Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 14
Bhagavān’s Avatāras, Their Protections (Poṣaṇa), and the Limits of Knowing Him
त्रैपिष्टपोरुभयहा स नृसिंहरूपं कृत्वा भ्रमद्भ्रुकुटिदंष्ट्रकरालवक्त्रम् । दैत्येन्द्रमाशु गदयाभिपतन्तमारा- दूरौ निपात्य विददार नखै: स्फुरन्तम् ॥ १४ ॥
trai-piṣṭaporu-bhaya-hā sa nṛsiṁha-rūpaṁ kṛtvā bhramad-bhrukuṭi-daṁṣṭra-karāla-vaktram daityendram āśu gadayābhipatantam ārād ūrau nipātya vidadāra nakhaiḥ sphurantam
Pour dissiper la grande peur des demi-dieux, le Seigneur prit la forme de Nṛsiṁha. Les sourcils froncés de colère, montrant des crocs et une gueule terribles, Il renversa sur Ses cuisses le roi des asuras, Hiraṇyakaśipu, qui Le défiait avec une massue, et le déchira de Ses ongles étincelants.
The history of Hiraṇyakaśipu and his great devotee-son Prahlāda Mahārāja is narrated in the Seventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Hiraṇyakaśipu became very powerful by material achievements and thought himself to be immortal by the grace of Brahmājī. Brahmājī declined to award him the benediction of immortality because he himself is not an immortal being. But Hiraṇyakaśipu derived Brahmājī’s benediction in a roundabout way, almost equal to becoming an immortal being. Hiraṇyakaśipu was sure that he would not be killed by any man or demigod or by any kind of known weapon, nor would he die in day or night. The Lord, however, assumed the incarnation of half-man and half-lion, which was beyond the imagination of a materialistic demon like Hiraṇyakaśipu, and thus, keeping pace with the benediction of Brahmājī, the Lord killed him. He killed him on His lap, so that he was killed neither on the land nor on the water nor in the sky. The demon was pierced by Nṛsiṁha’s nails, which were beyond the human weapons imaginable by Hiraṇyakaśipu. The literal meaning of Hiraṇyakaśipu is one who is after gold and soft bedding, the ultimate aim of all materialistic men. Such demonic men, who have no relationship with God, gradually become puffed up by material acquisitions and begin to challenge the authority of the Supreme Lord and torture those who are devotees of the Lord. Prahlāda Mahārāja happened to be the son of Hiraṇyakaśipu, and because the boy was a great devotee, his father tortured him to the best of his ability. In this extreme situation, the Lord assumed the incarnation of Nṛsiṁhadeva, and just to finish the enemy of the demigods, the Lord killed Hiraṇyakaśipu in a manner beyond the demon’s imagination. Materialistic plans of godless demons are always frustrated by the all-powerful Lord.
FAQs
This verse says the Lord took the Nṛsiṁha form to remove the great fear of the demigods and to destroy the demon-king who attacked Him.
Shukadeva emphasizes the Lord’s awe-inspiring, fearsome aspect to show how the Supreme protects dharma by overpowering adharma, even when evil appears invincible.
When fear and hostility rise, this verse teaches remembrance of the Lord’s protective power and steadfastness in righteousness, trusting that dharma is ultimately upheld.