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

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Canto 12 · The Age of Deterioration · 13 chapters

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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
12.1.15-1712.1.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.1.18

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 12.1.1-2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

शुङ्गं हत्वा देवभूतिं काण्वोऽमात्यस्तु कामिनम् ।

स्वयं करिष्यते राज्यं वसुदेवो महामति: ॥ १८ ॥

śuṅgaṁ hatvā devabhūtiṁ

kāṇvo ’mātyas tu kāminam

svayaṁ kariṣyate rājyaṁ

vasudevo mahā-matiḥ

Translation

Vasudeva, an intelligent minister coming from the Kāṇva family, will kill the last of the Śuṅga kings, a lusty debauchee named Devabhūti, and assume rulership himself.

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.

Devabhūti’s Lust Precedes His Fall

  1. 1

    Devabhūti, the last Śuṅga king, is described as a lusty debauchee.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that apparently he was lusty after the wives of other men, and his minister killed him.

  3. 3

    The intelligent minister Vasudeva assumed leadership himself, beginning the Kāṇva dynasty.

Key points from the purport
  • Apparently, because King Devabhūti was lusty after the wives of other men, his minister killed him, assuming leadership and thus beginning the Kāṇva dynasty.

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:

There were twenty kings who ruled in the family of Pūru, in the dynasty of the sun-god, counting from Uparicara Vasu to Purañjaya. After Purañjaya, the lineage of this dynasty will become corrupted.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śuṅgamthe Śuṅga king
  2. hatvākilling
  3. devabhūtimDevabhūti
  4. kāṇvaḥthe member of the Kāṇva family
  5. amātyaḥhis minister
  6. tubut
  7. kāminamlusty
  8. svayamhimself
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 12.1

    In this verse: “kings”, “rulership”, “king”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 12.1

    In this verse: “lusty”

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

Where do I need greater care in respecting the marriages of others?

Practice

Today, step away from one thought or action that encourages desire for another person’s spouse.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevabhūti’s Lust Precedes His FallThis 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 12.1.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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