SB 12.7.17 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

नैमित्तिक: प्राकृतिको नित्य आत्यन्तिको लय: । संस्थेति कविभि: प्रोक्तश्चतुर्धास्य स्वभावत: ॥ १७ ॥

Verse text

naimittikaḥ prākṛtiko nitya ātyantiko layaḥ saṁstheti kavibhiḥ proktaś caturdhāsya svabhāvataḥ

Synonyms

naimittikaḥ — occasional ; prākṛtikaḥ — elemental ; nityaḥ — continuous ; ātyantikaḥ — ultimate ; layaḥ — annihilation ; saṁsthā — the dissolution ; iti — thus ; kavibhiḥ — by learned scholars ; proktaḥ — described ; caturdhā — in four aspects ; asya — of this universe ; svabhāvataḥ — by the inherent energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead .

Translation

There are four types of cosmic annihilation — occasional, elemental, continuous and ultimate — all of which are effected by the inherent potency of the Supreme Lord. Learned scholars have designated this topic dissolution.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

The learned define saṁsthā as destruction of the causes of the universe on four levels: occasional, elemental, continuous and ultimate. The previous term nirodha, here called saṁsthām is explained. The destruction of the causes (bhāva) of the universe (asya), such as earth, water, and fire, is called saṁsthā.