Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10, Verse 30

English Translation

Among demons I am Prahlada, and I am Time among reckoners of time. And among animals I am the loin, and among birds I am Garuda.

Detailed Commentary

'Among the Daityas, I am Prahlada'—those born of Diti are called Daityas. Among these Daityas, Prahlada is preeminent and supreme. He is a supremely faithful and desireless devotee (bhakta) of the Lord. Therefore, the Lord has declared him to be His own vibhuti (divine manifestation). Prahlada existed long ago, yet the Lord used the present tense 'Among Daityas, I am Prahlada'. This proves that the Lord's devotees (bhaktas) are eternal (nitya) and can bestow their darshan (divine sight) according to one's faith (shraddha) and devotion (bhakti). Even after their merging into the Lord, if someone remembers them and desires their darshan, the Lord assumes their form and grants the darshan. 'Among calculators, I am time'—in Jyotisha Shastra (astrology), age is calculated solely by Kala (time). Therefore, Kala, in its measurement as kshana (moment), ghadi (unit of time), day, paksha (fortnight), masa (month), varsha (year), etc., is a vibhuti of the Lord. 'Among animals, I am the king of beasts'—among all animals like the tiger, elephant, cheetah, bear, etc., the lion is mighty, radiant (tejasvi), influential, valorous (shuraveer), and courageous. It is the king of all animals. Therefore, the Lord has declared it to be His vibhuti. 'And among birds, I am Vainateya'—Garudaji, the son of Vinata, is the king of all birds and a devotee (bhakta) of the Lord. He is the vahana (mount) of Bhagavan Vishnu, and when he flies, the hymns (richas) of the Samaveda spontaneously resound from his wings. Therefore, the Lord has declared him to be His vibhuti. The preeminence (mukhyata) described distinctly in all these vibhutis is, in essence (tatvatah), that of the Lord alone. Therefore, as soon as one's gaze falls upon them, one should spontaneously meditate upon the Lord.