Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 2

Brahmā’s Day, the Four Pralayas, and the Supreme Shelter Beyond Cause–Effect

Devanagari script

चतुर्युगसहस्रं तु ब्रह्मणो दिनमुच्यते । स कल्पो यत्र मनवश्चतुर्दश विशाम्पते ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

catur-yuga-sahasraṁ tu brahmaṇo dinam ucyate sa kalpo yatra manavaś caturdaśa viśām-pate

Translation

四个时代（四瑜伽）的一千个循环构成梵天的一日；此称为一劫（kalpa）。大王啊，在这一期间，十四位摩奴相继出现又隐去。

Synonyms

• चतुर्-युग-सहस्रम्: a thousand (sets) of four yugas
• चतुर्-युग-सहस्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् + युग + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (चतुर्युगानां सहस्रम्)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषणार्थ (but/indeed)

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दिनम्: a day
• दिनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• सः: that
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कल्पः: kalpa
• कल्पः: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यत्र: in which
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्ध-बोधक (relative adverb: where/in which)

• मनवः: Manus
• मनवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• चतुर्दश: fourteen
• चतुर्दश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-शब्द; प्रथमा-बहुवचनार्थे (agreeing with मनवः); समासः—द्विगु (चतुर्दश = 14)

• विशाम्-पते: O lord of the people (king)
• विशाम्-पते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाम् + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (विशाम् = प्रजानाम्, तेषां पतिः)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Manu
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the length of Brahmā’s day (kalpa)?

This verse states that one day of Brahmā equals one thousand cycles of the four yugas (caturyuga-sahasra), and that duration is called a kalpa.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī explain kalpa and Manus to King Parīkṣit?

In Canto 12, Śukadeva is describing cosmic time and dissolution (pralaya). Explaining the kalpa and the sequence of Manus helps Parīkṣit understand how creation is structured and how vast time is under divine governance.

Practical application of understanding yuga cycles in modern life?

Knowing the vast scale of cosmic time cultivates humility and detachment, encouraging one to prioritize bhakti and spiritual practice over temporary achievements.