Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 11
The Earth Laughs at World-Conquering Kings; Yuga-Dharma and the Remedy for Kali
श्रीशुक उवाच पृथु: पुरूरवा गाधिर्नहुषो भरतोऽर्जुन: । मान्धाता सगरो राम: खट्वाङ्गो धुन्धुहा रघु: ॥ ९ ॥ तृणबिन्दुर्ययातिश्च शर्याति: शन्तनुर्गय: । भगीरथ: कुवलयाश्व: ककुत्स्थो नैषधो नृग: ॥ १० ॥ हिरण्यकशिपुर्वृत्रो रावणो लोकरावण: । नमुचि: शम्बरो भौमो हिरण्याक्षोऽथ तारक: ॥ ११ ॥ अन्ये च बहवो दैत्या राजानो ये महेश्वरा: । सर्वे सर्वविद: शूरा: सर्वे सर्वजितोऽजिता: ॥ १२ ॥ ममतां मय्यवर्तन्त कृत्वोच्चैर्मर्त्यधर्मिण: । कथावशेषा: कालेन ह्यकृतार्था: कृता विभो ॥ १३ ॥
pṛthuḥ purūravā gādhir nahuṣo bharato ’rjunaḥ māndhātā sagaro rāmaḥ khaṭvāṅgo dhundhuhā raghuḥ
Śrī Śuka nói: Những vua như Pṛthu, Purūravā, Gādhi, Nahuṣa, Bharata, Kārtavīrya Arjuna, Māndhātā, Sagara, Rāma, Khaṭvāṅga, Dhundhuhā, Raghu; Tṛṇabindu, Yayāti, Śaryāti, Śantanu, Gaya; Bhagīratha, Kuvalayāśva, Kakutstha, Naiṣadha, Nṛga; Hiraṇyakaśipu, Vṛtra, Rāvaṇa khiến cả thế gian than khóc, Namuci, Śambara, Bhauma, Hiraṇyākṣa và Tāraka; cùng nhiều daitya và các vua quyền thế khác—đều uyên bác, anh hùng, chinh phục tất cả và khó bị chinh phục. Thế nhưng, ôi Đấng Toàn Năng, dù họ sống với lòng chiếm hữu Ta mãnh liệt, thời gian vẫn biến họ thành dư vang của chuyện kể; không ai lập được quyền lực vĩnh cửu.
According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, and as confirmed by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, the King Rāma mentioned here is not the incarnation of Godhead Rāmacandra. Pṛthu Mahārāja is understood to be an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead who completely exhibited the characteristics of an earthly king, claiming proprietorship over the entire earth. A saintly king like Pṛthu Mahārāja, however, controls the earth on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whereas a demon such as Hiraṇyakaśipu or Rāvaṇa tries to exploit the earth for his personal sense gratification. Nevertheless, both saintly kings and demons must leave the earth. In this way their political supremacy is ultimately neutralized by the force of time.
FAQs
Śukadeva lists renowned asuras to show that even the mightiest opponents of dharma—famous across ages—could not escape time and the Lord’s supremacy; worldly power does not grant lasting success.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this to Mahārāja Parīkṣit while describing the nature of Kali-yuga and illustrating how even great rulers and powerful beings become merely “stories” in time.
Do not measure greatness by domination or fame; time reduces even terrifying power to a name. Invest life in dharma and bhakti, which alone carry lasting spiritual value.