Shloka 54

अर्जुनस्य अन्त्येष्टि, द्वारकाप्लावनम्, कलिप्रवेशः, कालोपदेशः

Devanagari script

अलं ते व्रीडया पार्थ न त्वं शोचितुम् अर्हसि अवेहि सर्वभूतेषु कालस्य गतिर् ईदृशी

Transliteration

alaṃ te vrīḍayā pārtha na tvaṃ śocitum arhasi avehi sarvabhūteṣu kālasya gatir īdṛśī

Translation

Enough of this shame, O son of Pṛthā; you are not fit to grieve. Know well: for all beings, the course of Time is ever thus.

Word by Word

• अलम्: enough
• अलम्: Sentence particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अलम् (अव्यय)
• Form: पर्याप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (enough/sufficient)

• ते: for you/of you
• ते: Genitive relation (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (6/4), एकवचन; एन्क्लिटिक रूप

• व्रीडया: with shame
• व्रीडया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• पार्थ: O Pārtha
• पार्थ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शोचितुम्: to grieve
• शोचितुम्: Karma of 'arhasi' (अनुयोग्य-कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुच् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्ययवत्

• अर्हसि: you ought
• अर्हसि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अवेहि: know, understand
• अवेहि: Kriya (Imperative/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-इ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्वभूतेषु: in all beings
• सर्वभूतेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषु भूतेषु)

• कालस्य: of time
• कालस्य: Genitive relation (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• गतिः: course, movement
• गतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• ईदृशी: such, like this
• ईदृशी: Predicate adjective (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गतिः)

Speaker

A wise counselor/teacher addressing Arjuna (Pārtha) within a Purāṇic retelling emphasizing Kāla (Time) and detachment; framed by the Vishnu Purana’s narrator (Sage Parāśara) to Maitreya.

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Consolation and explanation of reversals befalling even the mighty

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāla (Time) moves impartially over all beings; understanding its inevitability dissolves shame and grief and restores steadiness.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: When facing loss, practice equanimity by reflecting on change as universal; respond with dharmic action rather than self-reproach.

Vishishtadvaita: Time’s governance is ultimately under Īśvara; the teaching supports surrender to Bhagavān’s ordering will while continuing one’s duty.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna (Pārtha)
• Kāla (Time)

FAQs

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

This verse presents Time as an impartial, inevitable force affecting all beings, encouraging detachment and clarity rather than grief.

How does Sage Parāśara explain detachment in the Vishnu Purana’s liberation teachings?

By emphasizing that change and loss are the natural course of Kāla for everyone, the teaching redirects the mind from sorrow to discernment (viveka) and steadiness on the path to moksha.

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

The verse implies a cosmos ruled by law-like order: Kāla governs worldly events, while Vishnu remains the supreme ground of reality beyond such fluctuations—supporting the Purāṇic move from grief to surrender and liberation.