Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 34

Kali-yuga Dynasties and the Degradation of Kingship

Devanagari script

मागधानां तु भविता विश्वस्फूर्जि: पुरञ्जय: । करिष्यत्यपरो वर्णान् पुलिन्दयदुमद्रकान् ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

māgadhānāṁ tu bhavitā viśvasphūrjiḥ purañjayaḥ kariṣyaty aparo varṇān pulinda-yadu-madrakān

Translation

Sau đó sẽ xuất hiện một vị vua của xứ Magadha tên là Viśvasphūrji, người sẽ giống như một Purañjaya khác. Ông ta sẽ biến tất cả các tầng lớp văn minh thành những người thuộc tầng lớp thấp kém, man rợ giống như các tộc người Pulinda, Yadu và Madraka.

Synonyms

• māgadhānām: of the Māgadhas
• māgadhānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māgadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; जनपदवाचक

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

• bhavitā: will be (a future ruler)
• bhavitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavitṛ (प्रातिपदिक; कर्तृ-नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भविष्यति इत्यर्थे (one who will be)

• viśvasphūrjiḥ: Viśvasphūrji
• viśvasphūrjiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva-sphūrji (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम; समासः—विश्व + स्फूर्जि (determinative proper name)

• purañjayaḥ: Purañjaya
• purañjayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purañjaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम; समासः—पुरम् + जय (one who conquers cities)

• kariṣyati: will make/do
• kariṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; सकर्मक

• aparaḥ: another
• aparaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि विशेषण (qualifying the subject)

• varṇān: classes/castes
• varṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• pulinda-yadu-madrakān: Pulindas, Yadus, and Madrakas
• pulinda-yadu-madrakān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pulinda + yadu + madraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative): Pulindas, Yadus, and Madrakas

Characters & Entities

• Viśvasphūrji
• Purañjaya
• Pulinda
• Yadu
• Madraka

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about future kings in Kali Yuga?

In Canto 12, Chapter 1, Śukadeva Gosvāmī lists future dynasties and rulers of Kali-yuga, describing how various kings will rise and politically dominate other regions—illustrated here by Viśvasphūrji (Purañjaya) subduing groups like the Pulindas, Yadus, and Madrakas.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing kings like Viśvasphūrji to King Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva speaks these forecasts to show the coming degradation and instability of Kali-yuga, helping Parīkṣit (and listeners) cultivate detachment from worldly power and take shelter of bhakti as the true refuge.

What is the practical lesson of Bhagavatam 12.1.34 for modern life?

Worldly power shifts through conquest and politics, but it is temporary; the verse encourages sober perspective—investing one’s life in lasting spiritual practice (hearing, chanting, and devotion) rather than relying on changing social and political dominance.