Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 6
यं विनिर्जित्य कृच्छ्रेण विष्णु: क्ष्मोद्धार आगतम् । आत्मानं जयिनं मेने तद्वीर्यं भूर्यनुस्मरन् ॥ ६ ॥
yaṁ vinirjitya kṛcchreṇa viṣṇuḥ kṣmoddhāra āgatam ātmānaṁ jayinaṁ mene tad-vīryaṁ bhūry anusmaran
Cuando, para rescatar la tierra del océano Garbhodaka, el Señor Viṣṇu en Su avatāra de jabalí dio muerte a Hiraṇyākṣa, la lucha fue terrible y el Señor lo venció con gran dificultad. Después, al recordar una y otra vez el inusual poder de Hiraṇyākṣa, el Señor se sintió verdaderamente victorioso.
FAQs
This verse shows how Bali, after a hard-won triumph, began to think of himself as the true victor—illustrating how success can inflate ego and obscure the Lord’s higher purpose.
Śukadeva indicates that Viṣṇu’s descent is ultimately for cosmic welfare—protecting and restoring balance—regardless of how the demons temporarily interpret events as their own victory.
Even genuine achievements can breed arrogance; remembering that results depend on divine order and cultivating humility helps keep success aligned with dharma.