Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 21

Nṛsiṁhadeva Appears from the Pillar and Slays Hiraṇyakaśipu

Devanagari script

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 ॥

Transliteration

mīmāṁsamānasya samutthito ’grato nṛsiṁha-rūpas tad alaṁ bhayānakam pratapta-cāmīkara-caṇḍa-locanaṁ sphurat saṭā-keśara-jṛmbhitānanam

Translation

其身毛洁白如月光；双臂向四方伸展，宛如军阵列翼，而利爪即其天生兵器。此不可近、不可胜的主，以螺贝、神轮、棍杖、莲华及诸般本然武器，驱散诸代提耶与达那婆。

Synonyms

• stabdha-ūrdhva-karṇam: with stiff, upright ears
• stabdha-ūrdhva-karṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: stabdha (√stambh, क्त-कृदन्त) + ūrdhva + karṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• giri-kandarā-adbhuta-vyātta-āsya-nāsam: with wondrously wide-open mouth and nostrils (like a mountain-cave)
• giri-kandarā-adbhuta-vyātta-āsya-nāsam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: giri + kandarā + adbhuta + vyātta (√yam/√tan?; ‘vyātta’ from √yam ‘to open’ in usage, क्त-कृदन्त) + āsya + nāsā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-समास (कर्मधारय-प्रधान: ‘अद्भुतं व्यात्तं आस्यं नासा च’); प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• hanu-bheda-bhīṣaṇam: terrifying with (its) split jaws
• hanu-bheda-bhīṣaṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hanu + bheda + bhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘हनुभेदेन भीषणम्’); प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• divi: in the sky
• divi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: div (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग (द्यौः/दिव्)

• spṛśat-kāyam: whose body touched the sky
• spṛśat-kāyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √spṛś (धातु, शतृ-कृदन्त) + kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (‘दिवि स्पृशत् कायः’); प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• adīrgha-pīvara-grīvā-uru-vakṣaḥ-sthalam: with a thick neck and broad chest, not long (but massive)
• adīrgha-pīvara-grīvā-uru-vakṣaḥ-sthalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-dīrgha + pīvara + grīvā + uru + vakṣaḥ + sthala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-कर्मधारय-समास; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• alpa-madhyamam: with a slender waist/middle
• alpa-madhyamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpa + madhyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

Characters & Entities

• Nṛsiṁhadeva

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam describe about Lord Narasimha’s form in Canto 7 Chapter 8?

This verse highlights Nṛsiṁhadeva’s awe-inspiring, fearsome theophany: ears erect, mouth and nostrils wide, a sky-touching body, a massive chest, and a slender waist—showing divine power manifest to protect the devotee.

Why is Lord Narasimha described as emerging like a wonder from a mountain cave?

Śukadeva presents the Lord’s sudden, unimaginable manifestation as utterly extraordinary—beyond ordinary categories—emphasizing that the Supreme can appear in any form to fulfill His promise of protecting devotion.

Practical application: how can this Narasimha description help in modern devotional life?

Remembering the Lord’s overwhelming protective potency strengthens faith during fear or injustice, encouraging steady bhakti and reliance on divine shelter rather than ego or worldly power.