Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.21.22
बलेन सचिवैर्बुद्ध्या दुर्गैर्मन्त्रौषधादिभि: ।
सामादिभिरुपायैश्च कालं नात्येति वै जन: ॥ २२ ॥
balena sacivair buddhyā
[balena sachivair buddhyaa]
durgair mantrauṣadhādibhiḥ
[durgair mantraushadhaadibhih]
sāmādibhir upāyaiś ca
[saamaadibhir upaayaish cha]
kālaṁ nātyeti vai janaḥ
[kaalam naatyeti vai janah]
Word-for-word
balena
—
by material power
sacivaiḥ
—
by the counsel of ministers
buddhyā
—
by intelligence
durgaiḥ
—
by fortresses
mantra-auṣadha-ādibhiḥ
—
by mystic chanting or the influence of drugs and herbs
sāma-ādibhiḥ
—
by diplomacy and other such means
upāyaiḥ ca
—
by similar other attempts
kālam
—
the time factor, representing the Supreme Lord
na
—
never
atyeti
—
can overcome
vai
—
indeed
janaḥ
—
any person.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
balena sacivair buddhyā
balena
by material power
sacivaiḥ
by the counsel of ministers
buddhyā
by intelligence
durgair mantrauṣadhādibhiḥ
durgaiḥ
by fortresses
mantra-auṣadha-ādibhiḥ
by mystic chanting or the influence of drugs and herbs
sāma-ādibhiḥ
by diplomacy and other such means
sāmādibhir upāyaiś ca
upāyaiḥ ca
by similar other attempts
kālaṁ nātyeti vai janaḥ
kālam
the time factor, representing the Supreme Lord
na
never
atyeti
can overcome
vai
indeed
janaḥ
any person.
No one can surpass the time representation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by material power, by the counsel of ministers, by intelligence, by diplomacy, by fortresses, by mystic mantras, by drugs, by herbs or by any other means.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
No one can surpass time by material power, by the counsel of ministers, by intelligence, by diplomacy, by fortresses, by mystic mantras, by herbs or by any other means.
Kālam means the Lord in the form of time.
Personal Guidance
No one can surpass time by power, ministers, intelligence, diplomacy, fortresses, mantras, drugs, or herbs. Every tool we usually rely on is named — and named as inadequate. Real refuge lies elsewhere.
Reflection Questions
- Which of these named tools am I currently over-relying on — and being humbled by?
- What is my actual refuge when all listed instruments fail?
My note
Source: vedabase.io