Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 3
The Kingdom of God (Vaikuṇṭha) and the Curse of Jaya and Vijaya
देवा ऊचु: तम एतद्विभो वेत्थ संविग्ना यद्वयं भृशम् । न ह्यव्यक्तं भगवत: कालेनास्पृष्टवर्त्मन: ॥ ३ ॥
devā ūcuḥ tama etad vibho vettha saṁvignā yad vayaṁ bhṛśam na hy avyaktaṁ bhagavataḥ kālenāspṛṣṭa-vartmanaḥ
দেৱসকলে ক’লে—হে বিভো, এই অন্ধকাৰ আপুনি ভালদৰে জানে; ই আমাক অত্যন্ত উদ্বিগ্ন কৰিছে। কালৰ প্ৰভাৱ আপোনাক স্পৰ্শ নকৰে, সেয়ে আপোনাৰ আগত একোৱেই অপ্রকাশিত নহয়।
Brahmā is addressed herein as Vibhu and as the Personality of Godhead. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s incarnation of the mode of passion in the material world. He is nondifferent, in the representative sense, from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore the influence of time cannot affect him. The influence of time, which manifests as past, present and future, cannot touch higher personalities like Brahmā and other demigods. Sometimes demigods and great sages who have attained such perfection are called tri-kāla jña.
FAQs
This verse states that Bhagavān’s course is untouched by time—His existence and path are not altered by temporal change, unlike conditioned beings.
They confess they are greatly disturbed and therefore appeal to the Lord as the only one who truly knows the situation, acknowledging His transcendence over time and concealment.
By remembering that worldly conditions shift with time, but the Supreme remains steady, one can anchor the mind in devotion and seek refuge in the eternal rather than temporary circumstances.