Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 27

Purañjana Captivated by Lust; Time (Caṇḍavega) and Old Age (Kālakanyā) Begin the Siege

Devanagari script

कालकन्योदितवचो निशम्य यवनेश्वर: । चिकीर्षुर्देवगुह्यं स सस्मितं तामभाषत ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

kāla-kanyodita-vaco niśamya yavaneśvaraḥ cikīrṣur deva-guhyaṁ sa sasmitaṁ tām abhāṣata

Translation

காலத்தின் புதல்வியான காலகன்யையின் வார்த்தைகளைக் கேட்ட யவனர்களின் அரசன் புன்னகைக்கத் தொடங்கினான். இறைவனின் இரகசியக் கடமையை நிறைவேற்றத் திட்டமிட்டு, அவன் காலகன்யையிடம் பின்வருமாறு கூறினான்.

Synonyms

• kāla-kanyā-udita-vacaḥ: the words spoken by Kālakanyā
• kāla-kanyā-udita-vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (काल) + kanyā (कन्या) + udita (उदित, √vad? actually √ud ‘उद्’ past part) + vacas (वचस्)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (vacaḥ = vacas), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (nom./acc.) एकवचन; here द्वितीया एकवचन as object of ‘niśamya’ (having heard the words)

• niśamya: having heard
• niśamya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ni-śam (नि-शम् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभावः (indeclinable)

• yavaneśvaraḥ: the lord of the Yavanas
• yavaneśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yavana (यवन) + īśvara (ईश्वर)
• Form: समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘yavanānām īśvaraḥ’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• cikīrṣuḥ: wishing to do
• cikīrṣuḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु) + सन् (desiderative) + उ (उणादि/कृदन्त)
• Form: देशिदेरटिव्/सन्नन्त-इच्छार्थक कृदन्त (desiderative adjective ‘wishing to do’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of ‘saḥ’)

• deva-guhyam: the divine secret
• deva-guhyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (देव) + guhya (गुह्य)
• Form: समासः (कर्मधारय: ‘devaṃ guhyaṃ’/‘devānāṃ guhyaṃ’ sense); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sasmitaṁ: smilingly/with a smile
• sasmitaṁ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-smita (सस्मित; स्मित प्रातिपदिक with उपसर्ग ‘स’ = ‘with’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (used adverbially: ‘with a smile’)

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• abhāṣata: spoke to
• abhāṣata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-bhāṣ (आ-भाष् धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपदम्

Purport

In Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Ādi 5.142) it is said:

Characters & Entities

• Kālakanyā
• Yavaneśvara

FAQs

Who is Kālakanyā in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 4?

In the allegory of King Purañjana, Kālakanyā represents the irresistible influence of Time—especially old age—which approaches every embodied being and brings decline.

Why does the Yavaneśvara smile and speak to Kālakanyā?

He understands her role in the divine arrangement: Time works as an instrument of higher law, and he agrees to cooperate in that confidential plan to subdue the conditioned living being.

What is the practical lesson of this verse for modern life?

Recognize that aging and time are unavoidable; therefore, cultivate detachment and strengthen devotional practice now, before time forces separation from worldly identity and possessions.