Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 27
Nṛsiṁhadeva Appears from the Pillar and Slays Hiraṇyakaśipu
तं मन्यमानो निजवीर्यशङ्कितं यद्धस्तमुक्तो नृहरिं महासुर: । पुनस्तमासज्जत खड्गचर्मणी प्रगृह्य वेगेन गतश्रमो मृधे ॥ २७ ॥
taṁ manyamāno nija-vīrya-śaṅkitaṁ yad dhasta-mukto nṛhariṁ mahāsuraḥ punas tam āsajjata khaḍga-carmaṇī pragṛhya vegena gata-śramo mṛdhe
Als Hiraṇyakaśipu aus den Händen Nṛsiṁhadevas entkam, meinte der große Dämon fälschlich, Nṛhari fürchte seine Kraft. Darum ruhte er sich kurz vom Kampf aus, ergriff Schwert und Schild und griff den Herrn erneut mit großer Wucht an.
When a sinful man enjoys material facilities, foolish people sometimes think, “How is it that this sinful man is enjoying whereas a pious man is suffering?” By the will of the Supreme, a sinful man is sometimes given the chance to enjoy the material world as if he were not under the clutches of material nature, just so that he may be fooled. A sinful man who acts against the laws of nature must be punished, but sometimes he is given a chance to play, exactly like Hiraṇyakaśipu when he was released from the hands of Nṛsiṁhadeva. Hiraṇyakaśipu was destined to be ultimately killed by Nṛsiṁhadeva, but just to see the fun, the Lord gave him a chance to slip from His hands.
FAQs
This verse shows Hiraṇyakaśipu misreading the Lord’s movements as fear and, driven by pride, attacking again with sword and shield—illustrating how arrogance blinds an asura even in the presence of the Supreme.
He assumed Nṛhari had released him out of hesitation or fear, so he renewed the assault, believing his own strength could still overpower the Lord.
Don’t mistake temporary relief or escape as proof of superiority; pride can distort judgment. Cultivate humility and discernment, especially when confronting forces greater than oneself.