Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 19
Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi and the Lord’s Unlimited Incarnations
संस्तुन्वतो निपतितान् श्रमणानृषींश्च शक्रं च वृत्रवधतस्तमसि प्रविष्टम् । देवस्त्रियोऽसुरगृहे पिहिता अनाथा जघ्नेऽसुरेन्द्रमभयाय सतां नृसिंहे ॥ १९ ॥
saṁstunvato nipatitān śramaṇān ṛṣīṁś ca śakraṁ ca vṛtra-vadhatas tamasi praviṣṭam deva-striyo ’sura-gṛhe pihitā anāthā jaghne ’surendram abhayāya satāṁ nṛsiṁhe
Le Seigneur délivra aussi les minuscules sages ascètes appelés Vālakhilyas lorsqu’ils tombèrent dans l’eau d’une empreinte de sabot de vache et qu’Indra se moquait d’eux. Puis Il sauva Indra lorsque celui-ci fut enveloppé de ténèbres à cause de la réaction pécheresse d’avoir tué Vṛtrāsura. Quand les épouses des demi-dieux furent enfermées, sans refuge, dans le palais des asuras, le Seigneur les libéra. Et dans Son incarnation de Nṛsiṁha, Il tua Hiraṇyakaśipu, roi des démons, afin d’ôter la peur aux saints dévots.
FAQs
This verse states that the Lord, as Nṛsiṁha, killed the demon-king to give “abhaya” (fearlessness) to the saintly, showing that sincere devotees are protected by the Lord’s decisive intervention.
The verse recalls that after the slaying of Vṛtra, Indra became overwhelmed by the reaction to violence and fell into “tamas” (darkness). The Lord’s shelter and glorification relieve even such burdened souls.
When fear, guilt, or helplessness arises, take shelter in the Lord through prayer and remembrance; the verse emphasizes that sincere glorification and dependence on God bring protection and inner fearlessness.