Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 37
Brahmā’s Day, the Four Pralayas, and the Supreme Shelter Beyond Cause–Effect
अनाद्यन्तवतानेन कालेनेश्वरमूर्तिना । अवस्था नैव दृश्यन्ते वियति ज्योतिषामिव ॥ ३७ ॥
anādy-antavatānena kāleneśvara-mūrtinā avasthā naiva dṛśyante viyati jyotiṣām iva
Những giai đoạn do Thời gian vô thủy vô chung—hình tướng đại diện vô ngã của Đấng Tối Thượng—tạo ra không thể thấy trực tiếp, như những biến chuyển vị trí cực vi của các hành tinh trên trời không hiện rõ trước mắt.
Although everyone knows that the sun is constantly moving in the sky, one cannot normally see the sun moving. Similarly, no one can directly perceive his hair or nails growing, although with the passing of time we perceive the fact of growth. Time, the potency of the Lord, is very subtle and powerful and is an insurmountable barrier to fools who are trying to exploit the material creation.
FAQs
This verse states that Time is īśvara-mūrti—an expression of the Supreme Lord—beginningless and endless, through which the universe’s changes occur.
He explains to Mahārāja Parīkṣit that under the Lord’s form as Time, transformations happen continuously, so distinct “stages” are not easily seen—like changing conditions of celestial bodies in the sky.
Seeing time-driven change as inevitable reduces attachment and anxiety, encouraging steadiness in bhakti and focus on what is eternal rather than temporary conditions.