Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 31

Śaryāti, Sukanyā, Cyavana Muni, the Aśvinī-kumāras, and Kakudmī-Revatī

Baladeva Marriage

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवान् ब्रह्मा प्रहस्य तमुवाच ह । अहो राजन् निरुद्धास्ते कालेन हृदि ये कृता: ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

tac chrutvā bhagavān brahmā prahasya tam uvāca ha aho rājan niruddhās te kālena hṛdi ye kṛtāḥ

Translation

Nachdem er ihn gehört hatte, lachte Herr Brahmā und sprach: „O König, alle, die du im Herzen als Schwiegersohn erwählt hattest, sind im Lauf der Zeit dahingegangen.“

Synonyms

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग); ‘that (statement)’

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śrutvā (कृदन्त; √śru/श्रु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having heard’

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); प्रातिपदिक ‘ब्रह्मन्’ का प्रथमा एकवचन रूप

• prahasya: having smiled
• prahasya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prahasya (कृदन्त; √has/हस् with pra- prefix)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having laughed/smiled’

• tam: to him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac/वच्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• ha: indeed
• ha: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis/indeed

• aho: ah!
• aho: Sambodhana-marker (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: Exclamation particle (विस्मयादि-निपात)

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• niruddhāḥ: are restrained
• niruddhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niruddha (कृदन्त; √rudh/रुध् with ni- prefix)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, ‘restrained/blocked’

• te: they (yours)
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); ‘they/your (people)’

• kālena: by time
• kālena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• hṛdi: in the heart
• hṛdi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग)

• ye: who/which
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); relative pronoun ‘who/which’

• kṛtāḥ: made/placed
• kṛtāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ/कृ)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, ‘made/done/placed’

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• King (rājan)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the power of time (kāla) over human desires?

This verse states that time can restrain even deeply held intentions in the heart, showing that material plans are ultimately subordinate to kāla.

Why did Brahmā smile while speaking to the king in this verse?

Brahmā’s smile suggests gentle realism—he recognizes the king’s inner wishes, yet points out that time has already curtailed them, highlighting the inevitability of kāla.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Recognize that plans can be overturned by time and circumstance; prioritize dharma and bhakti, and cultivate detachment so setbacks do not disturb inner steadiness.