Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 31
Varāha-avatāra: The Boar Incarnation Lifts the Earth and Slays Hiraṇyākṣa
स्वदंष्ट्रयोद्धृत्य महीं निमग्नां स उत्थित: संरुरुचे रसाया: । तत्रापि दैत्यं गदयापतन्तं सुनाभसन्दीपिततीव्रमन्यु: ॥ ३१ ॥
sva-daṁṣṭrayoddhṛtya mahīṁ nimagnāṁ sa utthitaḥ saṁruruce rasāyāḥ tatrāpi daityaṁ gadayāpatantaṁ sunābha-sandīpita-tīvra-manyuḥ
主ヴァラーハは沈んだ大地を自らの牙に載せて易々と引き上げ、ラサータラの水より現れて燦然と輝かれた。ついで、棍棒を振りかざして襲い来る魔を、スダルシャナ輪のごとく燃え立つ怒りをもってただちに討ち滅ぼされた。
According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, the Vedic literatures describe the incarnation of Lord Varāha (Boar) in two different devastations, namely the Cākṣuṣa devastation and the Svāyambhuva devastation. This particular appearance of the boar incarnation actually took place in the Svāyambhuva devastation, when all planets other than the higher ones — Jana, Mahar and Satya — merged in the water of devastation. This particular incarnation of the boar was seen by the inhabitants of the planets mentioned above. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī suggests that the sage Maitreya amalgamated both the boar incarnations in different devastations and summarized them in his description to Vidura.
FAQs
This verse describes Lord Varāha lifting the Earth on His tusks from the depths (Rasā) and rising brilliantly, showing the Lord as the divine protector who restores balance and dharma.
Because Hiraṇyākṣa attacked the Lord with a mace even as the Lord was rescuing the Earth; the demon’s aggression kindled the Lord’s intense, righteous anger as part of the līlā to destroy adharma.
When chaos or “submersion” overwhelms life, this līlā inspires steadiness and faith that protecting what is sacred—duty, integrity, and compassion—must be upheld even in the face of hostile opposition.