The Sky Beyond the Universe
41
such a planet is indeed long, yet, even after trillions of years, the inhabitants of Brahmaloka have to face death. Unless we go into the spiritual planets, there is no escape from death.
avyaktād vyaktayaḥ sarvāḥ prabhavanty ahar-āgame rātry-āgame pralīyante tatraivāvyakta-saṁjñake
“When Brahmā’s day is manifest, this multitude of living entities comes into being, and at the arrival of Brahmā’s night, they are all annihilated.” (Bg. 8.18)
At the end of the day of Brahmā, all the lower planetary systems are covered with water, and the beings on them are annihilated. After this devastation and after the night of Brahmā passes, in the morning when Brahmā arises, there is again creation and all these beings come forth. Thus subjection to creation and destruction is the nature of the material world.
bhūta-gramaḥ sa evāyaṁ bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate rātry-āgame’vaśaḥ pārtha prabhavaty ahar-āgame
“Again and again the day comes, and this host of beings is active; and again the night falls, O Pārtha, and they are helplessly dissolved.” (Bg. 8.19)
Although the living entities do not like devastation, that devastation will come and overflood the planets until all living beings on the planets stay merged in water throughout the night of Brahmā. But as day comes, the water gradually disappears.