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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
12.1.39-4012.2.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.1.41

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 12.1.1-2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तन्नाथास्ते जनपदास्तच्छीलाचारवादिन: ।

अन्योन्यतो राजभिश्च क्षयं यास्यन्ति पीडिता: ॥ ४१ ॥

tan-nāthās te janapadās

tac-chīlācāra-vādinaḥ

anyonyato rājabhiś ca

kṣayaṁ yāsyanti pīḍitāḥ

Translation

The citizens governed by these low-class kings will imitate the character, behavior and speech of their rulers. Harassed by their leaders and by each other, they will all suffer ruination.

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.

Imitating Degraded Leaders Spreads Suffering

  1. 1

    The citizens will imitate their rulers' character, behavior and speech. Harassed by their leaders and by one another, they will suffer ruination.

  2. 2

    The purport places Ripuñjaya, or Purañjaya, about one thousand years after Lord Kṛṣṇa. It places Viśvasphūrji approximately in the twelfth century of the Christian era.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that this chapter's elaborate historical chronology refutes the accusation that Indian religious literature has no sense of chronological history.

Key points from the purport
  • At the end of the Ninth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, it is stated that Ripuñjaya, or Purañjaya, the first king mentioned in this chapter, ended his rule about one thousand years after the time of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  • Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C.
  • Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Twelfth Canto, First Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Degraded Dynasties of Kali-yuga.”

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:

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. tat-nāthāḥthe subjects having these kings as rulers
  2. tethey
  3. jana-padāḥthe residents of the cities
  4. tatof these kings
  5. śīla(imitating) the character
  6. ācārabehavior
  7. vādinaḥand speech
  8. anyonyataḥone another
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 12.1

    In this verse: “kings”, “rulers”, “governed”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 12.1

    In this verse: “religious”

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

Whose speech and behavior am I imitating, and what effect does that have on others?

Practice

Notice one harmful pattern of speech you have copied from someone influential, and refrain from repeating it today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayImitating Degraded Leaders Spreads SufferingThis 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 12.1.41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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