Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68
Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat
Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis
संरक्तनयनो ऽन्तो हिरण्यनयनाग्रजम् / नखैर्विदारयामास प्रह्रादस्यैव पश्यतः
saṃraktanayano 'nto hiraṇyanayanāgrajam / nakhairvidārayāmāsa prahrādasyaiva paśyataḥ
ധർമ്മക്രോധത്തിൽ ചുവന്ന കണ്ണുകളോടെ, തൂണിനുള്ളിൽ അന്തർസ്ഥിതനായ പ്രഭു, പ്രഹ്ലാദൻ നോക്കി നിൽക്കേ, ഹിരണ്യനയനന്റെ അഗ്രജനെ നഖങ്ങളാൽ പിളർത്തി।
Sūta (narrator) recounting the Narasiṁha episode within the Kurma Purana’s Purva-bhaga narrative frame
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
By calling the Lord “the one within” (antaḥ), the verse hints that the Supreme is the indwelling reality that can manifest outwardly to uphold dharma—immanent yet capable of decisive intervention.
The verse itself emphasizes not a technique but the fruit of steadfast devotion and inner alignment: Prahlāda’s unwavering God-remembrance functions like continuous contemplation (smaraṇa), a bhakti-based discipline resonant with the Kurma Purana’s broader yoga-dharma teachings.
Though explicitly Vaishnava in imagery (Narasimha protecting Prahlāda), it fits the Kurma Purana’s synthesis by presenting the Supreme as the inner Lord (antaḥ) beyond sectarian limitation—consistent with later teachings that integrate Shaiva and Vaishnava perspectives.