Devanagari
प्रह्लादश्चास्मि दैत्यानां काल: कलयतामहम् ।
मृगाणां च मृगेन्द्रोऽहं वैनतेयश्च पक्षिणाम् ॥ ३० ॥
Verse text
prahlādaś cāsmi daityānāṁ
kālaḥ kalayatām aham
mṛgāṇāṁ ca mṛgendro ’haṁ
vainateyaś ca pakṣiṇām
Synonyms
prahlādaḥ
—
Prahlāda
;
ca
—
also
;
asmi
—
I am
;
daityānām
—
of the demons
;
kālaḥ
—
time
;
kalayatām
—
of subduers
;
aham
—
I am
;
mṛgāṇām
—
of animals
;
ca
—
and
;
mṛga-indraḥ
—
the lion
;
aham
—
I am
;
vainateyaḥ
—
Garuḍa
;
ca
—
also
;
pakṣiṇām
—
of birds.
Translation
Among the Daitya demons I am the devoted Prahlāda, among subduers I am time, among beasts I am the lion, and among birds I am Garuḍa.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
30. Among the demons, I am Prahlāda. Among controllers, I am time. Among animals, I am the lion. Among birds, I am Garuḍa.
Translation (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)
30. Among the daityas, I am Prahlāda. Among controllers, I am time. Among animals, I am the lion. Among birds, I am Garuḍa.
Purport
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.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Among subjugators (kalayatām), I am time. Among animals, I am the lion (mṛgendraḥ). Among birds, I am Garuḍa (vainateyaḥ).
Purport (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)
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.]
Surrender Unto Me
Why 'time'? Because time controls everything.