FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.18.5

तावत्कलिर्न प्रभवेत् प्रविष्टोऽपीह सर्वत: । यावदीशो महानुर्व्यामाभिमन्यव एकराट् ॥ ५ ॥
tāvat kalir na prabhavet
[taavat kalir na prabhavet]
praviṣṭo ’pīha sarvataḥ
[pravishto ’peeha sarvatah]
yāvad īśo mahān urvyām
[yaavad eesho mahaan urvyaam]
ābhimanyava eka-rāṭ
[aabhimanyava eka-raat]
Word-for-word
tāvat — so long kaliḥ — the personality of Kali na — cannot prabhavet — flourish praviṣṭaḥ — entered in api — even though iha — here sarvataḥ — everywhere yāvat — as long as īśaḥ — the lord mahān — great urvyām — powerful ābhimanyavaḥ — the son of Abhimanyu eka-rāṭ — the one emperor.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tāvat kalir na prabhavet
tāvat
so long
kaliḥ
the personality of Kali
na
cannot
prabhavet
flourish
praviṣṭo ’pīha sarvataḥ
praviṣṭaḥ
entered in
api
even though
iha
here
sarvataḥ
everywhere
yāvad īśo mahān urvyām
yāvat
as long as
īśaḥ
the lord
mahān
great
urvyām
powerful
ābhimanyava eka-rāṭ
ābhimanyavaḥ
the son of Abhimanyu
eka-rāṭ
the one emperor.
As long as the great, powerful son of Abhimanyu remains the Emperor of the world, there is no chance that the personality of Kali will flourish.
Purport

As we have already explained, the personality of Kali had entered the jurisdiction of this earth long ago, and he was looking for an opportunity to spread his influence all over the world. But he could not do so satisfactorily due to the presence of Mahārāja Parīkṣit. That is the way of good government. The disturbing elements like the personality of Kali will always try to extend their nefarious activities, but it is the duty of the able state to check them by all means. Although Mahārāja Parīkṣit allotted places for the personality of Kali, at the same time he gave no chance for the citizens to be swayed by the personality of Kali.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
As long as Abhimanyu’s son, the great lord, was the king of the earth, Kali, though he had entered everywhere, could not influence anyone.
Commentary

After Parīkṣit punished Kali, what was the situation? This verse describes the condition.

Related lectures
Personal Guidance
As long as Parīkṣit remains emperor, there is no chance Kali will flourish. The right ruler suppresses irreligion by mere presence. Leadership matters at the level of atmosphere.
Reflection Questions
  • Where could my mere presence shift the atmosphere?
  • What flourishes in my absence that I should be present for?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 18