Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 15
Kāla-vibhāga: The Divisions of Time from Atom to Brahmā, and the Lord Beyond Time
य: सृज्यशक्तिमुरुधोच्छ्वसयन् स्वशक्त्या पुंसोऽभ्रमाय दिवि धावति भूतभेद: । कालाख्यया गुणमयं क्रतुभिर्वितन्वं- स्तस्मै बलिं हरत वत्सरपञ्चकाय ॥ १५ ॥
yaḥ sṛjya-śaktim urudhocchvasayan sva-śaktyā puṁso ’bhramāya divi dhāvati bhūta-bhedaḥ kālākhyayā guṇamayaṁ kratubhir vitanvaṁs tasmai baliṁ harata vatsara-pañcakāya
O Vidura, binibigyang-buhay ng araw ang lahat ng nilalang sa pamamagitan ng walang-hanggang init at liwanag. Upang palayain sila mula sa ilusyon ng pagkapit sa materya, pinaiikli niya ang kanilang itinakdang buhay; at sa pamamagitan ng yajña at mga banal na ritwal, pinalalawak niya ang landas ng pag-akyat sa langit. Kaya’t ialay ang paggalang at arghya-bali, kasama ang lahat ng sangkap ng pagsamba, sa Surya na anyo ng kāla, minsan sa bawat limang taon.
FAQs
This verse describes Time as the Lord’s own potency that drives creation and manifests the guṇa-based material world, moving beings through cosmic order while bewildering the conditioned soul.
In Canto 3, Chapter 11, Śukadeva explains the structure of time to show how the universe runs under divine control; he links it with sacrifice because ritual action operates within the guṇas and time’s divisions.
Recognize time as God’s governing energy, become less illusioned by constant change, and align one’s actions with devotion rather than mere guṇa-driven achievement.