Canto 7: The Science of God | Chapter 8: Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva Slays the King of the Demons |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.8.23
prāyeṇa me 'yaḿ hariṇorumāyinā
vadhaḥ smṛto 'nena samudyatena kim
evaḿ bruvaḿs tv abhyapatad gadāyudho
nadan nṛsiḿhaḿ prati daitya-kuñjaraḥ
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
In the jungle there are sometimes fights between lions and elephants. Here the Lord appeared like a lion, and Hiraṇyakaśipu, unafraid of the Lord, attacked Him like an elephant. Generally the elephant is defeated by the lion, and therefore the comparison in this verse is appropriate.
Copyright © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness