Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 9

Kāla-vibhāga: The Divisions of Time from Atom to Brahmā, and the Lord Beyond Time

Devanagari script

द्वादशार्धपलोन्मानं चतुर्भिश्चतुरङ्गुलै: । स्वर्णमाषै: कृतच्छिद्रं यावत्प्रस्थजलप्लुतम् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

dvādaśārdha-palonmānaṁ caturbhiś catur-aṅgulaiḥ svarṇa-māṣaiḥ kṛta-cchidraṁ yāvat prastha-jala-plutam

Translation

Сосуд для измерения одной надики (данды) делают из медного горшка весом в шесть с половиной пала. В нём просверливают отверстие золотым штырем весом в четыре маши и длиной в четыре пальца; когда сосуд помещают на воду, время до наполнения и перелива воды внутрь называется одной дандой.

Synonyms

• द्वादश-अर्ध-पल-उन्मानम्: a measure of twelve and a half palas
• द्वादश-अर्ध-पल-उन्मानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + पल (प्रातिपदिक) + उन्मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (measure: ‘of twelve-and-a-half palas’)

• चतुर्भिः: with four
• चतुर्भिः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• चतुर्-अङ्गुलैः: with four aṅgulas (finger-breadths)
• चतुर्-अङ्गुलैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या) + अङ्गुलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (‘four-finger(-breadths)’)

• स्वर्ण-माषैः: with gold māṣas (weights)
• स्वर्ण-माषैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + माष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘gold-beans/weights’)

• कृत-छिद्रम्: having a made hole; perforated
• कृत-छिद्रम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु → क्त, कृदन्त) + छिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘made’, qualifying an implied vessel

• यावत्: until/as much as
• यावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अवधिबोधक अव्यय (adverb: ‘as much as/so long as’)

• प्रस्थ-जला-प्लुतम्: filled with water up to a prastha-measure
• प्रस्थ-जला-प्लुतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्लुत (√प्लु धातु → क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘flooded/filled’, qualifying implied vessel

Purport

It is advised herein that the bore in the copper measuring pot must be made with a probe weighing not more than four māṣa and measuring not longer than four fingers. This regulates the diameter of the hole. The pot is submerged in water, and the overflooding time is called a daṇḍa. This is another way of measuring the duration of a daṇḍa, just as time is measured by sand in a glass. It appears that in the days of Vedic civilization there was no dearth of knowledge in physics, chemistry or higher mathematics. Measurements were calculated in different ways, as simply as could be done.

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Mahārāja Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about measuring time in Canto 3 Chapter 11?

It describes practical Vedic standards for time, including a water-based time measure using a weighted vessel with a calibrated hole, linking observable measurement to the broader discussion of kāla (time).

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī explain such technical measurements to Mahārāja Parīkṣit?

In this chapter Śukadeva outlines the structure of time—from subtle to practical—so Parīkṣit can understand how the Lord’s cosmic order operates under kāla, strengthening philosophical clarity alongside devotion.

How can the teaching of kāla (time) in this verse be applied in modern life?

It encourages disciplined awareness of time as a real force governing life, inspiring mindful use of one’s limited time for dharma, self-control, and steady bhakti practice.