Shloka 41
Nṛsiṁhadeva Appears from the Pillar and Slays Hiraṇyakaśipu
श्रीरुद्र उवाच कोपकालो युगान्तस्ते हतोऽयमसुरोऽल्पक: । तत्सुतं पाह्युपसृतं भक्तं ते भक्तवत्सल ॥ ४१ ॥
śrī-rudra uvāca kopa-kālo yugāntas te hato ’yam asuro ’lpakaḥ tat-sutaṁ pāhy upasṛtaṁ bhaktaṁ te bhakta-vatsala
श्रीरुद्र म्हणाले—हे प्रभो! तुझा कोप युगांतासारखा आहे. हा क्षुद्र असुर मारला गेला. हे भक्तवत्सल! तुझा शरणागत भक्त प्रह्लाद जवळ उभा आहे; कृपा करून त्याचे रक्षण कर.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the creator of the material world. There are three processes in creation — namely creation, maintenance and finally annihilation. During the period of annihilation, at the end of each millennium, the Lord becomes angry, and the part of anger is played by Lord Śiva, who is therefore called Rudra. When the Lord appeared in great anger to kill Hiraṇyakaśipu, everyone was extremely afraid of the Lord’s attitude, but Lord Śiva, knowing very well that the Lord’s anger is also His līlā, was not afraid. Lord Śiva knew that he would have to play the part of anger for the Lord. Kāla means Lord Śiva (Bhairava), and kopa refers to the Lord’s anger. These words, combined together as kopa-kāla, refer to the end of each millennium. Actually the Lord is always affectionate toward His devotees, even though He may appear very angry. Because He is avyayātmā — because He never falls down — even when angry the Lord is affectionate toward His devotees. Therefore Lord Śiva reminded the Lord to act like an affectionate father toward Prahlāda Mahārāja, who was standing by the Lord’s side as an exalted, fully surrendered devotee.
FAQs
This verse highlights that the Lord is “bhakta-vatsala,” lovingly inclined to His devotees—after destroying the demon, He is urged to protect the devotee Prahlāda who has taken shelter.
After Hiraṇyakaśipu is slain, Rudra acknowledges the overwhelming force of the Lord’s anger and petitions Him to turn that power into protection for Prahlāda, the demon’s son and the Lord’s devotee.
Like Prahlāda, one can practice steady devotion and take shelter in God during fear or crisis, trusting that divine power ultimately protects the sincere devotee.