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
yadi me paśyataḥ kālo bhūtāni na vināśayet | syān me harṣaś ca darpaś ca krodhaś caiva śacīpate śacīpate ||
Ó Śacīpati! Se o Tempo não destruísse os seres, mesmo diante dos meus olhos, surgiria em mim a alegria; surgiria o orgulho do meu próprio poder; e surgiria também a ira contra esse Tempo implacável. Mas o Tempo destrói todos os seres—por isso a exultação e a presunção são contidas, e o homem é compelido a reconhecer uma ordem mais alta, imparcial.
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.