Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 12 Chapter 4:35-43

Book 12: Chapter 4

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 12: Chapter 4: Verses 35-43 Some men, knowing the subtle state of things, 0 tormentor of foes ! declare the creation and dissolution of all created beings from Brahma downward as going on all the time (every moment). The successive stages that are gone through by (ail) changing things (such as a stream or the flame of a lamp) serve as an index of the constant appearance and dissolution of the body etc., (of a created being), which are being rapidly worn away (every moment) by force of the stream of Time. The (successive) stages (of growth and decay etc., of created beings) brought about by the aforementioned Time, a manifestation of the Almighty, which has no beginning or end, are certainly not perceived (even) as the stages of movement Of luminaries (coursing) in the heavens. (In this way) the Nitya (constant) as well as the Naimittika (occasional), nay, the Prakrtika (or final) and Atyantika (everlasting) types of Dissolution have been described (by me). Such is the course of Time. In this way, 0 jewel among the Kurus ! have been narrated (by Me) in brief the stories of the sportful activities of Lord Narayana, the Maker of the universe and the abode of all living beings as well as of all strength and goodness; (for) not even Brahma (the birthless creator) is capable of relating them in all their details and entirety. To a man tormented by the wild fire of manifold miseries and seeking to cross the ocean of metempsychosis, (which is) most difficult to cross, there is no vessel other than constantly enjoying the nectar-like stories of the sportful activities of Lord Purusottama (the Supreme Person). Of yore (at the beginning of creation) the omniscient and immortal Lord Narayana taught the compilation in the form of this (Bhagavata) Purana (in four verses'`) to the sage Narada (through Brahmat) and the latter to (my father,) the sage Krsnadwaipayana (Vedavyasa). Full of delight, O great king, the said divine sage Vedavyasa (who lives in a grove of jujube trees) actually taught me this compilation (consisting of 18000 Slokas), which is equal (in worth) to the Vedas. Requested by the sage Saunaka and others, 0 jewel among the Kurus ! that Suta (sitting over there) will expound it to the (eighty-eight thousand) Rsis (going to be assembled) in a lengthy sacrificial session at Naimisaranya. Thus ends the fourth discourse in Book Twelve of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita.