Shloka 2
Tīrtha-Sevana and the Cursed Apsaras
Grāha-Encounter at Saubhadra Tīrtha
महासुरस्यान्ववाये हिरण्यकशिपो: पुरा । निकुम्भो नाम दैत्येन्द्रस्तेजस्वी बलवानभूत्,प्राचीनकालमें महान् दैत्य हिरण्यकशिपुके कुलमें निकुम्भ नामसे प्रसिद्ध एक दैत्यराज हो गया है, जो अत्यन्त तेजस्वी और बलवान था
nārada uvāca | mahāsurasyānvavāye hiraṇyakaśipoḥ purā | nikumbho nāma daityendras tejasvī balavān abhūt |
Nārada sprach: In uralter Zeit erhob sich innerhalb der Linie des großen Asura Hiraṇyakaśipu ein Herr unter den Daityas namens Nikumbha—strahlend an tejas und gewaltig an Kraft.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that extraordinary strength and brilliance can arise even in an asuric lineage; it implicitly prepares the listener to distinguish mere power (bala, tejas) from dharma and ethical conduct, which must be assessed separately.
Narada begins (or continues) a genealogical-historical account by introducing Nikumbha, a powerful Daitya ruler born in the line of Hiraṇyakaśipu, establishing background for subsequent events involving this figure or his descendants.