Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 39
Kāla-vibhāga: The Divisions of Time from Atom to Brahmā, and the Lord Beyond Time
कालोऽयं परमाण्वादिर्द्विपरार्धान्त ईश्वर: । नैवेशितुं प्रभुर्भूम्न ईश्वरो धाममानिनाम् ॥ ३९ ॥
kālo ’yaṁ paramāṇv-ādir dvi-parārdhānta īśvaraḥ naiveśituṁ prabhur bhūmna īśvaro dhāma-māninām
Le temps éternel gouverne toutes les mesures, de l’atome jusqu’au terme du dvi-parārdha de la vie de Brahmā ; pourtant il demeure soumis au Suprême. Le temps ne maîtrise que ceux qui s’identifient au corps, fût-ce jusqu’à Satyaloka et aux mondes supérieurs.
FAQs
This verse identifies time—from the atom up to cosmic durations—as Īśvara Himself, emphasizing that kāla is not merely a force but the Lord’s governing potency.
In the context of explaining cosmic time, Śukadeva highlights that those who think themselves powerful (dhāma-māninaḥ) cannot command the all-pervading Lord as time; pride collapses before kāla.
Remembering that time is unstoppable helps reduce ego and attachment, encouraging humility, urgency in spiritual practice, and reliance on devotion rather than temporary status.