Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.8.12
यावान् कल्पोविकल्पो वा यथा कालोऽनुमीयते ।
भूतभव्यभवच्छब्द आयुर्मानं च यत् सत: ॥ १२ ॥
yāvān kalpo vikalpo vā
[yaavaan kalpo vikalpo vaa]
yathā kālo ’numīyate
[yathaa kaalo ’numeeyate]
bhūta-bhavya-bhavac-chabda
[bhoota-bhavya-bhavach-chabda]
āyur-mānaṁ ca yat sataḥ
[aayur-maanam cha yat satah]
Word-for-word
yāvān
—
as it is
kalpaḥ
—
the duration of time between creation and annihilation
vikalpaḥ
—
subsidiary creation and annihilation
vā
—
either
yathā
—
as also
kālaḥ
—
the time
anumīyate
—
is measured
bhūta
—
past
bhavya
—
future
bhavat
—
present
śabdaḥ
—
sound
āyuḥ
—
duration of life
mānam
—
measurement
ca
—
also
yat
—
which
sataḥ
—
of all living beings in all planets.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yāvān kalpo vikalpo vā
yāvān
as it is
kalpaḥ
the duration of time between creation and annihilation
vikalpaḥ
subsidiary creation and annihilation
vā
either
yathā kālo ’numīyate
yathā
as also
kālaḥ
the time
bhūta-bhavya-bhavac-chabda
āyur-mānaṁ ca yat sataḥ
anumīyate
is measured
bhūta
past
bhavya
future
bhavat
present
śabdaḥ
sound
āyuḥ
duration of life
mānam
measurement
ca
also
yat
which
sataḥ
of all living beings in all planets.
Also please explain the duration of time between creation and annihilation, and that of other subsidiary creations, as well as the nature of time, indicated by the sound of past, present and future. Also, please explain the duration and measurement of life of the different living beings known as the demigods, the human beings, etc., in different planets of the universe.
Purport
Past, present and future are different features of time to indicate the duration of life for the universe and all its paraphernalia, including the different living beings in different planets.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Speak of the kalpas and their subdivisions, how time is perceived in the past present and future and about the life spans of the humans, devatās and Pitṛs.
Commentary
Speak also about the great time spans (kalpaḥ) and their divisions (vikalpaḥ), how time in past, future and present is perceived, and the life spans of the humans, Pitṛs and devatās, who think they are their bodies (sataḥ)
Personal Guidance
Time itself — past, present, future — has a duration and a measure. Different beings on different planets live by different timescales. Don't measure cosmic processes by our short human calendar.
Reflection Questions
- Where do I measure spiritual events by my tiny human timescale and conclude wrongly?
- How does my view of urgency change when measured against vast cosmic time?
My note
Source: vedabase.io