Shloka 24

Devanagari script

काल: पचति भूतानि काल: संहरते प्रजा: । काल: सुप्तेषु जागर्ति कालो हि दुरतिक्रम:,काल ही प्राणियोंको पकाता है, काल ही प्रजाओंका संहार करता है और काल ही सबके सो जानेपर भी जागता रहता है। कालका उल्लंघन करना बहुत ही कठिन है

Transliteration

kālaḥ pacati bhūtāni kālaḥ saṃharate prajāḥ | kālaḥ supteṣu jāgarti kālo hi duratikramaḥ ||

Translation

Time ripens all beings; Time also destroys peoples. When everyone lies asleep, Time remains awake. Truly, Time is exceedingly hard to overstep.

Word by Word

कालःTime

पचतिcooks/digests (brings to maturity/decay)

भूतानिbeings/creatures

कालःTime

संहरतेwithdraws/destroys

प्रजाःcreatures/subjects/people

कालःTime

सुप्तेषुamong (those who are) asleep

जागर्तिis awake/watches

कालःTime

हिindeed/for

दुरतिक्रमःhard to overstep/insurmountable

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vidura

Kāla (Time)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Time (kāla) is irresistible: it matures all beings and eventually ends all lives and communities. The verse urges humility and clear-sighted acceptance of impermanence, discouraging arrogance, denial, or the belief that one can escape consequences and mortality.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Stree Parva’s aftermath of the Kurukṣetra war, Vidura speaks in a consolatory and admonitory tone. He frames the devastation and death within the larger, inexorable working of Time, guiding listeners toward restraint, reflection, and dharmic composure amid collective mourning.