Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 9

Manvantara Administration: Appointment of Manus, Indras, and the Restoration of Dharma

Devanagari script

सर्गं प्रजेशरूपेण दस्यून्हन्यात् स्वराड्‌वपु: । कालरूपेण सर्वेषामभावाय पृथग्गुण: ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

sargaṁ prajeśa-rūpeṇa dasyūn hanyāt svarāḍ-vapuḥ kāla-rūpeṇa sarveṣām abhāvāya pṛthag guṇaḥ

Translation

In the form of Prajāpati Marīci, the Supreme Personality of Godhead creates progeny; becoming the king, He kills the thieves and rogues; and in the form of time, He annihilates everything. All the different qualities of material existence should be understood to be qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Synonyms

• सर्गम्: creation/emanation
• सर्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• प्रजेश-रूपेण: in/through the form of the lord of creatures (Prajāpati)
• प्रजेश-रूपेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजेश (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter) 'रूप' (implied), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: प्रजानाम् ईशः (प्रजेशः)

• दस्यून्: demons/robbers (dasyus)
• दस्यून्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दस्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• हन्यात्: would/should slay
• हन्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• स्वराट्-वपुः: the self-sovereign form (the Lord)
• स्वराट्-वपुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वराट् (प्रातिपदिक) + वपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); कर्मधारयः: स्वराट् (self-ruling) इति वपुः

• काल-रूपेण: in the form of time
• काल-रूपेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter) 'रूप' (implied), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: कालस्य रूपम्

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (common), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (plural)

• अभावाय: for destruction/non-existence
• अभावाय: Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन (singular); प्रयोजन (purpose)

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Rīti/Prakāra-adhikaraṇa (रीति/प्रकाराधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): 'separately'

• गुणः: quality/attribute
• गुणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about God as Time (Kāla)?

This verse states that the Lord Himself appears as Kāla (Time) and, through His distinct potencies, brings all beings to dissolution.

Why does the Lord destroy the lawless (dasyūn) according to the Bhagavatam?

Here, the Lord is described as maintaining the created order by manifesting as rulers and destroying the lawless, thereby protecting dharma and cosmic balance.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Recognize that order and accountability are divine principles, and remember that time is inevitable—so live responsibly, uphold dharma, and prioritize devotion over temporary power.