Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 10

Vibhūti-yoga in the Bhāgavata: The Lord’s Manifest Opulences and the Discipline of Control

Devanagari script

अहं गतिर्गतिमतां काल: कलयतामहम् । गुणानां चाप्यहं साम्यं गुणिन्यौत्पत्तिको गुण: ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

ahaṁ gatir gatimatāṁ kālaḥ kalayatām aham gunāṇāṁ cāpy ahaṁ sāmyaṁ guṇiny autpattiko guṇaḥ

Translation

Ich bin das höchste Ziel derer, die Fortschritt suchen; unter den Selbstbeherrschten bin Ich die Zeit. Unter den guṇas bin Ich das Gleichgewicht, und unter den Frommen bin Ich die natürliche Tugend.

Synonyms

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• gatiḥ: the goal
• gatiḥ: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• gatimatām: of those who move/strive
• gatimatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gatimat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kālaḥ: time
• kālaḥ: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• kalayatām: of measurers/counters
• kalayatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalayat (प्रातिपदिक; present active participle from √kal/√kalay)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन); used substantively: 'of those who calculate/measure'

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• guṇānām: of the qualities
• guṇānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), additive/emphatic

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• sāmyam: equilibrium
• sāmyam: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/1 or द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• guṇini: in the possessor of qualities
• guṇini: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• autpattikaḥ: innate/original
• autpattikaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: autpattika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying guṇaḥ

• guṇaḥ: quality
• guṇaḥ: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Time (kāla) as God?

In this verse, Kṛṣṇa identifies Himself as kāla—Time itself—showing that all measurement, change, and inevitable transformation ultimately rest on Him.

Why did Krishna describe His vibhutis to Uddhava in Canto 11?

Kṛṣṇa teaches Uddhava how to perceive the Lord everywhere: by recognizing His supreme presence as the essence behind powerful principles like time, destiny, and the balance of the guṇas.

Practical application of seeing Krishna as the ‘goal of all movement’ in modern life?

Offer your plans and progress to Kṛṣṇa as the final purpose—letting spiritual intention guide work, learning, and relationships rather than mere restlessness or ambition.