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Shloka 22

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

लय: प्राकृतिको ह्येष पुरुषाव्यक्तयोर्यदा । शक्तय: सम्प्रलीयन्ते विवशा: कालविद्रुता: ॥ २२ ॥

layaḥ prākṛtiko hy eṣa puruṣāvyaktayor yadā śaktayaḥ sampralīyante vivaśāḥ kāla-vidrutāḥ

આ પ્રાકૃતિક લય છે; જ્યારે કાળના બળથી વિખેરાઈ ગયેલી પરમપુરુષ અને તેની અવ્યક્ત પ્રકૃતિની શક્તિઓ વિવશ બની પોતાની શક્તિ ગુમાવે છે અને સંપૂર્ણ રીતે એકમાં લય પામે છે.

layaḥdissolution
layaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/subject)
TypeNoun
Rootlaya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg)
prākṛtikaḥmaterial, pertaining to prakṛti
prākṛtikaḥ:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootprākṛtika (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg; agreeing with layaḥ)
hiindeed
hi:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
Formहेतौ/निश्चये अव्यय (indeed, for)
eṣaḥthis
eṣaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/subject; apposition)
TypeNoun
Rootetad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg; demonstrative)
puruṣa-avyaktayoḥof the Puruṣa and the Unmanifest
puruṣa-avyaktayoḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootpuruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + avyakta (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंस? (contextually two entities), षष्ठी/सप्तमी द्विवचन?; form is षष्ठी द्विवचन (Genitive dual): ‘of puruṣa and avyakta’; द्वन्द्व-समास (itaretara)
yadāwhen
yadā:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/time)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyadā (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक-अव्यय (when)
śaktayaḥpowers, energies
śaktayaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/subject)
TypeNoun
Rootśakti (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nom pl)
sampralīyantedissolve completely
sampralīyante:
Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootsam-pra-√lī (ली धातु)
Formलट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (Present indicative, 3rd pl); आत्मनेपद
vivaśāḥhelpless, compelled
vivaśāḥ:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootvivaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nom pl; agreeing with śaktayaḥ)
kāla-vidrutāḥdriven by time
kāla-vidrutāḥ:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootkāla (प्रातिपदिक) + vidruta (कृदन्त; √dru/√drut? ‘to run’ with vi-, क्त)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nom pl; agreeing with śaktayaḥ); तत्पुरुष: ‘कालेन विद्रुताः’ (driven by time)
Ś
Śukadeva Gosvāmī
M
Mahārāja Parīkṣit
K
Kāla (Time)
P
Puruṣa
A
Avyakta (unmanifest prakṛti)

FAQs

It describes prākṛtika pralaya as the stage when the material energies (śaktis) withdraw and merge back into their source, being irresistibly driven by Time (kāla), in relation to the Supreme Puruṣa and unmanifest prakṛti.

Parīkṣit is preparing for death through hearing Bhāgavatam; Śukadeva explains pralaya to establish detachment from temporary cosmic manifestations and to focus the listener on the Supreme Person beyond Time and matter.

Recognize that time inevitably dissolves all material arrangements; use that clarity to prioritize bhakti, simplify attachments, and invest daily effort in remembrance of the Supreme rather than temporary gains.