Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 36
Kāla-vibhāga: The Divisions of Time from Atom to Brahmā, and the Lord Beyond Time
तस्यैव चान्ते कल्पोऽभूद् यं पाद्ममभिचक्षते । यद्धरेर्नाभिसरस आसील्लोकसरोरुहम् ॥ ३६ ॥
tasyaiva cānte kalpo ’bhūd yaṁ pādmam abhicakṣate yad dharer nābhi-sarasa āsīl loka-saroruham
అదే బ్రాహ్మ-కల్పాంతంలో ‘పాద్మ-కల్ప’ం ఏర్పడిందని చెబుతారు. ఆ కల్పంలో శ్రీహరి నాభి-సరస్సు అనే జలాశయం నుండి విశ్వకమలం—లోకపద్మం—వికసించింది.
The millennium following the Brāhma-kalpa is known as the Pādma-kalpa because the universal lotus grows in that millennium. The Pādma-kalpa is also called the Pitṛ-kalpa in certain Purāṇas.
FAQs
Bhagavatam 3.11.36 states that a kalpa is called “Pādma” because the cosmic lotus (the source of universal manifestation and Brahmā’s appearance) arises from Lord Hari’s navel-lake.
This verse highlights that the universe’s origin is rooted in the Supreme Lord (Hari): the lotus of the worlds manifests from His navel-lake, emphasizing divine, purposeful creation rather than random emergence.
Remembering that existence has a sacred source encourages humility and devotion—seeing life, time, and the cosmos as connected to the Supreme fosters steadiness, gratitude, and a bhakti-centered worldview.