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Shloka 83

Narasiṃha’s Greatness and the Slaying of Hiraṇyakaśipu

Boon, Portents, and Cosmic Restoration

ततो दृष्ट्वा महाभागं कालचक्रमिवागतम् । नारसिंहवपुश्छन्नं भस्मच्छन्नमिवानलम्

tato dṛṣṭvā mahābhāgaṃ kālacakramivāgatam | nārasiṃhavapuśchannaṃ bhasmacchannamivānalam

Dann, als er jenen höchst Erhabenen sah—als wäre das Rad der Zeit selbst hervorgetreten—vom Leib Narasiṃhas umhüllt, wie Feuer, das von Asche bedeckt ist.

ततःthen
ततः:
Kāla (काल)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; देश/कालवाचक (ablatival adverb: ‘then/from there’)
दृष्ट्वाhaving seen
दृष्ट्वा:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootदृश् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having seen’
महाभागम्the greatly fortunate one
महाभागम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootमहाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
काल-चक्रम्the wheel of time
काल-चक्रम्:
Upamāna (उपमान)
TypeNoun
Rootकाल (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘कालस्य चक्रम्’
इवlike
इव:
Upamā (उपमा)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; उपमावाचक (comparative particle)
आगतम्come, arrived
आगतम्:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootआ-गम् (धातु)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; agreeing with महाभागम्
नर-सिंह-वपुः-छन्नम्covered by a man-lion form
नर-सिंह-वपुः-छन्नम्:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootनर (प्रातिपदिक) + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + छन्न (कृदन्त; छद् धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: ‘नरसिंहस्य वपुषा छन्नम्’ (covered/hidden by Narasiṃha-form)
भस्म-छन्नम्covered with ash
भस्म-छन्नम्:
Upamāna (उपमान)
TypeAdjective
Rootभस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + छन्न (कृदन्त; छद् धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः: ‘भस्मना छन्नम्’
इवlike
इव:
Upamā (उपमा)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; उपमा
अनलम्fire
अनलम्:
Upamāna (उपमान)
TypeNoun
Rootअनल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; उपमान

Narrator (contextual speaker not specified in the provided excerpt)

Concept: The Lord appears as Time’s wheel—unstoppable and just—yet remains the devotee’s shelter; divine ferocity is compassion toward dharma.

Application: When facing entrenched injustice, remember that outcomes are not solely human-managed; act dharmically while trusting that ‘Time’ favors truth in the long arc.

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Type: celestial_realm

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A terrifyingly majestic presence approaches—like the wheel of Time rolling into the hall—its power felt before it is fully seen. Narasiṃha’s form is partially veiled, as if fire smolders beneath a skin of ash: a muted outer layer cracking to reveal incandescent divinity within, making the air shimmer with dread and awe.","primary_figures":["Narasimha (veiled/partially revealed)","asura courtiers (recoiling silhouettes)"],"setting":"threshold of the asuric sabhā, with swirling dust/ash motes and trembling pillars","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["ash gray","ember orange","smoldering crimson","antique gold","midnight blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Narasiṃha advancing like the kālacakra, partially veiled in ash-toned textures with cracks of fiery red beneath; gold leaf radiance bursting around the figure; courtiers recoiling at the edges; ornate sabhā pillars and arches richly gilded, dramatic contrast between muted ash and blazing gold.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a lyrical yet ominous moment—Narasiṃha’s outline emerging through a haze of ash motes; delicate brushwork for smoke and light; expressive faces of frightened courtiers; cool architectural tones with sudden warm ember highlights, creating a poised ‘before-the-storm’ tension.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines of Narasiṃha with layered ash-gray washes and bright red/orange inner glow; stylized swirling aura; temple-wall composition with ornamental borders; intense eyes and iconic facial geometry emphasizing ugra-rasa.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Narasiṃha centered within a circular kālacakra mandala motif; ash-and-ember palette with gold detailing; intricate floral borders subdued to let the central fiery revelation dominate; patterned smoke curls and lotus medallions framing the divine ferocity."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["sudden silence","low thunder","conch shell blast","temple bells swelling"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes: काळचक्रमिवागतम् = कालचक्रम् इव आगतम्; नारसिंहवपुश्छन्नम् = नर-सिंह-वपुः-छन्नम् (उष्म-सन्धि: वपुः + छन्नम् → वपुश्छन्नम्); भस्मच्छन्नम् = भस्म-छन्नम् (व्यञ्जन-सन्धि: छ + छ → च्छ).

N
Narasiṃha
K
Kāla (Time)

FAQs

It suggests irresistible, fated power—an awe-inspiring presence that moves like Time itself, beyond ordinary opposition.

The verse implies a concealed or veiled potency—divine force present but not fully revealed, intensifying the sense of mystery and impending action.

Latent power can remain hidden beneath a calm exterior; one should not mistake outward quietness for weakness, and should cultivate discernment and humility.