Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 3: “The Status Quo”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Eleven
Calculation of Time, from the Atom
SB3.11.1
TEXT 1
maitreya uvaca
caramah sad-visesanam
aneko ’samyutah sada
paramanuh sa vijneyo
nrnam aikya-bhramo yatah
SYNONYMS
maitreyah uvaca—Maitreya said; caramah—ultimate; sat—effect; visesanam—symptoms; anekah—innumerable; asamyutah—unmixed; sada—always; parama-anuh—atoms; sah—that; vijneyah—should be understood; nrnam—of men; aikya—oneness; bhramah—mistaken; yatah—from which.
TRANSLATION
The material manifestation’s ultimate particle, which is indivisible and not formed into a body, is called the atom. It exists always as an invisible identity, even after the dissolution of all forms. The material body is but a combination of such atoms, but it is misunderstood by the common man.
PURPORT
The atomic description of the Srimad-Bhagavatam is almost the same as the modern science of atomism, and this is further described in the Paramanu-vada of Kanada. In modern science also, the atom is accepted as the ultimate indivisible particle of which the universe is composed. Srimad-Bhagavatam is the full text of all descriptions of knowledge, including the theory of atomism. The atom is the minute subtle form of eternal time. SB3.11.2 TEXT 2 sata eva padarthasya svarupavasthitasya yat kaivalyam parama-mahan aviseso nirantarah SYNONYMS satah—of the effective manifestation; eva—certainly; pada-arthasya—of physical bodies; svarupa-avasthitasya—staying in the same form even to the time of dissolution; yat—that which; kaivalyam—oneness; parama—the supreme; mahan—unlimited; avisesah—forms; nirantarah—eternally. TRANSLATION Atoms are the ultimate state of the manifest universe. When they stay in their own forms without forming different bodies, they are called the unlimited oneness. There are certainly different bodies in physical forms, but the atoms themselves form the complete manifestation. SB3.11.3 TEXT 3 evam kalo ’py anumitah sauksmye sthaulye ca sattama samsthana-bhuktya bhagavan avyakto vyakta-bhug vibhuh SYNONYMS evam—thus; kalah—time; api—also; anumitah—measured; sauksmye—in the subtle; sthaulye—in the gross forms; ca—also; sattama—O best; samsthana—combinations of the atoms; bhuktya—by the motion; bhagavan—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; avyaktah—unmanifested; vyakta-bhuk—controlling all physical movement; vibhuh—the great potential. TRANSLATION One can estimate time by measuring the movement of the atomic combination of bodies. Time is the potency of the almighty Personality of Godhead, Hari, who controls all physical movement although He is not visible in the physical world. SB3.11.4 TEXT 4 sa kalah paramanur vai yo bhunkte paramanutam sato ’visesa-bhug yas tu sa kalah paramo mahan SYNONYMS sah—that; kalah—eternal time; parama-anuh—atomic; vai—certainly; yah—which; bhunkte—passes through; parama-anutam—the space of an atom; satah—of the entire aggregate; avisesa-bhuk—passing through the nondual exhibition; yah tu—which; sah—that; kalah—time; paramah—the supreme; mahan—the great. TRANSLATION Atomic time is measured according to its covering a particular atomic space. That time which covers the unmanifest aggregate of atoms is called the great time. PURPORT Time and space are two correlative terms. Time is measured in terms of its covering a certain space of atoms. Standard time is calculated in terms of the movement of the sun. The time covered by the sun in passing over an atom is calculated as atomic time. The greatest time of all covers the entire existence of the nondual manifestation. All the planets rotate and cover space, and space is calculated in terms of atoms. Each planet has its particular orbit for rotating, in which it moves without deviation, and similarly the sun has its orbit. The complete calculation of the time of creation, maintenance and dissolution, measured in terms of the circulation of the total planetary systems until the end of creation, is known as the supreme kala. SB3.11.5 TEXT 5 anur dvau paramanu syat trasarenus trayah smrtah jalarka-rasmy-avagatah kham evanupatann agat SYNONYMS anuh—double atom; dvau—two; parama-anu—atoms; syat—become; trasarenuh—hexatom; trayah—three; smrtah—considered; jala-arka—of sunshine through the holes of a window screen; rasmi—by the rays; avagatah—can be known; kham eva—towards the sky; anupatan agat—going up. TRANSLATION The division of gross time is calculated as follows: two atoms make one double atom, and three double atoms make one hexatom. This hexatom is visible in the sunshine which enters through the holes of a window screen. One can clearly see that the hexatom goes up towards the sky. PURPORT The atom is described as an invisible particle, but when six such atoms combine together, they are called a trasarenu, and this is visible in the sunshine pouring through the holes of a window screen. SB3.11.6 TEXT 6 trasarenu-trikam bhunkte yah kalah sa trutih smrtah sata-bhagas tu vedhah syat tais tribhis tu lavah smrtah SYNONYMS trasarenu-trikam—combination of three hexatoms; bhunkte—as they take time to integrate; yah—that which; kalah—duration of time; sah—that; trutih—by the name truti; smrtah—is called; sata-bhagah—one hundred trutis; tu—but; vedhah—called a vedha; syat—it so happens; taih—by them; tribhih—three times; tu—but; lavah—lava; smrtah—so called. TRANSLATION The time duration needed for the integration of three trasarenus is called a truti, and one hundred trutis make one vedha. Three vedhas make one lava. PURPORT It is calculated that if a second is divided into 1687.5 parts, each part is the duration of a truti, which is the time occupied in the integration of eighteen atomic particles. Such a combination of atoms into different bodies creates the calculation of material time. The sun is the central point for calculating all different durations. SB3.11.7 TEXT 7 nimesas tri-lavo jneya amnatas te trayah ksanah ksanan panca viduh kastham laghu ta dasa panca ca SYNONYMS nimesah—the duration of time called a nimesa; tri-lavah—the duration of three lavas; jneyah—is to be known; amnatah—it is so called; te—they; trayah—three; ksanah—the duration of time called a ksana; ksanan—such ksanas; panca—five; viduh—one should understand; kastham—the duration of time called a kastha; laghu—the duration of time called a laghu; tah—those; dasa panca—fifteen; ca—also. TRANSLATION The duration of time of three lavas is equal to one nimesa, the combination of three nimesas makes one ksana, five ksanas combined together make one kastha, and fifteen kasthas make one laghu. PURPORT By calculation it is found that one laghu is equal to two minutes. The atomic calculation of time in terms of Vedic wisdom may be converted into present time with this understanding. SB3.11.8 TEXT 8 laghuni vai samamnata dasa panca ca nadika te dve muhurtah praharah sad yamah sapta va nrnam SYNONYMS laghuni—such laghus (each of two minutes); vai—exactly; samamnata—is called; dasa panca—fifteen; ca—also; nadika—a nadika; te—of them; dve—two; muhurtah—a moment; praharah—three hours; sat—six; yamah—one fourth of a day or night; sapta—seven; va—or; nrnam—of human calculation. TRANSLATION Fifteen laghus make one nadika, which is also called a danda. Two dandas make one muhurta, and six or seven dandas make one fourth of a day or night, according to human calculation. SB3.11.9 TEXT 9 dvadasardha-palonmanam caturbhis catur-angulaih svarna-masaih krta-cchidram yavat prastha-jala-plutam SYNONYMS dvadasa-ardha—six; pala—of the scale of weight; unmanam—measuring pot; caturbhih—by weight of four; catuh-angulaih—four fingers by measure; svarna—of gold; masaih—of the weight; krta-chidram—making a hole; yavat—as long as; prastha—measuring one prastha; jala-plutam—filled by water. TRANSLATION The measuring pot for one nadika, or danda, can be prepared with a six-pala-weight [fourteen ounce] pot of copper, in which a hole is bored with a gold probe weighing four masa and measuring four fingers long. When the pot is placed on water, the time before the water overflows in the pot is called one danda. PURPORT It is advised herein that the bore in the copper measuring pot must be made with a probe weighing not more than four masa and measuring not longer than four fingers. This regulates the diameter of the hole. The pot is submerged in water, and the overflooding time is called a danda. This is another way of measuring the duration of a danda, just as time is measured by sand in a glass. It appears that in the days of Vedic civilization there was no dearth of knowledge in physics, chemistry or higher mathematics. Measurements were calculated in different ways, as simply as could be done. SB3.11.10 TEXT 10 yamas catvaras catvaro martyanam ahani ubhe paksah panca-dasahani suklah krsnas ca manada SYNONYMS yamah—three hours; catvarah—four; catvarah—and four; martyanam—of the human beings; ahani—duration of day; ubhe—both day and night; paksah—fortnight; panca-dasa—fifteen; ahani—days; suklah—white; krsnah—black; ca—also; manada—measured. TRANSLATION It is calculated that there are four praharas, which are also called yamas, in the day and four in the night of the human being. Similarly, fifteen days and nights are a fortnight, and there are two fortnights, white and black, in a month. SB3.11.11 TEXT 11 tayoh samuccayo masah pitrnam tad ahar-nisam dvau tav rtuh sad ayanam daksinam cottaram divi SYNONYMS tayoh—of them; samuccayah—aggregate; masah—month; pitrnam—of the Pita planets; tat—that (month); ahah-nisam—day and night; dvau—two; tau—months; rtuh—a season; sat—six; ayanam—the movement of the sun in six months; daksinam—southern; ca—also; uttaram—northern; divi—in the heavens. TRANSLATION The aggregate of two fortnights is one month, and that period is one complete day and night for the Pita planets. Two of such months comprise one season, and six months comprise one complete movement of the sun from south to north. SB3.11.12 TEXT 12 ayane cahani prahur vatsaro dvadasa smrtah samvatsara-satam nrnam paramayur nirupitam SYNONYMS ayane—in the solar movement (of six months); ca—and; ahani—a day of the demigods; prahuh—it is said; vatsarah—one calendar year; dvadasa—twelve months; smrtah—is so called; samvatsara-satam—one hundred years; nrnam—of human beings; parama-ayuh—duration of life; nirupitam—is estimated. TRANSLATION Two solar movements make one day and night of the demigods, and that combination of day and night is one complete calendar year for the human being. The human being has a duration of life of one hundred years. SB3.11.13 TEXT 13 graharksa-tara-cakra-sthah paramanv-adina jagat samvatsaravasanena paryety animiso vibhuh SYNONYMS graha—influential planets like the moon; rksa—luminaries like Asvini; tara—stars; cakra-sthah—in the orbit; parama-anu-adina—along with the atoms; jagat—the entire universe; samvatsara-avasanena—by the end of one year; paryeti—completes its orbit; animisah—the eternal time; vibhuh—the Almighty. TRANSLATION Influential stars, planets, luminaries and atoms all over the universe are rotating in their respective orbits under the direction of the Supreme, represented by eternal kala. PURPORT In the Brahma-samhita it is stated that the sun is the eye of the Supreme and it rotates in its particular orbit of time. Similarly, beginning from the sun down to the atom, all bodies are under the influence of the kala-cakra, or the orbit of eternal time, and each of them has a scheduled orbital time of one samvatsara. SB3.11.14 TEXT 14 samvatsarah parivatsara ida-vatsara eva ca anuvatsaro vatsaras ca viduraivam prabhasyate SYNONYMS samvatsarah—orbit of the sun; parivatsarah—circumambulation of Brhaspati; ida-vatsarah—orbit of the stars; eva—as they are; ca—also; anuvatsarah—orbit of the moon; vatsarah—one calendar year; ca—also; vidura—O Vidura; evam—thus; prabhasyate—they are so told. TRANSLATION There are five different names for the orbits of the sun, moon, stars and luminaries in the firmament, and they each have their own samvatsara. PURPORT The subject matters of physics, chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, time and space dealt with in the above verses of Srimad-Bhagavatam are certainly very interesting to students of the particular subject, but as far as we are concerned, we cannot explain them very thoroughly in terms of technical knowledge. The subject is summarized by the statement that above all the different branches of knowledge is the supreme control of kala, the plenary representation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Nothing exists without Him, and therefore everything, however wonderful it may appear to our meager knowledge, is but the work of the magical wand of the Supreme Lord. As far as time is concerned, we beg to subjoin herewith a table of timings in terms of the modern clock. One truti - 8/13,500 second Two paksas comprise one month, and twelve months comprise one calendar year, or one full orbit of the sun. A human being is expected to live up to one hundred years. That is the way of the controlling measure of eternal time. The Brahma-samhita (5.52) affirms this control in this way: yac-caksur esa savita sakala-grahanam “I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, under whose control even the sun, which is considered to be the eye of the Lord, rotates within the fixed orbit of eternal time. The sun is the king of all planetary systems and has unlimited potency in heat and light.” SB3.11.15 TEXT 15 yah srjya-saktim urudhocchvasayan sva-saktya pumso ’bhramaya divi dhavati bhuta-bhedah kalakhyaya gunamayam kratubhir vitanvams tasmai balim harata vatsara-pancakaya SYNONYMS yah—one who; srjya—of creation; saktim—the seeds; urudha—in various ways; ucchvasayan—invigorating; sva-saktya—by his own energy; pumsah—of the living entity; abhramaya—to dissipate darkness; divi—during the daytime; dhavati—moves; bhuta-bhedah—distinct from all other material form; kala-akhyaya—by the name eternal time; guna-mayam—the material results; kratubhih—by offerings; vitanvan—enlarging; tasmai—unto him; balim—ingredients of offerings; harata—one should offer; vatsara-pancakaya—offerings every five years. TRANSLATION O Vidura, the sun enlivens all living entities with his unlimited heat and light. He diminishes the duration of life of all living entities in order to release them from their illusion of material attachment, and he enlarges the path of elevation to the heavenly kingdom. He thus moves in the firmament with great velocity, and therefore everyone should offer him respects once every five years with all ingredients of worship. SB3.11.16 TEXT 16 vidura uvaca pitr-deva-manusyanam ayuh param idam smrtam paresam gatim acaksva ye syuh kalpad bahir vidah SYNONYMS vidurah uvaca—Vidura said; pitr—the Pita planets; deva—the heavenly planets; manusyanam—and that of the human beings; ayuh—duration of life; param—final; idam—in their own measurement; smrtam—calculated; paresam—of the superior living entities; gatim—duration of life; acaksva—kindly calculate; ye—all those who; syuh—are; kalpat—from the millennium; bahih—outside; vidah—greatly learned. TRANSLATION Vidura said: I now understand the life durations of the residents of the Pita planets and heavenly planets as well as that of the human beings. Now kindly inform me of the durations of life of those greatly learned living entities who are beyond the range of a kalpa. PURPORT The partial dissolution of the universe that takes place at the end of Brahma’s day does not affect all the planetary systems. The planets of highly learned living entities like the sages Sanaka and Bhrgu are not affected by the dissolutions of the millenniums. All the planets are of different types, and each is controlled by a different kala-cakra, or schedule of eternal time. The time of the earth planet is not applicable to other, more elevated planets. Therefore, Vidura herein inquires about the duration of life on other planets. SB3.11.17 TEXT 17 bhagavan veda kalasya gatim bhagavato nanu visvam vicaksate dhira yoga-raddhena caksusa SYNONYMS bhagavan—O spiritually powerful one; veda—you know; kalasya—of the eternal time; gatim—movements; bhagavatah—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nanu—as a matter of course; visvam—the whole universe; vicaksate—see; dhirah—those who are self-realized; yoga-raddhena—by dint of mystic vision; caksusa—by the eyes. TRANSLATION O spiritually powerful one, you can understand the movements of eternal time, which is the controlling form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because you are a self-realized person, you can see everything by the power of mystic vision. PURPORT Those who have reached the highest perfectional stage of mystic power and can see everything in the past, present and future are called tri-kala-jnas. Similarly, the devotees of the Lord can see everything clearly that is in the revealed scriptures. The devotees of Lord Sri Krsna can very easily understand the science of Krsna, as well as the situation of the material and spiritual creations, without difficulty. Devotees do not have to endeavor for any yoga-siddhi, or perfection in mystic powers. They are competent to understand everything by the grace of the Lord, who is sitting in everyone’s heart. SB3.11.18 TEXT 18 maitreya uvaca krtam treta dvaparam ca kalis ceti catur-yugam divyair dvadasabhir varsaih savadhanam nirupitam SYNONYMS maitreyah uvaca—Maitreya said; krtam—the age of Satya; treta—the age of Treta; dvaparam—the age of Dvapara; ca—also; kalih—the age of Kali; ca—and; iti—thus; catuh-yugam—four millenniums; divyaih—of the demigods; dvadasabhih—twelve; varsaih—thousands of years; sa-avadhanam—approximately; nirupitam—ascertained. TRANSLATION Maitreya said: O Vidura, the four millenniums are called the Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali yugas. The aggregate number of years of all of these combined is equal to twelve thousand years of the demigods. PURPORT The years of the demigods are equal to 360 years of humankind. As will be clarified in the subsequent verses, 12,000 of the demigods’ years, including the transitional periods which are called yuga-sandhyas, comprise the total of the aforementioned four millenniums. Thus the aggregate of the above-mentioned four millenniums is 4,320,000 years. SB3.11.19 TEXT 19 catvari trini dve caikam krtadisu yatha-kramam sankhyatani sahasrani dvi-gunani satani ca SYNONYMS catvari—four; trini—three; dve—two; ca—also; ekam—one; krta-adisu—in the Satya-yuga; yatha-kramam—and subsequently others; sankhyatani—numbering; sahasrani—thousands; dvi-gunani—twice; satani—hundreds; ca—also. TRANSLATION The duration of the Satya millennium equals 4,800 years of the years of the demigods; the duration of the Dvapara millennium equals 2,400 years; and that of the Kali millennium is 1,200 years of the demigods. PURPORT As aforementioned, one year of the demigods is equal to 360 years of the human beings. The duration of the Satya-yuga is therefore 4,800 x 360, or 1,728,000 years. The duration of the Treta-yuga is 3,600 x 360, or 1,296,000 years. The duration of the Dvapara-yuga is 2,400 x 360, or 864,000 years. And the last, the Kali-yuga, is 1,200 x 360, or 432,000 years. SB3.11.20 TEXT 20 sandhya-sandhyamsayor antar yah kalah sata-sankhyayoh tam evahur yugam taj-jna yatra dharmo vidhiyate SYNONYMS sandhya—transitional period before; sandhya-amsayoh—and transitional period after; antah—within; yah—that which; kalah—duration of time; sata-sankhyayoh—hundreds of years; tam eva—that period; ahuh—they call; yugam—millennium; tat-jnah—the expert astronomers; yatra—wherein; dharmah—religion; vidhiyate—is performed. TRANSLATION The transitional periods before and after every millennium, which are a few hundred years as aforementioned, are known as yuga-sandhyas, or the conjunctions of two millenniums, according to the expert astronomers. In those periods all kinds of religious activities are performed. SB3.11.21 TEXT 21 dharmas catus-pan manujan krte samanuvartate sa evanyesv adharmena vyeti padena vardhata SYNONYMS dharmah—religion; catuh-pat—complete four dimensions; manujan—mankind; krte—in the Satya-yuga; samanuvartate—properly maintained; sah—that; eva—certainly; anyesu—in other; adharmena—by the influence of irreligion; vyeti—declined; padena—by one part; vardhata—gradually increasing proportionately. TRANSLATION O Vidura, in the Satya millennium mankind properly and completely maintained the principles of religion, but in other millenniums religion gradually decreased by one part as irreligion was proportionately admitted. PURPORT In the Satya millennium, complete execution of religious principles prevailed. Gradually, the principles of religion decreased by one part in each of the subsequent millenniums. In other words, at present there is one part religion and three parts irreligion. Therefore people in this age are not very happy. SB3.11.22 TEXT 22 tri-lokya yuga-sahasram bahir abrahmano dinam tavaty eva nisa tata yan nimilati visva-srk SYNONYMS tri-lokyah—of the three worlds; yuga—the four yugas; sahasram—one thousand; bahih—outside of; abrahmanah—up to Brahmaloka; dinam—is a day; tavati—a similar (period); eva—certainly; nisa—is night; tata—O dear one; yat—because; nimilati—goes to sleep; visva-srk—Brahma. TRANSLATION Outside of the three planetary systems [Svarga, Martya and Patala], the four yugas multiplied by one thousand comprise one day on the planet of Brahma. A similar period comprises a night of Brahma, in which the creator of the universe goes to sleep. PURPORT When Brahma goes to sleep in his nighttime, the three planetary systems below Brahmaloka are all submerged in the water of devastation. In his sleeping condition, Brahma dreams about the Garbhodakasayi Visnu and takes instruction from the Lord for the rehabilitation of the devastated area of space.
One vedha - 8/135 second
One lava - 8/45 second
One nimesa - 8/15 second
One ksana - 8/5 second
One kastha - 8 seconds
One laghu - 2 minutes
One danda - 30 minutes
One prahara - 3 hours
One day - 2 hours
One night - 12 hours
One paksa - 15 days
raja samasta-sura-murtir asesa-tejah
yasyajnaya bhramati sambhrta-kala-cakro
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami