Shloka 18

Nārada’s Protection of Kayādhu and Prahlāda’s Womb-Instructions: Ātma-tattva and the Path of Bhakti

Devanagari script

जन्माद्या: षडिमे भावा द‍ृष्टा देहस्य नात्मन: । फलानामिव वृक्षस्य कालेनेश्वरमूर्तिना ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

janmādyāḥ ṣaḍ ime bhāvā dṛṣṭā dehasya nātmanaḥ phalānām iva vṛkṣasya kāleneśvara-mūrtinā

Translation

Подобно тому как плоды и цветы дерева со временем проходят шесть изменений — рождение, существование, рост, превращение, увядание и смерть, — так же изменяется и материальное тело; но духовная душа (атман) не претерпевает таких перемен.

Synonyms

• जन्म-आद्याः: beginning with birth
• जन्म-आद्याः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन्मन् + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying भावाḥ); जन्मादि = ‘beginning with birth’

• षट्: six
• षट्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचनार्थे (agreeing with भावाḥ)

• इमे: these
• इमे: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (these)

• भावाः: states/transformations
• भावाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दृष्टाः: are seen
• दृष्टाः: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय (Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘are seen/observed’

• देहस्य: of the body
• देहस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (not)

• आत्मनः: of the self
• आत्मनः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• फलानाम्: of fruits
• फलानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• इव: like
• इव: उपमान (Upamāna/Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (like/as)

• वृक्षस्य: of a tree
• वृक्षस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कालेन: by time
• कालेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ईश्वर-मूर्तिना: in the form of the Lord
• ईश्वर-मूर्तिना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ईश्वरमूर्ति = ‘having the form of the Lord’ (determinative)

Purport

This is a very important verse in understanding the difference between the spiritual soul and the material body. The soul is eternal, as stated in Bhagavad-gītā (2.20) :

Characters & Entities

• Prahlada Maharaja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the six transformations of the body?

This verse explains that the six changes beginning with birth belong to the body, not to the eternal soul; they are driven by time (kāla).

Why does Prahlada Maharaja describe time as the form of the Supreme Lord?

Prahlada teaches that the inevitable changes of the body occur under kāla, which acts as a divine power of the Lord, reminding one to seek the timeless आत्मा and devotion rather than bodily identity.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Remember that aging, loss, and change affect the body, not the self; this supports steadiness, reduces anxiety, and strengthens bhakti by focusing life on the eternal Lord rather than temporary conditions.