Shloka 17
Vidura’s Return; Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Departure; Nārada’s Instruction on Kāla and Detachment
एवं गृहेषु सक्तानां प्रमत्तानां तदीहया । अत्यक्रामदविज्ञात: काल: परमदुस्तर: ॥ १७ ॥
evaṁ gṛheṣu saktānāṁ pramattānāṁ tad-īhayā atyakrāmad avijñātaḥ kālaḥ parama-dustaraḥ
Thus, imperceptibly, insurmountable Time overcomes those who are overly attached to household affairs and remain intoxicated by such preoccupations.
“I am now happy; I have everything in order; my bank balance is quite enough; I can now give my children enough estate; I am now successful; the poor beggar sannyāsīs depend on God, but they come to beg from me; therefore I am more than the Supreme God.” These are some of the thoughts which engross the insanely attached householder who is blind to the passing of eternal time. Our duration of life is measured, and no one is able to enhance it even by a second against the scheduled time ordained by the supreme will. Such valuable time, especially for the human being, should be cautiously spent because even a second passed away imperceptibly cannot be replaced, even in exchange for thousands of golden coins amassed by hard labor. Every second of human life is meant for making an ultimate solution to the problems of life, i.e., repetition of birth and death and revolving in the cycle of 8,400,000 different species of life. The material body, which is subject to birth and death, diseases and old age, is the cause of all sufferings of the living being, otherwise the living being is eternal; he is never born, nor does he ever die. Foolish persons forget this problem. They do not know at all how to solve the problems of life, but become engrossed in temporary family affairs not knowing that eternal time is passing away imperceptibly and that their measured duration of life is diminishing every second, without any solution to the big problem, namely repetition of birth and death, disease and old age. This is called illusion.
FAQs
This verse says kāla is extremely difficult to overcome and silently passes over those absorbed in household attachments and material pursuits.
In the context of Dhṛtarāṣṭra leaving home, Śukadeva highlights how unchecked attachment and constant material planning make one forget the swift approach of time and death.
Regularly remember impermanence, reduce obsessive material busyness, and prioritize sādhana—hearing, chanting, and devotional service—so life is not lost to unnoticed time.