FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.8.12

चतुर्युगानां च सहस्रमप्सु स्वपन् स्वयोदीरितया स्वशक्त्या । कालाख्ययासादितकर्मतन्त्रो लोकानपीतान्दद‍ृशे स्वदेहे ॥ १२ ॥
catur-yugānāṁ ca sahasram apsu
[chatur-yugaanaam cha sahasram apsu]
svapan svayodīritayā sva-śaktyā
[svapan svayodeeritayaa sva-shaktyaa]
kālākhyayāsādita-karma-tantro
[kaalaakhyayaasaadita-karma-tantro]
lokān apītān dadṛśe sva-dehe
[lokaan apeetaan dadrishe sva-dehe]
Word-for-word
catuḥ — four yugānām — of the millenniums ca — also sahasram — one thousand apsu — in the water svapan — dreaming in sleep svayā — with His internal potency udīritayā — for further development sva-śaktyā — by His own energy kāla-ākhyayā — by the name kāla āsādita — being so engaged karma-tantraḥ — in the matter of fruitive activities lokān — the total living entities apītān — bluish dadṛśe — saw it so sva-dehe — in His own body.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
catur-yugānāṁ ca sahasram apsu
catuḥ
four
yugānām
of the millenniums
ca
also
sahasram
one thousand
apsu
in the water
svapan svayodīritayā sva-śaktyā
svapan
dreaming in sleep
svayā
with His internal potency
udīritayā
for further development
sva-śaktyā
by His own energy
kālākhyayāsādita-karma-tantro
kāla-ākhyayā
by the name kāla
āsādita
being so engaged
karma-tantraḥ
in the matter of fruitive activities
lokān apītān dadṛśe sva-dehe
lokān
the total living entities
apītān
bluish
dadṛśe
saw it so
sva-dehe
in His own body.
The Lord lay down for a thousand cycles of four yugas in His internal potency, and by His external energy He appeared to be sleeping within the water. When the living entities were coming out for further development of their fruitive activities, actuated by the energy called kāla-śakti, He saw His transcendental body as bluish.
Purport

In the Viṣṇu Purāṇa, kāla-śakti is mentioned as avidyā. The symptom of the influence of the kāla-śakti is that one has to work in the material world for fruitive results. The fruitive workers are described in Bhagavad-gītā as mūḍhas, or foolish. Such foolish living entities are very enthusiastic to work for some temporary benefit within perpetual bondage. One thinks himself very clever throughout his life if he is able to leave behind him a great asset of wealth for his children, and to achieve this temporary benefit he takes the risk of all sinful activities, without knowledge that such activities will keep him perpetually bound by the shackles of material bondage. Due to this polluted mentality and due to material sins, the aggregate combination of living entities appeared to be bluish. Such an impetus of activity for fruitive result is made possible by the dictation of the external energy of the Lord, kāla.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
After sleeping within that water for a thousand cycles of four yugas with his māyā-śakti, while engaged with his awakened cit-śakti, he glanced upon the entities with subtle bodies who dwelled within his body, when moved to independent action by his time energy. How long did the Lord remain resting? Though he is in waking state with his awakened cit-śakti (svayā udīritayā), he is sleeping with his sleeping māyā-śakti. By his time energy he then became active in regards to the jīvas within him, for giving them enjoyment. He looked at the living entities from Brahmā to the non-moving beings (lokān) who had attained subtle forms within his body, in order to eject them from his body.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The verse uses kāla as a teacher: nothing material lasts, and our denial of that fact is the reason we are constantly surprised by loss.
Reflection Questions
  • If you were honest about how much time you have left, what would you stop doing this week?
  • Where could a small daily remembrance of death make today more honest?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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