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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 2: The Symptoms of Kali-yuga
12.2.1812.2.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 12.2.19-20

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 12.2.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अश्वमाशुगमारुह्य देवदत्तं जगत्पति: ।

असिनासाधुदमनमष्टैश्वर्यगुणान्वित: ॥ १९ ॥

विचरन्नाशुना क्षौण्यां हयेनाप्रतिमद्युति: ।

नृपलिङ्गच्छदो दस्यून्कोटिशो निहनिष्यति ॥ २० ॥

aśvam āśu-gam āruhya

devadattaṁ jagat-patiḥ

asināsādhu-damanam

aṣṭaiśvarya-guṇānvitaḥ

vicarann āśunā kṣauṇyāṁ

hayenāpratima-dyutiḥ

nṛpa-liṅga-cchado dasyūn

koṭiśo nihaniṣyati

Translation

Lord Kalki, the Lord of the universe, will mount His swift horse Devadatta and, sword in hand, travel over the earth exhibiting His eight mystic opulences and eight special qualities of Godhead. Displaying His unequaled effulgence and riding with great speed, He will kill by the millions those thieves who have dared dress as kings.

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.

Kalki's Power and Our Need for God

  1. 1

    Lord Kalki, the Lord of the universe, will ride His swift horse Devadatta with sword in hand. He will display His eight mystic opulences, eight special qualities of Godhead and unequaled effulgence.

  2. 2

    Traveling over the earth, He will kill by the millions the thieves dressed as kings. The purport describes this as His chastisement of cruel, demonic people.

  3. 3

    Our need for God does not prove that we invented Him, just as needing water does not mean we create water. We need the Supreme Lord because we are part of Him and cannot live without Him.

Key points from the purport
  • Anyone would be attracted by the sight of a powerful, beautiful man riding on a wonderful horse at lightning speed, chastising and devastating cruel, demonic people with the sword in His hand.
  • Of course, fanatical materialists may argue that this picture of Lord Kalki is a mere anthropomorphic creation of the human mind — a mythological deity created by people who need to believe in some superior being.
  • In other words, nature endows us with a sense of need for things that actually exist and that are in fact necessary for our well-being.

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 2: The Symptoms of Kali-yuga

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

He will mount His horse Devadatta and, taking His sword in hand, will roam about the earth killing millions of bandits in the guise of kings. Then the signs of the next Satya-yuga will begin to appear.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. aśvamHis horse
  2. āśu-gamswift-traveling
  3. āruhyamounting
  4. devadattamnamed Devadatta
  5. jagat-patiḥthe Lord of the universe
  6. asināwith His sword
  7. asādhu-damanam(the horse who) subdues the unholy
  8. aṣṭawith eight
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 12.2

    In this verse: “kings”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the comparison with our need for water help me reflect on my need for God?

Practice

When drinking water today, pause to reflect on the purport's comparison and acknowledge your need for the Supreme Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKalki's Power and Our Need for GodThis 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 12.2.19-20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.