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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

12.1.32-33 12.1.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.1.34

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 12.1.1-2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

मागधानां तु भविता विश्वस्फूर्जि: पुरञ्जय: ।

करिष्यत्यपरो वर्णान् पुलिन्दयदुमद्रकान् ॥ ३४ ॥

māgadhānāṁ tu bhavitā

viśvasphūrjiḥ purañjayaḥ

kariṣyaty aparo varṇān

pulinda-yadu-madrakān

Translation

There will then appear a king of the Māgadhas named Viśvasphūrji, who will be like another Purañjaya. He will turn all the civilized classes into low-class, uncivilized men in the same category as the Pulindas, Yadus and Madrakas.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

A Ruler Can Degrade Society

1
A king of the Māgadhas named Viśvasphūrji will appear. He will be like another Purañjaya.
2
He will turn all the civilized classes into uncivilized men.
3
The verse describes a decline affecting every civilized class, not only the ruler himself.

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

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 summary Back to this verse in chapter 12.1

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

māgadhānāmof the Magadha province
tuand
bhavitāthere will be
viśvasphūrjiḥViśvasphūrji
purañjayaḥKing Purañjaya
kariṣyatihe will make
aparaḥbeing the replica of
varṇānall the civilized classes of men
pulinda-yadu-madrakāninto outcastes such as the Pulindas, Yadus and Madrakas

Key ideas in this verse

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

Manvantara · The change of Manus
What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10
Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership
Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 12.1
In this verse: “king”, “ruler”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How do the people I follow influence my standards of conduct?

Practice

Identify one influence that lowers your standards, and avoid following its example today.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayA Ruler Can Degrade SocietyThis 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 12.1.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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