śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; kālaḥ — time; te — to you; parama-aṇu — (the smallest fraction of time measured in terms of) the indivisible atom; ādiḥ — beginning with; dvi-para-ardha — the two halves of Brahmā’s total life span; avadhiḥ — culminating in; nṛpa — O King Parīkṣit; kathitaḥ — has been described; yuga-mānam — the duration of the millennia; ca — and; śṛṇu — now hear; kalpa — Brahmā’s day; layau — annihilation; api — also.

catuḥ-yuga — four ages; sahasram — one thousand; tu — indeed; brahmaṇaḥ — of Lord Brahmā; dinam — the day; ucyate — is said; saḥ — that; kalpaḥ — a kalpa; yatra — in which; manavaḥ — original progenitors of mankind; caturdaśa — fourteen; viśām-pate — O King.

tat-ante — after those (thousand cycles of ages); pralayaḥ — the annihilation; tāvān — of the same duration; brāhmī — of Brahmā; rātriḥ — the nighttime; udāhṛtā — is described; trayaḥ — the three; lokāḥ — worlds; ime — these; tatra — at that time; kalpante — are prone; pralayāya — to annihilation; hi — indeed.

eṣaḥ — this; naimittikaḥ — occasional; proktaḥ — is said; pralayaḥ — annihilation; yatra — in which; viśva-sṛk — the creator of the universe, the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa; śete — lies down; ananta-āsanaḥ — upon the snake-bed of Ananta Śeṣa; viśvam — the universe; ātma-sāt-kṛtya — absorbing within Himself; ca — also; ātma-bhūḥ — Lord Brahmā.

dvi-parārdhe — two parārdhas; tu — and; atikrānte — when they have become completed; brahmaṇaḥ — of Lord Brahmā; parame-sthinaḥ — the most highly situated living entity; tadā — then; prakṛtayaḥ — the elements of nature; sapta — seven; kalpante — are subject; pralayāya — to destruction; vai — indeed.

eṣaḥ — this; prākṛtikaḥ — of the elements of material nature; rājan — O King Parīkṣit; pralayaḥ — the annihilation; yatra — in which; līyate — is dissolved; aṇḍa-koṣaḥ — the egg of the universe; tu — and; saṅghātaḥ — the amalgamation; vighāte — the cause of its disruption; upasādite — being encountered.

parjanyaḥ — the clouds; śata-varṣāṇi — for one hundred years; bhūmau — upon the earth; rājan — my dear King; na varṣati — will not give rain; tadā — then; niranne — with the coming of famine; hi — indeed; anyonyam — one another; bhakṣyamāṇāḥ — eating; kṣudhā — by hunger; arditāḥ — distressed; kṣayam — to destruction; yāsyanti — they go; śanakaiḥ — gradually; kālena — by the force of time; upadrutāḥ — confounded; prajāḥ — the people.

sāmudram — of the ocean; daihikam — of living bodies; bhaumam — of the earth; rasam — the juice; sāṁvartakaḥ — annihilating; raviḥ — the sun; raśmibhiḥ — with its rays; pibate — drinks up; ghoraiḥ — which are terrible; sarvam — all; na — nothing; eva — even; vimuñcati — gives.

tataḥ — then; saṁvartakaḥ — of destruction; vahniḥ — the fire; saṅkarṣaṇa — of the Supreme Lord, Saṅkarṣaṇa; mukha — from the mouth; utthitaḥ — arisen; dahati — burns; anila-vega — by the force of the wind; utthaḥ — raised; śūnyān — empty; bhū — of the planets; vivarān — the crevices; atha — after that.

upari — above; adhaḥ — and below; samantāt — in all directions; ca — and; śikhābhiḥ — with the flames; vahni — of the fire; sūryayoḥ — and of the sun; dahyamānam — being burned; vibhāti — glows; aṇḍam — the egg of the universe; dagdha — burned; go-maya — of cow dung; piṇḍa-vat — like a ball.

tataḥ — then; pracaṇḍa — terrible; pavanaḥ — a wind; varṣāṇām — of years; adhikam — more than; śatam — one hundred; paraḥ — great; sāmvartakaḥ — causing annihilation; vāti — blows; dhūmram — gray; kham — the sky; rajasā — with dust; āvṛtam — covered.

tataḥ — then; megha-kulāni — the clouds; aṅga — my dear King; citra-varṇāni — of various colors; anekaśaḥ — numerous; śatam — one hundred; varṣāṇi — years; varṣanti — they pour down rain; nadanti — they thunder; rabhasa-svanaiḥ — with tremendous sounds.

tataḥ — then; eka-udakam — a single body of water; viśvam — the universe; brahma-aṇḍa — of the egg of creation; vivara-antaram — within.

tadā — then; bhūmeḥ — of the earth; gandha-guṇam — the perceptible quality of fragrance; grasanti — takes away; āpaḥ — the water; uda-plave — during the flooding; grasta-gandhā — deprived of its fragrance; tu — and; pṛthivī — the element earth; pralayatvāya kalpate — becomes unmanifest.

apām — of water; rasam — the taste; atha — then; tejaḥ — fire; tāḥ — that water; līyante — dissolves; atha — after this; nīrasāḥ — deprived of its quality of taste; grasate — takes away; tejasaḥ — of fire; rūpam — the form; vāyuḥ — the air; tat-rahitam — deprived of that form; tadā — then; līyate — merges; ca — and; anile — in wind; tejaḥ — fire; vāyoḥ — of the air; kham — the ether; grasate — takes away; guṇam — the perceptible quality (touch); saḥ — that air; vai — indeed; viśati — enters; kham — the ether; rājan — O King Parīkṣit; tataḥ — thereupon; ca — and; nabhasaḥ — of the ether; guṇam — the quality; śabdam — sound; grasati — takes away; bhūta-ādiḥ — the element of false ego in the mode of ignorance; nabhaḥ — the ether; tam — into that false ego; anu — subsequently; līyate — merges; taijasaḥ — false ego in the mode of passion; ca — and; indriyāṇi — the senses; aṅga — my dear King; devān — the demigods; vaikārikaḥ — false ego in the mode of goodness; guṇaiḥ — along with the manifest functions (of false ego); mahān — the mahat-tattva; grasati — seizes; ahaṅkāram — false ego; guṇāḥ — the basic modes of nature; sattva-ādayaḥ — goodness, passion and ignorance; ca — and; tam — that mahat; grasate — seizes; avyākṛtam — the unmanifest original form of nature; rājan — O King; guṇān — the three modes; kālena — by time; coditam — impelled; na — there are not; tasya — of that unmanifest nature; kāla — of time; avayavaiḥ — by the segments; pariṇāma-ādayaḥ — transformation and the other changes of visible matter (creation, growth and so on); guṇāḥ — such qualities; anādi — without beginning; anantam — without end; avyaktam — unmanifest; nityam — eternal; kāraṇam — the cause; avyayam — infallible.

na — not; yatra — wherein; vācaḥ — speech; na — not; manaḥ — the mind; na — not; sattvam — the mode of goodness; tamaḥ — the mode of ignorance; rajaḥ — the mode of passion; vā — or; mahat — the mahat-tattva; ādayaḥ — and so on; amī — these elements; na — not; prāṇa — the vital air; buddhi — intelligence; indriya — the senses; devatāḥ — and the controlling demigods; vā — or; na — not; sanniveśaḥ — the particular construction; khalu — indeed; loka-kalpaḥ — of the arrangement of the planetary systems; na — not; svapna — sleep; jāgrat — waking condition; na — not; ca — and; tat — that; suṣuptam — deep sleep; na — not; kham — ether; jalam — water; bhūḥ — earth; anilaḥ — air; agniḥ — fire; arkaḥ — the sun; saṁsupta-vat — like one who is fast asleep; śūnya-vat — like a void; apratarkyam — inaccessible to logic; tat — that pradhāna; mūla-bhūtam — serving as the basis; padam — the substance; āmananti — great authorities say.

layaḥ — the annihilation; prākṛtikaḥ — of the material elements; hi — indeed; eṣaḥ — this; puruṣa — of the Supreme Lord; avyaktayoḥ — and of His material nature in its unmanifest form; yadā — when; śaktayaḥ — the energies; sampralīyante — merge totally; vivaśāḥ — helpless; kāla — by time; vidrutāḥ — disarrayed.

buddhi — of intelligence; indriya — the senses; artha — and the objects of perception; rūpeṇa — in the form; jñānam — the Absolute Truth; bhāti — manifests; tat — of these elements; āśrayam — the basis; dṛśyatva — because of being perceived; avyatirekābhyām — and because of being nondifferent from its own cause; ādi-anta-vat — which has a beginning and an end; avastu — is insubstantial; yat — whatever.

dīpaḥ — a lamp; cakṣuḥ — a perceiving eye; ca — and; rūpam — a perceived form; ca — and; jyotiṣaḥ — from the original element fire; na — not; pṛthak — distinct; bhavet — are; evam — in the same way; dhīḥ — intelligence; khāni — the senses; mātrāḥ — the perceptions; ca — and; na syuḥ — they are not; anyatamāt — which is itself completely distinct; ṛtāt — from the reality.

buddheḥ — of intelligence; jāgaraṇam — waking consciousness; svapnaḥ — sleep; suṣuptiḥ — deep sleep; iti — thus; ca — and; ucyate — are called; māyā-mātram — merely illusion; idam — this; rājan — O King; nānātvam — the duality; pratyak-ātmani — experienced by the pure soul.

yathā — just as; jala-dharāḥ — the clouds; vyomni — in the sky; bhavanti — are; na bhavanti — are not; ca — and; brahmaṇi — within the Absolute Truth; idam — this; tathā — similarly; viśvam — universe; avayavi — having parts; udaya — because of generation; apyayāt — and dissolution.

satyam — real; hi — because; avayavaḥ — the ingredient cause; proktaḥ — is said to be; sarva-avayavinām — of all constituted entities; iha — in this created world; vinā — apart from; arthena — their manifest product; pratīyeran — they can be perceived; paṭasya — of a cloth; iva — as; aṅga — my dear King; tantavaḥ — the threads.

yat — whatever; sāmānya — in terms of general cause; viśeṣābhyām — and specific product; upalabhyeta — is experienced; saḥ — that; bhramaḥ — is illusion; anyonya — mutual; apāśrayāt — because of dependence; sarvam — everything; ādi-anta-vat — subject to beginning and end; avastu — unreal; yat — which.

vikāraḥ — the transformation of created existence; khyāyamānaḥ — appearing; api — although; pratyak-ātmānam — the Supreme Soul; antarā — without; na — not; nirūpyaḥ — conceivable; asti — is; aṇuḥ — a single atom; api — even; syāt — it is so; cet — if; cit-samaḥ — equally spirit; ātma-vat — remaining as it is, without change.

na — there is no; hi — indeed; satyasya — of the Absolute Truth; nānātvam — duality; avidvān — a person not in true knowledge; yadi — if; manyate — he thinks; nānātvam — the duality; chidrayoḥ — of the two skies; yadvat — just as; jyotiṣoḥ — of the two celestial lights; vātayoḥ — of the two winds; iva — as.

yathā — just as; hiraṇyam — gold; bahudhā — in many forms; samīyate — appears; nṛbhiḥ — to men; kriyābhiḥ — in terms of different functions; vyavahāra-vartmasu — in ordinary usage; evam — similarly; vacobhiḥ — in varying terms; bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead; adhokṣajaḥ — the transcendental Lord, who is inconceivable to material senses; vyākhyāyate — is described; laukika — mundane; vaidikaiḥ — and Vedic; janaiḥ — by men.

yathā — as; ghanaḥ — a cloud; arka — of the sun; prabhavaḥ — the product; arka — by the sun; darśitaḥ — made visible; hi — indeed; arka — of the sun; aṁśa-bhūtasya — which is the partial expansion; ca — and; cakṣuṣaḥ — of the eye; tamaḥ — darkness; evam — in the same way; tu — indeed; aham — false ego; brahma-guṇaḥ — a quality of the Absolute Truth; tat-īkṣitaḥ — visible through the agency of that Absolute Truth; brahma-aṁśakasya — of the partial expansion of the Absolute Truth; ātmanaḥ — of the jīva soul; ātma-bandhanaḥ — serving to obstruct perception of the Supreme Soul.

ghanaḥ — the cloud; yadā — when; arka-prabhavaḥ — the product of the sun; vidīryate — is torn apart; cakṣuḥ — the eye; svarūpam — in its real form; ravim — the sun; īkṣate — sees; tadā — then; yadā — when; hi — indeed also; ahaṅkāraḥ — false ego; upādhiḥ — the superficial covering; ātmanaḥ — of the spirit soul; jijñāsayā — by spiritual inquiry; naśyati — is destroyed; tarhi — at that time; anusmaret — one gains his proper remembrance.

yadā — when; evam — in this way; etena — by this; viveka — of discrimination; hetinā — sword; māyā-maya — illusory; ahaṅkaraṇa — false ego; ātma — of the soul; bandhanam — the cause of bondage; chittvā — cutting off; acyuta — of the infallible; ātma — Supreme Soul; anubhavaḥ — realization; avatiṣṭhate — develops firmly; tam — that; āhuḥ — they call; ātyantikam — ultimate; aṅga — my dear King; samplavam — annihilation.

nityadā — constantly; sarva-bhūtānām — of all created beings; brahma-ādīnām — beginning with Lord Brahmā; param-tapa — O subduer of the enemies; utpatti — creation; pralayau — and annihilation; eke — some; sūkṣma-jñāḥ — expert knowers of subtle things; sampracakṣate — declare.

kāla — of time; srotaḥ — of the mighty current; javena — by the force; āśu — rapidly; hriyamāṇasya — of that which is being taken away; nityadā — constantly; pariṇāminām — of things subject to transformation; avasthāḥ — the various conditions; tāḥ — they; janma — of birth; pralaya — and annihilation; hetavaḥ — the causes.

anādi-anta-vatā — without beginning or end; anena — by this; kālena — time; īśvara — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mūrtinā — the representation; avasthāḥ — the different stages; na — not; eva — indeed; dṛśyante — are seen; viyati — in outer space; jyotiṣām — of the moving planets; iva — just as.

nityaḥ — continuous; naimittikaḥ — occasional; ca — and; eva — indeed; tathā — also; prākṛtikaḥ — natural; layaḥ — annihilation; ātyantikaḥ — final; ca — and; kathitaḥ — are described; kālasya — of time; gatiḥ — the progress; īdṛśī — like this.

etāḥ — these; kuru-śreṣṭha — O best of the Kurus; jagat-vidhātuḥ — of the creator of the universe; nārāyaṇasya — of Lord Nārāyaṇa; akhila-sattva-dhāmnaḥ — the reservoir of all existences; līlā-kathāḥ — the pastime narrations; te — to you; kathitāḥ — have been related; samāsataḥ — in summary; kārtsnyena — entirely; na — not; ajaḥ — unborn Brahmā; api — even; abhidhātum — to enumerate; īśaḥ — is capable.

saṁsāra — of material existence; sindhum — the ocean; ati-dustaram — impossible to cross; uttitīrṣoḥ — for one who desires to cross; na — there is not; anyaḥ — any other; plavaḥ — boat; bhagavataḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; puruṣa-uttamasya — the Supreme Lord; līlā-kathā — of the narrations of the pastimes; rasa — to the transcendental taste; niṣevaṇam — the rendering of service; antareṇa — apart from; puṁsaḥ — for a person; bhavet — there can be; vividha — various; duḥkha — of material miseries; dava — by the fire; arditasya — who is distressed.

purāṇa — of all the Purāṇas; saṁhitām — the essential compendium; etām — this; ṛṣiḥ — the great sage; nārāyaṇaḥ — Lord Nara-Nārāyaṇa; avyayaḥ — the infallible; nāradāya — to Nārada Muni; purā — previously; prāha — spoke; kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyanāya — to Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vedavyāsa; saḥ — he, Nārada.

saḥ — he; vai — indeed; mahyam — to me, Śukadeva Gosvāmī; mahārāja — O King Parīkṣit; bhagavān — the powerful incarnation of the Supreme Lord; bādarāyaṇaḥ — Śrīla Vyāsadeva; imām — this; bhāgavatīm — Bhāgavata scripture; prītaḥ — being satisfied; saṁhitām — the anthology; veda-sammitām — equal in status to the four Vedas.

imām — this; vakṣyati — will speak; asau — present before us; sūtaḥ — Sūta Gosvāmī; ṛṣibhyaḥ — to the sages; naimiṣa-ālaye — in the forest of Naimiṣa; dīrgha-satre — at the lengthy sacrificial performance; kuru-śreṣṭha — O best of the Kurus; sampṛṣṭaḥ — questioned; śaunaka-ādibhiḥ — by the assembly led by Śaunaka.