Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 1

Brahmā’s Day, the Four Pralayas, and the Supreme Shelter Beyond Cause–Effect

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच कालस्ते परमाण्वादिर्द्विपरार्धावधिर्नृप । कथितो युगमानं च श‍ृणु कल्पलयावपि ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca kālas te paramāṇv-ādir dvi-parārdhāvadhir nṛpa kathito yuga-mānaṁ ca śṛṇu kalpa-layāv api

Translation

Śukadeva sprach: O König, ich habe dir bereits die Maße der Zeit beschrieben, beginnend mit dem kleinsten Bruchteil, der durch die Bewegung eines einzigen Atoms gemessen wird, bis hin zur gesamten Lebensspanne Brahmās, der sogenannten Dviparārdha. Auch die Maße der Yugas habe ich erläutert. Nun höre von der Dauer eines Tages Brahmās (Kalpa) und vom Vorgang der Auflösung (Pralaya).

Synonyms

• श्री-शुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्री-शुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (श्रीमान् शुकः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• कालः: time
• कालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ते: your/for you
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• परमाणु-आदिः: beginning with the atom
• परमाणु-आदिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परमाणु + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (परमाणुः आदिः यस्य)

• द्वि-परार्ध-अवधिः: having a limit of two parārdhas
• द्वि-परार्ध-अवधिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि + परार्ध + अवधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (द्विपरार्धः अवधिः यस्य)

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• कथितः: has been described
• कथितः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (कालः) इति कर्तरि विशेषणवत्

• युग-मानम्: the measure of the yugas
• युग-मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग + मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (युगस्य मानम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शृणु: hear
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• कल्प-लयौ: the kalpa and the dissolution
• कल्प-लयौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प + लय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (कल्पः च लयः च)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थ (also/even)

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• King Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the measurement of time (kāla)?

This verse states that Śukadeva explains time from the tiniest unit (paramāṇu) up to immense spans (two parārdhas), and then proceeds to describe kalpa (creation cycles) and pralaya (dissolutions).

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī speak about kalpa and pralaya to King Parīkṣit?

In Canto 12, Śukadeva systematically teaches Parīkṣit Vedic cosmology—time, yugas, and then the larger cycles of creation and dissolution—so the king can understand the world’s impermanence and fix his mind on the eternal Lord.

Practical application of understanding yugas, kalpa, and pralaya in modern life?

Reflecting on vast cosmic time and dissolution helps reduce anxiety and attachment, encouraging steady devotion (bhakti) and prioritizing spiritual practice over temporary achievements.