248 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 2, Ch. 5

kalat—from the eternal time; guna-vyatikarah—transformation of the
modes by reaction; parinémah—transformation; sva-bhavatah—from the
nature; karmanah—of activities; janma—creation; mahatah—of the mahat-
tattva; purusa-adhisthitat—because of the purusa incarnation of the Lord;
abhit—it took place.

TRANSLATION
After the incarnation of the first purusa (Karanarnavasayi Visnu), the
mahat-tattva, or the principles of material creation, take place, and then
time is manifested, and in course of time the three qualities appear. Nature
means the three qualitative appearances. They transform into activities.
PURPORT

By the omnipotency of the Supreme Lord, the whole material creation
evolves by the process of transformation and reactions one after another,
and by the same omnipotency, they are wound up again one after another
and conserved in the body of the Supreme. Kala, or time, is the synonym
of nature and is the transformed manifestation of the principles of ma-
terial creation. As such, kala may be taken as the first cause of all creation,
and by transformation of nature different activities of the material world
become visible. These activities may be taken up as the natural instinct of
cach and every living being, or even of the inert objects, and after the
manifestation of activities there are varicties of products and by-products
of the same nature, and originally these are all duc to the Supreme Lord.
The Vedanta-siitras and the Bhagavatam thus begin with the Absolute
Truth as the beginning of all creations (janmddy asya yatah).

TEXT 23
x.
meng «= fgainaaaieiftag |
TANTARTATT TOUT AMHAAB: MR!
mahatas tu vikurvanad
rajah-sattvopabrmhitat
tamah-pradhanas tv abhavad
dravya-jidna-kriyatmakah
