Shloka 21

Time-Reckoning (Kāla-gaṇanā): Yugas, Manvantaras, Kalpas, and Prākṛta Pralaya

Devanagari script

ब्रह्माणो बहवो रुद्रा ह्यन्ये नारायणादयः / एको हि भगवानीशः कालः कविरिति श्रुति

Transliteration

brahmāṇo bahavo rudrā hyanye nārāyaṇādayaḥ / eko hi bhagavānīśaḥ kālaḥ kaviriti śruti

Translation

كُثُرٌ هم البراهمات، وكُثُرٌ هم الرودرات، وكذلك سادةٌ إلهيون آخرون كالنارايانات؛ غير أنّ الربّ (إيشا) واحدٌ لا ثاني له—إنه الزمن نفسه، الرائي العليم بكل شيء (كافي)، هكذا تُعلن الشروتي.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्माणः: Brahmās
• ब्रह्माणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• रुद्राः: Rudras
• रुद्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतुवाचक निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (substantively: others)

• नारायणादयः: Nārāyaṇa and others
• नारायणादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa-ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘नारायणः आदिः येषाम्’ इति (ādi-suffix compound)

• एकः: one
• एकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक निपात

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ईशः: the Lord
• ईशः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• कविः: sage; seer
• कविः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• श्रुतिः: the scripture (Śruti)
• श्रुतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śruti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching the sages/Indradyumna-context discourse on the One Supreme Lord

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Rudra
• Narayana
• Isha
• Kala
• Shruti

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

It distinguishes transient cosmic offices (many Brahmās, Rudras, etc.) from the single Supreme Īśa, identified with Kāla and the all-knowing Kavi—implying one ultimate reality behind all manifested powers.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports a foundational yogic contemplation: fixing awareness on the one Īśvara beyond all subordinate deities and roles, recognizing Him as Kāla (the inner governor of change) and Kavi (omniscient witness), a key stance for one-pointed devotion and meditative steadiness.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

By stating that many Rudras and even ‘Nārāyaṇas’ exist as divine functions, yet Īśa is one, it advances a synthesis: sectarian forms are multiple expressions, while the Supreme Lord is singular and non-competitive—supporting Shaiva–Vaishnava unity.