Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 10
Varāha Confronts Hiraṇyākṣa: The Challenge, the Rescue of Earth, and the Opening of the Mace-Duel
श्रीभगवानुवाच सत्यं वयं भो वनगोचरा मृगा युष्मद्विधान्मृगये ग्रामसिंहान् । न मृत्युपाशै: प्रतिमुक्तस्य वीरा विकत्थनं तव गृह्णन्त्यभद्र ॥ १० ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca satyaṁ vayaṁ bho vana-gocarā mṛgā yuṣmad-vidhān mṛgaye grāma-siṁhān na mṛtyu-pāśaiḥ pratimuktasya vīrā vikatthanaṁ tava gṛhṇanty abhadra
Tuhan Yang Maha Esa berfirman: Memang benar, Kami adalah makhluk hutan, dan Kami sedang memburu anjing-anjing kampung seperti kamu. Seseorang yang bebas daripada jerat kematian tidak takut dengan cakap kosong kamu, kerana kamu terikat dengan undang-undang kematian.
Demons and atheistic persons can go on insulting the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but they forget that they are subjected to the laws of birth and death. They think that simply by decrying the existence of the Supreme Lord or defying His stringent laws of nature, one can be freed from the clutches of birth and death. In Bhagavad-gītā it is said that simply by understanding the transcendental nature of God one can go back home, back to Godhead. But demons and atheistic persons do not try to understand the nature of the Supreme Lord; therefore they remain in the entanglement of birth and death.
FAQs
This verse shows that the Lord dismisses empty bravado—true heroes do not respect the boasting of someone who has merely escaped death and speaks arrogantly.
Hiraṇyākṣa challenged and taunted the Lord; Varāha responds by exposing his false pride, calling him a “village-lion” and warning that such boasting is not honored by the truly brave.
Avoid performative confidence and ego-driven talk; let actions, integrity, and steadiness under pressure define strength rather than loud self-praise.