Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 14

Brahmā’s Secondary Creation, Kāla (Eternal Time), and the Taxonomy of Species

Devanagari script

सर्गो नवविधस्तस्य प्राकृतो वैकृतस्तु य: । कालद्रव्यगुणैरस्य त्रिविध: प्रतिसंक्रम: ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

sargo nava-vidhas tasya prākṛto vaikṛtas tu yaḥ kāla-dravya-guṇair asya tri-vidhaḥ pratisaṅkramaḥ

Translation

其创造有九种——自然（prākṛta）与变异（vaikṛta）等；而毁灭（pratisankrama）有三类，由时（kāla）、物质要素与业之品质所致。

Synonyms

• सर्गः: creation/emanation
• सर्गः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नवविधः: ninefold
• नवविधः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (नव विधाः यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of सर्गः)

• तस्य: of that (creation/that entity)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• प्राकृतः: material/primary (prakṛti-based)
• प्राकृतः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of सर्गः)

• वैकृतः: modified/secondary
• वैकृतः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of सर्गः)

• तु: and/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; विरोध/विशेषार्थे (but/indeed)

• यः: which/that which
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• कालद्रव्यगुणैः: by time, substance, and qualities
• कालद्रव्यगुणैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्रिविधः: threefold
• त्रिविधः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of प्रतिसंक्रमः)

• प्रतिसंक्रमः: transition/interaction (recombination)
• प्रतिसंक्रमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति-सम्-क्रम् (धातु) → प्रतिसंक्रम (प्रातिपदिक भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भाववाचक (process/transition)

Purport

The scheduled creations and annihilations take place in terms of the supreme will. There are other creations due to interactions of material elements which take place by the intelligence of Brahmā. Later these will be more explicitly explained. At present, only preliminary information is given. The three kinds of annihilations are (1) due to the scheduled time of the annihilation of the entire universe, (2) due to a fire which emanates from the mouth of Ananta, and (3) due to one’s qualitative actions and reactions.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the ninefold creation (nava-vidha sarga)?

This verse states that creation is described as ninefold, including primary (prākṛta) and secondary (vaikṛta) manifestations—showing a structured, multi-stage unfolding of the cosmos.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī explain prākṛta and vaikṛta creation to King Parīkṣit?

In Canto 3, Śukadeva answers Parīkṣit’s inquiries about how the universe manifests and withdraws, clarifying the categories of creation and dissolution so the listener understands the Lord’s orderly governance of nature.

Practical application of understanding time, matter, and the guṇas in modern life?

Seeing how everything operates under time, material conditions, and the guṇas helps one detach from temporary changes and cultivate devotion by aligning life with sattva and remembrance of the Supreme.