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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
12.1.29-3112.1.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 12.1.32-33

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

तेषां त्रयोदश सुता भवितारश्च बाह्लिका: ।

पुष्पमित्रोऽथ राजन्यो दुर्मित्रोऽस्य तथैव च ॥ ३२ ॥

एककाला इमे भूपा: सप्तान्ध्रा: सप्त कौशला: ।

विदूरपतयो भाव्या निषधास्तत एव हि ॥ ३३ ॥

teṣāṁ trayodaśa sutā

bhavitāraś ca bāhlikāḥ

puṣpamitro ’tha rājanyo

durmitro ’sya tathaiva ca

eka-kālā ime bhū-pāḥ

saptāndhrāḥ sapta kauśalāḥ

vidūra-patayo bhāvyā

niṣadhās tata eva hi

Translation

The Kilakilās will be followed by their thirteen sons, the Bāhlikas, and after them King Puṣpamitra, his son Durmitra, seven Andhras, seven Kauśalas and also kings of the Vidūra and Niṣadha provinces will separately rule in different parts of the world.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Rulers Govern Separate Parts of the World

  1. 1

    The Kilakilās will be followed by their thirteen sons, the Bāhlikas.

  2. 2

    After them will come King Puṣpamitra and his son Durmitra.

  3. 3

    Seven Andhras, seven Kauśalas, and kings of the Vidūra and Niṣadha provinces will separately rule in different parts of the world.

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:

Following Purañjaya there will be five kings known as the Pradyotanas, who are then followed by the Śiśunāgas, the Mauryas, the Śuṅgas, the Kāṇvas, thirty kings of the Andhra nation, seven Ābhīras, ten Gardabhīs, sixteen Kaṅkas, eight Yavanas, fourteen Turuṣkas, ten Guruṇḍas, eleven Maulas, five Kilakilā monarchs and thirteen Bāhlikas. After this, different regions will be ruled over at the same time by seven Andhra kings, seven Kauśalas, the kings of Vidūra, and the Niṣadhas.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. teṣāmof them (Bhūtananda and the other kings of the Kilakilā dynasty)
  2. trayodaśathirteen
  3. sutāḥsons
  4. bhavitāraḥwill be
  5. caand
  6. bāhlikāḥcalled the Bāhlikas
  7. puṣpamitraḥPuṣpamitra
  8. athathen
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: “king”

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 this description of separate regional rulers shape my understanding of the succession?

Practice

Make a short outline distinguishing the family succession from the groups ruling different regions.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 12.1's connections

Live this todayRulers Govern Separate Parts of the WorldThis 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 12.1.32-33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.