Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 21

The Killing of Keśī and Vyomāsura; Nārada’s Prophetic Praise of Kṛṣṇa

Devanagari script

अथ ते कालरूपस्य क्षपयिष्णोरमुष्य वै । अक्षौहिणीनां निधनं द्रक्ष्याम्यर्जुनसारथे: ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

atha te kāla-rūpasya kṣapayiṣṇor amuṣya vai akṣauhiṇīnāṁ nidhanaṁ drakṣyāmy arjuna-sāratheḥ

Translation

随后我将见你化现为具形之时（迦罗），作阿周那的御者，为解除大地重负而毁灭整支大军。

Synonyms

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/आरम्भसूचक-अव्यय (then/now)

• ते: of you/your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कालरूपस्य: of (your) form as Time
• कालरूपस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (kālasya rūpam); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्षपयिष्णोः: of the destroyer (about to annihilate)
• क्षपयिष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षपयिष्णु (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: इच्छार्थक/प्रवृत्तिवाचक ‘इष्णु’ प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (one who is about to destroy); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘कालरूपस्य’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अमुष्य: of that (person)
• अमुष्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (of that)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• अक्षौहिणीनाम्: of the armies (akṣauhiṇīs)
• अक्षौहिणीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षौहिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• निधनम्: destruction
• निधनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्रक्ष्यामि: I shall see
• द्रक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अर्जुनसारथेः: of Arjuna's charioteer
• अर्जुनसारथेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक) + सारथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (arjunasya sārathiḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Arjuna

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna as Time (Kāla)?

This verse portrays Kṛṣṇa as kāla-rūpa—Time itself—who ultimately consumes all beings and arrangements, including vast armies.

Why is Krishna called Arjuna’s charioteer (Arjuna-sārathi) in the Bhagavatam?

The title highlights Kṛṣṇa’s intimate role in the Kurukṣetra context—guiding Arjuna externally as his charioteer and internally as the supreme director of destiny.

Practical application: how can a devotee relate to the teaching that God is Time?

Remembering Time as the Lord encourages urgency in bhakti—using life wisely for devotion, humility, and dharma rather than pride in temporary power.