Shloka 16

कालो गिरति विज्ञानं कालं॑ बलमिति श्रुति: । बल॑ कालो ग्रसति तु त॑ विद्वान्‌ कुरुते वशे,सुननेमें आया है कि काल ज्ञान (समष्टि बुद्धि) को ग्रस लेता है, शक्ति उस कालको अपने अधीन कर लेती है; फिर महाकाल शक्तिको और परब्रह्मय महाकालको अपने अधीन कर लेता है

kālo girati vijñānaṃ kālaṃ bala iti śrutiḥ | balaṃ kālo grasati tu taṃ vidvān kurute vaśe ||

ヴィヤーサは語った。時(カーラ)は識別の智(vi-jñāna)を呑み込む。しかも聖伝は「力(bala)は時を制し得る」と告げる。だが時はまた力すらも喰らい尽くす。ゆえに賢者は、その力そのものを統御し、力に支配されることを拒むのである。

कालःTime
कालः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकाल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
गिरतिswallows/devours
गिरति:
TypeVerb
Rootगॄ (गिर्)
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
विज्ञानम्knowledge/discernment
विज्ञानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootविज्ञान
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
कालम्time
कालम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकाल
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
बलम्strength/power
बलम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootबल
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
इतिthus/so (quotative)
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
श्रुतिःtradition/scriptural saying
श्रुतिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootश्रुति
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
बलम्strength/power
बलम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootबल
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
कालःtime
कालः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकाल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
ग्रसतिswallows/devours
ग्रसति:
TypeVerb
Rootग्रस्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
तम्that (him/it)
तम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
विद्वान्a wise man/knower
विद्वान्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootविद्वस्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कुरुतेmakes (for himself)/brings about
कुरुते:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Atmanepada
वशेunder control/in subjection
वशे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवश
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular

व्यास उवाच

V
Vyāsa
K
Kāla (Time)
Ś
Śruti (scriptural tradition)

Educational Q&A

Time ultimately overcomes both knowledge and power; therefore one should not become arrogant about intellect or strength. The wise cultivate restraint and mastery over power, acting with humility and disciplined judgment in the face of time’s inevitability.

In the didactic discourse of the Śānti Parva, Vyāsa states a hierarchy of forces: time consumes discernment; tradition says strength can subdue time; yet time consumes strength as well. The conclusion urges the listener toward self-mastery—bringing power under control rather than being driven by it.