Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 21
Nṛsiṁhadeva Appears from the Pillar and Slays Hiraṇyakaśipu
मीमांसमानस्य समुत्थितोऽग्रतो । नृसिंहरूपस्तदलं भयानकम् ॥ १९ ॥ प्रतप्तचामीकरचण्डलोचनं स्फुरत्सटाकेशरजृम्भिताननम् । करालदंष्ट्रं करवालचञ्चल क्षुरान्तजिह्वं भ्रुकुटीमुखोल्बणम् ॥ २० ॥ स्तब्धोर्ध्वकर्णं गिरिकन्दराद्भुत- व्यात्तास्यनासं हनुभेदभीषणम् । दिविस्पृशत्कायमदीर्घपीवर- ग्रीवोरुवक्ष:स्थलमल्पमध्यमम् ॥ २१ ॥ चन्द्रांशुगौरैश्छुरितं तनूरुहै- र्विष्वग्भुजानीकशतं नखायुधम् । दुरासदं सर्वनिजेतरायुध- प्रवेकविद्रावितदैत्यदानवम् ॥ २२ ॥
mīmāṁsamānasya samutthito ’grato nṛsiṁha-rūpas tad alaṁ bhayānakam pratapta-cāmīkara-caṇḍa-locanaṁ sphurat saṭā-keśara-jṛmbhitānanam
Hiraṇyakaśipu studied the form of the Lord, trying to decide who the form of Nṛsiṁhadeva standing before him was. The Lord’s form was extremely fearsome because of His angry eyes, which resembled molten gold; His shining mane, which expanded the dimensions of His fearful face; His deadly teeth; and His razor-sharp tongue, which moved about like a dueling sword. His ears were erect and motionless, and His nostrils and gaping mouth appeared like caves of a mountain. His jaws parted fearfully, and His entire body touched the sky. His neck was very short and thick, His chest broad, His waist thin, and the hairs on His body as white as the rays of the moon. His arms, which resembled flanks of soldiers, spread in all directions as He killed the demons, rogues and atheists with His conchshell, disc, club, lotus and other natural weapons.
FAQs
This verse highlights Nṛsiṁhadeva’s awe-inspiring, fearsome theophany: ears erect, mouth and nostrils wide, a sky-touching body, a massive chest, and a slender waist—showing divine power manifest to protect the devotee.
Śukadeva presents the Lord’s sudden, unimaginable manifestation as utterly extraordinary—beyond ordinary categories—emphasizing that the Supreme can appear in any form to fulfill His promise of protecting devotion.
Remembering the Lord’s overwhelming protective potency strengthens faith during fear or injustice, encouraging steady bhakti and reliance on divine shelter rather than ego or worldly power.