Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 28

Kāla-vibhāga: The Divisions of Time from Atom to Brahmā, and the Lord Beyond Time

Devanagari script

तमोमात्रामुपादाय प्रतिसंरुद्धविक्रम: । कालेनानुगताशेष आस्ते तूष्णीं दिनात्यये ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

tamo-mātrām upādāya pratisaṁruddha-vikramaḥ kālenānugatāśeṣa āste tūṣṇīṁ dinātyaye

Translation

在白昼终了时，因黑暗性（昏性）的一微分，宇宙强盛的显现被收摄；在时间之力下，无量众生融入那次溶解，一切寂然无声。

Synonyms

• तमोमात्राम्: a mere measure of darkness
• तमोमात्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तमसः मात्रा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म

• उपादाय: having taken up
• उपादाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having taken/assuming’

• प्रतिसंरुद्धविक्रमः: with restrained power
• प्रतिसंरुद्धविक्रमः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिसंरुद्ध (कृदन्त) + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘whose prowess is restrained’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण

• कालेन: by time
• कालेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण (instrument/agency)

• अनुगताशेषः: having encompassed all
• अनुगताशेषः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुगत (कृदन्त) + अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘all, having followed/come under’ → ‘all-pervaded/fully encompassed’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण

• आस्ते: remains/sits
• आस्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; अकर्मक

• तूष्णीम्: silently
• तूष्णीम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूष्णीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• दिनात्यये: at the end of the day
• दिनात्यये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन + अत्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (दिनस्य अत्ययः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण (काल)

Purport

This verse is an explanation of the night of Brahmā, which is the effect of the influence of time in touch with an insignificant portion of the modes of material nature in darkness. The dissolution of the three worlds is effected by the incarnation of darkness, Rudra, represented by the fire of eternal time which blazes over the three worlds. These three worlds are known as Bhūḥ, Bhuvaḥ and Svaḥ (Pātāla, Martya and Svarga). The innumerable living entities merge into that dissolution, which appears to be the dropping of the curtain of the scene of the Supreme Lord’s energy, and so everything becomes silent.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Kāla (Time)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the end of Brahmā’s day (day-night cycle)?

This verse explains that at Brahmā’s day’s end, activity is checked, darkness predominates, and all beings are overtaken by Kāla (Time) as the cosmos enters a withdrawn, silent state.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe Kāla (Time) as overtaking everything?

To show that Time, as the Lord’s governing potency, brings all manifested activities to cessation at dissolution, placing the universe into suspension beyond individual control.

Practical application of this teaching about Time and dissolution in modern life?

It encourages detachment and urgency for bhakti: since time inevitably ends all pursuits, one should prioritize devotion and lasting spiritual goals over temporary achievements.