Shloka 15
Devas in Dvārakā, Brahmā’s Petition, and Uddhava’s Appeal
Prabhāsa Departure Set-Up
अस्यासि हेतुरुदयस्थितिसंयमाना- मव्यक्तजीवमहतामपि कालमाहु: । सोऽयं त्रिणाभिरखिलापचये प्रवृत्त: कालो गभीररय उत्तमपूरुषस्त्वम् ॥ १५ ॥
asyāsi hetur udaya-sthiti-saṁyamānām avyakta-jīva-mahatām api kālam āhuḥ so ’yaṁ tri-ṇābhir akhilāpacaye pravṛttaḥ kālo gabhīra-raya uttama-pūruṣas tvam
พระองค์ทรงเป็นเหตุแห่งการสร้าง การคงอยู่ และการทำลายจักรวาลนี้ เหล่าฤๅษีเรียกพระองค์ว่า ‘กาล’ ผู้กำกับทั้งสภาวะละเอียดและปรากฏของปรกฤติและควบคุมสรรพชีวิต ในรูปกงล้อกาลสามดุม พระองค์บั่นทอนสรรพสิ่งด้วยการกระทำอันไม่อาจหยั่งรู้ ดังนั้นพระองค์คือบุรุษสูงสุด พระผู้เป็นเจ้า
The word gabhīra-rayaḥ, or “imperceptible speed and power,” is significant. We observe that by the laws of nature all material things, including our own bodies, gradually disintegrate. Although we can perceive the long-term results of this aging process, we cannot experience the process itself. For example, no one can feel how his hair or fingernails are growing. We perceive the cumulative result of their growth, but from moment to moment we cannot experience it. Similarly, a house gradually decays until it is demolished. From moment to moment we cannot perceive exactly how this is happening, but in the course of longer intervals of time we can actually see the deterioration of the house. In other words, we can experience the results or manifestations of aging and deterioration, but as it is taking place the process itself is imperceptible. This is the wonderful potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His form of time.
FAQs
This verse identifies Kāla (Time) as the Lord Himself—the divine principle that causes creation, sustains the world, and brings about dissolution, moving with irresistible speed toward the decline of all material things.
In the Uddhava-gītā section, Krishna teaches Uddhava the deeper metaphysics behind the universe and liberation; explaining Time as His own potency helps Uddhava see the Lord’s control over prakṛti, jīva, and cosmic evolution.
Seeing time as God’s power encourages detachment from temporary gains and losses, steadiness during change, and urgency to practice bhakti and spiritual discipline before everything material inevitably declines.