Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 2

Kāla-vibhāga: The Divisions of Time from Atom to Brahmā, and the Lord Beyond Time

Devanagari script

सत एव पदार्थस्य स्वरूपावस्थितस्य यत् । कैवल्यं परममहानविशेषो निरन्तर: ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

sata eva padārthasya svarūpāvasthitasya yat kaivalyaṁ parama-mahān aviśeṣo nirantaraḥ

Translation

Atoms are the ultimate state of the manifest universe. When they stay in their own forms without forming different bodies, they are called the unlimited oneness. There are certainly different bodies in physical forms, but the atoms themselves form the complete manifestation.

Synonyms

• सतः: of being/existence
• सतः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; ‘सत्’ = being/existence

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: सम्बन्ध (निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; emphasis ‘indeed/only’

• पदार्थस्य: of the entity/thing
• पदार्थस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पदार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th), एकवचन; समास: पद + अर्थ = ‘word-meaning/thing’ (षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष)

• स्वरूप-अवस्थितस्य: of that which is situated in its own nature
• स्वरूप-अवस्थितस्य: विशेषण (Adjectival to ‘पदार्थस्य’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक) + अवस्थित (कृदन्त, √स्था धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th), एकवचन; ‘अवस्थित’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) from √स्था; समास: स्वरूपे अवस्थितः (सप्तमी/तत्पुरुष)

• यत्: that which
• यत्: कर्ता (प्रथमा/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; relative pronoun ‘which/that’

• कैवल्यम्: absolute isolation/oneness
• कैवल्यम्: समानााधिकरण (Predicate nominative/विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैवल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• परम-महान्: supremely great
• परम-महान्: विशेषण (to ‘अविशेषः’/‘कैवल्यम्’ as predicate quality)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समास: परमश्चासौ महान् (कर्मधारय)

• अविशेषः: non-differentiated state
• अविशेषः: कर्ता (प्रथमा/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘without distinction’

• निरन्तरः: continuous
• निरन्तरः: विशेषण (to ‘अविशेषः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; adjective ‘continuous/unbroken’

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Mahārāja Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about kaivalya (liberation)?

This verse defines kaivalya as the supreme, uninterrupted, undifferentiated state of reality—an entity abiding in its own true nature, beyond material distinctions.

Why does Shukadeva Gosvami describe an undifferentiated Absolute to King Parikshit?

In Canto 3, Chapter 11, Śukadeva explains foundational metaphysics (including time and ultimate reality) to ground Parīkṣit’s understanding of the cosmos and the transcendental goal beyond material change.

How can I apply the teaching of 'abiding in one’s own nature' in modern life?

Practice steadiness through sādhana—regular hearing and chanting—so identity is anchored in the soul’s spiritual nature rather than shifting roles, anxieties, and temporary material labels.