Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 9
Brahmā’s Day, the Four Pralayas, and the Supreme Shelter Beyond Cause–Effect
तत: संवर्तको वह्नि: सङ्कर्षणमुखोत्थित: । दहत्यनिलवेगोत्थ: शून्यान् भूविवरानथ ॥ ९ ॥
tataḥ saṁvartako vahniḥ saṅkarṣaṇa-mukhotthitaḥ dahaty anila-vegotthaḥ śūnyān bhū-vivarān atha
Kemudian api pemusnah (saṁvartaka) menyala dari mulut Bhagavān Saṅkarṣaṇa. Didorong oleh dahsyatnya angin, api itu membakar ke segala penjuru, menghanguskan rongga-rongga bumi yang sunyi.
FAQs
In this verse, the Saṁvartaka fire is the devastating fire of dissolution that emerges from Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa and, driven by fierce winds, burns through the earth’s empty cavities and fissures during pralaya.
Śukadeva explains the mechanics of cosmic dissolution to show the supremacy of the Lord’s energies and to detach the listener from temporary material security, guiding Parīkṣit toward exclusive devotion.
Remembering that even the cosmos is dissolved helps one reduce fear and attachment, prioritize bhakti over accumulation, and live with humility, urgency, and spiritual focus.