Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 19
Brahmā’s Day, the Four Pralayas, and the Supreme Shelter Beyond Cause–Effect
अपां रसमथो तेजस्ता लीयन्तेऽथ नीरसा: । ग्रसते तेजसो रूपं वायुस्तद्रहितं तदा ॥ १५ ॥ लीयते चानिले तेजो वायो: खं ग्रसते गुणम् । स वै विशति खं राजंस्ततश्च नभसो गुणम् ॥ १६ ॥ शब्दं ग्रसति भूतादिर्नभस्तमनुलीयते । तैजसश्चेन्द्रियाण्यङ्ग देवान् वैकारिको गुणै: ॥ १७ ॥ महान् ग्रसत्यहङ्कारं गुणा: सत्त्वादयश्च तम् । ग्रसतेऽव्याकृतं राजन् गुणान् कालेन चोदितम् ॥ १८ ॥ न तस्य कालावयवै: परिणामादयो गुणा: । अनाद्यनन्तमव्यक्तं नित्यं कारणमव्ययम् ॥ १९ ॥
apāṁ rasam atho tejas tā līyante ’tha nīrasāḥ grasate tejaso rūpaṁ vāyus tad-rahitaṁ tadā
The element fire then seizes the taste from the element water, which, deprived of its unique quality, taste, merges into fire. Air seizes the form inherent in fire, and then fire, deprived of form, merges into air. The element ether seizes the quality of air, namely touch, and that air enters into ether. Then, O King, false ego in ignorance seizes sound, the quality of ether, after which ether merges into false ego. False ego in the mode of passion takes hold of the senses, and false ego in the mode of goodness absorbs the demigods. Then the total mahat-tattva seizes false ego along with its various functions, and that mahat is seized by the three basic modes of nature — goodness, passion and ignorance. My dear King Parīkṣit, these modes are further overtaken by the original unmanifest form of nature, impelled by time. That unmanifest nature is not subject to the six kinds of transformation caused by the influence of time. Rather, it has no beginning and no end. It is the unmanifest, eternal and infallible cause of creation.
FAQs
It says the avyakta is not subject to divisions of time or material transformations; it is beginningless, endless, eternal, and the imperishable causal basis.
While describing cosmic dissolution, Śukadeva explains that after all elements merge, the ultimate unmanifest cause remains untouched by time and change—guiding Parīkṣit toward detachment and liberation.
Meditate on the impermanent nature of experiences and anchor your identity in the eternal Self and devotion to the Lord, reducing anxiety driven by change and time.