Shloka 9

मेरु-प्रमाणम्, सप्त-पाताल-वर्णनम्, तथा अनन्त-शेष-तत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

भक्ष्यभोज्यमहापानमुदितैर् अतिभोगिभिः यत्र न ज्ञायते कालो गतो ऽपि दनुजादिभिः

Transliteration

bhakṣyabhojyamahāpānamuditair atibhogibhiḥ yatra na jñāyate kālo gato 'pi danujādibhiḥ

Translation

There, amid abundant delicacies, feasts, and mighty draughts, the excessively pleasure-seeking rejoice in their enjoyments and do not perceive the passage of Kāla (Time), though ages have slipped away even for the Dānavas and the like.

Word by Word

• भक्ष्यभोज्यमहापानमुदितैः: by those delighted with great food and drink
• भक्ष्यभोज्यमहापानमुदितैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + भोज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + महापान (प्रातिपदिक) + मुदित (कृदन्त, √मुद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; विशेषण (instrumental plural adjective)

• अतिभोगिभिः: by excessive enjoyers
• अतिभोगिभिः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिभोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: अधिकरण (Locus)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्ध/देशवाचक (relative adverb: where)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• ज्ञायते: is known / is perceived
• ज्ञायते: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• कालः: time
• कालः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• गतः: gone, passed
• गतः: कर्तृसम्बन्ध (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (कृदन्त, √गम्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying kālaḥ)

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक (also/even)

• दनुजादिभिः: by the Danavas and others
• दनुजादिभिः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दनुज (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’समास (and others)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in discourse to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Description of the netherworlds (Pātāla) and the beings/enjoyments found there

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even long-lived beings lose discernment when absorbed in bhoga; Kāla passes unnoticed and erodes all conditions.

Vedantic Theme: Maya

Application: Treat pleasure as transient; cultivate daily reflection on time, mortality, and purpose to prevent spiritual forgetfulness.

Vishishtadvaita: Kāla operates under the Lord’s governance; enjoyment without God-centered orientation becomes binding rather than liberating.

Characters & Entities

• Kāla (Time)
• Dānavas (Danavas/Asura clans)

FAQs

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

This verse highlights that Time advances irresistibly—even when beings are immersed in pleasure—showing Kāla as a sovereign, unavoidable force within cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the danger of excessive enjoyment (bhoga)?

He portrays extreme indulgence as a state where awareness is dulled: beings cannot even recognize that vast time has passed, implying spiritual and existential negligence.

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

By emphasizing the unstoppable movement of Time and the fragility of pleasure, the passage supports the Purāṇic view that true refuge lies in the Supreme Reality—Vishnu—beyond transient enjoyments.