Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 30

Nṛsiṁhadeva Appears from the Pillar and Slays Hiraṇyakaśipu

Devanagari script

संरम्भदुष्प्रेक्ष्यकराललोचनो व्यात्ताननान्तं विलिहन्स्वजिह्वया । असृग्लवाक्तारुणकेशराननो यथान्त्रमाली द्विपहत्यया हरि: ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

saṁrambha-duṣprekṣya-karāla-locano vyāttānanāntaṁ vilihan sva-jihvayā asṛg-lavāktāruṇa-keśarānano yathāntra-mālī dvipa-hatyayā hariḥ

Translation

നരസിംഹദേവൻ്റെ മുഖവും പിടലിയും രക്തത്തുള്ളികളാൽ നനഞ്ഞിരുന്നു. കുടലുകൾ മാലയായി അണിഞ്ഞ്, നാവുകൊണ്ട് വായ നלקിക്കൊണ്ട്, ആനയെ കൊന്ന സിംഹത്തെപ്പോലെ ഭഗവാൻ കാണപ്പെട്ടു.

Synonyms

• saṁrambha-duṣprekṣya-karāla-locanaḥ: having terrible eyes, hard to look at in fury
• saṁrambha-duṣprekṣya-karāla-locanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṁrambha (प्रातिपदिक) + duṣprekṣya (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + karāla (प्रातिपदिक) + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; विशेषण (hariḥ)

• vyātta-ānana-antam: with mouth wide open (to the end)
• vyātta-ānana-antam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyātta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; कर्मविशेषण

• vilihan: licking
• vilihan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√lih (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; कर्तृसमनाधिकरण (describing subject)

• sva-jihvayā: with his own tongue
• sva-jihvayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + jihvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (स्वस्य जिह्वा); स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्; करण

• asṛk-lava-ākta-āruṇa-keśara-ānanaḥ: whose face had reddish mane smeared with drops of blood
• asṛk-lava-ākta-āruṇa-keśara-ānanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asṛk (प्रातिपदिक) + lava (प्रातिपदिक) + ākta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + āruṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + keśara (प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; विशेषण (hariḥ)

• yathā: like
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक

• antra-mālī: one wearing a garland of entrails
• antra-mālī: Upamāna-Karta (उपमान-कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antra (प्रातिपदिक) + mālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (antrāṇāṁ mālī); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; उपमानकर्ता

• dvipa-hatyayā: by/with the slaying of an elephant
• dvipa-hatyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvipa (प्रातिपदिक) + hatyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (dvipasya hatyā); स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्; करण/हेतु (instrumental of comparison)

• hariḥ: Hari
• hariḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

Purport

The hair on Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva’s face, being sprinkled with drops of blood, was reddish and looked very beautiful. Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva pierced Hiraṇyakaśipu’s abdomen with His nails, pulled out the demon’s intestines and wore them as a garland, which enhanced His beauty. Thus the Lord became very fearsome, like a lion engaged in fighting an elephant.

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Śrī Nṛsiṁhadeva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Nrsimhadeva’s terrifying form?

This verse describes Lord Hari’s fierce, unapproachable visage—wide mouth, terrible eyes, blood-smeared face and mane—revealing His divine wrath as He protects His devotee and destroys adharma.

Why does the Bhagavatam describe Nrsimha with such intense imagery (blood and a lion comparison)?

The graphic comparison to a lion after slaying an elephant emphasizes the Lord’s irresistible power and the certainty of the demon’s destruction, showing that divine intervention can be fearsome when dharma is violently opposed.

What is a practical application of this shloka in modern life?

It teaches that evil and oppression are not ultimately invincible; for a sincere devotee who stands by truth, divine protection and justice may come decisively—even if it appears intense or disruptive.