Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 12
Parīkṣit’s Comprehensive Inquiries and the Bhāgavata as Śabda-avatāra
यावान् कल्पोविकल्पो वा यथा कालोऽनुमीयते । भूतभव्यभवच्छब्द आयुर्मानं च यत् सत: ॥ १२ ॥
yāvān kalpo vikalpo vā yathā kālo ’numīyate bhūta-bhavya-bhavac-chabda āyur-mānaṁ ca yat sataḥ
Please explain the span between creation and annihilation—the kalpa—and the durations of subsidiary creations as well. Describe the nature of time as indicated by the terms past, present, and future. Also explain the measure and length of life for beings such as the devas, humans, and others in the various lokas.
Past, present and future are different features of time to indicate the duration of life for the universe and all its paraphernalia, including the different living beings in different planets.
FAQs
In this verse, Parīkṣit requests a clear explanation of the magnitude of a kalpa and related divisions, and how time is inferred and categorized as past, present, and future—showing that Bhagavatam treats time as a measurable cosmic principle.
Because Parīkṣit is preparing for death and seeks precise understanding of cosmic time and the lifespan of beings, so he can properly situate worldly existence within the larger framework of Bhagavān’s creation and governance.
Remembering that time governs all states—past, present, and future—and that lifespan is limited helps one prioritize sādhana, detach from temporary anxieties, and invest life in enduring spiritual practice and devotion.