Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 14
Prahlāda’s Prayers Pacify Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva
Prahlāda-stuti and the Lord’s Benediction Offer
तद्यच्छ मन्युमसुरश्च हतस्त्वयाद्य मोदेत साधुरपि वृश्चिकसर्पहत्या । लोकाश्च निर्वृतिमिता: प्रतियन्ति सर्वे रूपं नृसिंह विभयाय जना: स्मरन्ति ॥ १४ ॥
tad yaccha manyum asuraś ca hatas tvayādya modeta sādhur api vṛścika-sarpa-hatyā lokāś ca nirvṛtim itāḥ pratiyanti sarve rūpaṁ nṛsiṁha vibhayāya janāḥ smaranti
O Nṛsiṁhadeva, da mein Vater, der große Dämon Hiraṇyakaśipu, heute von Dir getötet wurde, bitte ich Dich, Deinen Zorn zu besänftigen. Selbst Heilige freuen sich, wenn ein Skorpion oder eine Schlange getötet wird; so sind alle Welten durch den Tod dieses Dämons zufrieden. Um frei von Furcht zu sein, werden die Menschen stets Deiner glückverheißenden Inkarnation gedenken.
The most important point in this verse is that although saintly persons never desire the killing of any living entity, they take pleasure in the killing of envious living entities like snakes and scorpions. Hiraṇyakaśipu was killed because he was worse than a snake or a scorpion, and therefore everyone was happy. Now there was no need for the Lord to be angry. The devotees can always remember the form of Nṛsiṁhadeva when they are in danger, and therefore the appearance of Nṛsiṁhadeva was not at all inauspicious. The Lord’s appearance is always worshipable and auspicious for all sane persons and devotees.
FAQs
Because the purpose of the Lord’s fierce manifestation—destroying the tyrannical demon—has been fulfilled, and Prahlāda prays that the Lord now return to a peaceful mood so the worlds can rest in safety.
It highlights that eliminating a dangerous aggressor who harms the innocent is not cruelty but protection; even the gentle-hearted feel relief when a deadly threat is removed.
By remembering Lord Nṛsiṁha for courage and protection during fear or oppression, and by supporting dharmic protection of others while keeping one’s own heart free from hatred.