Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 12
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
圣舒迦提婆说：如普利图、普鲁罗婆、伽提、那胡沙、婆罗多、迦尔塔毗利耶·阿周那、曼陀陀、娑伽罗、罗摩、卡特瓦昂伽、敦敦胡哈、罗伽、特利那宾度、耶耶提、舍利耶提、善陀奴、伽耶、薄伽罗陀、库瓦拉耶阿湿瓦、迦库特斯塔、奈沙陀、尼卢伽、希兰尼亚迦尸布、弗利特罗、令世间哀号的罗波那、那牟支、商婆罗、婆乌摩、希兰尼亚阿叉与塔罗迦——以及许多其他阿修罗与大权在握的君王——皆博学英勇，所向披靡而难以征服。然而，噢全能的主啊，尽管他们以强烈的占有欲想把我据为己有，终究仍受无常之法与时轮所制，只剩史传故事；无人能建立永恒的统治。
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
This verse notes that many Daitya kings were extraordinarily learned and heroic, conquering others, yet their greatness still could not protect them from being overcome by higher forces like Time and the Supreme Lord.
He is illustrating to King Parīkṣit that worldly power, learning, and victory are temporary—countless “unconquerable” rulers still pass away—therefore one should seek the eternal shelter of Bhagavān.
Use success and influence responsibly, but don’t base identity on them; cultivate bhakti and remembrance of the Lord, knowing that all worldly achievements are ultimately limited by time.