Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 2.8.12
Nirodha· Winding upTime Measures the Universe and Life
“Also please explain the duration of time between creation and annihilation, and that of other subsidiary creations, as well as the nature of time, indicated by the sound of past, present and future. Also, please explain the duration and measurement of life of the different living beings known as the demigods, the human beings, etc., in different planets of the universe.”
What the purport teaches
- Past, present and future are different features of time. They indicate the duration of the universe and everything within it.
- The inquiry includes the time between creation and annihilation, along with the duration of subsidiary creations.
- Time also measures the lives of different living beings. The verse asks about the lifespans of demigods, human beings and others on different planets.
Try this today
List the three subjects whose durations are asked about: the universe, subsidiary creations and living beings.
Ask yourself
How does considering the duration of the universe broaden my view of my own lifespan?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.