Tīrtha-Sevana and the Cursed Apsaras
Grāha-Encounter at Saubhadra Tīrtha
महासुरस्यान्ववाये हिरण्यकशिपो: पुरा । निकुम्भो नाम दैत्येन्द्रस्तेजस्वी बलवानभूत्,प्राचीनकालमें महान् दैत्य हिरण्यकशिपुके कुलमें निकुम्भ नामसे प्रसिद्ध एक दैत्यराज हो गया है, जो अत्यन्त तेजस्वी और बलवान था
nārada uvāca | mahāsurasyānvavāye hiraṇyakaśipoḥ purā | nikumbho nāma daityendras tejasvī balavān abhūt |
Nārada nói: Thuở xưa, trong dòng dõi của đại a-tu-la Hiraṇyakaśipu, đã xuất hiện một chúa tể của loài Daitya tên là Nikumbha—rực rỡ uy quang và hùng cường sức lực.
नारद उवाच
The verse highlights that extraordinary strength and brilliance can arise even in an asuric lineage; it implicitly prepares the listener to distinguish mere power (bala, tejas) from dharma and ethical conduct, which must be assessed separately.
Narada begins (or continues) a genealogical-historical account by introducing Nikumbha, a powerful Daitya ruler born in the line of Hiraṇyakaśipu, establishing background for subsequent events involving this figure or his descendants.