In Bhagavad Gita 10.30, Krishna says that among the Daityas he is Prahlada, among reckoners time, among animals the lion, and among birds Garuda.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
प्रह्लादश्चास्मि दैत्यानां
कालः कलयतामहम्
मृगाणां च मृगेन्द्रोऽहं
वैनतेयश्च पक्षिणाम् ॥ १०-३० ॥
prahlādaścāsmi daityānāṃ
kālaḥ kalayatāmaham
mṛgāṇāṃ ca mṛgendro’haṃ
vainateyaśca pakṣiṇām
English transliteration prahlaadashchaasmi daityaanaam
kaalah kalayataamaham
mrigaanaam cha mrigendro’ham
vainateyashcha pakshinaam ॥ 10.30 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Among the Daityas I am Prahlada; among reckoners I am time; among beasts I am the lion; and among birds, Garuda, son of Vinata.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| प्रह्लादः prahlādaḥ | Prahlāda |
| च ca | and |
| अस्मि asmi | I am |
| दैत्यानाम् daityānām | among the Daityas |
| कालः kālaḥ | time |
| कलयताम् kalayatām | among reckoners |
| अहम् aham | I |
| मृगाणाम् mṛgāṇām | among beasts |
| च ca | and |
| मृगेन्द्रः mṛgendraḥ | the lion mṛga (beasts) + indraḥ (king) |
| अहम् aham | I |
| वैनतेयः vainateyaḥ | Garuḍa, son of Vinatā |
| च ca | and |
| पक्षिणाम् pakṣiṇām | among birds |
Word-wise Chanting
- prah–lā–daś–cās–mi dait–yā–nāṃ 8 syllables prah-laa-dash-chaas-mi dait-yaa-naam
- kā–laḥ ka–la–ya–tā–ma–ham | 8 syllables kaa-lah ka-la-ya-taa-ma-ham
- mṛ–gā–ṇāṃ ca mṛ–gen–dro–‘haṃ 8 syllables mri-gaa-naam cha mri-gen-dro-‘ham
- vai–na–te–yaś–ca pa–kṣi–ṇām || 10-30 8 syllables vai-na-te-yash-cha pa-kshi-naam
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 10 Verse 30
Context
Krishna continues naming his glories (10.21–10.38).
Meaning
Prahlāda, born among the Daityas, a demonic race, became a great devotee of Viṣṇu; he shows that devotion can arise anywhere. Kāla, time, is the great reckoner that measures all things. The lion is king of beasts, and Garuḍa, Viṣṇu’s eagle, is king of birds.
Prahlāda’s presence in this list is a powerful message: birth does not determine spiritual destiny. The Divine shines in anyone who turns to it.
In Practice
Recall the story of someone who rose above difficult circumstances through faith, and draw strength from it.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 10: Vibhuti Yoga (The Divine Manifestations). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.