Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 38

Bhakti Yoga: The Three Modes of Devotion, Non-Envy, and Time as the Lord

Devanagari script

योऽन्त: प्रविश्य भूतानि भूतैरत्त्यखिलाश्रय: । स विष्ण्वाख्योऽधियज्ञोऽसौ काल: कलयतां प्रभु: ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

yo ’ntaḥ praviśya bhūtāni bhūtair atty akhilāśrayaḥ sa viṣṇv-ākhyo ’dhiyajño ’sau kālaḥ kalayatāṁ prabhuḥ

Translation

Le Seigneur Viṣṇu, nommé Adhiyajña, entre dans le cœur de tous, soutient tout, et fait qu’un être en anéantisse un autre. Il est lui-même kāla, le temps, et le Maître de tous les maîtres.

Synonyms

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; relative pronoun

• antaḥ: within
• antaḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: antaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (स्थानवाचक अव्यय): 'within/inside'

• praviśya: having entered
• praviśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra-√viś (विश् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय): 'having entered'

• bhūtāni: beings
• bhūtāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; object of 'atti'

• bhūtaiḥ: by means of beings (through beings)
• bhūtaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā (तृतीया), Bahuvacana; instrumental

• atti: eats/devours
• atti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ad (अद् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• akhila-āśrayaḥ: the support of all
• akhila-āśrayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akhila + āśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'support of all'

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• viṣṇu-ākhyaḥ: called Viṣṇu
• viṣṇu-ākhyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣṇu + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'named Viṣṇu'

• adhiyajñaḥ: the presiding deity of sacrifice (Adhiyajña)
• adhiyajñaḥ: Pradhāna-pada (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhi-yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'presiding over sacrifice / the Adhiyajña'

• asau: that (very one)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• kālaḥ: Time
• kālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; apposition to saḥ/asau

• kalayatām: (you) measure/calculate
• kalayatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kal (कल् धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्, imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa (मध्यमपुरुष), Bahuvacana; Parasmaipada; 'you all calculate/measure'

• prabhuḥ: the Lord/master
• prabhuḥ: Pradhāna-pada (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate/apposition

Purport

Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is clearly described in this passage. He is the supreme enjoyer, and all others are working as His servants. As stated in the Caitanya caritāmṛta ( Ādi 5.14), ekale īśvara kṛṣṇa: the only Supreme Lord is Viṣṇu. Āra saba bhṛtya: all others are His servants. Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and other demigods are all servants. The same Viṣṇu enters everyone’s heart as Paramātmā, and He causes the annihilation of every being through another being.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Adhiyajña
• Kāla (Time)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Vishnu as Time (Kāla)?

This verse identifies Viṣṇu as Kāla—the supreme controller who enters all beings and, through the workings of the world itself, brings all things to their destined dissolution.

Why does Lord Kapila call the Lord 'Adhiyajña' in Canto 3 Chapter 29?

Kapila teaches that the true presiding Lord of all sacrifice is Viṣṇu; yajña is ultimately meant for Him, and He alone grants the real fruit of worship.

Practical application of seeing God as Time in modern life?

Remembering the Lord as Time fosters urgency for sincere devotion, reduces attachment to temporary gains, and encourages steady spiritual practice and humility.