Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 22
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
So breitete Nṛsiṁhadeva seine Arme nach allen Seiten aus, machte seine Nägel zu Waffen und jagte die Daityas und Dānavas unwiderstehlich in die Flucht. Vor seinem Glanz erzitterten die Bösen und Gotteslästerer. Hiraṇyakaśipu geriet beim Anblick in Zorn und Furcht zugleich.
FAQs
This verse highlights that Nṛsiṁhadeva’s nails themselves are His weapons (nakhāyudham), showing the Lord needs no external arms to protect His devotee and defeat evil.
Because His divine form and power were so overwhelming that even well-armed Daityas and Dānavas could not face Him; they were routed despite their superior weaponry.
It teaches refuge in dharma and devotion: when arrogance and violence rise, divine protection favors sincere devotion, and inner faith can overcome seemingly invincible obstacles.