Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 13

Parīkṣit’s Comprehensive Inquiries and the Bhāgavata as Śabda-avatāra

Devanagari script

कालस्यानुगतिर्या तु लक्ष्यतेऽण्वी बृहत्यपि । यावत्य: कर्मगतयो याद‍ृशीर्द्विजसत्तम ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

kālasyānugatir yā tu lakṣyate ’ṇvī bṛhaty api yāvatyaḥ karma-gatayo yādṛśīr dvija-sattama

Translation

噢，最清净的婆罗门！也请开示：随业力之道而行的时间流转，为何有时显得微短、有时又显得宏长；并请说明时间的起始之因。

Synonyms

• कालस्य: of time
• कालस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अनुगतिः: the progression/following course
• अनुगतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुगति (प्रातिपदिक) < anu-√गम् (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• या: which
• या: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-निपातः (but/indeed)

• लक्ष्यते: is perceived/observed
• लक्ष्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive)

• अण्वी: minute/subtle
• अण्वी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अण्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सूक्ष्मा’ इत्यर्थः

• बृहती: vast/great
• बृहती: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बृहती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक (also/even)

• यावत्यः: as many as
• यावत्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यावत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; परिमाणवाचक (as many as)

• कर्म-गतयः: courses/movements of action
• कर्म-गतयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कर्मणः गतयः)

• यादृशीः: of what kind
• यादृशीः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यादृश् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; प्रश्न/सम्बन्धवाचक (of what kind)

• द्विज-सत्तम: O best of the twice-born
• द्विज-सत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभावः (‘श्रेष्ठः द्विजः’)

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about time (kāla) and karma?

This verse explains that time’s movement is experienced in both subtle and vast ways, and that our perception of time is connected to the many courses and transformations produced by karma.

Why did Shukadeva Goswami say this to King Parikshit?

Parīkṣit is hearing about creation and cosmic order; Śukadeva clarifies that time is understood through its effects—especially the shifting trajectories of karmic action and its results.

Practical application of understanding time and karma in modern life?

Seeing time as the force that carries karmic consequences encourages responsible choices, patience with outcomes, and a more spiritual focus beyond temporary changes.