SB 12.3.39-40 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 12.3.39-40

नित्यमुद्विग्नमनसो दुर्भिक्षकरकर्शिता: । निरन्ने भूतले राजननावृष्टिभयातुरा: ॥ ३९ ॥ वासोऽन्नपानशयनव्यवायस्न‍ानभूषणै: । हीना: पिशाचसन्दर्शा भविष्यन्ति कलौ प्रजा: ॥ ४० ॥

nityam udvigna-manaso

[nityam udvigna-manaso]

durbhikṣa-kara-karśitāḥ

[durbhiksha-kara-karshitaah]

niranne bhū-tale rājan

[niranne bhoo-tale raajan]

anāvṛṣṭi-bhayāturāḥ

[anaavrishti-bhayaaturaah]

vāso-’nna-pāna-śayana-

[vaaso-’nna-paana-shayana-]

vyavāya-snāna-bhūṣaṇaiḥ

[vyavaaya-snaana-bhooshanaih]

hīnāḥ piśāca-sandarśā

[heenaah pishaacha-sandarshaa]

bhaviṣyanti kalau prajāḥ

[bhavishyanti kalau prajaah]

Word-for-word

nityam — constantly udvigna — agitated manasaḥ — their minds durbhikṣa — by famine kara — and taxes karśitāḥ — emaciated niranne — when there is no food to be found bhū-tale — upon the surface of the earth rājan — O King Parīkṣit anāvṛṣṭi — of drought bhaya — because of fear āturāḥ — anxious vāsaḥ — clothing anna — food pāna — drink śayana — rest vyavāya — sex snāna — bathing bhūṣaṇaiḥ — and personal ornaments hīnāḥ — lacking piśāca-sandarśāḥ — appearing just like ghostly demons bhaviṣyanti — they will become kalau — in the Age of Kali prajāḥ — the people.

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

nityam udvigna-manaso

nityam

constantly

udvigna

agitated

manasaḥ

their minds

durbhikṣa-kara-karśitāḥ

durbhikṣa

by famine

kara

and taxes

karśitāḥ

emaciated

niranne bhū-tale rājan

niranne

when there is no food to be found

bhū-tale

upon the surface of the earth

rājan

O King Parīkṣit

anāvṛṣṭi-bhayāturāḥ

anāvṛṣṭi

of drought

bhaya

because of fear

āturāḥ

anxious

vāso-’nna-pāna-śayana-

vāsaḥ

clothing

anna

food

pāna

drink

śayana

rest

vyavāya-snāna-bhūṣaṇaiḥ

vyavāya

sex

snāna

bathing

bhūṣaṇaiḥ

and personal ornaments

hīnāḥ piśāca-sandarśā

hīnāḥ

lacking

piśāca-sandarśāḥ

appearing just like ghostly demons

bhaviṣyanti kalau prajāḥ

bhaviṣyanti

they will become

kalau

in the Age of Kali

prajāḥ

the people.

In the Age of Kali, people’s minds will always be agitated. They will become emaciated by famine and taxation, my dear King, and will always be disturbed by fear of drought. They will lack adequate clothing, food and drink, will be unable to properly rest, have sex or bathe themselves, and will have no ornaments to decorate their bodies. In fact, the people of Kali-yuga will gradually come to appear like ghostly, haunted creatures.

Purport

The symptoms described here are already prevalent in many countries of the world and will gradually spread to other places engulfed by impiety and materialism.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

In the age of Kali, people's minds will always be agitated. They will become emaciated by famine and taxation, my dear King, and will always be disturbed by fear of drought. They will lack adequate clothing, food and drink, will be unable to properly rest, have sex or bathe themselves, and will have no ornaments to decorate their bodies. The people of Kali-yuga will gradually appear like ghostly, haunted creatures.

Personal Guidance

Kali-yuga humanity: agitated, emaciated, taxed, drought-anxious, poorly clothed, unable to rest or bathe or eat well, looking like ghosts. The image is harsh — but it shows what happens when society forgets the soul. Don't be a ghost; remember the soul.

Reflection Questions

Where in my own life am I living like a 'ghost' — present but unfed in soul?
What single practice could feed my soul this week?

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io