FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.17.27

त्वमादिरन्तो भुवनस्य मध्य- मनन्तशक्तिं पुरुषं यमाहु: । कालो भवानाक्षिपतीश विश्वं स्रोतो यथान्त:पतितं गभीरम् ॥ २७ ॥
tvam ādir anto bhuvanasya madhyam
[tvam aadir anto bhuvanasya madhyam]
ananta-śaktiṁ puruṣaṁ yam āhuḥ
[ananta-shaktim purusham yam aahuh]
kālo bhavān ākṣipatīśa viśvaṁ
[kaalo bhavaan aakshipateesha vishvam]
sroto yathāntaḥ patitaṁ gabhīram
[sroto yathaantah patitam gabheeram]
tvam — Your Lordship ādiḥ — the original cause antaḥ — the cause of dissolution bhuvanasya — of the universe madhyam — maintenance of the present manifestation ananta-śaktim — the reservoir of unlimited potencies puruṣam — the Supreme Person yam — whom āhuḥ — they say kālaḥ — the principle of eternal time bhavān — Your Lordship ākṣipati — attracting īśa — the Supreme Lord viśvam — the whole universe srotaḥ — waves yathā — as antaḥ patitam — fallen within the water gabhīram — very deep.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tvam ādir anto bhuvanasya madhyam
tvam
Your Lordship
ādiḥ
the original cause
antaḥ
the cause of dissolution
bhuvanasya
of the universe
madhyam
maintenance of the present manifestation
ananta-śaktiṁ puruṣaṁ yam āhuḥ
ananta-śaktim
the reservoir of unlimited potencies
puruṣam
the Supreme Person
yam
whom
āhuḥ
they say
kālo bhavān ākṣipatīśa viśvaṁ
kālaḥ
the principle of eternal time
bhavān
Your Lordship
ākṣipati
attracting
īśa
the Supreme Lord
viśvam
the whole universe
sroto yathāntaḥ patitaṁ gabhīram
srotaḥ
waves
yathā
as
antaḥ patitam
fallen within the water
gabhīram
very deep.
O my Lord, You are the beginning, the manifestation and the ultimate dissolution of the three worlds, and You are celebrated in the Vedas as the reservoir of unlimited potencies, the Supreme Person. O my Lord, as waves attract branches and leaves that have fallen into deep water, You, the supreme eternal time factor, attract everything in this universe.

The time factor is sometimes described as kāla-srota, waves of time. Everything in this material world is within the time factor and is being carried away by waves of attraction, which represent the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
You, whom they call the puruṣa of unlimited śakti, are the beginning, the middle and end of the universe. O Lord! In the form of time, you withdraw the universe, just as a deep flowing river carries away grass which falls within it. Just as the deep current of a river takes away object such as grass which fall in it, so you, as time, take away the universe.
You are the beginning, manifestation, and dissolution; as waves draw fallen leaves, You as eternal time draw everything. The time factor is the Lord's hand. What feels like fate is His drawing of branches and leaves.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do I treat time as impersonal current rather than as His drawing me toward Him?
  • What 'fallen leaf' in my life is currently being attracted by His waves — and am I cooperating?
📝 My note

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