Bhagavad-gītā 10.30
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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prahlādaḥ
—
Prahlāda
The demon-prince who is the supreme devotee. Kṛṣṇa picks him as the daitya-vibhūti — radical inversion: the highest demon, by Kṛṣṇa's reckoning, is the one who is not really demonic at all. The category is redefined by the choice.
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kālaḥ
—
time
Among kalayatām — subduers, the ones who bring down. Time is the supreme subduer; it brings down empires, ages, demigods. Kṛṣṇa identifies with the impersonal force that even gods cannot resist.
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mṛga - indraḥ
—
the lion
Compound: mṛga (animal) + indra (king). The lion as king of beasts. Note: also a name for Nṛsiṁhadeva — the man-lion who killed Hiraṇyakaśipu. The verse's previous Prahlāda-name and this lion-name resonate.
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vainateyaḥ
—
Garuḍa, son of Vinatā
Garuḍa identified by his mother's name — the standard patronymic-style for him. As Viṣṇu's eternal carrier, he is the chief of birds. Kṛṣṇa's avian vibhūti is the servant-bird, not the most powerful raptor.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
| Sanskrit | IAST | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| प्रह्लादः | prahlādaḥ | प्रह्लाद (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) | Prahlāda |
| च अस्मि | ca asmi | ind. (indeclinable) + √अस् 1sg. | and I am |
| दैत्यानाम् | daityānām | दैत्य (m.) gen.pl. (genitive plural) | among the Daityas (sons of Diti) |
| कालः | kālaḥ | काल (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) | time |
| कलयताम् | kalayatām | √कल् pres. (present) act. part. gen.pl. (genitive plural)m. | among those who reckon/subdue |
| अहम् | aham | अस्मद् nom.sg. (nominative singular) | I |
| मृगाणाम् | mṛgāṇām | मृग (m.) gen.pl. (genitive plural) | among beasts |
| मृग-इन्द्रः | mṛga-indraḥ | मृग + इन्द्र (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular), tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) | lord of beasts, the lion |
| वैनतेयः | vainateyaḥ | वैनतेय (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular), taddhita from विनता | Vainateya (Garuḍa) |
| पक्षिणाम् | pakṣiṇām | पक्षिन् (m.) gen.pl. (genitive plural) | among birds |
Diti and Aditi are two sisters. The sons of Aditi are called Ādityas, and the sons of Diti are called Daityas. All the Ādityas are devotees of the Lord, and all the Daityas are atheistic. Although Prahlāda was born in the family of the Daityas, he was a great devotee from his childhood. Because of his devotional service and godly nature, he is considered to be a representative of Kṛṣṇa. There are many subduing principles, but time wears down all things in the material universe and so represents Kṛṣṇa. Of the many animals, the lion is the most powerful and ferocious, and of the million varieties of birds, Garuḍa, the bearer of Lord Viṣṇu, is the greatest.
Among subjugators (kalayatām), I am time. Among animals, I am the lion (mṛgendraḥ). Among birds, I am Garuḍa (vainateyaḥ).
Among the descendents of Diti, called the daityas, I am their leader, Prahlāda, the best because of his intense faith in the Lord. Among those things that control, I am time. Among animals, I am the lion, outstanding because of its courage. Among birds, I am Garuḍa, son of Vinatā, the best because he is the carrier of Viṣṇu. [Note: Viṣṇu, pleased with Garuḍa after he exhibited prowess in stealing the pot of nectar, asked him to take a boon. Garuḍa asked to be His carrier and be immortal without drinking nectar. Viṣṇu granted both requests.]
Why 'time'? Because time controls everything.
Time, as Kṛṣṇa mentions in Bg. 11.32, is the great destroyer of the world. By time’s influence, eve-
rything within this world is created, maintained and destroyed.
10.30 प्रह्लादः Prahlada? च and? अस्मि (I) am? दैत्यानाम् among demons? कालः time? कलयताम् among reckoners? अहम् I? मृगाणाम् among beasts? च and? मृगेन्द्रः lion? अहम् I? वैनतेयः son of Vinata (Garuda)? च and? पक्षिणाम् among birds.Commentary Prahlada? though he was the son of a demon (Hiranyakasipu)? was a great devotee of the Lord.
- BG 10 30 - Sukhadev Swami - 2011-04-04 Telugu Translation.MP3
- BG 10 30 - Suresvara - ISKCON Radhadesh 2012-10-21
- Priya Valabha Mataji BG 10-30 Hindi
- Ujjvala Rasajna Mataji BG 10-30
- Padaseva Pr BG 10-30 Oriya - 01
- Padaseva Pr BG 10-30 Oriya - 02
- Rasika Govinda Pr BG 10-30 - 2017-10-19
- Rasika Govinda Pr BG 10-30 Tamil - 2017-10-19
- Suresvar Pr BG 10-30 - 2012-10-21 ISKCON Radhadesh
- Sukadeva Sw Telugu BG 10-30 - 2011-04-04
- 2017-04-08 BG 10-30-31 - Nagapatni Mataji ISKCON Vrindavan
- Recognize Prahlāda as a demoniac descendant who is supreme devotee.
- Trust that lineage doesn't determine devotion.
- Apply this to any 'wrong family' you may feel born into.
- What inherited shadow do I assume blocks devotion?
- How does Prahlāda's example free me?
Of all demons, the one who refused to hate the Lord; of all subduers, time itself, which subdues even kings; of all beasts, the lion; of all birds, the carrier of Viṣṇu. Kṛṣṇa picks one demon — and it is the demon who turned. Even within the asura-class, His vibhūti is the bhakta within it.
Born to Hiraṇyakaśipu — the chief demon of the universe — Prahlāda was supposed to inherit his father's hatred of Viṣṇu. Instead, instructed in the womb by Nārada, he emerged a devotee. His father tried fire, poison, serpents, mountains, weapons; nothing worked.
When Nṛsiṁhadeva finally tore Hiraṇyakaśipu apart, the avatāra's fierceness subsided only at Prahlāda's touch. The Bhāgavatam (canto 7) records the entire episode. Kṛṣṇa names Prahlāda specifically — not Hiraṇyakaśipu, the famous demon-king — because in any category Kṛṣṇa picks His devotee, not the category's most powerful occupant.
Garuḍa, son of Vinatā, named here as the chief among birds, became Viṣṇu's eternal mount through his own austerity. He once stole the nectar from Indra to free his mother from slavery — yet, despite his power to challenge demigods, he chose service over independent glory.
The verse picks Garuḍa not for his strength but for his function. Among all birds, the supreme is the one who carries the Lord. Kṛṣṇa's vibhūti is wherever service is fully tendered.
My note
Source: vedabase.io