Shloka 2
Varāha Confronts Hiraṇyākṣa: The Challenge, the Rescue of Earth, and the Opening of the Mace-Duel
ददर्श तत्राभिजितं धराधरं प्रोन्नीयमानावनिमग्रदंष्ट्रया । मुष्णन्तमक्ष्णा स्वरुचोऽरुणश्रिया जहास चाहो वनगोचरो मृग: ॥ २ ॥
dadarśa tatrābhijitaṁ dharā-dharaṁ pronnīyamānāvanim agra-daṁṣṭrayā muṣṇantam akṣṇā sva-ruco ’ruṇa-śriyā jahāsa cāho vana-gocaro mṛgaḥ
ସେଠାରେ ସେ ସର୍ବଜୟୀ ଧରାଧର ଭଗବାନଙ୍କୁ ବରାହରୂପେ ଦେଖିଲା; ଅଗ୍ରଦଂଷ୍ଟ୍ରାର ଶିରାରେ ପୃଥିବୀକୁ ଉପରକୁ ଉଠାଉଥିଲେ। ତାଙ୍କ ଅରୁଣ ନୟନର ଦୀପ୍ତି ତାହାର ତେଜ ହରିନେଲା; ତେବେ ସେ ହସି କହିଲା—“ଆହା, ଜଳ-ଥଳଚର ମୃଗ!”
In a previous chapter we have discussed the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as Varāha, the boar. While Varāha, with His tusks, engaged in uplifting the submerged earth from the depths of the waters, this great demon Hiraṇyākṣa met Him and challenged Him, calling Him a beast. Demons cannot understand the incarnations of the Lord; they think that His incarnations as a fish or boar or tortoise are big beasts only. They misunderstand the body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, even in His human form, and they deride His descent. In the Caitanya sampradāya there is sometimes a demoniac misconception about the descent of Nityānanda Prabhu. Nityānanda Prabhu’s body is spiritual, but demoniac persons consider the body of the Supreme Personality to be material, just like ours. Avajānanti māṁ mūḍhāḥ: persons who have no intelligence deride the transcendental form of the Lord as material.
FAQs
This verse describes Lord Varāha as invincible, raising the earth on the tip of His tusk, His divine radiance shining with a reddish splendor—showing the Lord’s direct protection of creation.
Seeing the Lord rescuing the earth, Hiraṇyākṣa—described as a forest-roaming beast—mocked Him out of pride and hostility, setting the mood for the impending combat.
It teaches steadiness in faith: even when truth and dharma are mocked by the arrogant, the Lord’s protection and inner radiance remain unconquerable—so one should not be shaken by ridicule.