Shloka 18

Avatāra-kathā — The Puruṣa, the Many Incarnations, and Kṛṣṇa as Svayam Bhagavān

Devanagari script

चतुर्दशं नारसिंहं बिभ्रद्दैत्येन्द्रमूर्जितम् । ददार करजैरूरावेरकां कटकृद्यथा ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

caturdaśaṁ nārasiṁhaṁ bibhrad daityendram ūrjitam dadāra karajair ūrāv erakāṁ kaṭa-kṛd yathā

Translation

പതിനാലാം അവതാരത്തിൽ ഭഗവാൻ നരസിംഹരൂപം ധരിച്ചു, ശക്തനായ ദൈത്യേന്ദ്രൻ ഹിരണ്യകശിപുവിന്റെ വക്ഷസ്ഥലം തന്റെ നഖങ്ങളാൽ പിളർത്തി; ഒരു ആശാരി ചൂരൽ കുത്തിപ്പിളർക്കുന്നതുപോലെ.

Synonyms

• चतुर्दशम्: fourteenth
• चतुर्दशम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular; ordinal sense ‘fourteenth’

• नारसिंहम्: Narasimha (man-lion form)
• नारसिंहम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुष (नर-सिंहः)

• बिभ्रत्: bearing, assuming
• बिभ्रत्: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु) → बिभ्रत् (शतृ-कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Present active participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular (‘bearing/assuming’)

• दैत्येन्द्रम्: the lord of the demons
• दैत्येन्द्रम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दैत्यानाम् इन्द्रः)

• ऊर्जितम्: mighty, powerful
• ऊर्जितम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्जित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्रयोग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ददार: tore apart
• ददार: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Perfect, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• करजैः: with (his) nails
• करजैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• ऊरौ: on the thigh
• ऊरौ: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन — Masculine, Locative, Singular

• एरकाम्: a reed (plant)
• एरकाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एरका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• कटकृत्: a mat-maker
• कटकृत्: कर्ता (Subject of comparison/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कट (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु) → कटकृत् (कृदन्त/नामधातु-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (‘one who makes mats’)

• यथा: as, like
• यथा: सम्बन्ध (Comparison marker/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान-अव्यय — indeclinable of comparison (‘as, like’)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Nṛsiṁha
• Hiraṇyakaśipu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Narasimha’s purpose?

This verse presents Nṛsiṁha as an incarnation who powerfully destroys the demonic king Hiraṇyakaśipu, illustrating the Lord’s role in removing extreme adharma and protecting dharma and devotion.

Why did the Lord tear Hiraṇyakaśipu with His nails on His lap?

Bhagavatam depicts the Lord’s irresistible supremacy: by tearing the demon with His nails while holding him on His lap, the Lord overcomes the demon’s boons and demonstrates that no material arrangement can block divine justice.

Practical application of Narasimha’s teaching in modern life?

When oppression or fear feels overwhelming, this verse inspires faith that the Supreme can protect sincerity and righteousness; it encourages courage, prayerfulness, and steadfastness in dharma.