Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 19
Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi and the Lord’s Unlimited Incarnations
संस्तुन्वतो निपतितान् श्रमणानृषींश्च शक्रं च वृत्रवधतस्तमसि प्रविष्टम् । देवस्त्रियोऽसुरगृहे पिहिता अनाथा जघ्नेऽसुरेन्द्रमभयाय सतां नृसिंहे ॥ १९ ॥
saṁstunvato nipatitān śramaṇān ṛṣīṁś ca śakraṁ ca vṛtra-vadhatas tamasi praviṣṭam deva-striyo ’sura-gṛhe pihitā anāthā jaghne ’surendram abhayāya satāṁ nṛsiṁhe
Der Herr befreite auch die winzigen asketischen Weisen, die Vālakhilyas, als sie in das Wasser einer Kuhhufspur fielen und Indra über sie lachte. Danach rettete Er Indra, als dieser wegen der sündhaften Reaktion auf die Tötung Vṛtrāsuras von Finsternis umhüllt wurde. Als die Gemahlinnen der Halbgötter im Palast der Asuras eingeschlossen und schutzlos waren, befreite der Herr sie. Und in Seiner Inkarnation als Nṛsiṁha tötete Er Hiraṇyakaśipu, den König der Dämonen, um die heiligen Gottgeweihten von Furcht zu erlösen.
FAQs
This verse states that the Lord, as Nṛsiṁha, killed the demon-king to give “abhaya” (fearlessness) to the saintly, showing that sincere devotees are protected by the Lord’s decisive intervention.
The verse recalls that after the slaying of Vṛtra, Indra became overwhelmed by the reaction to violence and fell into “tamas” (darkness). The Lord’s shelter and glorification relieve even such burdened souls.
When fear, guilt, or helplessness arises, take shelter in the Lord through prayer and remembrance; the verse emphasizes that sincere glorification and dependence on God bring protection and inner fearlessness.