Shloka 24

Devanagari script

एतान् वयं विजेष्यामो यदि दैवं प्रसीदति । तस्मात् कालं प्रतीक्षध्वं यो नोऽर्थत्वाय कल्पते ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

etān vayaṁ vijeṣyāmo yadi daivaṁ prasīdati tasmāt kālaṁ pratīkṣadhvaṁ yo no ’rthatvāya kalpate

Translation

If providence becomes favorable to us, we shall surely conquer them; therefore we must wait for that auspicious time when defeating them will be possible for us.

Synonyms

• एतान्: these (ones)
• एतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• विजेष्यामः: we shall conquer
• विजेष्यामः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√जि (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional conjunction)

• दैवम्: fate/divine will
• दैवम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रसीदति: is favorable/pleased
• प्रसीदति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√सद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति हेत्वर्थे अव्ययीभाववत् (ablatival adverb: therefore/from that)

• कालम्: time
• कालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रतीक्षध्वम्: wait (you all)
• प्रतीक्षध्वम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति√ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• यः: which/who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचकः (refers to kālaḥ understood)

• नः: for us
• नः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th) वा चतुर्थी (4th), बहुवचन; अत्र चतुर्थी (for us)

• अर्थत्वाय: for (our) benefit
• अर्थत्वाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative of purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनम् (for benefit/for being meaningful)

• कल्पते: is fit/serves
• कल्पते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

Characters & Entities

• Bali Maharaja
• Daityas (demons)
• Devas (demigods)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about waiting for the right time (kāla)?

This verse teaches that success depends on favorable time and providence; therefore one should act strategically and patiently, waiting until conditions support the goal.

Why did Bali Maharaja tell the Daityas to wait instead of fighting immediately?

In the context of the demigods and demons’ conflict, Bali advises restraint: victory is possible when daiva (providence) is favorable, so they should pause and act when the moment becomes advantageous.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam verse in modern life?

Do your duty with intelligence, but don’t force outcomes—assess timing, stay steady under setbacks, and act when circumstances align rather than reacting impulsively.