Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10, Verse 30 (BG 10.30) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

# BG 10.30 Among the demons, I am Prahlad. The story of the child devotee Prahlad is deeply revered in Hindu tradition. Prahlad was the son of Hiranyakashyapu, a demon king, yet he possessed unwavering faith and steadfast devotion to Lord Hari. For this, the god-hating Hiranyakashyapu inflicted upon him countless torments, all of which Prahlad endured with patience, yet he never abandoned his devotion. Among those who reckon and measure, I am Time. In Indian philosophy, the Naiyayikas hold a distinctive place. While they acknowledge the diversity of creation as real, they deny the existence of God. Through logical reasoning alone, they arrived at the conclusion that Time alone is the eternal principle. Individual mind and intellect are the dividers of Time—they conceive of past, present, and future within it. According to their view, this play of the mind divides Time in such a way that Time appears to be a fragmented and limited principle. Perhaps keeping this doctrine in mind, the great sage Vyasa presented this example here to illustrate the infinite foundation underlying the manifold creation. Some commentators accept this as a simple statement. According to them, beginningless and endless Time is the ultimate substratum of all objects in this world. The lion is called the king of beasts on account of its majesty, glory, and valor. The eagle is granted sovereignty among birds because of its keen vision and its ability to soar to the greatest heights. The eagle is said to be the vehicle of Lord Vishnu.