Skip to main content

ŚB 12.1.20

Devanagari

हत्वा काण्वं सुशर्माणं तद् भृत्यो वृषलो बली ।
गां भोक्ष्यत्यन्ध्रजातीय: कञ्चित् कालमसत्तम: ॥ २० ॥

Text

hatvā kāṇvaṁ suśarmāṇaṁ
tad-bhṛtyo vṛṣalo balī
gāṁ bhokṣyaty andhra-jātīyaḥ
kañcit kālam asattamaḥ

Synonyms

hatvā — killing; kāṇvam — the Kāṇva king; suśarmāṇam — named Suśarmā; tat-bhṛtyaḥ — his own servant; vṛṣalaḥ — a low-class śūdra; balī — named Balī; gām — the earth; bhokṣyati — will rule; andhra-jātīyaḥ — of the Andhra race; kañcit — for some; kālam — time; asattamaḥ — most degraded.

Translation

The last of the Kāṇvas, Suśarmā, will be murdered by his own servant, Balī, a low-class śūdra of the Andhra race. This most degraded Mahārāja Balī will have control over the earth for some time.

Purport

Here is a further description of how uncultured men infiltrated government administration. The so-called king named Balī is described as asattama, a most impious, uncultured man.