Shloka 41
Kāla-vibhāga: The Divisions of Time from Atom to Brahmā, and the Lord Beyond Time
दशोत्तराधिकैर्यत्र प्रविष्ट: परमाणुवत् । लक्ष्यतेऽन्तर्गताश्चान्ये कोटिशो ह्यण्डराशय: ॥ ४१ ॥
daśottarādhikair yatra praviṣṭaḥ paramāṇuvat lakṣyate ’ntar-gatāś cānye koṭiśo hy aṇḍa-rāśayaḥ
যেখানে প্রতিটি আবরণ পূর্ববর্তীটির চেয়ে দশগুণ অধিক পুরু; এবং অসংখ্য ব্রহ্মাণ্ডসমূহ ভিতরে অবস্থান করে এক মহাসমষ্টিতে পরমাণুর ন্যায় প্রতীয়মান হয়।
The coverings of the universes are also constituted of the elements of earth, water, fire, air and ether, and each is ten times thicker than the one before. The first covering of the universe is earth, and it is ten times thicker than the universe itself. If the universe is four billion miles in size, then the size of the earthly covering of the universe is four billion times ten. The covering of water is ten times greater than the earthly covering, the covering of fire is ten times greater than the watery covering, the covering of air is ten times greater than that of the fire, the covering of ether is ten times greater still than that of air, and so on. The universe within the coverings of matter appears to be like an atom in comparison to the coverings, and the number of universes is unknown even to those who can estimate the coverings of the universes.
FAQs
This verse states that the Supreme Lord enters within the universe ‘like an atom’—subtle and all-pervading—yet He remains perceptible as the indwelling reality behind creation.
In the Bhagavatam’s cosmology, each universe is compared to an egg-like enclosure with coverings; Śukadeva uses this imagery to convey the structured, layered nature of cosmic manifestation.
Seeing the Divine as present within all beings and situations encourages humility, non-violence, and steady devotion, transforming daily actions into conscious service.