Shloka 7

Nītisāra: Virtuous Association, Household Dharma, and Kāla (Time) as the Supreme Regulator

Devanagari script

कालः पचति भूतानि कालः संहरते प्रजाः / कालः सुप्तेषु जागर्ति कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः

Transliteration

kālaḥ pacati bhūtāni kālaḥ saṃharate prajāḥ / kālaḥ supteṣu jāgarti kālo hi duratikramaḥ

Translation

കാലം സകല ജീവികളെയും പാകപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു; കാലം തന്നെയാണ് പ്രജകളെ സംഹരിക്കുന്നതും. എല്ലാവരും ഉറങ്ങുമ്പോഴും കാലം ജാഗരിക്കുന്നു—കാലത്തെ അതിക്രമിക്കുക ദുഷ്കരം തന്നേ।

Word by Word

• कालः: Time
• कालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचनम्

• पचति: cooks/ripens
• पचति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्

• भूतानि: beings
• भूतानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचनम्

• कालः: Time
• कालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचनम्

• संहरते: destroys/withdraws
• संहरते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; उपसर्गः सम्- (to withdraw/destroy)

• प्रजाः: creatures/subjects
• प्रजाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचनम्

• कालः: Time
• कालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचनम्

• सुप्तेषु: among those asleep
• सुप्तेषु: Adhikarana (Location/Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुप्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from स्वप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसके (contextual), सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used substantively)

• जागर्ति: keeps awake/watches
• जागर्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जागृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्

• कालः: Time
• कालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचनम्

• हि: indeed
• हि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपातः (emphasis/indeed)

• दुरतिक्रमः: hard to overcome
• दुरतिक्रमः: Karta-qualifier (Subject qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/प्रत्ययार्थ) + अतिक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (Nominative/विशेषण), एकवचनम्; कालः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्; दुर्-उपसर्गः (hard to)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāla is the irresistible force that matures and dissolves all beings; it is ever-vigilant and cannot be transcended by ordinary means.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā (impermanence) and mṛtyu-smṛti leading to vairāgya; Kāla as manifestation of Īśvara’s order (niyati).

Application: Contemplate impermanence daily; prioritize meaningful duties and sādhanā; reduce procrastination; practice non-attachment to status and possessions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.108 (kāla and nīti context)

FAQs

What is the importance of Kāla (Time) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Kāla as the irresistible power that matures all life and eventually dissolves it, urging a dharmic life with awareness of mortality.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By stressing Time’s inevitability, it frames death as certain; this supports the Purana’s broader teaching that one should prepare through dharma, right conduct, and appropriate rites rather than denial.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with urgency and restraint: prioritize dharma, reduce harmful actions, and cultivate detachment—because Time cannot be outwitted or delayed.