Srimad Bhagavatam: Canto 12

(0) S'rî Parîkchit said: 'Please, oh sage, can you tell me whose dynasty ruled over the earth after Krishna, the jewel of the Yadu dynasty, had left for His heavenly abode [*]?'

(1-2) S'rî S'uka said: 'The last descendant of Brihadratha in the future [see 9.22: 49] was named Purañjaya [not the one mentioned in 9.6: 12]. His minister S'unaka will assassinate his master to make his own son named Pradyota [historical: Bimbisâra] king. His son Pâlaka will have Vis'âkhayûpa as his son and Râjaka will be his successor. (3) His son will be Nandivardhana. These five Pradyotana kings will enjoy the earth for one hundred thirty-eight years. (4) Then S'is'unâga will take birth and Kâkavarna will be his son, from whose son Kshemadharmâ, Kshetrajña will be born. (5) The son Vidhisâra [of Kshetrajña] will have Ajâtas'atru as his son and Darbhaka, his son, will have Ajaya as his successor. (6-8) From Ajaya there will be [another] Nandivardhana whose son is Mahânandi. These ten S'is'unâga kings, oh best of the Kurus, will rule over the earth in the age of Kali for three hundred sixty years. Oh King, the son of Mahânandi, a certain Nanda, will take birth from the womb of a working class woman and will, as a powerful master over millions, be the destroyer of the royal class. The kings will become irreligious and be no better than s'ûdras. (9) He [Mahâpadmânanda], that ruler over millions, will be like a second Paras'urâma and as an unchallenged authority bring the entire earth under one rule [see 9.15 & 16]. (10) From him eight sons headed by Sumâlya will take birth and enjoy this earth as kings for a hundred years.

(11) A certain brahmin [called Cânakya] trusted by the nine Nandas [Mahâpadmânanda and his sons] will overturn them. With them removed the Mauryas will rule the earth in Kali-yuga [**]. (12) The brahmin will put Candragupta on the throne and his son Vârisâra will next be succeeded by As'okavardhana. (13) Suyas'â [Das'aratha Maurya] will be born to him, Sangata [Samprati], his son, will father S'âlis'ûka of whom next Somas'armâ [Devavarman] will be born who will father S'atadhanvâ from whose loins Brihadratha will take his birth. (14) These ten Maurya kings, oh eminent hero of the Kuru dynasty, will rule the earth in Kali-yuga for the time of one hundred thirty-seven years. (15-17) From Agnimitra [the son of the first S'unga king named Pushpamitra, a general who will murder Brihadratha] there will be Sujyeshthha [Vasujyeshthha] who will father Vasumitra whose son will be Bhadraka [Andhraka] who will be succeeded by Pulinda [Pulindaka]. His son will be Ghosha to whom Vajramitra will be born. His son Bhâgavata [Bhagabhadra] will beget Devabhûti, oh eminent Kuru. These ten S'unga kings will enjoy the earth for more than hundred [109] years. Thereafter this earth will be ruled by the Kânva dynasty poor in qualities, oh ruler of man. (18) Vasudeva, a most intelligent minister from the Kânva family, [with the help of a female slave] will kill the lusty S'unga king Devabhûti and thereupon himself assume leadership. (19) His son Bhûmitra will have a successor called Nârâyana [with a son named Sus'armâ]. These Kânva kings will rule the earth for three-hundred-forty-five more years in Kali-yuga. (20) A low-class most degraded man of the Andhra race called Balî, will as a servant kill Sus'armâ, the [last] Kânva king, and rule the earth for some time. (21-26) His brother named Krishna, will be the next ruler of the earth. His son S'ântakarna will have Paurnamâsa as his successor. His son Lambodara will beget king Cibilaka. Cibilaka will father Meghasvâti, who in his turn will beget Athamâna who will be succeeded by Anishthakarmâ. Hâleya, his son, will have Talaka as his son whose son Purîshabhîru will have Sunandana as the next king. Cakora [his son] will be succeeded by the eight Bahus, among whom S'ivasvâti will be a great subduer of enemies. To Gomatî, his son, Purîmân will be born, whose son will be called Medas'irâ. S'ivaskanda, born from his loins, will have Yajñas'rî as his son and his descendant will be Vijaya, who will father the sons Candravijña and Lomadhi. These thirty kings will rule the world for four hundred fifty-six years, oh son of the Kurus [***]. (27) From the city of Avabhriti then seven Âbhîra kings will follow, ten Gardabhîs and sixteen Kanka kings, earthly rulers who will be very greedy. (28) Next there will be eight Yavanas, fourteen Turushkas and furthermore ten Gurundas and eleven kings of the Maula dynasty. (29-31) The eleven Maulas will rule for three hundred years after these [preceding three dynasties] have ruled the earth for one thousand ninety-nine years, my dear. When they are all dead and gone, in the city of Kilakilâ the kings Bhûtananda, Vangiri, S'is'unandi, his brother Yas'onandi and then Pravîraka, will rule for one-hundred-and-six years. (32-33) To them [the Kilakilâs] thirteen sons will be born called the Bâhlikas. Thereafter the kings Pushpamitra, his son Durmitra as also seven Andhras, seven Kaus'alas and the rulers of Vidûra and Nishadha will reign at the same time [over different realms]. (34) In the province of Mâgadha a king named Vis'vasphûrji will assume power, who like another Purañjaya will turn the people of all classes into inferior Pulindas, Yadus and Madrakas [low-class, uncivilized men, see *4]. (35) This unintelligent king, who, protected in the city of Padmavatî, will rule over the earth from the source of the Ganges to Prayâga, will in respect of the citizens predominantly act against the brahminical order and ruin the mighty class of the kshatriyas. (36) The twice-born souls living in the provinces S'aurâshthra, Avantî, Âbhîra, S'ûra, Arbuda and Mâlava will [at that time] fail to fulfill their vows, while they who rank first among the people [the kings] will become no better than s'ûdras. (37) The lands at the river Sindhu, as also the districts of Candrabhâgâ, Kauntî and Kâs'mîra, will be ruled by uncivilized men [mlecchas], s'ûdras and others who, lacking spiritual strength, deviate from the standard.

(38) Oh King, these generally uncivilized, earthly caretakers [politicians] who, simultaneously ruling, are dedicated to irreligious and unrealistic practices will, with fierce tempers [competing for the dominion] allow their subjects hardly any freedom [economically]. (39) They will ruin the lives of women, children, cows and intellectuals, and hanker for money and the wives of other men. Lacking in strength they mostly have short, unstable careers of success and failure, and live short lives. Not initiated and devoid of regulative principles these barbarians behaving like kings, under the sway of passion and ignorance, will virtually devour the citizens. (40) The people in the cities following the example of the character, behavior and speech of these men, will, harassed by these rulers and by each other, thus be destroyed [in wars, economic collapse and natural disasters, see also kles'a, Kali-yuga and B.G. 16: 6-12].'

S'rî Parîkchit said: 'Please oh sage can you tell me whose dynasty ruled over the earth after Krishna, the jewel of the Yadu dynasty, had left for His heavenly abode [*]?'

S'rî S'rî Parîkchit said: 'Please o sage can you tell me whose dynasty ruled over the earth after Krishna, the jewel of the Yadu dynasty, had left for His heavenly abode?' [*] (source: S'rîmad Bhâgavata MahâPurâna by S'astri C.L. Gosvâmî, Gita Press 1995).

Text 1-2

S'rî S'uka said: 'The last descendant of Brihadratha in the future [see 9.22: 49] was named Purañjaya [not the one mentioned in 9.6: 12]. His minister S'unaka will assassinate his master to make his own son named Pradyota [historical: Bimbisâra] king. His son Pâlaka will have Vis'âkhayûpa as his son and Râjaka will be his successor.

S'rî S'uka said: 'The last descendant there will be of Brihadratha in the future [see 9.22: 49] is named Purañjaya [not the one in 9.6: 12]; but his minister S'unaka will assassinate his master to make his own son named Pradyota [historical: Bimbisâra] king. His son Pâlaka will have Vis'âkhayûpa as his son with Râjaka next as the king to be. (Vedabase)

Text 3

His son will be Nandivardhana. These five Pradyotana kings will enjoy the earth for one hundred thirty-eight years.

His son will be Nandivardhana; these five Pradyotana kings will enjoy the earth for one-hundred-thirty-eight years. (Vedabase)

Text 4

Then S'is'unâga will take birth and Kâkavarna will be his son, from whose son Kshemadharmâ, Kshetrajña will be born.

Then S'is'unâga will take birth and Kâkavarna will be his son, from whose son Kshemadharmâ, Kshetrajña will be born. (Vedabase)

Text 5

The son Vidhisâra [of Kshetrajña] will have Ajâtas'atru as his son and Darbhaka, his son, will have Ajaya as his successor.

The son Vidhisâra [of Kshetrajña], will have Ajâtas'atru as his son and Darbhaka will be his son of whom Ajaya will be the successor. (Vedabase)

Text 6-8

From Ajaya there will be [another] Nandivardhana whose son is Mahânandi. These ten S'is'unâga kings, oh best of the Kurus, will rule over the earth in the age of Kali for three hundred sixty years. Oh King, the son of Mahânandi, a certain Nanda, will take birth from the womb of a working class woman and will, as a powerful master over millions, be the destroyer of the royal class. The kings will become irreligious and be no better than s'ûdras.

From Ajaya there will be [another] Nandivardhana whose son is Mahânandi. These ten S'is'unâga kings, o best of the Kurus, will rule over the earth in the age of Kali for three-hundred-and-sixty years. O King, the son of Mahânandi, a certain Nanda, taking birth from the womb of a working class woman, will, powerful as he is as a master over millions, be the destroyer of the royal class; the kings will then, falling to irreligion, be not better than s'ûdras. (Vedabase)

Text 9

He [Mahâpadmânanda], that ruler over millions, will be like a second Paras'urâma and as an unchallenged authority bring the entire earth under one rule [see 9.15 & 16].

He, that ruler over millions [also known as Ugrasena], will as the single lead over the entire earth be undefied and in his sovereignty of rule be like a second Paras'urâma [see 9.15 & 16]. (Vedabase)

Text 10

From him eight sons headed by Sumâlya will take birth and enjoy this earth as kings for a hundred years.

The eight sons headed by Sumâlya who so will take birth from him, will enjoy as kings this earth for a hundred years. (Vedabase)

Text 11

A certain brahmin [called Cânakya] trusted by the nine Nandas [Mahâpadmânanda and his sons] will overturn them. With them removed the Mauryas will rule the earth in Kali-yuga [**].

A certain twice-born brahmin [called Cânakya] who is trusted by the nine Nandas will overturn them, and with them being gone the Mauryas will rule the earth in Kali-yuga [**]. (Vedabase)

Text 12

The brahmin will put Candragupta on the throne and his son Vârisâra will next be succeeded by As'okavardhana.

The brahmin will put Candragupta on the throne and his son Vârisâra will next be succeeded by As'okavardhana. (Vedabase)

Text 13

Suyas'â [Das'aratha Maurya] will be born to him, Sangata [Samprati], his son, will father S'âlis'ûka of whom next Somas'armâ [Devavarman] will be born who will father S'atadhanvâ from whose loins Brihadratha will take his birth.

Suyas'â will be born to him; Sangata, Suyas'â's [grand-] son [born to his son Das'aratha] will be S'âlis'ûka of whom next there will be Somas'armâ who will father S'atadhanvâ from whom there will be Brihadratha. (Vedabase)

Text 14

These ten Maurya kings, oh eminent hero of the Kuru dynasty, will rule the earth in Kali-yuga for the time of one hundred thirty-seven years.

These ten Maurya kings, o eminent hero of the Kuru-dynasty, will rule the earth in Kali-yuga for over one-hundred-thirty-seven-years. (Vedabase)

Text 15-17

From Agnimitra [the son of the first S'unga king named Pushpamitra, a general who will murder Brihadratha] there will be Sujyeshthha [Vasujyeshthha] who will father Vasumitra whose son will be Bhadraka [Andhraka] who will be succeeded by Pulinda [Pulindaka]. His son will be Ghosha to whom Vajramitra will be born. His son Bhâgavata [Bhagabhadra] will beget Devabhûti, oh eminent Kuru. These ten S'unga kings will enjoy the earth for more than hundred [109] years. Thereafter this earth will be ruled by the Kânva dynasty poor in qualities, oh ruler of man.

From Agnimitra [the son of Pushpamitra, the general who murdered Brihadratha] will follow Sujyeshthha from whom there will be Vasumitra with next Bhadraka and his son Pulinda. His son will be Ghosha to whom Vajramitra will be born; to him Bhâgavata will be born to whom there will be Devabhûti, o eminent Kuru. These ten S'ungas will enjoy the earth for more than a hundred [112] years after which this earth will fall under the rule of the Kânva-dynasty poor in qualities, o ruler of man. (Vedabase)

Text 18

Vasudeva, a most intelligent minister from the Kânva family, [with the help of a female slave] will kill the lusty S'unga king Devabhûti and thereupon himself assume leadership.

Vasudeva, a most intelligent minister from the Kânva-family, (through a female slave) killing the lusty S'unga king Devabhûti, will then himself assume rulership. (Vedabase)

Text 19

His son Bhûmitra will have a successor called Nârâyana [with a son named Sus'armâ]. These Kânva kings will rule the earth for three-hundred-forty-five more years in Kali-yuga.

His son will be Bhûmitra and his son Nârâyana. These Kânva kings will rule the earth for three-hundred-forty-five more years in Kali-yuga. (Vedabase)

Text 20

A low-class most degraded man of the Andhra race called Balî, will as a servant kill Sus'armâ, the [last] Kânva king, and rule the earth for some time.

A low class man of the Andhra race called Balî will as a servant kill Sus'armâ, the [last] Kânva king and most degraded rule the earth for some time. (Vedabase)

Text 21-26

His brother named Krishna, will be the next ruler of the earth. His son S'ântakarna will have Paurnamâsa as his successor. His son Lambodara will beget king Cibilaka. Cibilaka will father Meghasvâti, who in his turn will beget Athamâna who will be succeeded by Anishthakarmâ. Hâleya, his son, will have Talaka as his son whose son Purîshabhîru will have Sunandana as the next king. Cakora [his son] will be succeeded by the eight Bahus, among whom S'ivasvâti will be a great subduer of enemies. To Gomatî, his son, Purîmân will be born, whose son will be called Medas'irâ. S'ivaskanda, born from his loins, will have Yajñas'rî as his son and his descendant will be Vijaya, who will father the sons Candravijña and Lomadhi. These thirty kings will rule the world for four hundred fifty-six years, oh son of the Kurus [***].

His brother, named Krishna, will then become the next ruler of the earth and the son of S'ântakarna, his son, will be Paurnamâsa. After Lambodara, his son, Cibilaka will be the king and after Cibilaka will be born Meghasvâti to whom there will be Athamâna followed by Anishthakarmâ. To Hâleya, his son, Talaka will appear to the son of whom named Purîshabhîru next Sunandana will be born to be the king. Cakora [his son] will be followed by the eight Bahus, among whom S'ivasvâti will be a great subduer of enemies. To Gomatî, his son, there will be born Purîmân, whose son will be Medas'irâ. S'ivaskanda born to him will have Yajñas'rî for his son after whom next Vijaya, his son, will father Candravijña along with Lomadhi. These thirty kings will rule the world for four-hundred-fifty-six years, o son of the Kurus [***]. (Vedabase)

Text 27

From the city of Avabhriti then seven Âbhîra kings will follow, ten Gardabhîs and sixteen Kanka kings, earthly rulers who will be very greedy.

From the city of Avabhriti then will follow seven Âbhîra kings, ten Gardabhîs, and sixteen Kanka kings who as earthly rulers will be most greedy. (Vedabase)

Text 28

Next there will be eight Yavanas, fourteen Turushkas and furthermore ten Gurundas and eleven kings of the Maula dynasty.

Then will eight Yavanas follow, fourteen Turushkas and furthermore ten Gurundas and eleven Maulas. (Vedabase)

Text 29-31

The eleven Maulas will rule for three hundred years after these [preceding three dynasties] have ruled the earth for one thousand ninety-nine years, my dear. When they are all dead and gone, in the city of Kilakilâ the kings Bhûtananda, Vangiri, S'is'unandi, his brother Yas'onandi and then Pravîraka, will rule for one-hundred-and-six years.

These [first six dynasties] will rule the earth for one thousand ninety-nine years, and the eleven Maulas will rule for three hundred years, my dear. With them all dead and gone in the city of Kilakilâ for one-hundred-and-six years the kings Bhûtananda followed by Vangiri with next S'is'unandi and then his brother Yas'onandi and Pravîraka will rule. (Vedabase)

Text 32-33

To them [the Kilakilâs] thirteen sons will be born called the Bâhlikas. Thereafter the kings Pushpamitra, his son Durmitra as also seven Andhras, seven Kaus'alas and the rulers of Vidûra and Nishadha will reign at the same time [over different realms].

To them [the Kilakilâs] thirteen sons will be born called the Bâhlikas after whom Pushpamitra and next his son king Durmitra as well as also seven Andhras, seven Kaus'alas and also the rulers of Vidûra and the Nishadhas then in the same period will reign. (Vedabase)

Text 34

In the province of Mâgadha a king named Vis'vasphûrji will assume power, who like another Purañjaya will turn the people of all classes into inferior Pulindas, Yadus and Madrakas [low-class, uncivilized men, see *4].

In the province of Mâgadha Vis'vasphûrji will appear, who like another Purañjaya will turn the people of all classes into inferior Pulindas, Yadus and Madrakas [low-class, uncivilized men, see *4]. (Vedabase)

Text 35

This unintelligent king, who, protected in the city of Padmavatî, will rule over the earth from the source of the Ganges to Prayâga, will in respect of the citizens predominantly act against the brahminical order and ruin the mighty class of the kshatriyas.

The unintelligent king, who protected in the city of Padmavatî will rule over the earth from the source of the Gangâ to Prayâga, will, predominantly being unbrahminical with the citizens, ruin the almighty class of the kshatriyas. (Vedabase)

Text 36

The twice-born souls living in the provinces S'aurâshthra, Avantî, Âbhîra, S'ûra, Arbuda and Mâlava will [at that time] fail to fulfill their vows, while they who rank first among the people [the kings] will become no better than s'ûdras.

The twice-born living in the provinces S'aurâshthra, Avantî, Âbhîra, S'ûra, Arbuda and Mâlava will [at that time] fall away from their vows and the ones ranking first among the people will become no better than s'ûdras. (Vedabase)

Text 37

The lands at the river Sindhu, as also the districts of Candrabhâgâ, Kauntî and Kâs'mîra, will be ruled by uncivilized men [mlecchas], s'ûdras and others who, lacking spiritual strength, deviate from the standard.

The lands at the river Sindhu, as well as the districts of Candrabhâgâ, Kauntî and Kâs'mîra, will be ruled by uncivilized men [mlecchas], s'ûdras and others who, lacking spiritual strength, deviate from the standard. (Vedabase)

Text 38

Oh King, these generally uncivilized, earthly caretakers [politicians] who, simultaneously ruling, are dedicated to irreligious and unrealistic practices will, with fierce tempers [competing for the dominion] allow their subjects hardly any freedom [economically].

O King, these mostly ignorant earthly caretakers dedicated to irreligious and unrealistic practices will, with fierce tempers [competing to rule] at the same time allow their subjects hardly any freedom [economically]. (Vedabase)

Text 39

They will ruin the lives of women, children, cows and intellectuals, and hanker for money and the wives of other men. Lacking in strength they mostly have short, unstable careers of success and failure, and live short lives. Not initiated and devoid of regulative principles these barbarians behaving like kings, under the sway of passion and ignorance, will virtually devour the citizens.

Destroying the lives of women, children, cows and converted people, they, then elated, then moderate and [then again] depressed, will, coveting the wives of other men, mostly miss the goodness and have short lives [or careers]. Lacking in sacrifice not being fit for the job they, these ignoramuses posing as kings, under the sway of passion and ignorance, will virtually devour the citizens. (Vedabase)

Text 40

The people in the cities following the example of the character, behavior and speech of these men, will, harassed by these rulers and by each other, thus be destroyed [in wars, economic collapse and natural disasters, see also kles'a, Kali-yuga and B.G. 16: 6-12].'

The people in the cities will, led by these rulers their character, behavior and speech, plagued by these so-called 'kings' and by each other, find their lives ruined [in wars, economic collapse and natural disasters, see also kles'a, Kali-yuga and B.G. 16: 6-12].' (Vedabase)

*: The paramparâ of ISKCON left out this first line of Parîkchit questioning, where other sources like S'astri C.L. Gosvâmî do begin this chapter thus.

**: The paramparâ adds: 'The great historical narration S'rîmad Bhâgavatam, which began with the events prior to the cosmic manifestation, now reaches into the realm of modern recorded history. Modern historians recognize both the Maurya dynasty and Candragupta, the king mentioned in the following verse [p.p. 12.1.11].'

***: According to an academic translator of the Bhâgavatam, Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare [1989, Morilal Banarsidass], this period would be found short before the beginning of the Christian year count. Analyzing this text in reference to historical sources he, stating that there are many discrepancies with the cultural [manipulated?] records, also concludes that historically the Kanva dynasty would have only ruled for forty-five years from 75 to 30 B.C., and not for the three hundred forty-five as the Sanskrit text states here. According to him this part of the Bhâgavatam would have been of a later date and consist of a mishmash of hearsay historical knowledge, which is a position contested by the paramparâ of course, since it is more likely to err in the discordance of worldly interest than in the harmony of a consciousness motivated by spiritual discipline.

*4: The total span of generations covered here from the first Purañjaya to the last one in the line of the Kali-yuga decay, thus would have stretched from about 2000 B.C. to about the twelfth century A.D.