Shloka 37
Brahmā’s Day, the Four Pralayas, and the Supreme Shelter Beyond Cause–Effect
अनाद्यन्तवतानेन कालेनेश्वरमूर्तिना । अवस्था नैव दृश्यन्ते वियति ज्योतिषामिव ॥ ३७ ॥
anādy-antavatānena kāleneśvara-mūrtinā avasthā naiva dṛśyante viyati jyotiṣām iva
অনাদি-অনন্ত, ঈশ্বৰৰ প্ৰতিনিধি-ৰূপ কালৰ দ্বাৰা সৃষ্ট এই অৱস্থাসমূহ প্ৰত্যক্ষ দেখা নাযায়; যেনেকৈ আকাশত গ্ৰহসমূহৰ অতি সূক্ষ্ম ক্ষণিক স্থান-পরিবর্তন চকুত নপৰে।
Although everyone knows that the sun is constantly moving in the sky, one cannot normally see the sun moving. Similarly, no one can directly perceive his hair or nails growing, although with the passing of time we perceive the fact of growth. Time, the potency of the Lord, is very subtle and powerful and is an insurmountable barrier to fools who are trying to exploit the material creation.
FAQs
This verse states that Time is īśvara-mūrti—an expression of the Supreme Lord—beginningless and endless, through which the universe’s changes occur.
He explains to Mahārāja Parīkṣit that under the Lord’s form as Time, transformations happen continuously, so distinct “stages” are not easily seen—like changing conditions of celestial bodies in the sky.
Seeing time-driven change as inevitable reduces attachment and anxiety, encouraging steadiness in bhakti and focus on what is eternal rather than temporary conditions.