Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 7
Varāha Confronts Hiraṇyākṣa: The Challenge, the Rescue of Earth, and the Opening of the Mace-Duel
तं नि:सरन्तं सलिलादनुद्रुतो हिरण्यकेशो द्विरदं यथा झष: । करालदंष्ट्रोऽशनिनिस्वनोऽब्रवीद् गतह्रियां किं त्वसतां विगर्हितम् ॥ ७ ॥
taṁ niḥsarantaṁ salilād anudruto hiraṇya-keśo dviradaṁ yathā jhaṣaḥ karāla-daṁṣṭro ’śani-nisvano ’bravīd gata-hriyāṁ kiṁ tv asatāṁ vigarhitam
那个长着金发和可怕獠牙的恶魔追赶着正从水中升起的主，就像鳄鱼追赶大象一样。他像雷鸣般咆哮道：你在对手面前逃跑不觉得羞耻吗？对于无耻之徒来说，没有什么是不光彩的！
When the Lord was coming out of the water, taking the earth in His arms to deliver it, the demon derided Him with insulting words, but the Lord did not care because He was very conscious of His duty. For a dutiful man there is nothing to fear. Similarly, those who are powerful have no fear of derision or unkind words from an enemy. The Lord had nothing to fear from anyone, yet He was merciful to His enemy by neglecting him. Although apparently He fled from the challenge, it was just to protect the earth from calamity that He tolerated Hiraṇyākṣa’s deriding words.
FAQs
This verse shows the asura Hiraṇyākṣa rushing aggressively toward the Lord and speaking with contempt—illustrating how the wicked criticize even divine acts while being driven by pride and hostility.
Seeing Lord Varāha emerge from the waters, Hiraṇyākṣa challenged Him to provoke combat, using thunderous, insulting words as part of his arrogant, confrontational nature.
When doing righteous work, expect criticism from those with impure motives; remain steady in dharma rather than being shaken by loud opposition or mockery.