Shloka 36

Brahmā’s Day, the Four Pralayas, and the Supreme Shelter Beyond Cause–Effect

Devanagari script

कालस्रोतोजवेनाशु ह्रियमाणस्य नित्यदा । परिणामिनामवस्थास्ता जन्मप्रलयहेतव: ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

kāla-sroto-javenāśu hriyamāṇasya nityadā pariṇāminām avasthās tā janma-pralaya-hetavaḥ

Translation

Emportées sans cesse par le puissant courant du temps, toutes les entités matérielles, sujettes au changement, s’érodent rapidement; leurs divers états d’existence sont les causes permanentes de leur naissance et de leur dissolution.

Synonyms

• काल-स्रोतः-जवेन: by the speed of the stream of time
• काल-स्रोतः-जवेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + स्रोतस् + जव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-श्रृंखला: 'time' + 'stream' + 'speed')

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: quickly)

• ह्रियमाणस्य: of (one) being carried away
• ह्रियमाणस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Sambandha; 'of one being carried away')
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present passive participle/शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• नित्यदा: always
• नित्यदा: कालाधिकरण (Kāla-adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (always/at all times)

• परिणामिनाम्: of the changing (entities)
• परिणामिनाम्: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिणामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अवस्थाः: states/conditions
• अवस्थाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ताः: those
• ताः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of अवस्थाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• जन्म-प्रलय-हेतवः: causes of birth and dissolution
• जन्म-प्रलय-हेतवः: प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्म + प्रलय + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: causes 'of birth and dissolution')

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the power of Time (kāla)?

This verse says Time moves like a swift current that constantly carries all changing things forward, and the successive states produced by transformation become the causes of both their manifestation (birth) and dissolution (pralaya).

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the world as being swept away by time?

In Canto 12, Śukadeva explains cosmic dissolution and impermanence to detach Parīkṣit Mahārāja from temporary identifications and fix his attention on the eternal Supreme Lord.

Practical application: How can I use this teaching about time in modern life?

Remembering that everything is carried forward by time helps reduce attachment and procrastination, encouraging steady bhakti—hearing, chanting, and serving—before opportunities and circumstances change.