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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.
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Canto 12 · Chapter 1: The Degraded Dynasties of Kali-yuga
12.1.3612.1.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.1.37

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

सिन्धोस्तटं चन्द्रभागां कौन्तीं काश्मीरमण्डलम् ।

भोक्ष्यन्ति शूद्रा व्रात्याद्या म्‍लेच्छाश्चाब्रह्मवर्चस: ॥ ३७ ॥

sindhos taṭaṁ candrabhāgāṁ

kauntīṁ kāśmīra-maṇḍalam

bhokṣyanti śūdrā vrātyādyā

mlecchāś cābrahma-varcasaḥ

Translation

The land along the Sindhu River, as well as the districts of Candrabhāgā, Kauntī and Kāśmīra, will be ruled by śūdras, fallen brāhmaṇas and meat-eaters. Having given up the path of Vedic civilization, they will have lost all spiritual strength.

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.

Abandoning Vedic Life Weakens Spiritual Strength

  1. 1

    The land along the Sindhu River and the districts of Candrabhāgā, Kauntī and Kāśmīra will come under degraded rule.

  2. 2

    Their rulers will include śūdras, fallen brāhmaṇas and meat-eaters.

  3. 3

    These rulers will have given up the path of Vedic civilization and lost all spiritual strength.

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:

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. Then the power of rulership in the countries of Magadha and so forth will fall to kings who are no better than śūdras and mlecchas and are totally absorbed in irreligion.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sindhoḥof the river Sindhu
  2. taṭamthe land on the shore
  3. candrabhāgāmCandrabhāgā
  4. kauntīmKauntī
  5. kāśmīra-maṇḍalamthe region of Kāśmīra
  6. bhokṣyantiwill rule
  7. śūdrāḥśūdras
  8. vrātya-ādyāḥbrāhmaṇas who have fallen from the brahminical standard, and other disqualified men
3

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: “rulers”

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

Am I giving steady attention to the spiritual standards I have accepted?

Practice

Set aside time today to carefully observe one spiritual discipline you have been neglecting.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAbandoning Vedic Life Weakens Spiritual StrengthThis 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 12.1.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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