Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 12.4.5
द्विपरार्धे त्वतिक्रान्ते ब्रह्मण: परमेष्ठिन: ।
तदा प्रकृतय: सप्त कल्पन्ते प्रलयाय वै ॥ ५ ॥
dvi-parārdhe tv atikrānte
[dvi-paraardhe tv atikraante]
brahmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ
[brahmanah parameshthinah]
tadā prakṛtayaḥ sapta
[tadaa prakritayah sapta]
kalpante pralayāya vai
[kalpante pralayaaya vai]
Word-for-word
dvi-parārdhe
—
two parārdhas
tu
—
and
atikrānte
—
when they have become completed
brahmaṇaḥ
—
of Lord Brahmā
parame-sthinaḥ
—
the most highly situated living entity
tadā
—
then
prakṛtayaḥ
—
the elements of nature
sapta
—
seven
kalpante
—
are subject
pralayāya
—
to destruction
vai
—
indeed.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
dvi-parārdhe tv atikrānte
dvi-parārdhe
two parārdhas
tu
and
atikrānte
when they have become completed
brahmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ
brahmaṇaḥ
of Lord Brahmā
parame-sthinaḥ
the most highly situated living entity
tadā prakṛtayaḥ sapta
tadā
then
prakṛtayaḥ
the elements of nature
sapta
seven
kalpante pralayāya vai
kalpante
are subject
pralayāya
to destruction
vai
indeed.
When the two halves of the lifetime of Lord Brahmā, the most elevated created being, are complete, the seven basic elements of creation are annihilated.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
When the two halves of the lifetime of Lord Brahmā, the most elevated created being, are complete, the seven basic elements of creation are annihilated.
The destruction into prakṛti is described in two verses. The first half of Brahmā’s life has passed. When the second half is completed, when Brahmā’s life has ended, the seven elements consisting of mahat-tattva, ahaṅkāra, and the five tan-mātrās are destroyed.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
After two parardhas — Brahma's entire lifespan — even the seven basic elements of creation dissolve. The deepest building blocks of reality are not permanent. Only what is beyond the elements abides; only that is worth taking shelter of.
Reflection Questions
- What 'building block' of my identity have I assumed is just how things are?
- What practice helps me touch what is more lasting than these blocks?
My note
Source: vedabase.io