How Parīkṣit Received the Age of Kali

Parīkṣit rules as a devotee while the personality of religion and mother earth discuss their distress.

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Themes of SB 1.16Dharma5 Rāja-dharma4 Abhaya3 Śuddhi3 from its story phase

Connected storiesNarakāsura and the captive princessesDhṛtarāṣṭra leaves homeArjuna and AśvatthāmāAjāmila

Who is speakingSūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaEvery voice in this chapter ›

What this chapter speaks about · the ten subjects

In this chapter

Who · Parīkṣit, the personality of religion, mother earth and Kali

The story · Parīkṣit ruled as a great devotee under the guidance of learned brāhmaṇas. Meanwhile, the personality of religion and mother earth spoke of their distress and the loss of Kṛṣṇa’s presence. Parīkṣit encountered a man dressed like a king beating a cow and a bull with a club. He challenged the aggressor and assured the helpless creatures of his protection. Kali was then permitted to live only in five places under the King’s directions.

What it teaches · A ruler should protect innocent living beings and restrain those who cause them suffering. Allowing Kali to govern brings greed, falsehood, cheating, quarrel and other irreligious conditions.

SB 1.17.1 SB 1.17.14 SB 1.17.40 Read chapter 16 ›

Beyond this chapter

Connected stories across the Bhāgavatam

Stories told in other chapters that this chapter's verses or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purports bring in, the other Bhāgavatam verses the purports quote, and stories in other cantos with the same themes. Each link shows the sentence it comes from.

Narakāsura and the captive princesses

SB 10.59 · The captive princesses are freed

What it teaches · Kṛṣṇa removes the distress of those who seek refuge in Him. His mercy extends even to the frightened son of the enemy He has defeated.

It is stated to be situated north of the great Himālaya Mountain, which is eighty thousand miles in length and height and which covers sixteen thousand miles in width.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 1.16.12 (Text 12)

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa discharged such responsibility fully because although He had more than sixteen thousand wives, in each and every case He fought like a chivalrous kṣatriya and thus secured a wife.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 1.16.26-30 (Texts 26-30)

Read the story in SB 10.59

Dhṛtarāṣṭra leaves home

SB 1.13 · Dhṛtarāṣṭra leaves home

What it teaches · No one in the material world can prevent the approach of time and the decline of the body. Understanding this calls one away from bodily attachment toward spiritual realization.

The description was narrated by Sañjaya to Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 1.16.12 (Text 12)

Read the story in SB 1.13

Arjuna and Aśvatthāmā

SB 1.7 · Arjuna captures Aśvatthāmā

What it teaches · The discussion brings together the gravity of killing innocent children and concern for the grief of others. Kṛṣṇa guides Arjuna as he faces the question of punishment.

He also heard how he himself had been protected by the Lord from the powerful heat of the weapon of Aśvatthāmā.
In the verse · SB 1.16.13-15 (Texts 13-15)

Read the story in SB 1.7

Ajāmila

SB 6.1–2 · Ajāmila’s deliverance SB 6.3 · Yamarāja instructs his messengers

What it teaches · Chanting the Lord’s holy name is true atonement. Service to the Lord’s lotus feet removes the material desires that other methods of atonement cannot uproot.

We know from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam that Ajāmila, an innocent son of a brāhmaṇa, was walking down a road and saw a śūdra pair sexually embracing.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 1.16.22 (Text 22)

Read the story in SB 6.1–2

Dakṣa

SB 4.2–4 · Satī confronts Dakṣa’s envy SB 4.5–7 · Dakṣa’s sacrifice is restored SB 6.4 · Dakṣa’s prayers to the Lord

What it teaches · Lord Śiva explains that false ego produces envy of self-realized persons. Satī identifies envy of Lord Śiva, who is free from enmity, as a grave offense.

The Kimpuruṣas are descendants of a daughter of Dakṣa.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 1.16.12 (Text 12)

Read the story in SB 4.2–4

Bhīṣmadeva

SB 1.9 · Bhīṣmadeva’s final attention

What it teaches · Even great thinkers cannot fully understand the Lord’s plan. Bhīṣmadeva’s final prayers show the goal of fixing the mind upon Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

We have already discussed this matter in connection with the prayers of Bhīṣmadeva.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 1.16.6 (Text 6)

Read the story in SB 1.9

Next in Learn · 4 of 11 · 5 minStudy a verseOne verse with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and three study points from the purport.Back · LearnPreface & Introduction