1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 12 · The Age of Deterioration · 13 chapters

12345678910111213

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 12 · Chapter 1: The Degraded Dynasties of Kali-yuga
12.1.1312.1.15-17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.1.14

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 12.1.1-2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

मौर्या ह्येते दश नृपा: सप्तत्रिंशच्छतोत्तरम् ।

समा भोक्ष्यन्ति पृथिवीं कलौ कुरुकुलोद्वह ॥ १४ ॥

mauryā hy ete daśa nṛpāḥ

sapta-triṁśac-chatottaram

samā bhokṣyanti pṛthivīṁ

kalau kuru-kulodvaha

Translation

O best of the Kurus, these ten Maurya kings will rule the earth for 137 years of the Kali-yuga.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Ten Maurya Kings Rule for 137 Years

  1. 1

    The ten Maurya kings will rule the earth for 137 years of Kali-yuga.

  2. 2

    Although nine kings are mentioned by name, the purport explains why the total is ten.

  3. 3

    Daśaratha appeared after Sujyeṣṭha and before the rule of Saṅgata.

Key points from the purport
  • Although nine kings are mentioned by name, Daśaratha appeared after Sujyeṣṭha, before the rule of Saṅgata, and thus there are ten Maurya kings.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Civilizational dread → Dispassion. Social and cosmic impermanence expose the limits of worldly plans.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 12: The deterioration of Kali and universal dissolution. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 1: The Degraded Dynasties of Kali-yuga

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The First Chapter of this canto briefly describes the future kings of the dynasty of Magadha and how they become degraded because of the influence of the Age of Kali. There were twenty kings who ruled in the family of Pūru, in the dynasty of the sun-god, counting from Uparicara Vasu to Purañjaya.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mauryāḥthe Mauryas
  2. hiindeed
  3. etethese
  4. daśaten
  5. nṛpāḥkings
  6. sapta-triṁśatthirty-seven
  7. śataone hundred
  8. uttarammore than
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 12.1

    In this verse: “kings”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the purport help me read this account more carefully?

Practice

Write down the Maurya kings’ total number and length of rule, noting Daśaratha’s place in the succession.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTen Maurya Kings Rule for 137 YearsThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 12.1.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories