Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

कालोऽयं परमाण्वादिर्द्विपरार्धान्त ईश्वर: । नैवेशितुं प्रभुर्भूम्न ईश्वरो धाममानिनाम् ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

kālo ’yaṁ paramāṇv-ādir dvi-parārdhānta īśvaraḥ naiveśituṁ prabhur bhūmna īśvaro dhāma-māninām

Translation

إن الزمان الأزلي يضبط المقادير كلها، من الذرّة إلى نهاية «ذو الجزأين» من عمر براهما؛ ومع ذلك فهو خاضع للسيّد الأعلى. إنما يقهر الزمانُ أهلَ التعلّق بالجسد، ولو بلغوا ساتيالوكا وسائر العوالم العليا.

Synonyms

• कालः: time
• कालः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• परमाणु-आदिः: beginning with the atom (as smallest unit)
• परमाणु-आदिः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paramāṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (परमाणु-आदि: beginning with the atom); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• द्वि-परार्ध-अन्तः: ending at two-parārdhas
• द्वि-परार्ध-अन्तः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + parārdha (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (द्वि-परार्धस्य अन्तः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ईश्वरः: the Lord
• ईश्वरः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• ईशितुम्: to control/rule
• ईशितुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of negated ability)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īś (ईश् धातु) + तुमुन् (infinitive)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive); क्रियार्थक-नाम (to rule/control)

• प्रभुः: the master
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भूम्नः: of the greatness/majesty
• भूम्नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• ईश्वरः: the Lord
• ईश्वरः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• धाम-मानिनाम्: of those proud of their own domains
• धाम-मानिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhāman (प्रातिपदिक) + mānin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धाम्नि मानिनः = those who take pride in their abodes/powers); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Īśvara (the Supreme Lord as Kāla)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about time (kāla) being God?

This verse identifies time—from the atom up to cosmic durations—as Īśvara Himself, emphasizing that kāla is not merely a force but the Lord’s governing potency.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe proud people as unable to control time?

In the context of explaining cosmic time, Śukadeva highlights that those who think themselves powerful (dhāma-māninaḥ) cannot command the all-pervading Lord as time; pride collapses before kāla.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Remembering that time is unstoppable helps reduce ego and attachment, encouraging humility, urgency in spiritual practice, and reliance on devotion rather than temporary status.