SB 12.4.37 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 12.4.37

अनाद्यन्तवतानेन कालेनेश्वरमूर्तिना । अवस्था नैव द‍ृश्यन्ते वियति ज्योतिषामिव ॥ ३७ ॥

anādy-antavatānena

[anaady-antavataanena]

kāleneśvara-mūrtinā

[kaaleneshvara-moortinaa]

avasthā naiva dṛśyante

[avasthaa naiva drishyante]

viyati jyotiṣām iva

[viyati jyotishaam iva]

Word-for-word

anādi-anta-vatā — without beginning or end anena — by this kālena — time īśvara — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead mūrtinā — the representation avasthāḥ — the different stages na — not eva — indeed dṛśyante — are seen viyati — in outer space jyotiṣām — of the moving planets iva — just as.

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

anādy-antavatānena

anādi-anta-vatā

without beginning or end

anena

by this

kāleneśvara-mūrtinā

kālena

time

avasthā naiva dṛśyante

viyati jyotiṣām iva

īśvara

of the Supreme Personality of Godhead

mūrtinā

the representation

avasthāḥ

the different stages

not

eva

indeed

dṛśyante

are seen

viyati

in outer space

jyotiṣām

of the moving planets

iva

just as.

These stages of existence created by beginningless and endless time, the impersonal representative of the Supreme Lord, are not visible, just as the infinitesimal momentary changes of position of the planets in the sky cannot be directly seen.

Purport

Although everyone knows that the sun is constantly moving in the sky, one cannot normally see the sun moving. Similarly, no one can directly perceive his hair or nails growing, although with the passing of time we perceive the fact of growth. Time, the potency of the Lord, is very subtle and powerful and is an insurmountable barrier to fools who are trying to exploit the material creation.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

These stages of existence created by beginningless and endless time, which is a representative of the Supreme Lord, are not visible, just as the infinitesimal changes of position of the planets in the sky cannot be directly seen. “If these states are there at every moment, why are they not seen? The argument in question is without proof.” The states of birth and death caused by time without beginning and end are not seen, just as the movements of the planets in the sky are not seen. Just as one must infer the movement of a planet at every moment so that it attains a different visible position, one must infer subtle states of change between the stages of infancy and youth which are visible. Thus the argument is not without proof.

Personal Guidance

We don't see hair grow or the sun visibly cross the sky, yet movement happens. Subtle change is real even when invisible. Likewise, our soul's progress under bhakti's influence may be quiet — but it is constantly happening.

Reflection Questions

Do I dismiss slow change as no change?
What evidence of subtle inner movement can I notice if I look carefully?

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io