Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 19
Nṛsiṁhadeva Appears from the Pillar and Slays Hiraṇyakaśipu
मीमांसमानस्य समुत्थितोऽग्रतो । नृसिंहरूपस्तदलं भयानकम् ॥ १९ ॥ प्रतप्तचामीकरचण्डलोचनं स्फुरत्सटाकेशरजृम्भिताननम् । करालदंष्ट्रं करवालचञ्चल क्षुरान्तजिह्वं भ्रुकुटीमुखोल्बणम् ॥ २० ॥ स्तब्धोर्ध्वकर्णं गिरिकन्दराद्भुत- व्यात्तास्यनासं हनुभेदभीषणम् । दिविस्पृशत्कायमदीर्घपीवर- ग्रीवोरुवक्ष:स्थलमल्पमध्यमम् ॥ २१ ॥ चन्द्रांशुगौरैश्छुरितं तनूरुहै- र्विष्वग्भुजानीकशतं नखायुधम् । दुरासदं सर्वनिजेतरायुध- प्रवेकविद्रावितदैत्यदानवम् ॥ २२ ॥
mīmāṁsamānasya samutthito ’grato nṛsiṁha-rūpas tad alaṁ bhayānakam pratapta-cāmīkara-caṇḍa-locanaṁ sphurat saṭā-keśara-jṛmbhitānanam
Hiraṇyakaśipu meneliti rupa Bhagavān Nṛsiṁhadeva yang berdiri di hadapannya, sambil berfikir, “Siapakah Dia?” Rupa itu amat menggerunkan: mata murka bagaikan emas cair, wajah melebar oleh surai yang berkilau, taring yang dahsyat, dan lidah setajam pisau cukur yang bergerak seperti pedang.
FAQs
It describes that while Hiraṇyakaśipu was still deliberating, the Lord suddenly manifested before him as the terrifying Nṛsiṁha form.
In the narrative, the Lord appears to protect His devotee Prahlāda and to fulfill the divine promise that devotion is safeguarded, while also answering Hiraṇyakaśipu’s challenge about God’s presence.
This verse encourages steadiness in devotion: help may come unexpectedly, so one should persist in dharma and sincere bhakti even when outcomes seem uncertain.