Chapter 8: Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva Slays the King of the Demons

 

7.8.1

śrī-nārada uvāca

atha daitya-sutāḥ sarve

śrutvā tad-anuvarṇitam

jagṛhur niravadyatvān

naiva gurv-anuśikṣitam

 

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — Śrī Nārada Muni said; atha — thereupon; daitya-sutāḥ — the sons of the demons (the class friends of Prahlāda Mahārāja); sarve — all; śrutvā — hearing; tat — by him (Prahlāda); anuvarṇitam — the statements about devotional life; jagṛhuḥ — accepted; niravadyatvāt — due to the supreme utility of that instruction; na — not; eva — indeed; guru-anuśikṣitam — that which was taught by their teachers.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Nārada Muni continued: All the sons of the demons appreciated the transcendental instructions of Prahlāda Mahārāja and took them very seriously. They rejected the materialistic instructions given by their teachers, Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka.

 

7.8.2

athācārya-sutas teṣāḿ

buddhim ekānta-saḿsthitām

ālakṣya bhītas tvarito

rājña āvedayad yathā

 

atha — thereupon; ācārya-sutaḥ — the son of Śukrācārya; teṣām — of them (the sons of the demons); buddhim — the intelligence; ekānta-saḿsthitām — fixed in one subject matter, devotional service; ālakṣya — realizing or seeing practically; bhītaḥ — being afraid; tvaritaḥ — as soon as possible; rājñe — unto the King (Hiraṇyakaśipu); āvedayat — submitted; yathā — fittingly.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka, the sons of Śukrācārya, observed that all the students, the sons of the demons, were becoming advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness because of the association of Prahlāda Mahārāja, they were afraid. They approached the King of the demons and described the situation as it was.

 

7.8.3-4

kopāveśa-calad-gātraḥ

putraḿ hantuḿ mano dadhe

kṣiptvā paruṣayā vācā

prahrādam atad-arhaṇam

āhekṣamāṇaḥ pāpena

 

tiraścīnena cakṣuṣā

praśrayāvanataḿ dāntaḿ

baddhāñjalim avasthitam

sarpaḥ padāhata iva

śvasan prakṛti-dāruṇaḥ

 

kopa-āveśa — by a very angry mood; calat — trembling; gātraḥ — the whole body; putram — his son; hantum — to kill; manaḥ — mind; dadhe — fixed; kṣiptvā — rebuking; paruṣayā — with very harsh; vācā — words; prahrādam — Prahlāda Mahārāja; a-tat-arhaṇam — not fit to be chastised (due to his noble character and tender age); āha — said; īkṣamāṇaḥ — looking at him in anger; pāpena — because of his sinful activities;

 

tiraścīnena — crooked; cakṣuṣā — with eyes; praśraya-avanatam — very gentle and mild; dāntam — very restrained; baddha-añjalim — having folded hands; avasthitam — situated; sarpaḥ — a snake; pada-āhataḥ — being trampled by the foot; iva — like; śvasan — hissing; prakṛti — by nature; dāruṇaḥ — very evil.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When Hiraṇyakaśipu understood the entire situation, he was extremely angry, so much so that his body trembled. Thus he finally decided to kill his son Prahlāda. Hiraṇyakaśipu was by nature very cruel, and feeling insulted, he began hissing like a snake trampled upon by someone's foot. His son Prahlāda was peaceful, mild and gentle, his senses were under control, and he stood before Hiraṇyakaśipu with folded hands. According to Prahlāda's age and behavior, he was not to be chastised. Yet with staring, crooked eyes, Hiraṇyakaśipu rebuked him with the following harsh words.

 

7.8.5

śrī-hiraṇyakaśipur uvāca

he durvinīta mandātman

kula-bheda-karādhama

stabdhaḿ mac-chāsanodvṛttaḿ

neṣye tvādya yama-kṣayam

 

śrī-hiraṇyakaśipuḥ uvāca — the blessed Hiraṇyakaśipu said; he — O; durvinīta — most impudent; manda-ātman — O stupid fool; kula-bheda-kara — who are bringing about a disruption in the family; adhama — O lowest of mankind; stabdham — most obstinate; mat-śāsana — from my ruling; udvṛttam — going astray; neṣye — I shall bring; tvā — you; adya — today; yama-kṣayam — to the place of Yamarāja, the superintendent of death.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Hiraṇyakaśipu said: O most impudent, most unintelligent disruptor of the family, O lowest of mankind, you have violated my power to rule you, and therefore you are an obstinate fool. Today I shall send you to the place of Yamarāja.

 

7.8.6

kruddhasya yasya kampante

trayo lokāḥ saheśvarāḥ

tasya me 'bhītavan mūḍha

śāsanaḿ kiḿ balo 'tyagāḥ

 

kruddhasya — when angered; yasya — he who; kampante — tremble; trayaḥ lokāḥ — the three worlds; saha-īśvarāḥ — with their leaders; tasya — of that; me — of me (Hiraṇyakaśipu); abhīta-vat — without fear; mūḍha — rascal; śāsanam — ruling order; kim — what; balaḥ — strength; atyagāḥ — have overstepped.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My son Prahlāda, you rascal, you know that when I am angry all the planets of the three worlds tremble, along with their chief rulers. By whose power has a rascal like you become so impudent that you appear fearless and overstep my power to rule you?

 

7.8.7

śrī-prahrāda uvāca

na kevalaḿ me bhavataś ca rājan

sa vai balaḿ balināḿ cāpareṣām

pare 'vare 'mī sthira-jańgamā ye

brahmādayo yena vaśaḿ praṇītāḥ

 

śrī-prahrādaḥ uvāca — Prahlāda Mahārāja replied; na — not; kevalam — only; me — of me; bhavataḥ — of yourself; ca — and; rājan — O great King; saḥ — he; vai — indeed; balam — strength; balinām — of the strong; ca — and; apareṣām — of others; pare — exalted; avare — subordinate; amī — those; sthira-jańgamāḥ — moving or nonmoving living entities; ye — who; brahma-ādayaḥ — beginning from Lord Brahmā; yena — by whom; vaśam — under control; praṇītāḥ — brought.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Prahlāda Mahārāja said: My dear King, the source of my strength, of which you are asking, is also the source of yours. Indeed, the original source of all kinds of strength is one. He is not only your strength or mine, but the only strength for everyone. Without Him, no one can get any strength. Whether moving or not moving, superior or inferior, everyone, including Lord Brahmā, is controlled by the strength of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

7.8.8

sa īśvaraḥ kāla urukramo 'sāv

ojaḥ sahaḥ sattva-balendriyātmā

sa eva viśvaḿ paramaḥ sva-śaktibhiḥ

sṛjaty avaty atti guṇa-trayeśaḥ

 

saḥ — He (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); īśvaraḥ — the supreme controller; kālaḥ — the time factor; urukramaḥ — the Lord, whose every action is uncommon; asau — that one; ojaḥ — the strength of the senses; sahaḥ — the strength of the mind; sattva — steadiness; bala — bodily strength; indriya — and of the senses themselves; ātmā — the very self; saḥ — He; eva — indeed; viśvam — the whole universe; paramaḥ — the supreme; sva-śaktibhiḥ — by His multifarious transcendental potencies; sṛjati — creates; avati — maintains; atti — winds up; guṇa-traya-īśaḥ — the master of the material modes.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the supreme controller and time factor, is the power of the senses, the power of the mind, the power of the body, and the vital force of the senses. His influence is unlimited. He is the best of all living entities, the controller of the three modes of material nature. By His own power, He creates this cosmic manifestation, maintains it and annihilates it also.

 

7.8.9

jahy āsuraḿ bhāvam imaḿ tvam ātmanaḥ

samaḿ mano dhatsva na santi vidviṣaḥ

ṛte 'jitād ātmana utpathe sthitāt

tad dhi hy anantasya mahat samarhaṇam

 

jahi — just give up; āsuram — demoniac; bhāvam — tendency; imam — this; tvam — you (my dear father); ātmanaḥ — of yourself; samam — equal; manaḥ — the mind; dhatsva — make; na — not; santi — are; vidviṣaḥ — enemies; ṛte — except; ajitāt — uncontrolled; ātmanaḥ — the mind; utpathe — on the mistaken path of undesirable tendencies; sthitāt — being situated; tat hi — that (mentality); hi — indeed; anantasya — of the unlimited Lord; mahat — the best; samarhaṇam — method of worship.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Prahlāda Mahārāja continued: My dear father, please give up your demoniac mentality. Do not discriminate in your heart between enemies and friends; make your mind equipoised toward everyone. Except for the uncontrolled and misguided mind, there is no enemy within this world. When one sees everyone on the platform of equality, one then comes to the position of worshiping the Lord perfectly.

 

7.8.10

dasyūn purā ṣaṇ na vijitya lumpato

manyanta eke sva-jitā diśo daśa

jitātmano jñasya samasya dehināḿ

sādhoḥ sva-moha-prabhavāḥ kutaḥ pare

 

dasyūn — plunderers; purā — in the beginning; ṣaṭ — six; na — not; vijitya — conquering; lumpataḥ — stealing all one s possessions; manyante — consider; eke — some; sva-jitāḥ — conquered; diśaḥ daśa — the ten directions; jita-ātmanaḥ — one who has conquered the senses; jñasya — learned; samasya — equipoised; dehinām — to all living entities; sādhoḥ — of such a saintly person; sva-moha-prabhavāḥ — created by one's own illusion; kutaḥ — where; pare — enemies or opposing elements.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In former times there were many fools like you who did not conquer the six enemies that steal away the wealth of the body. These fools were very proud, thinking, "I have conquered all enemies in all the ten directions." But if a person is victorious over the six enemies and is equipoised toward all living entities, for him there are no enemies. Enemies are merely imagined by one in ignorance.

 

7.8.11

śrī-hiraṇyakaśipur uvāca

vyaktaḿ tvaḿ martu-kāmo 'si

yo 'timātraḿ vikatthase

mumūrṣūṇāḿ hi mandātman

nanu syur viklavā giraḥ

 

śrī-hiraṇyakaśipuḥ uvāca — the blessed Hiraṇyakaśipu said; vyaktam — evidently; tvam — you; martu-kāmaḥ — desirous of death; asi — are; yaḥ — one who; atimātram — without limit; vikatthase — are boasting (as if you had conquered your senses whereas your father could not do so); mumūrṣūṇām — of persons who are about to meet immediate death; hi — indeed; manda-ātman — O unintelligent rascal; nanu — certainly; syuḥ — become; viklavāḥ — confused; giraḥ — the words.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Hiraṇyakaśipu replied: You rascal, you are trying to minimize my value, as if you were better than me at controlling the senses. This is over-intelligent. I can therefore understand that you desire to die at my hands, for this kind of nonsensical talk is indulged in by those about to die.

 

7.8.12

yas tvayā manda-bhāgyokto

mad-anyo jagad-īśvaraḥ

kvāsau yadi sa sarvatra

kasmāt stambhe na dṛśyate

 

yaḥ — the one who; tvayā — by you; manda-bhāgya — O unfortunate one; uktaḥ — described; mat-anyaḥ — besides me; jagat-īśvaraḥ — the supreme controller of the universe; kva — where; asau — that one; yadi — if; saḥ — He; sarvatra — everywhere (all-pervading); kasmāt — why; stambhe — in the pillar before me; na dṛśyate — not seen.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O most unfortunate Prahlāda, you have always described a supreme being other than me, a supreme being who is above everything, who is the controller of everyone, and who is all-pervading. But where is He? If He is everywhere, then why is He not present before me in this pillar?

 

7.8.13

so 'haḿ vikatthamānasya

śiraḥ kāyād dharāmi te

gopāyeta haris tvādya

yas te śaraṇam īpsitam

 

saḥ — he; aham — I; vikatthamānasya — who are speaking such nonsense; śiraḥ — the head; kāyāt — from the body; harāmi — I shall take away; te — of you; gopāyeta — let Him protect; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tvā — you; adya — now; yaḥ — He who; te — your; śaraṇam — protector; īpsitam — desired.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Because you are speaking so much nonsense, I shall now sever your head from your body. Now let me see your most worshipable God come to protect you. I want to see it.

 

7.8.14

evaḿ duruktair muhur ardayan ruṣā

sutaḿ mahā-bhāgavataḿ mahāsuraḥ

khaḍgaḿ pragṛhyotpatito varāsanāt

stambhaḿ tatāḍātibalaḥ sva-muṣṭinā

 

evam — thus; duruktaiḥ — by harsh words; muhuḥ — constantly; ardayan — chastising; ruṣā — with unnecessary anger; sutam — his son; mahā-bhāgavatam — who was a most exalted devotee; mahā-asuraḥ — Hiraṇyakaśipu, the great demon; khaḍgam — sword; pragṛhya — taking up; utpatitaḥ — having gotten up; vara-āsanāt — from his exalted throne; stambham — the column; tatāḍa — struck; ati-balaḥ — very strong; sva-muṣṭinā — by his fist.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Being obsessed with anger, Hiraṇyakaśipu, who was very great in bodily strength, thus chastised his exalted devotee-son Prahlāda with harsh words. Cursing him again and again, Hiraṇyakaśipu took up his sword, got up from his royal throne, and with great anger struck his fist against the column.

 

7.8.15

tadaiva tasmin ninado 'tibhīṣaṇo

babhūva yenāṇḍa-kaṭāham asphuṭat

yaḿ vai sva-dhiṣṇyopagataḿ tv ajādayaḥ

śrutvā sva-dhāmātyayam ańga menire

 

tadā — at that time; eva — just; tasmin — within (the pillar); ninadaḥ — a sound; ati-bhīṣaṇaḥ — very fearful; babhūva — there was; yena — by which; aṇḍa-kaṭāham — the covering of the universe; asphuṭat — appeared to crack; yam — which; vai — indeed; sva-dhiṣṇya-upagatam — reaching their respective abodes; tu — but; aja-ādayaḥ — the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā; śrutvā — hearing; sva-dhāma-atyayam — the destruction of their abodes; ańga — my dear Yudhiṣṭhira; menire — thought.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Then from within the pillar came a fearful sound, which appeared to crack the covering of the universe. O my dear Yudhiṣṭhira, this sound reached even the abodes of the demigods like Lord Brahmā, and when the demigods heard it, they thought, "Oh, now our planets are being destroyed!"

 

7.8.16

sa vikraman putra-vadhepsur ojasā

niśamya nirhrādam apūrvam adbhutam

antaḥ-sabhāyāḿ na dadarśa tat-padaḿ

vitatrasur yena surāri-yūtha-pāḥ

 

saḥ — he (Hiraṇyakaśipu); vikraman — exhibiting his prowess; putra-vadha-īpsuḥ — desirous of killing his own son; ojasā — with great strength; niśamya — hearing; nirhrādam — the fierce sound; apūrvam — never heard before; adbhutam — very wonderful; antaḥ-sabhāyām — within the jurisdiction of the great assembly; na — not; dadarśa — saw; tat-padam — the source of that tumultuous sound; vitatrasuḥ — became afraid; yena — by which sound; sura-ari-yūtha-pāḥ — the other leaders of the demons (not only Hiraṇyakaśipu).

 

TRANSLATION

 

While showing his extraordinary prowess, Hiraṇyakaśipu, who desired to kill his own son, heard that wonderful, tumultuous sound, which had never before been heard. Upon hearing the sound, the other leaders of the demons were afraid. None of them could find the origin of that sound in the assembly.

 

7.8.17

satyaḿ vidhātuḿ nija-bhṛtya-bhāṣitaḿ

vyāptiḿ ca bhūteṣv akhileṣu cātmanaḥ

adṛśyatātyadbhuta-rūpam udvahan

stambhe sabhāyāḿ na mṛgaḿ na mānuṣam

 

satyam — true; vidhātum — to prove; nija-bhṛtya-bhāṣitam — the words of His own servant (Prahlāda Mahārāja, who had said that his Lord is present everywhere); vyāptim — the pervasion; ca — and; bhūteṣu — among the living entities and elements; akhileṣu — all; ca — also; ātmanaḥ — of Himself; adṛśyata — was seen; ati — very; adbhuta — wonderful; rūpam — form; udvahan — taking; stambhe — in the pillar; sabhāyām — within the assembly; na — not; mṛgam — an animal; na — nor; mānuṣam — a human being.

 

TRANSLATION

 

To prove that the statement of His servant Prahlāda Mahārāja was substantial — in other words, to prove that the Supreme Lord is present everywhere, even within the pillar of an assembly hall — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, exhibited a wonderful form never before seen. The form was neither that of a man nor that of a lion. Thus the Lord appeared in His wonderful form in the assembly hall.

 

7.8.18

sa sattvam enaḿ parito vipaśyan

stambhasya madhyād anunirjihānam

nāyaḿ mṛgo nāpi naro vicitram

aho kim etan nṛ-mṛgendra-rūpam

 

saḥ — he (Hiraṇyakaśipu, the King of the Daityas); sattvam — living being; enam — that; paritaḥ — all around; vipaśyan — looking; stambhasya — of the pillar; madhyāt — from the midst; anunirjihānam — having come out; na — not; ayam — this; mṛgaḥ — animal; na — not; api — indeed; naraḥ — human being; vicitram — very wonderful; aho — alas; kim — what; etat — this; nṛ-mṛga-indra-rūpam — the form of both a man and the king of the beasts, the lion.

 

TRANSLATION

 

While Hiraṇyakaśipu looked all around to find the source of the sound, that wonderful form of the Lord, which could not be ascertained to be either a man or a lion, emerged from the pillar. In amazement, Hiraṇyakaśipu wondered, "What is this creature that is half man and half lion?"

 

7.8.19-22

mīmāḿsamānasya samutthito 'grato

nṛsiḿha-rūpas tad alaḿ bhayānakam

pratapta-cāmīkara-caṇḍa-locanaḿ

sphurat saṭā-keśara-jṛmbhitānanam

 

karāla-daḿṣṭraḿ karavāla-cañcala-

kṣurānta-jihvaḿ bhrukuṭī-mukholbaṇam

stabdhordhva-karṇaḿ giri-kandarādbhuta-

vyāttāsya-nāsaḿ hanu-bheda-bhīṣaṇam

 

divi-spṛśat kāyam adīrgha-pīvara-

grīvoru-vakṣaḥ-sthalam alpa-madhyamam

candrāḿśu-gauraiś churitaḿ tanūruhair

viṣvag bhujānīka-śataḿ nakhāyudham

 

durāsadaḿ sarva-nijetarāyudha-

praveka-vidrāvita-daitya-dānavam

 

mīmāḿsamānasya — of Hiraṇyakaśipu, who was contemplating the wonderful form of the Lord; samutthitaḥ — appeared; agrataḥ — in front; nṛsiḿha-rūpaḥ — the form of Nṛsiḿhadeva (half lion and half man); tat — that; alam — extraordinarily; bhayānakam — very fearful; pratapta — like molten; cāmīkara — gold; caṇḍa-locanam — having fierce eyes; sphurat — flashing; saṭā-keśara — by His mane; jṛmbhita-ānanam — whose face was expanded;

 

karāla — deadly; daḿṣṭram — with a set of teeth; karavāla-cañcala — waving like a sharp sword; kṣura-anta — and as sharp as a razor; jihvam — whose tongue; bhrukuṭī-mukha — due to His frowning face; ulbaṇam — dreadful; stabdha — motionless; ūrdhva — extending upward; karṇam — whose ears; giri-kandara — like the caves of a mountain; adbhuta — very wonderful; vyāttāsya — with a widely opened mouth; nāsam — and nostrils; hanu-bheda-bhīṣaṇam — causing fear due to the separation of the jaws;

 

divi-spṛśat — touching the sky; kāyam — whose body; adīrgha — short; pīvara — fat; grīva — neck; uru — broad; vakṣaḥ-sthalam — chest; alpa — small; madhyamam — middle portion of the body; candra-aḿśu — like the rays of the moon; gauraiḥ — whitish; churitam — covered; tanūruhaiḥ — with hairs; viṣvak — in all directions; bhuja — of arms; anīka-śatam — with a hundred rows; nakha — having nails; āyudham — as fatal weapons;

 

durāsadam — very difficult to conquer; sarva — all; nija — personal; itara — and other; āyudha — of weapons; praveka — by use of the best; vidrāvita — caused to run; daitya — by whom the demons; dānavam — and the rogues (atheists).

 

TRANSLATION

 

Hiraṇyakaśipu studied the form of the Lord, trying to decide who the form of Nṛsiḿhadeva standing before him was. The Lord's form was extremely fearsome because of His angry eyes, which resembled molten gold; His shining mane, which expanded the dimensions of His fearful face; His deadly teeth; and His razor-sharp tongue, which moved about like a dueling sword. His ears were erect and motionless, and His nostrils and gaping mouth appeared like caves of a mountain. His jaws parted fearfully, and His entire body touched the sky. His neck was very short and thick, His chest broad, His waist thin, and the hairs on His body as white as the rays of the moon. His arms, which resembled flanks of soldiers, spread in all directions as He killed the demons, rogues and atheists with His conchshell, disc, club, lotus and other natural weapons.

 

7.8.23

prāyeṇa me 'yaḿ hariṇorumāyinā

vadhaḥ smṛto 'nena samudyatena kim

evaḿ bruvaḿs tv abhyapatad gadāyudho

nadan nṛsiḿhaḿ prati daitya-kuñjaraḥ

 

prāyeṇa — probably; me — of me; ayam — this; hariṇā — by the Supreme Lord; uru-māyinā — who possesses the great mystic power; vadhaḥ — the death; smṛtaḥ — planned; anena — with this; samudyatena — endeavor; kim — what use; evam — in this way; bruvan — murmuring; tu — indeed; abhyapatat — attacked; gadā-āyudhaḥ — armed with his weapon, the club; nadan — loudly roaring; nṛ-siḿham — the Lord, appearing in the form of half lion and half man; prati — toward; daitya-kuñjaraḥ — Hiraṇyakaśipu, who was like an elephant.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Hiraṇyakaśipu murmured to himself, "Lord Viṣṇu, who possesses great mystic power, has made this plan to kill me, but what is the use of such an attempt? Who can fight with me?" Thinking like this and taking up his club, Hiraṇyakaśipu attacked the Lord like an elephant.

 

7.8.24

alakṣito 'gnau patitaḥ patańgamo

yathā nṛsiḿhaujasi so 'suras tadā

na tad vicitraḿ khalu sattva-dhāmani

sva-tejasā yo nu purāpibat tamaḥ

 

alakṣitaḥ — invisible; agnau — in the fire; patitaḥ — fallen; patańgamaḥ — an insect; yathā — just as; nṛsiḿha — of Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva; ojasi — in the effulgence; saḥ — he; asuraḥ — Hiraṇyakaśipu; tadā — at that time; na — not; tat — that; vicitram — wonderful; khalu — indeed; sattva-dhāmani — in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in pure goodness; sva-tejasā — by His own effulgence; yaḥ — He who (the Lord); nu — indeed; purā — formerly; apibat — swallowed up; tamaḥ — the darkness within the material creation.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Just as a small insect falls forcefully into a fire and the insignificant creature becomes invisible, when Hiraṇyakaśipu attacked the Lord, who was full of effulgence, Hiraṇyakaśipu became invisible. This is not at all astonishing, for the Lord is always situated in pure goodness. Formerly, during creation, He entered the dark universe and illuminated it by His spiritual effulgence.

 

7.8.25

tato 'bhipadyābhyahanan mahāsuro

ruṣā nṛsiḿhaḿ gadayoruvegayā

taḿ vikramantaḿ sagadaḿ gadādharo

mahoragaḿ tārkṣya-suto yathāgrahīt

 

tataḥ — thereafter; abhipadya — attacking; abhyahanat — struck; mahā-asuraḥ — the great demon (Hiraṇyakaśipu); ruṣā — with anger; nṛsiḿham — Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva; gadayā — by his club; uru-vegayā — moving with great force; tam — him (Hiraṇyakaśipu); vikramantam — showing his prowess; sa-gadam — with his club; gadā-dharaḥ — Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva, who also holds a club in His hand; mahā-uragam — a great snake; tārkṣya-sutaḥ — Garuḍa, the son of Tārkṣya; yathā — just as; agrahīt — captured.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thereafter, the great demon Hiraṇyakaśipu, who was extremely angry, swiftly attacked Nṛsiḿhadeva with his club and began to beat Him. Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva, however, captured the great demon, along with his club, just as Garuḍa might capture a great snake.

 

7.8.26

sa tasya hastotkalitas tadāsuro

vikrīḍato yadvad ahir garutmataḥ

asādhv amanyanta hṛtaukaso 'marā

ghana-cchadā bhārata sarva-dhiṣṇya-pāḥ

 

saḥ — he (Hiraṇyakaśipu); tasya — of Him (Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva); hasta — from the hands; utkalitaḥ — slipped; tadā — at that time; asuraḥ — the King of the demons, Hiraṇyakaśipu; vikrīḍataḥ — playing; yadvat — exactly like; ahiḥ — a snake; garutmataḥ — of Garuḍa; asādhu — not very good; amanyanta — considered; hṛta-okasaḥ — whose abodes were taken by Hiraṇyakaśipu; amarāḥ — the demigods; ghana-cchadāḥ — situated behind a cover of clouds; bhārata — O great son of Bhārata; sarva-dhiṣṇya-pāḥ — the rulers of the heavenly planets.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Yudhiṣṭhira, O great son of Bhārata, when Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva gave Hiraṇyakaśipu a chance to slip from His hand, just as Garuḍa sometimes plays with a snake and lets it slip from his mouth, the demigods, who had lost their abodes and who were hiding behind the clouds for fear of the demon, did not consider that incident very good. Indeed, they were perturbed.

 

7.8.27

taḿ manyamāno nija-vīrya-śańkitaḿ

yad dhasta-mukto nṛhariḿ mahāsuraḥ

punas tam āsajjata khaḍga-carmaṇī

pragṛhya vegena gata-śramo mṛdhe

 

tam — Him (Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva); manyamānaḥ — thinking; nija-vīrya-śańkitam — afraid of his prowess; yat — because; hasta-muktaḥ — freed from the clutches of the Lord; nṛ-harim — Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva; mahā-asuraḥ — the great demon; punaḥ — again; tam — Him; āsajjata — attacked; khaḍga-carmaṇī — his sword and shield; pragṛhya — taking up; vegena — with great force; gata-śramaḥ — his fatigue having gone; mṛdhe — in the battle.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When Hiraṇyakaśipu was freed from the hands of Nṛsiḿhadeva, he falsely thought that the Lord was afraid of his prowess. Therefore, after taking a little rest from the fight, he took up his sword and shield and again attacked the Lord with great force.

 

7.8.28

taḿ śyena-vegaḿ śata-candra-vartmabhiś

carantam acchidram upary-adho hariḥ

kṛtvāṭṭa-hāsaḿ kharam utsvanolbaṇaḿ

nimīlitākṣaḿ jagṛhe mahā-javaḥ

 

tam — him (Hiraṇyakaśipu); śyena-vegam — possessing the speed of a hawk; śata-candra-vartmabhiḥ — by the maneuvers of his sword and his shield, which was marked with a hundred moonlike spots; carantam — moving; acchidram — without any weak spot; upari-adhaḥ — up and down; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kṛtvā — making; aṭṭa-hāsam — loud laughter; kharam — extremely shrill; utsvana-ulbaṇam — very fearful due to its great sound; nimīlita — closed; akṣam — eyes; jagṛhe — captured; mahā-javaḥ — the greatly powerful Lord.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Making a loud, shrill sound of laughter, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, who is extremely strong and powerful, captured Hiraṇyakaśipu, who was protecting himself with his sword and shield, leaving no gaps open. With the speed of a hawk, Hiraṇyakaśipu moved sometimes in the sky and sometimes on the earth, his eyes closed because of fear of Nṛsiḿhadeva's laughter.

 

7.8.29

viṣvak sphurantaḿ grahaṇāturaḿ harir

vyālo yathākhuḿ kuliśākṣata-tvacam

dvāry ūrum āpatya dadāra līlayā

nakhair yathāhiḿ garuḍo mahā-viṣam

 

viṣvak — all around; sphurantam — moving his limbs; grahaṇa-āturam — afflicted because of being captured; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nṛsiḿhadeva; vyālaḥ — a snake; yathā — just as; ākhum — a mouse; kuliśa-akṣata — not cut even by the thunderbolt thrown by Indra; tvacam — whose skin; dvāri — on the threshold of the door; ūrum — on His thigh; āpatya — placing; dadāra — pierced; līlayā — very easily; nakhaiḥ — with the nails; yathā — just as; ahim — a snake; garuḍaḥ — Garuḍa, the carrier of Lord Viṣṇu; mahā-viṣam — very venomous.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As a snake captures a mouse or Garuḍa captures a very venomous snake, Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva captured Hiraṇyakaśipu, who could not be pierced even by the thunderbolt of King Indra. As Hiraṇyakaśipu moved his limbs here, there and all around, very much afflicted at being captured, Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva placed the demon on His lap, supporting him with His thighs, and in the doorway of the assembly hall the Lord very easily tore the demon to pieces with the nails of His hand.

 

7.8.30

saḿrambha-duṣprekṣya-karāla-locano

vyāttānanāntaḿ vilihan sva-jihvayā

asṛg-lavāktāruṇa-keśarānano

yathāntra-mālī dvipa-hatyayā hariḥ

 

saḿrambha — because of great anger; duṣprekṣya — very difficult to look at; karāla — very fearful; locanaḥ — eyes; vyātta — expanded; ānana-antam — the edge of the mouth; vilihan — licking; sva-jihvayā — with His tongue; asṛk-lava — with spots of blood; ākta — smeared; aruṇa — reddish; keśara — mane; ānanaḥ — and face; yathā — just as; antra-mālī — decorated with a garland of intestines; dvipa-hatyayā — by the killing of an elephant; hariḥ — the lion.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva's mouth and mane were sprinkled with drops of blood, and His fierce eyes, full of anger, were impossible to look at. Licking the edge of His mouth with His tongue, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nṛsiḿhadeva, decorated with a garland of intestines taken from Hiraṇyakaśipu's abdomen, resembled a lion that has just killed an elephant.

 

7.8.31

nakhāńkurotpāṭita-hṛt-saroruhaḿ

visṛjya tasyānucarān udāyudhān

ahan samastān nakha-śastra-pāṇibhir

dordaṇḍa-yūtho 'nupathān sahasraśaḥ

 

nakha-ańkura — by the pointed nails; utpāṭita — torn out; hṛt-saroruham — whose heart, which was like a lotus flower; visṛjya — leaving aside; tasya — of him; anucarān — the followers (soldiers and bodyguards); udāyudhān — having raised weapons; ahan — He killed; samastān — all; nakha-śastra-pāṇibhiḥ — with His nails and other weapons in His hands; dordaṇḍa-yūthaḥ — having unlimited arms; anupathān — the attendants of Hiraṇyakaśipu; sahasraśaḥ — by thousands.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who had many, many arms, first uprooted Hiraṇyakaśipu's heart and then threw him aside and turned toward the demon's soldiers. These soldiers had come in thousands to fight with Him with raised weapons and were very faithful followers of Hiraṇyakaśipu, but Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva killed all of them merely with the ends of His nails.

 

7.8.32

saṭāvadhūtā jaladāḥ parāpatan

grahāś ca tad-dṛṣṭi-vimuṣṭa-rociṣaḥ

ambhodhayaḥ śvāsa-hatā vicukṣubhur

nirhrāda-bhītā digibhā vicukruśuḥ

 

saṭā — by the hair on Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva's head; avadhūtāḥ — shaken; jaladāḥ — the clouds; parāpatan — scattered; grahāḥ — the luminous planets; ca — and; tat-dṛṣṭi — by His glaring glance; vimuṣṭa — taken away; rociṣaḥ — whose effulgence; ambhodhayaḥ — the water of the oceans and seas; śvāsa-hatāḥ — being struck by Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva's breathing; vicukṣubhuḥ — became turbulent; nirhrāda-bhītāḥ — frightened by Nṛsiḿhadeva's roaring; digibhāḥ — all the elephants guarding the quarters; vicukruśuḥ — cried out.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The hair on Nṛsiḿhadeva's head shook the clouds and scattered them here and there, His glaring eyes stole the effulgence of the luminaries in the sky, and His breathing agitated the seas and oceans. Because of His roaring, all the elephants in the world began to cry in fear.

 

7.8.33

dyaus tat-saṭotkṣipta-vimāna-sańkulā

protsarpata kṣmā ca padābhipīḍitā

śailāḥ samutpetur amuṣya raḿhasā

tat-tejasā khaḿ kakubho na rejire

 

dyauḥ — outer space; tat-saṭā — by His hair; utkṣipta — thrown up; vimāna-sańkulā — filled with airplanes; protsarpata — slipped out of place; kṣmā — the planet earth; ca — also; pada-abhipīḍitā — distressed due to the heavy weight of the lotus feet of the Lord; śailāḥ — the hills and mountains; samutpetuḥ — sprang up; amuṣya — of that one (the Lord); raḿhasā — due to the intolerable force; tat-tejasā — by His effulgence; kham — the sky; kakubhaḥ — the ten directions; na rejire — did not shine.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Airplanes were thrown into outer space and the upper planetary system by the hair on Nṛsiḿhadeva's head. Because of the pressure of the Lord's lotus feet, the earth appeared to slip from its position, and all the hills and mountains sprang up due to His intolerable force. Because of the Lord's bodily effulgence, both the sky and all directions diminished in their natural illumination.

 

7.8.34

tataḥ sabhāyām upaviṣṭam uttame

nṛpāsane sambhṛta-tejasaḿ vibhum

alakṣita-dvairatham atyamarṣaṇaḿ

pracaṇḍa-vaktraḿ na babhāja kaścana

 

tataḥ — thereafter; sabhāyām — in the assembly house; upaviṣṭam — seated; uttame — on the best; nṛpa-āsane — throne (upon which King Hiraṇyakaśipu used to sit); sambhṛta-tejasam — in full effulgence; vibhum — the Supreme Lord; alakṣita-dvairatham — whose challenger or enemy was not seen; ati — very much; amarṣaṇam — fearsome (due to His anger); pracaṇḍa — terrible; vaktram — face; na — not; babhāja — worshiped; kaścana — anyone.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Manifesting a full effulgence and a fearsome countenance, Lord Nṛsiḿha, being very angry and finding no contestant to face His power and opulence, then sat down in the assembly hall on the excellent throne of the king. Because of fear and obedience, no one could come forward to serve the Lord directly.

 

7.8.35

niśāmya loka-traya-mastaka-jvaraḿ

tam ādi-daityaḿ hariṇā hataḿ mṛdhe

praharṣa-vegotkalitānanā muhuḥ

prasūna-varṣair vavṛṣuḥ sura-striyaḥ

 

niśāmya — hearing; loka-traya — of the three worlds; mastaka-jvaram — the headache; tam — him; ādi — the original; daityam — demon; hariṇā — by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hatam — killed; mṛdhe — in battle; praharṣa-vega — by an outburst of ecstasy; utkalita-ānanāḥ — whose faces blossomed; muhuḥ — again and again; prasūna-varṣaiḥ — with showers of flowers; vavṛṣuḥ — rained; sura-striyaḥ — the wives of the demigods.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Hiraṇyakaśipu had been exactly like a fever of meningitis in the head of the three worlds. Thus when the wives of the demigods in the heavenly planets saw that the great demon had been killed by the personal hands of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, their faces blossomed in great joy. The wives of the demigods again and again showered flowers from heaven upon Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva like rain.

 

7.8.36

tadā vimānāvalibhir nabhastalaḿ

didṛkṣatāḿ sańkulam āsa nākinām

surānakā dundubhayo 'tha jaghnire

gandharva-mukhyā nanṛtur jaguḥ striyaḥ

 

tadā — at that time; vimāna-āvalibhiḥ — with different types of airplanes; nabhastalam — the sky; didṛkṣatām — desirous of seeing; sańkulam — crowded; āsa — became; nākinām — of the demigods; sura-ānakāḥ — the drums of the demigods; dundubhayaḥ — the kettledrums; atha — as well; jaghnire — were sounded; gandharva-mukhyāḥ — the chiefs of Gandharvaloka; nanṛtuḥ — began to dance; jaguḥ — sang; striyaḥ — heavenly society women.

 

TRANSLATION

 

At that time, the airplanes of the demigods, who desired to see the activities of the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa, crowded the sky. The demigods began beating drums and kettledrums, and upon hearing them the angelic women began to dance, while the chiefs of the Gandharvas sang sweetly.

 

7.8.37-39

tatropavrajya vibudhā

brahmendra-giriśādayaḥ

ṛṣayaḥ pitaraḥ siddhā

vidyādhara-mahoragāḥ

manavaḥ prajānāḿ patayo

 

gandharvāpsara-cāraṇāḥ

yakṣāḥ kimpuruṣās tāta

vetālāḥ saha-kinnarāḥ

te viṣṇu-pārṣadāḥ sarve

sunanda-kumudādayaḥ

 

mūrdhni baddhāñjali-puṭā

āsīnaḿ tīvra-tejasam

īḍire nara-śārdulaḿ

nātidūracarāḥ pṛthak

 

tatra — there (in the sky); upavrajya — coming (in their respective airplanes); vibudhāḥ — all the different demigods; brahma-indra-giriśa-ādayaḥ — headed by Lord Brahmā, King Indra and Lord Śiva; ṛṣayaḥ — the great saintly sages; pitaraḥ — the inhabitants of Pitṛloka; siddhāḥ — the residents of Siddhaloka; vidyādhara — the residents of Vidyādharaloka; mahā-uragāḥ — the residents of the planets where great serpents reside; manavaḥ — the Manus; prajānām — of the living entities (on different planets); patayaḥ — the chiefs;

 

gandharva — the residents of Gandharvaloka; apsara — the residents of the angelic planet; cāraṇāḥ — the residents of Cāraṇaloka; yakṣāḥ — the Yakṣas; kimpuruṣāḥ — the Kimpuruṣas; tāta — O dear one; vetālāḥ — the Vetālas; saha-kinnarāḥ — along with the Kinnaras; te — they; viṣṇu-pārṣadāḥ — the personal associates of Lord Viṣṇu (in the Vaikuṇṭhalokas); sarve — all; sunanda-kumuda-ādayaḥ — headed by Sunanda and Kumuda;

 

mūrdhni — on their heads; baddha-añjali-puṭāḥ — with folded hands; āsīnam — who was sitting on the throne; tīvra-tejasam — exposing His great spiritual effulgence; īḍire — offered respectful worship; nara-śārdulam — unto the Lord, who had appeared as half man and half lion; na ati-dūracarāḥ — coming near; pṛthak — individually.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear King Yudhiṣṭhira, the demigods then approached the Lord. They were headed by Lord Brahmā, King Indra and Lord Śiva and included great saintly persons and the residents of Pitṛloka, Siddhaloka, Vidyādhara-loka and the planet of the snakes. The Manus approached, and so did the chiefs of various other planets. The angelic dancers approached, as did the Gandharvas, the Cāraṇas, the Yakṣas, the inhabitants of Kinnaraloka, the Vetālas, the inhabitants of Kimpuruṣa-loka, and the personal servants of Viṣṇu like Sunanda and Kumuda. All of them came near the Lord, who glowed with intense light. They individually offered their obeisances and prayers, their hands folded at their heads.

 

7.8.40

śrī-brahmovāca

nato 'smy anantāya duranta-śaktaye

vicitra-vīryāya pavitra-karmaṇe

viśvasya sarga-sthiti-saḿyamān guṇaiḥ

sva-līlayā sandadhate 'vyayātmane

 

śrī-brahmā uvāca — Lord Brahmā said; nataḥ — bowed down; asmi — I am; anantāya — unto the unlimited Lord; duranta — very difficult to find an end to; śaktaye — who possesses different potencies; vicitra-vīryāya — having varieties of prowess; pavitra-karmaṇe — whose actions have no reaction (even though doing contrary things, He remains without contamination by the material modes); viśvasya — of the universe; sarga — creation; sthiti — maintenance; saḿyamān — and annihilation; guṇaiḥ — by the material qualities; sva-līlayā — very easily; sandadhate — performs; avyaya-ātmane — whose personality never deteriorates.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Brahmā prayed: My Lord, You are unlimited, and You possess unending potencies. No one can estimate or calculate Your prowess and wonderful influence, for Your actions are never polluted by the material energy. Through the material qualities, You very easily create the universe, maintain it and again annihilate it, yet You remain the same, without deterioration. I therefore offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

 

7.8.41

śrī-rudra uvāca

kopa-kālo yugāntas te

hato 'yam asuro 'lpakaḥ

tat-sutaḿ pāhy upasṛtaḿ

bhaktaḿ te bhakta-vatsala

 

śrī-rudraḥ uvāca — Lord Śiva offered his prayer; kopa-kālaḥ — the right time for Your anger (for the purpose of annihilating the universe); yuga-antaḥ — the end of the millennium; te — by You; hataḥ — killed; ayam — this; asuraḥ — great demon; alpakaḥ — very insignificant; tat-sutam — his son (Prahlāda Mahārāja); pāhi — just protect; upasṛtam — who is surrendered and standing nearby; bhaktam — devotee; te — of Your Lordship; bhakta-vatsala — O my Lord, who are so affectionate to Your devotee.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Śiva said: The end of the millennium is the time for Your anger. Now that this insignificant demon Hiraṇyakaśipu has been killed, O my Lord, who are naturally affectionate to Your devotee, kindly protect his son Prahlāda Mahārāja, who is standing nearby as Your fully surrendered devotee.

 

7.8.42

śrī-indra uvāca

pratyānītāḥ parama bhavatā trāyatā naḥ sva-bhāgā

daityākrāntaḿ hṛdaya-kamalaḿ tad-gṛhaḿ pratyabodhi

kāla-grastaḿ kiyad idam aho nātha śuśrūṣatāḿ te

muktis teṣāḿ na hi bahumatā nārasiḿhāparaiḥ kim

 

śrī-indraḥ uvāca — Indra, the King of heaven, said; pratyānītāḥ — recovered; parama — O Supreme; bhavatā — by Your Lordship; trāyatā — who are protecting; naḥ — us; sva-bhāgāḥ — shares in the sacrifices; daitya-ākrāntam — afflicted by the demon; hṛdaya-kamalam — the lotuslike cores of our hearts; tat-gṛham — which is actually Your residence; pratyabodhi — it has been illuminated; kāla-grastam — devoured by time; kiyat — insignificant; idam — this (world); aho — alas; nātha — O Lord; śuśrūṣatām — for those who are always engaged in the service; te — of You; muktiḥ — liberation from material bondage; teṣām — of them (the pure devotees); na — not; hi — indeed; bahumatā — thought very important; nāra-siḿha — O Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva, half lion and half human being; aparaiḥ kim — then what is the use of other possessions.

 

TRANSLATION

 

King Indra said: O Supreme Lord, You are our deliverer and protector. Our shares of sacrifices, which are actually Yours, have been recovered from the demon by You. Because the demoniac king Hiraṇyakaśipu was most fearsome, our hearts, which are Your permanent abode, were all overtaken by him. Now, by Your presence, the gloom and darkness in our hearts have been dissipated. O Lord, for those who always engage in Your service, which is more exalted than liberation, all material opulence is insignificant. They do not even care for liberation, not to speak of the benefits of kāma, artha and dharma.

 

7.8.43

śrī-ṛṣaya ūcuḥ

tvaḿ nas tapaḥ paramam āttha yad ātma-tejo

yenedam ādi-puruṣātma-gataḿ sasarktha

tad vipraluptam amunādya śaraṇya-pāla

rakṣā-gṛhīta-vapuṣā punar anvamaḿsthāḥ

 

śrī-ṛṣayaḥ ūcuḥ — the great sages said; tvam — You; naḥ — our; tapaḥ — austerity; paramam — topmost; āttha — instructed; yat — which; ātma-tejaḥ — Your spiritual power; yena — by which; idam — this (material world); ādi-puruṣa — O supreme original Personality of Godhead; ātma-gatam — merged within Yourself; sasarktha — (You) created; tat — that process of austerity and penance; vipraluptam — stolen; amunā — by that demon (Hiraṇyakaśipu); adya — now; śaraṇya-pāla — O supreme maintainer of those who need to be sheltered; rakṣā-gṛhīta-vapuṣā — by Your body, which You accept to give protection; punaḥ — again; anvamaḿsthāḥ — You have approved.

 

TRANSLATION

 

All the saintly persons present offered their prayers in this way: O Lord, O supreme maintainer of those sheltered at Your lotus feet, O original Personality of Godhead, the process of austerity and penance, in which You instructed us before, is the spiritual power of Your very self. It is by austerity that You create the material world, which lies dormant within You. This austerity was almost stopped by the activities of this demon, but now, by Yourself appearing in the form of Nṛsiḿhadeva, which is meant just to give us protection, and by killing this demon, You have again approved the process of austerity.

 

7.8.44

śrī-pitara ūcuḥ

śrāddhāni no 'dhibubhuje prasabhaḿ tanūjair

dattāni tīrtha-samaye 'py apibat tilāmbu

tasyodarān nakha-vidīrṇa-vapād ya ārcchat

tasmai namo nṛharaye 'khila-dharma-goptre

 

śrī-pitaraḥ ūcuḥ — the inhabitants of Pitṛloka said; śrāddhāni — the performances of the śrāddha ceremony (offering of food grains to dead forefathers by a particular process); naḥ — our; adhibubhuje — enjoyed; prasabham — by force; tanūjaiḥ — by our sons and grandsons; dattāni — offered; tīrtha-samaye — at the time of bathing in the holy places; api — even; apibat — drank; tila-ambu — offerings of water with sesame seeds; tasya — of the demon; udarāt — from the abdomen; nakha-vidīrṇa — pierced by the nails of the hand; vapāt — the skin of the intestines of which; yaḥ — He who (the Personality of Godhead); ārcchat — obtained; tasmai — unto Him (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); namaḥ — respectful obeisances; nṛ-haraye — who has appeared as half lion and half man (Nṛhari); akhila — universal; dharma — religious principles; goptre — who maintains.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The inhabitants of Pitṛloka prayed: Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva, the maintainer of the religious principles of the universe. He has killed Hiraṇyakaśipu, the demon who by force enjoyed all the offerings of the śrāddha ceremonies performed by our sons and grandsons on the anniversaries of our death and who drank the water with sesame seeds offered in holy places of pilgrimage. By killing this demon, O Lord, You have taken back all this stolen property from his abdomen by piercing it with Your nails. We therefore wish to offer our respectful obeisances unto You.

 

7.8.45

śrī-siddhā ūcuḥ

yo no gatiḿ yoga-siddhām asādhur

ahārṣīd yoga-tapo-balena

nānā darpaḿ taḿ nakhair vidadāra

tasmai tubhyaḿ praṇatāḥ smo nṛsiḿha

 

śrī-siddhāḥ ūcuḥ — the inhabitants of