Shloka 27
वासुदेवस्वरूपनिरूपणं—सर्गक्रमश्च
Vāsudeva’s Nature and the Ordered Process of Creation
गुणसाम्ये ततस् तस्मिन् पृथक् पुंसि व्यवस्थिते कालस्वरूपं तद् विष्णोर् मैत्रेय परिवर्तते
guṇasāmye tatas tasmin pṛthak puṃsi vyavasthite kālasvarūpaṃ tad viṣṇor maitreya parivartate
When the equilibrium of the guṇas is established and the Puruṣa stands apart in His own separateness—then, O Maitreya, that very Viṣṇu assumes the form of Time (Kāla).
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: How Vishnu, upon guṇa-equilibrium and puruṣa’s distinctness, becomes Kāla to initiate manifestation
Teaching: Cosmological
Quality: revealing
Creation Stage: Primary
Concept: With the guṇas in equilibrium and puruṣa distinct, Viṣṇu manifests as Kāla—the activating principle that turns potentiality toward expression.
Vedantic Theme: Brahman
Application: Notice how intention plus conditions catalyze change; align one’s will with dharma to become a constructive ‘time’ in one’s sphere.
Vishishtadvaita: The Supreme personally assumes functional modes (like Kāla) without losing transcendence—supporting a qualified non-dualism where powers are real attributes of the Lord.
Vishnu Form: Narayana
Bhakti Type: Shanta
Jagat Karana: Yes
FAQs
In this verse, Kāla is presented as Viṣṇu’s own operative mode—Time is the divine principle that initiates change once the guṇas are poised in equilibrium and the Puruṣa is established as distinct.
Parāśara frames it as a transition in divine operation: when guṇa-sāmya is set and the Puruṣa stands apart, Viṣṇu ‘becomes’ Kāla—meaning the cosmic process begins through Time’s ordering force.
Viṣṇu is not merely within time; He is portrayed as the sovereign source of Time itself, underscoring a Vaishnava metaphysics where the Supreme Reality governs manifestation without losing transcendence.