Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 15

Sāṅkhya of Creation and Annihilation

Sarga–Nirodha-viveka

Devanagari script

मया कालात्मना धात्रा कर्मयुक्तमिदं जगत् । गुणप्रवाह एतस्मिन्नुन्मज्जति निमज्जति ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

mayā kālātmanā dhātrā karma-yuktam idaṁ jagat guṇa-pravāha etasminn unmajjati nimajjati

Translation

時の力として働く至上の創造者であるわたしが、この世界における業の結果をすべて配している。ゆえにグナの大いなる流れの中で、あるときは浮上し、あるときは再び沈む。

Synonyms

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• काल-आत्मना: as Time itself / by the Time-self
• काल-आत्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (कालः एव आत्मा यस्य/कालात्मा)

• धात्रा: by the creator/sustainer
• धात्रा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• कर्म-युक्तम्: bound/connected with karma
• कर्म-युक्तम्: Karma (कर्म; predicate adjective to जगत्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त; युज् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कर्मणा युक्तम्/कर्मयुक्तम्)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता; adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (जगत्)

• जगत्: world
• जगत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• गुण-प्रवाहः: the flow/stream of the guṇas
• गुण-प्रवाहः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; agent of verbs)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गुणानां प्रवाहः)

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• उन्मज्जति: rises/emerges
• उन्मज्जति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + मज्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• निमज्जति: sinks/submerges
• निमज्जति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + मज्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Purport

Unmajjati refers to one’s promotion to the higher planetary systems, as mentioned in previous verses, and nimajjati refers to being submerged in a miserable condition of life by impious activities. In both cases one is drowning within the mighty river of material existence, which carries one far away from one’s real home in the kingdom of God.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Time (Kāla) as a form of God?

This verse states that the Lord Himself acts as Time, the supreme ordainer who governs the universe and administers karmic results, causing conditioned beings to rise and fall within material nature.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11?

In the Uddhava Gītā teachings, Kṛṣṇa explains the mechanics of bondage—karma operating under the flow of the guṇas—so Uddhava can understand how to transcend material conditioning through devotion and spiritual knowledge.

Practical application of karma and guṇas in modern life?

Recognize that repeated “ups and downs” are driven by past actions and the modes of nature; reduce impulsive rājasic and tamasic habits, cultivate sāttvika discipline, and anchor life in bhakti to rise beyond the guṇa-current.