FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.18.25

न यावदेष वर्धेत स्वां वेलां प्राप्य दारुण: । स्वां देव मायामास्थाय तावज्जह्यघमच्युत ॥ २५ ॥
na yāvad eṣa vardheta
[na yaavad esha vardheta]
svāṁ velāṁ prāpya dāruṇaḥ
[svaam velaam praapya daarunah]
svāṁ deva māyām āsthāya
[svaam deva maayaam aasthaaya]
tāvaj jahy agham acyuta
[taavaj jahy agham achyuta]
na yāvat — before eṣaḥ — this demon vardheta — may increase svām — his own velām — demoniac hour prāpya — having reached dāruṇaḥ — formidable svām — Your own deva — O Lord māyām — internal potency āsthāya — using tāvat — at once jahi — kill agham — the sinful one acyuta — O infallible one.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
na yāvad eṣa vardheta
na yāvat
before
eṣaḥ
this demon
vardheta
may increase
svāṁ velāṁ prāpya dāruṇaḥ
svām
his own
velām
demoniac hour
prāpya
having reached
dāruṇaḥ
formidable
svāṁ deva māyām āsthāya
svām
Your own
deva
O Lord
māyām
internal potency
āsthāya
using
tāvaj jahy agham acyuta
tāvat
at once
jahi
kill
agham
the sinful one
acyuta
O infallible one.
Brahmā continued: My dear Lord, You are infallible. Please kill this sinful demon before the demoniac hour arrives and he presents another formidable approach favorable to him. You can kill him by Your internal potency without doubt.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O infallible Lord! Before his demonic hour arrives and his cruel power increases, you, fixed in your own energy, should kill this sinful person. Before his favorable time (svām velām) arrives, when his power increases, and you, though the Supreme Lord, cannot kill him, you should kill him. Though Brahmā is full of power and knowledge, out of prema he becomes unsteady with apprehension. Similarly, though Vasudeva and Devakī are full of power and knowledge they say samudvije bhavaddhetoḥ kaṁsād aham adhīḥ: I am trembling in fear from Kaṁśa for your safety. (SB 10.3.29)
Brahmā urges the Lord to kill the demon by internal potency before a more favorable hour arrives for the demon. Timing matters in spiritual action. Procrastinated decisive action can let evil consolidate strength.
Reflection Questions
  • What decisive action am I postponing while the opposing force gains strength?
  • How would acting now, before the demonic hour, change the outcome?
📝 My note

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