Shloka 5

Matsya Purana — Maya’s Nectar-Reservoir in Tripura and the Revival of the Slain in the Tripur...

Devanagari script

कालस्यैव वशे सर्वं दुर्गं दुर्गतरं च यत् काले क्रुद्धे कथं कालात् त्राणं नो ऽद्य भविष्यति //

Transliteration

kālasyaiva vaśe sarvaṃ durgaṃ durgataraṃ ca yat kāle kruddhe kathaṃ kālāt trāṇaṃ no 'dya bhaviṣyati //

Translation

Everything is indeed under the control of Kāla (Time)—even what is fortified, and what is yet more strongly fortified. When Time itself is enraged, how can there be any rescue for us today from Time?

Word by Word

• kālasya: of Time (Kāla)

• eva: indeed/alone

• vaśe: under the power/control

• sarvam: everything

• durgam: a fort/stronghold, the difficult-to-cross

• durgataram: even more impregnable/more difficult

• ca: and

• yat: whatever/that which

• kāle: when Time/in Time

• kruddhe: being angry/enraged

• katham: how?

• kālāt: from Time

• trāṇam: protection/rescue

• naḥ: for us/our

• adya: today/now

• bhaviṣyati: will be/shall occur

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu (lamenting/reflecting on the irresistible power of Kāla)

Entities Mentioned

• Kāla (Time)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Kāla
• Fate
• Impermanence
• Dharma

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

It frames pralaya as driven by Kāla itself: even the strongest defenses cannot withstand Time, implying dissolution is not merely physical catastrophe but a cosmic law.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It warns that worldly security—forts, power, and planning—cannot guarantee safety; therefore a king/householder should uphold dharma, prepare wisely, and seek higher refuge rather than relying solely on material protection.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally it uses “durga” (fort) as an image of ultimate security and declares it inadequate before Kāla; ritually, the takeaway is that protection ultimately depends on dharmic and divine alignment, not structures alone.