Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 32

Kriyā-yoga, the Virāṭ-Puruṣa Mapping, and the Sun-God’s Monthly Expansions

Devanagari script

मध्वादिषु द्वादशसु भगवान् कालरूपधृक् । लोकतन्त्राय चरति पृथग्द्वादशभिर्गणै: ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

madhv-ādiṣu dvādaśasu bhagavān kāla-rūpa-dhṛk loka-tantrāya carati pṛthag dvādaśabhir gaṇaiḥ

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, manifesting His potency of time as the sun-god, travels about in each of the twelve months, beginning with Madhu, to regulate planetary motion within the universe. Traveling with the sun-god in each of the twelve months is a different set of six associates.

Synonyms

• madhu-ādiṣu: in (months) beginning with Madhu
• madhu-ādiṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: मधु-आदि (इत्यादि-अर्थे); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• dvādaśasu: in the twelve
• dvādaśasu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सङ्ख्यावाचक विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक-प्राय, सप्तमी, बहुवचन (agreeing with implied ‘māseṣu’)

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kāla-rūpa-dhṛk: bearing the form of Time
• kāla-rūpa-dhṛk: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla + rūpa + dhṛ (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: काल-रूप-धृक् (तत्पुरुष); कृदन्त: ‘धृ’ धातोः क्विप्/कृदन्त ‘धृक्’ = धारयिता; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• loka-tantrāya: for the order/governance of the world
• loka-tantrāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative-purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka + tantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: लोक-तन्त्र (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• carati: moves, proceeds
• carati: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• pṛthak: separately, distinctly
• pṛthak: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• dvādaśabhiḥ: with twelve
• dvādaśabhiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument/association)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सङ्ख्यावाचक विशेषण; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (agreeing with gaṇaiḥ)

• gaṇaiḥ: groups/companies
• gaṇaiḥ: Sahakari (सहकारी/Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Supreme Lord as Kāla/Time)

FAQs

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

This verse states that the Supreme Lord assumes the form of Time and moves through the twelve months to regulate and maintain the world’s order.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the Lord moving through the twelve months?

In Canto 12, Śukadeva explains cosmic order to Mahārāja Parīkṣit; here he highlights that the monthly cycle is not random but governed by the Lord as Kāla for sustaining universal regulation.

How can understanding Kāla (time) in Bhagavatam help in modern life?

Seeing time as the Lord’s governing energy encourages disciplined living, humility, and devotion—using each month and season for dharmic routines and bhakti rather than wasteful habits.