Shloka 22
कालनिर्णयः, युगधर्मवर्णनम्, सृष्टिक्रमश्च
Time-Reckoning, Yuga-Dharma, and the Sequence of Creation
यदि मे पश्यत: कालो भूतानि न विनाशयेत् । स्यान्मे हर्षश्न दर्पश्ष क्रोधश्षेव शचीपते,शचीपते! यदि काल मेरे देखते-देखते समस्त प्राणियोंका विनाश नहीं करता तो मुझे हर्ष होता, अपनी शक्तिपर गर्व होता और उस क्रूर कालपर मुझे क्रोध भी होता
yadi me paśyataḥ kālo bhūtāni na vināśayet | syān me harṣaś ca darpaś ca krodhaś caiva śacīpate śacīpate ||
おお、舎契の主（Śacīpati）よ。もし時（カーラ）が、私の見ている前で生きとし生けるものを滅ぼさぬのなら、私の内に歓喜が起こり、己の力への誇りが起こり、あの残酷な時への怒りさえ起こるであろう。だが時はすべての存在を滅ぼす——ゆえに昂ぶりと自惚れは抑えられ、人はより高く、偏りなき秩序を認めざるを得ない。
श॒क्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the mightiest (Indra) is restrained by Kāla: Time destroys all beings impartially. Recognizing this curbs pride and teaches humility, reminding one that power is limited and that ethical steadiness should not depend on dominance.
Indra reflects on what his reaction would be if Time did not bring destruction before his eyes: he would feel joy, pride in his strength, and anger toward Time. The statement underscores that Time’s inevitable destruction prevents such self-exalting attitudes and establishes the supremacy of cosmic order.