The Twelfth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam begins with Srila Sukadeva Gosvami predicting the kings of the earth who will appear in the future during the age of Kali. Then he gives a description of the numerous faults of the age, after which the presiding goddess of the earth sarcastically berates the foolish members of the kingly order who perpetually try to conquer her. Next Sukadeva Gosvami explains the four varieties of material annihilation, and then he gives his final advice to Maharaja Parikshit. Thereafter King Parikshit is bitten by the snake-bird Takshaka and leaves this world. Suta Gosvami concludes his narration of Srimad-Bhagavatam to the sages at Naimisharanya forest by enumerating the teachers of the various branches of the Vedas and Puranas, relating the pious history of Markandeya Rishi, glorifying the Supreme Lord in His universal form and in His expansion as the sun-god, summarizing the topics discussed in this literature, and offering final benedictions and prayers.

The first chapter of this canto briefly describes the future kings of the dynasty of Magadha and how they become degraded because of the influence of the age of Kali. There were twenty kings who ruled in the family of Puru, in the dynasty of the sun-god, counting from Uparicara Vasu to Puranjaya. After Puranjaya, the lineage of this dynasty will become corrupted. Following Puranjaya there will be five kings known as the Pradyotanas, who are then followed by the Sisunagas, the Mauryas, the Sungas, the Kanvas, thirty kings of the Andhra nation, seven Abhiras, ten Gardabhis, sixteen Kankas, eight Yavanas, fourteen Turushkas, ten Gurundas, eleven Maulas, five Kilakila monarchs and thirteen Bahlikas. After this, different regions will be ruled over at the same time by seven Andhra kings, seven Kausalas, the kings of Vidura, and the Nishadhas. Then the power of rulership in the countries of Magadha and so forth will fall to kings who are no better than sudras and mlecchas and are totally absorbed in irreligion.