)

• vīryavān: powerful
• vīryavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīryavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि विशेषण

• kṣatram: the Kṣatriya order
• kṣatram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया, एकवचन

• utsādya: having destroyed
• utsādya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut-sad (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable participle); अर्थः—उत्साद्य (having destroyed/eradicated)

• padmavatyām: in Padmavatī
• padmavatyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padmavatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; नगरनाम

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• vai: indeed
• vai: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक अव्यय (indeed)

• puri: in the city
• puri: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (वैकल्पिकरूपेण; ‘पुर्याम्’ इत्यर्थे)

• anu-gaṅgam: along the Ganges
• anu-gaṅgam: Deśa/Adhikaraṇa (देश/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu (अव्यय) + gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव समास; अव्ययवत् (adverbial): ‘गङ्गाम् अनु’ (along the Ganges)

• ā-prayāgam: up to Prayāga
• ā-prayāgam: Deśa/Avadhi (देश/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā (अव्यय) + prayāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; ‘प्रयागम् आ’ (up to Prayāga)

• guptām: protected
• guptām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gupta (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; मेदिनीम् इति विशेषण; क्त (past passive participle): protected/guarded

• bhokṣyati: will rule/enjoy
• bhokṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; अर्थः—भोक्ष्यति (will rule/enjoy)

• medinīm: the earth
• medinīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: medinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Mahārāja Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kali Yuga rulers and the decline of dharma?

This verse describes a wicked, powerful ruler who promotes a society largely devoid of brahminical qualities, destroys the kṣatriya order, and rules covertly—highlighting Kali-yuga’s political and spiritual degradation.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe future kings to Mahārāja Parīkṣit in Canto 12?

Śukadeva speaks these prophecies to show Parīkṣit the inevitable decline in Kali-yuga and to turn attention toward the timeless refuge—hearing and devotion to Bhagavān—rather than relying on worldly governance.

How can we apply this Bhagavatam verse about Kali Yuga in modern life?

Recognize that social power can drift away from dharma; therefore cultivate brahminical virtues—truthfulness, self-control, compassion—and anchor life in śravaṇa and kīrtana (hearing and chanting) to remain spiritually protected.