Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 3 · Chapter 11
मैत्रेय उवाच चरम: सद्विशेषाणामनेकोऽसंयुत: सदा । परमाणु: स विज्ञेयो नृणामैक्यभ्रमो यत: ॥ १ ॥
maitreya uvaca caramah sad-visesanam aneko ’samyutah sada paramanuh sa vijneyo nrnam aikya-bhramo yatah
The material manifestation’s ultimate particle, which is indivisible and not formed into a body, is called the atom. It exists always as an invisible identity, even after the dissolution of all forms. The material body is but a combination of such atoms, but it is misunderstood by the common man.
सत एव पदार्थस्य स्वरूपावस्थितस्य यत् । कैवल्यं परममहानविशेषो निरन्तर: ॥ २ ॥
sata eva padarthasya svarupavasthitasya yat kaivalyam parama-mahan aviseso nirantarah
Atoms are the ultimate state of the manifest universe. When they stay in their own forms without forming different bodies, they are called the unlimited oneness. There are certainly different bodies in physical forms, but the atoms themselves form the complete manifestation.
एवं कालोऽप्यनुमित: सौक्ष्म्ये स्थौल्ये च सत्तम । संस्थानभुक्त्या भगवानव्यक्तो व्यक्तभुग्विभु: ॥ ३ ॥
evam kalo ’py anumitah sauksmye sthaulye ca sattama samsthana-bhuktya bhagavan avyakto vyakta-bhug vibhuh
One can estimate time by measuring the movement of the atomic combination of bodies. Time is the potency of the almighty Personality of Godhead, Hari, who controls all physical movement although He is not visible in the physical world.
स काल: परमाणुर्वै यो भुङ्क्ते परमाणुताम् । सतोऽविशेषभुग्यस्तु स काल: परमो महान् ॥ ४ ॥
sa kalah paramanur vai yo bhunkte paramanutam sato ’visesa-bhug yas tu sa kalah paramo mahan
Atomic time is measured according to its covering a particular atomic space. That time which covers the unmanifest aggregate of atoms is called the great time.
अणुर्द्वौ परमाणु स्यात्त्रसरेणुस्त्रय: स्मृत: । जालार्करश्म्यवगत: खमेवानुपतन्नगात् ॥ ५ ॥
anur dvau paramanu syat trasarenus trayah smrtah jalarka-rasmy-avagatah kham evanupatann agat
The division of gross time is calculated as follows: two atoms make one double atom, and three double atoms make one hexatom. This hexatom is visible in the sunshine which enters through the holes of a window screen. One can clearly see that the hexatom goes up towards the sky.
त्रसरेणुत्रिकं भुङ्क्ते य: काल: स त्रुटि: स्मृत: । शतभागस्तु वेध: स्यात्तैस्त्रिभिस्तु लव: स्मृत: ॥ ६ ॥
trasarenu-trikam bhunkte yah kalah sa trutih smrtah sata-bhagas tu vedhah syat tais tribhis tu lavah smrtah
The time duration needed for the integration of three trasarenus is called a truti, and one hundred trutis make one vedha. Three vedhas make one lava.
निमेषस्त्रिलवो ज्ञेय आम्नातस्ते त्रय: क्षण: । क्षणान् पञ्च विदु: काष्ठां लघु ता दश पञ्च च ॥ ७ ॥
nimesas tri-lavo jneya amnatas te trayah ksanah ksanan panca viduh kastham laghu ta dasa panca ca
The duration of time of three lavas is equal to one nimesa, the combination of three nimesas makes one ksana, five ksanas combined together make one kastha, and fifteen kasthas make one laghu.
लघूनि वै समाम्नाता दश पञ्च च नाडिका । ते द्वे मुहूर्त: प्रहर: षड्याम: सप्त नृणाम् ॥ ८ ॥
laghuni vai samamnata dasa panca ca nadika te dve muhurtah praharah sad yamah sapta va nrnam
Fifteen laghus make one nadika, which is also called a danda. Two dandas make one muhurta, and six or seven dandas make one fourth of a day or night, according to human calculation.
द्वादशार्धपलोन्मानं चतुर्भिश्चतुरङ्गुलै: । स्वर्णमाषै: कृतच्छिद्रं यावत्प्रस्थजलप्लुतम् ॥ ९ ॥
dvadasardha-palonmanam caturbhis catur-angulaih svarna-masaih krta-cchidram yavat prastha-jala-plutam
The measuring pot for one nadika, or danda, can be prepared with a six-pala-weight (fourteen ounce) pot of copper, in which a hole is bored with a gold probe weighing four masa and measuring four fingers long. When the pot is placed on water, the time before the water overflows in the pot is called one danda.
यामाश्चत्वारश्चत्वारो मर्त्यानामहनी उभे । पक्ष: पञ्चदशाहानि शुक्ल: कृष्णश्च मानद ॥ १० ॥
yamas catvaras catvaro martyanam ahani ubhe paksah panca-dasahani suklah krsnas ca manada
It is calculated that there are four praharas, which are also called yamas, in the day and four in the night of the human being. Similarly, fifteen days and nights are a fortnight, and there are two fortnights, white and black, in a month.
तयो: समुच्चयो मास: पितृणां तदहर्निशम् । द्वौ तावृतु: षडयनं दक्षिणं चोत्तरं दिवि ॥ ११ ॥
tayoh samuccayo masah pitrnam tad ahar-nisam dvau tav rtuh sad ayanam daksinam cottaram divi
The aggregate of two fortnights is one month, and that period is one complete day and night for the Pita planes. Two of such months comprise one season, and six months comprise one complete movement of the sun from south to north.
अयने चाहनी प्राहुर्वत्सरो द्वादश स्मृत: । संवत्सरशतं नृणां परमायुर्निरूपितम् ॥ १२ ॥
ayane cahani prahur vatsaro dvadasa smrtah samvatsara-satam nrnam paramayur nirupitam
Two solar movements make one day and night of the demigods, and that combination of day and night is one complete calendar year for the human being. The human being has a duration of life of one hundred years.
ग्रहर्क्षताराचक्रस्थ: परमाण्वादिना जगत् । संवत्सरावसानेन पर्येत्यनिमिषो विभु: ॥ १३ ॥
graharksa-tara-cakra-sthah paramanv-adina jagat samvatsaravasanena paryety animiso vibhuh
Influential stars, planes, luminaries and atoms all over the universe are rotating in their respective orbits under the direction of the Supreme, represented by eternal kala.
संवत्सर: परिवत्सर इडावत्सर एव च । अनुवत्सरो वत्सरश्च विदुरैवं प्रभाष्यते ॥ १४ ॥
samvatsarah parivatsara ida-vatsara eva ca anuvatsaro vatsaras ca viduraivam prabhasyate
There are five different names for the orbits of the sun, moon, stars and luminaries in the firmament, and they each have their own samvatsara.
य: सृज्यशक्तिमुरुधोच्छ्वसयन् स्वशक्त्या पुंसोऽभ्रमाय दिवि धावति भूतभेद: । कालाख्यया गुणमयं क्रतुभिर्वितन्वं- स्तस्मै बलिं हरत वत्सरपञ्चकाय ॥ १५ ॥
yah srjya-saktim urudhocchvasayan sva-saktya pumso ’bhramaya divi dhavati bhuta-bhedah kalakhyaya gunamayam kratubhir vitanvams tasmai balim harata vatsara-pancakaya
O Vidura, the sun enlivens all living entities with his unlimited heat and light. He diminishes the duration of life of all living entities in order to release them from their illusion of material attachment, and he enlarges the path of elevation to the heavenly kingdom. He thus moves in the firmament with great velocity, and therefore everyone should offer him respects once every five years with all ingredients of worship.
विदुर उवाच पितृदेवमनुष्याणामायु: परमिदं स्मृतम् । परेषां गतिमाचक्ष्व ये स्यु:कल्पाद् बहिर्विद: ॥ १६ ॥
vidura uvaca pitr-deva-manusyanam ayuh param idam smrtam paresam gatim acaksva ye syuh kalpad bahir vidah
Vidura said: I now understand the life durations of the residents of the Pita planes and heavenly planes as well as that of the human beings. Now kindly inform me of the durations of life of those greatly learned living entities who are beyond the range of a kalpa.
भगवान् वेद कालस्य गतिं भगवतो ननु । विश्वं विचक्षते धीरा योगराद्धेन चक्षुषा ॥ १७ ॥
bhagavan veda kalasya gatim bhagavato nanu visvam vicaksate dhira yoga-raddhena caksusa
O spiritually powerful one, you can understand the movements of eternal time, which is the controlling form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because you are a self-realized person, you can see everything by the power of mystic vision.
मैत्रेय उवाच कृतं त्रेता द्वापरं च कलिश्चेति चतुर्युगम् । दिव्यैर्द्वादशभिर्वर्षै: सावधानं निरूपितम् ॥ १८ ॥
maitreya uvaca krtam treta dvaparam ca kalis ceti catur-yugam divyair dvadasabhir varsaih savadhanam nirupitam
Maitreya said: O Vidura, the four millenniums are called the Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali yugas. The aggregate number of years of all of these combined is equal to twelve thousand years of the demigods.
चत्वारि त्रीणि द्वै चैकं कृतादिषु यथाक्रमम् । संख्यातानि सहस्राणि द्विगुणानि शतानि च ॥ १९ ॥
catvari trini dve caikam krtadisu yatha-kramam sankhyatani sahasrani dvi-gunani satani ca
The duration of the Satya millennium equals 4,800 years of the years of the demigods; the duration of the Dvapara millennium equals 2,400 years; and that of the Kali millennium is 1,200 years of the demigods.
सन्ध्यासन्ध्यांशयोरन्तर्य: काल: शतसंख्ययो: । तमेवाहुर्युगं तज्ज्ञा यत्र धर्मो विधीयते ॥ २० ॥
sandhya-sandhyamsayor antar yah kalah sata-sankhyayoh tam evahur yugam taj-jna yatra dharmo vidhiyate
The transitional periods before and after every millennium, which are a few hundred years as aforementioned, are known as yuga-sandhyas, or the conjunctions of two millenniums, according to the expert astronomers. In those periods all kinds of religious activities are performed.
धर्मश्चतुष्पान्मनुजान् कृते समनुवर्तते । स एवान्येष्वधर्मेण व्येति पादेन वर्धता ॥ २१ ॥
dharmas catus-pan manujan krte samanuvartate sa evanyesv adharmena vyeti padena vardhata
O Vidura, in the Satya millennium mankind properly and completely maintained the principles of religion, but in other millenniums religion gradually decreased by one part as irreligion was proportionately admitted.
त्रिलोक्या युगसाहस्रं बहिराब्रह्मणो दिनम् । तावत्येव निशा तात यन्निमीलति विश्वसृक् ॥ २२ ॥
tri-lokya yuga-sahasram bahir abrahmano dinam tavaty eva nisa tata yan nimilati visva-srk
Outside of the three planeary systems (Svarga, Martya and Patala), the four yugas multiplied by one thousand comprise one day on the planet of Brahma. A similar period comprises a night of Brahma, in which the creator of the universe goes to sleep.
निशावसान आरब्धो लोककल्पोऽनुवर्तते । यावद्दिनं भगवतो मनून् भुञ्जंश्चतुर्दश ॥ २३ ॥
nisavasana arabdho loka-kalpo ’nuvartate yavad dinam bhagavato manun bhunjams catur-dasa
After the end of Brahma’s night, the creation of the three worlds begins again in the daytime of Brahma, and they continue to exist through the life durations of fourteen consecutive Manus, or fathers of mankind.
स्वं स्वं कालं मनुर्भुङ्क्ते साधिकां ह्येकसप्ततिम् ॥ २४ ॥
svam svam kalam manur bhunkte sadhikam hy eka-saptatim
Each and every Manu enjoys a life of a little more than seventy-one sets of four millenniums.
मन्वन्तरेषु मनवस्तद्वंश्या ऋषय: सुरा: । भवन्ति चैव युगपत्सुरेशाश्चानु ये च तान् ॥ २५ ॥
manvantaresu manavas tad-vamsya rsayah surah bhavanti caiva yugapat suresas canu ye ca tan
After the dissolution of each and every Manu, the next Manu comes in order, along with his descendants, who rule over the different planes; but the seven famous sages, and demigods like Indra and their followers, such as the Gandharvas, all appear simultaneously with Manu.
एष दैनन्दिन: सर्गो ब्राह्मस्त्रैलोक्यवर्तन: । तिर्यङ्नृपितृदेवानां सम्भवो यत्र कर्मभि: ॥ २६ ॥
esa dainan-dinah sargo brahmas trailokya-vartanah tiryan-nr-pitr-devanam sambhavo yatra karmabhih
In the creation, during Brahma’s day, the three planeary systems—Svarga, Martya and Patala—revolve, and the inhabitants, including the lower animals, human beings, demigods and Pitas, appear and disappear in terms of their fruitive activities.
मन्वन्तरेषु भगवान् बिभ्रत्सत्त्वं स्वमूर्तिभि: । मन्वादिभिरिदं विश्वमवत्युदितपौरुष: ॥ २७ ॥
manvantaresu bhagavan bibhrat sattvam sva-murtibhih manv-adibhir idam visvam avaty udita-paurusah
In each and every change of Manu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears by manifesting His internal potency in different incarnations, as Manu and others. Thus He maintains the universe by discovered power.
तमोमात्रामुपादाय प्रतिसंरुद्धविक्रम: । कालेनानुगताशेष आस्ते तूष्णीं दिनात्यये ॥ २८ ॥
tamo-matram upadaya pratisamruddha-vikramah kalenanugatasesa aste tusnim dinatyaye
At the end of the day, under the insignificant portion of the mode of darkness, the powerful manifestation of the universe merges in the darkness of night. By the influence of eternal time, the innumerable living entities remain merged in that dissolution, and everything is silent.
तमेवान्वपिधीयन्ते लोको भूरादयस्त्रय: । निशायामनुवृत्तायां निर्मुक्तशशिभास्करम् ॥ २९ ॥
tam evanv api dhiyante loka bhur-adayas trayah nisayam anuvrttayam nirmukta-sasi-bhaskaram
When the night of Brahma ensues, all the three worlds are out of sight, and the sun and the moon are without glare, just as in the due course of an ordinary night.
त्रिलोक्यां दह्यमानायां शक्त्या सङ्कर्षणाग्निना । यान्त्यूष्मणा महर्लोकाज्जनं भृग्वादयोऽर्दिता: ॥ ३० ॥
tri-lokyam dahyamanayam saktya sankarsanagnina yanty usmana maharlokaj janam bhrgv-adayo ’rditah
The devastation takes place due to the fire emanating from the mouth of Sankarsana, and thus great sages like Bhrgu and other inhabitants of Maharloka transport themselves to Janaloka, being distressed by the warmth of the blazing fire which rages through the three worlds below.
तावत्त्रिभुवनं सद्य: कल्पान्तैधितसिन्धव: । प्लावयन्त्युत्कटाटोपचण्डवातेरितोर्मय: ॥ ३१ ॥
tavat tri-bhuvanam sadyah kalpantaidhita-sindhavah plavayanty utkatatopa- canda-vateritormayah
At the beginning of the devastation all the seas overflow, and hurricane winds blow very violently. Thus the waves of the seas become ferocious, and in no time at all the three worlds are full of water.
अन्त: स तस्मिन् सलिल आस्तेऽनन्तासनो हरि: । योगनिद्रानिमीलाक्ष: स्तूयमानो जनालयै: ॥ ३२ ॥
antah sa tasmin salila aste ’nantasano harih yoga-nidra-nimilaksah stuyamano janalayaih
The Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead, lies down in the water on the seat of Ananta, with His eyes closed, and the inhabitants of the Janaloka planes offer their glorious prayers unto the Lord with folded hands.
एवंविधैरहोरात्रै: कालगत्योपलक्षितै: । अपक्षितमिवास्यापि परमायुर्वय: शतम् ॥ ३३ ॥
evam-vidhair aho-ratraih kala-gatyopalaksitaih apaksitam ivasyapi paramayur vayah-satam
Thus the process of the exhaustion of the duration of life exists for every one of the living beings, including Lord Brahma. One’s life endures for only one hundred years, in terms of the times in the different planes.
यदर्धमायुषस्तस्य परार्धमभिधीयते । पूर्व: परार्धोऽपक्रान्तो ह्यपरोऽद्य प्रवर्तते ॥ ३४ ॥
yad ardham ayusas tasya parardham abhidhiyate purvah parardho ’pakranto hy aparo ’dya pravartate
The one hundred years of Brahma’s life are divided into two parts, the first half and the second half. The first half of the duration of Brahma’s life is already over, and the second half is now current.
पूर्वस्यादौ परार्धस्य ब्राह्मो नाम महानभूत् । कल्पो यत्राभवद्ब्रह्मा शब्दब्रह्मेति यं विदु: ॥ ३५ ॥
purvasyadau parardhasya brahmo nama mahan abhut kalpo yatrabhavad brahma sabda-brahmeti yam viduh
In the beginning of the first half of Brahma’s life, there was a millennium called Brahma-kalpa, wherein Lord Brahma appeared. The birth of the Vedas was simultaneous with Brahma’s birth.
तस्यैव चान्ते कल्पोऽभूद् यं पाद्ममभिचक्षते । यद्धरेर्नाभिसरस आसील्लोकसरोरुहम् ॥ ३६ ॥
tasyaiva cante kalpo ’bhud yam padmam abhicaksate yad dharer nabhi-sarasa asil loka-saroruham
The millennium which followed the first Brahma millennium is known as the Padma-kalpa because in that millennium the universal lotus flower grew out of the navel reservoir of water of the Personality of Godhead, Hari.
अयं तु कथित: कल्पो द्वितीयस्यापि भारत । वाराह इति विख्यातो यत्रासीच्छूकरो हरि: ॥ ३७ ॥
ayam tu kathitah kalpo dvitiyasyapi bharata varaha iti vikhyato yatrasic chukaro harih
O descendant of Bharata, the first millennium in the second half of the life of Brahma is also known as the Varaha millennium because the Personality of Godhead appeared in that millennium as the hog incarnation.
कालोऽयं द्विपरार्धाख्यो निमेष उपचर्यते । अव्याकृतस्यानन्तस्य ह्यनादेर्जगदात्मन: ॥ ३८ ॥
kalo ’yam dvi-parardhakhyo nimesa upacaryate avyakrtasyanantasya hy anader jagad-atmanah
The duration of the two parts of Brahma’s life, as above mentioned, is calculated to be equal to one nimesa (less than a second) for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is unchanging and unlimited and is the cause of all causes of the universe.
कालोऽयं परमाण्वादिर्द्विपरार्धान्त ईश्वर: । नैवेशितुं प्रभुर्भूम्न ईश्वरो धाममानिनाम् ॥ ३९ ॥
kalo ’yam paramanv-adir dvi-parardhanta isvarah naivesitum prabhur bhumna isvaro dhama-maninam
Eternal time is certainly the controller of different dimensions, from that of the atom up to the superdivisions of the duration of Brahma’s life; but, nevertheless, it is controlled by the Supreme. Time can control only those who are body conscious, even up to the Satyaloka or the other higher planes of the universe.
विकारै: सहितो युक्तैर्विशेषादिभिरावृत: । आण्डकोशो बहिरयं पञ्चाशत्कोटिविस्तृत: ॥ ४० ॥
vikaraih sahito yuktair visesadibhir avrtah andakoso bahir ayam pancasat-koti-vistrtah
This phenomenal material world is expanded to a diameter of four billion miles, as a combination of eight material elements transformed into sixteen further categories, within and without, as follows.
दशोत्तराधिकैर्यत्र प्रविष्ट: परमाणुवत् । लक्ष्यतेऽन्तर्गताश्चान्ये कोटिशो ह्यण्डराशय: ॥ ४१ ॥
dasottaradhikair yatra pravistah paramanuvat laksyate ’ntar-gatas canye kotiso hy anda-rasayah
The layers or elements covering the universes are each ten times thicker than the one before, and all the universes clustered together appear like atoms in a huge combination.
तदाहुरक्षरं ब्रह्म सर्वकारणकारणम् । विष्णोर्धाम परं साक्षात्पुरुषस्य महात्मन: ॥ ४२ ॥
tad ahur aksaram brahma sarva-karana-karanam visnor dhama param saksat purusasya mahatmanah
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, is therefore said to be the original cause of all causes. Thus the spiritual abode of Visnu is eternal without a doubt, and it is also the abode of Maha-Visnu, the origin of all manifestations.
