Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 8

Vāmanadeva Praises Bali; the Measure of Three Steps; Śukrācārya Warns Against the Gift

Devanagari script

तमायान्तं समालोक्य शूलपाणिं कृतान्तवत् । चिन्तयामास कालज्ञो विष्णुर्मायाविनां वर: ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

tam āyāntaṁ samālokya śūla-pāṇiṁ kṛtāntavat cintayām āsa kāla-jño viṣṇur māyāvināṁ varaḥ

Translation

فلما رآه مقبلًا يحمل رمحًا ثلاثيّ الشعب كأنه الموت متجسّدًا، فكّر الرب فيشنو—العالم بسير الزمان والأفضل بين أهل اليوغا والقدرات—على النحو الآتي.

Synonyms

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• आयान्तम्: coming
• आयान्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-या (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘coming’

• समालोक्य: having seen
• समालोक्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आ-लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having looked at/seen’

• शूल-पाणिम्: the spear-in-hand (one)
• शूल-पाणिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (instrument/association sense): ‘one with a spear in hand’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृतान्तवत्: like Death
• कृतान्तवत्: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: तद्धितान्त ‘-वत्’ (possessive/like), अव्ययवत् रूप; here indeclinable-like comparative: ‘like Death (Yama)’

• चिन्तयामास: thought, reflected
• चिन्तयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; periphrastic perfect style

• काल-ज्ञः: knower of time
• काल-ज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ज्ञा)
• Form: षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भावे तत्पुरुष: ‘knower of time’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मायाविनाम्: of the illusionists
• मायाविनाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मायाविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of the magicians/illusionists’

• वरः: the best
• वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Śiva (Śūlapāṇi)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Vishnu as the knower of time (kālajña)?

This verse presents Viṣṇu as kālajña—fully aware of how events unfold according to divine time—so His actions are perfectly aligned with providence, not driven by fear or confusion.

Why is Lord Shiva described as approaching like Death (kṛtānta-vat) in Bhagavatam 8.19.8?

The comparison emphasizes Śiva’s awe-inspiring, unstoppable presence when he advances with his trident—appearing as inevitable as death—highlighting the gravity of the moment in the narrative.

Practical application: how can a devotee learn from Vishnu ‘knowing time’ in modern life?

A devotee can cultivate patience and steadiness—acting responsibly while trusting divine timing—remembering that what seems urgent or frightening is still under the Lord’s perfect order.