Shloka 34

Cosmic Appointments, Viṣṇu’s Vibhūtis, Fourfold Operation, and the Symbolism of Ornaments and Weapons

Devanagari script

कालेन न विना ब्रह्मा सृष्टिनिष्पादको द्विज न प्रजापतयः सर्वे न चैवाखिलजन्तवः

Transliteration

kālena na vinā brahmā sṛṣṭiniṣpādako dvija na prajāpatayaḥ sarve na caivākhilajantavaḥ

Translation

O twice-born one, without Time (Kāla) even Brahmā cannot accomplish creation; nor can all the Prajāpatis beget progeny—indeed, without Time none among the myriad beings can manifest at all.

Word by Word

• कालेन: by/with time
• कालेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Kriya-pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वियोग/वर्जनार्थक (preposition-like: without)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सृष्टि-निष्पादकः: the accomplisher of creation
• सृष्टि-निष्पादकः: Pratipadya (Predicate nominal/विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + निष्पादक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सृष्टेः निष्पादकः)

• द्विज: O twice-born
• द्विज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Kriya-pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• प्रजापतयः: Prajāpatis
• प्रजापतयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• न: not
• न: Kriya-pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Kriya-vishesana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic particle)

• अखिल-जन्तवः: all creatures
• अखिल-जन्तवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक) + जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (अखिलाः जन्तवः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Role of Kāla (Time) as indispensable factor for creation and manifestation

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Time is the indispensable divine principle without which even Brahmā and the Prajāpatis cannot create or manifest beings.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Recognize timing and seasonality in life as part of a larger order; cultivate patience and alignment with dharmic rhythms.

Vishishtadvaita: Kāla functions as the Lord’s regulated power within the real world-order, making all agency dependent on Him.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman (philosophical)

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Kāla (Time)
• Brahmā

FAQs

What is the significance of Kāla (Time) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents Time as indispensable for manifestation: even Brahmā and the Prajāpatis cannot create without Kāla, showing that cosmic events unfold only under a higher ordering power.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the dependence of creators like Brahmā?

Parāśara states that Brahmā is not autonomous in creation; his creative function succeeds only when Time operates, emphasizing a layered causality where secondary creators act under a superior principle.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

In Vaishnava cosmology, Kāla functions as an aspect or instrument of the Supreme Reality (Vishnu), implying that all creative agencies ultimately depend on Vishnu’s sovereign order.