Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 31
Portents at the Birth of Diti’s Sons and Hiraṇyākṣa Challenges Varuṇa
तं वीरमारादभिपद्य विस्मय: शयिष्यसे वीरशये श्वभिर्वृत: । यस्त्वद्विधानामसतां प्रशान्तये रूपाणि धत्ते सदनुग्रहेच्छया ॥ ३१ ॥
taṁ vīram ārād abhipadya vismayaḥ śayiṣyase vīra-śaye śvabhir vṛtaḥ yas tvad-vidhānām asatāṁ praśāntaye rūpāṇi dhatte sad-anugrahecchayā
その神なる勇者に近づけば、汝の驕りはたちまち砕け、犬どもに囲まれた戦場の「勇士の床」に横たわり、永遠の眠りに落ちるであろう。汝のような悪しき者を鎮め、善き者に恩寵を与えるため、主はヴァラーハなど種々の化身を現される。
Asuras do not know that their bodies consist of the five elements of material nature and that when they fall they become objects of pastimes for dogs and vultures. Varuṇa advised Hiraṇyākṣa to meet Viṣṇu in His boar incarnation so that his hankering for aggressive war would be satisfied and his powerful body would be vanquished.
FAQs
This verse says the Lord assumes various forms to pacify the wicked and to bestow grace upon the saintly—His incarnations protect dharma and favor devotees.
In the Varāha episode, Brahmā warns the arrogant demon Hiraṇyākṣa that by attacking the Lord’s heroic form he will be slain and left on the battlefield, while the Lord’s purpose is to subdue such ungodly beings and protect the righteous.
It encourages humility and alignment with dharma: aggression against truth and goodness leads to downfall, while supporting saintly values invites divine protection and inner peace.