Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

नित्यमुद्विग्नमनसो दुर्भिक्षकरकर्शिता: । निरन्ने भूतले राजननावृष्टिभयातुरा: ॥ ३९ ॥ वासोऽन्नपानशयनव्यवायस्न‍ानभूषणै: । हीना: पिशाचसन्दर्शा भविष्यन्ति कलौ प्रजा: ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

nityam udvigna-manaso durbhikṣa-kara-karśitāḥ niranne bhū-tale rājan anāvṛṣṭi-bhayāturāḥ

Translation

在迦利时代，众人将缺乏衣服、饮食、安寝、房事、沐浴与装饰；身体日渐消瘦，形貌也会渐渐如鬼魅般。

Synonyms

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb)

• उद्विग्नमनसः: with anxious minds
• उद्विग्नमनसः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्विग्न (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारयः

• दुर्भिक्षकरकर्शिताः: worn down by famine and taxes
• दुर्भिक्षकरकर्शिताः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्भिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्शित (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• निरन्ने: in a foodless state
• निरन्ने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भूतले: on the earth
• भूतले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अनावृष्टिभयातुराः: distressed by fear of drought
• अनावृष्टिभयातुराः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनावृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक) + आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

Purport

The symptoms described here are already prevalent in many countries of the world and will gradually spread to other places engulfed by impiety and materialism.

Characters & Entities

• King Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kali Yuga famine and drought?

In this verse, Śukadeva says that in Kali-yuga people become constantly anxious and will suffer from famine, lack of food, and fear of drought due to failed rains.

Why did Shukadeva Goswami describe these Kali Yuga conditions to King Parikshit?

Parīkṣit was about to leave the world and asked about the age of Kali; Śukadeva explains Kali-yuga’s symptoms so the King (and listeners) can recognize degradation and take shelter of bhakti.

Practical application: how should a devotee respond to anxiety and scarcity described in the Bhagavatam?

Use the warning as motivation to simplify life, strengthen sādhana, and take steady shelter of Hari-nāma and devotional service rather than relying on unstable material arrangements.