Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 34

The Earth Laughs at World-Conquering Kings; Yuga-Dharma and the Remedy for Kali

Devanagari script

ह्रस्वकाया महाहारा भूर्यपत्या गतह्रिय: । शश्वत्कटुकभाषिण्यश्चौर्यमायोरुसाहसा: ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

hrasva-kāyā mahāhārā bhūry-apatyā gata-hriyaḥ śaśvat kaṭuka-bhāṣiṇyaś caurya-māyoru-sāhasāḥ

Translation

妇女身材将变得矮小，暴饮暴食，生育过多无法照料的子女，并且失去羞耻心。她们总是言语刻薄，表现出偷窃、欺诈和肆无忌惮的恶习。

Synonyms

• ह्रस्वकायाः: short-bodied, stunted
• ह्रस्वकायाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ह्रस्व + काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (ह्रस्वः कायः यस्य/ये)

• महाहाराः: great-eaters, gluttonous
• महाहाराः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् आहारः येषाम्/ये)

• भूर्यपत्याः: having many children
• भूर्यपत्याः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूरि + अपत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (भूरि अपत्यं येषाम्)

• गतह्रियः: shameless (with modesty gone)
• गतह्रियः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (कृदन्त; √गम्) + ह्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (गता ह्रीः येषाम् = लज्जाहीनाः)

• शश्वत्: always, constantly
• शश्वत्: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शश्वत् (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• कटुकभाषिण्यः: harsh-speaking (women)
• कटुकभाषिण्यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कटुक + भाषिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारयप्रायः (कटुकं भाषन्ते इति)

• चौर्यमायोरुसाहसाः: given to theft, deceit, and great violence
• चौर्यमायोरुसाहसाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चौर्य + माया + उरु + साहस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (चौर्यं च माया च उरु-साहसं च येषाम्/ये)

Characters & Entities

• Kali (Kali-yuga)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kali Yuga symptoms related to human behavior?

This verse lists Kali-yuga tendencies such as loss of modesty, harsh speech, and increasing deceit, theft, and reckless behavior, presented as signs of dharmic decline.

Why did Shukadeva Goswami describe these Kali-yuga traits to King Parikshit?

Śukadeva speaks to Parīkṣit to forewarn him about the nature of Kali-yuga, so a sincere seeker can recognize degradation and take shelter of bhakti rather than be carried away by the age’s influences.

How can a devotee apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

Use it as a mirror for self-correction: cultivate modesty, truthful speech, and integrity, and counter Kali-yuga habits by steady sādhana—hearing and chanting the Lord’s names and living by dharma.