Lord Narasimha’s incarnation and Hiranyakashipu’s death at his hands
स्तंभे घट्टयतो हिरण्यकशिपो: कर्णौ समाचूर्णय-
न्नाघूर्णज्जगदण्डकुण्डकुहरो घोरस्तवाभूद्रव: ।
श्रुत्वा यं किल दैत्यराजहृदये पूर्वं कदाप्यश्रुतं
कम्प: कश्चन संपपात चलितोऽप्यम्भोजभूर्विष्टरात् ॥१॥
stambhe ghaTTayatO hiraNyakashipOH karNau samaachuurNayan
aaghuurNajjagadaNDakuNDa kuharO ghOrastavaabhuudravaH |
shrutvaa yaM kila daityaraaja hR^idaye puurvaM kadaa(a)pyashrutaM
kampaH kashchana sampapaata chalitO(a)pyambhOjabhuurviShTaraat || 1||
Hiranyakashipu swung his sword at the pillar, causing a terrifying roar that shook the entire universe and the ear-splitting noise that destroyed his hearing. This was a sound that had never been heard before, and it made the Asura king shudder. Even Lord Brahma’s divine throne shook from the effect of this sound.
दैत्ये दिक्षु विसृष्टचक्षुषि महासंरम्भिणि स्तम्भत:
सम्भूतं न मृगात्मकं न मनुजाकारं वपुस्ते विभो ।
किं किं भीषणमेतदद्भुतमिति व्युद्भ्रान्तचित्तेऽसुरे
विस्फूर्ज्जद्धवलोग्ररोमविकसद्वर्ष्मा समाजृम्भथा: ॥२॥
daitye dikshu visR^iShTachakshuShi mahaasanrambhiNi stambhataH
sambhuutaM na mR^igaatmakaM na manujaakaaraM vapuste vibhO |
kiM kiM bhiiShaNametadadbhutamiti vyudbhraantachitte(a)sure
visphuurjaddhavalOgrarOmavikasadvarShmaa samaajR^imbhathaaH ||2||
Hiranyakashipu swivelled around, desperate to look in all directions. An imposing figure emerged from the pillar. “O Lord, Your divine form displayed characteristics of neither human nor beast,” says Bhattathiri. When You emerged with a bright body with pointed hairs, the unsettled Asura pondered the strange miraculous creature.
तप्तस्वर्णसवर्णघूर्णदतिरूक्षाक्षं सटाकेसर-
प्रोत्कम्पप्रनिकुम्बितांबरमहो जीयात्तवेदं वपु: ।
व्यात्तव्याप्तमहादरीसखमुखं खड्गोग्रवल्गन्महा-
जिह्वानिर्गमदृश्यमानसुमहादंष्ट्रायुगोड्डामरम् ॥३॥
taptasvarNa savarNa ghuurNadatiruukshaakshaM saTaakesara
prOtkampapranikumbitaambaramahO jiiyaattavedaM vapuH |
vyaatta vyaapta mahaadariisakhamukhaM khaDgOgravalganmahaajihvaanirgama
dR^ishyamaana sumahaadanShTraayugODDaamaram ||3||
O Jagannath, May I honour your magnificent form, which has a wide open cave-like mouth with a sword-like huge tongue protruding to display two enormous ferocious molars, a quivering mane that covers the skies, and fierce rolling eyes that glow like molten gold.
उत्सर्पद्वलिभङ्गभीषणहनु ह्रस्वस्थवीयस्तर-
ग्रीवं पीवरदोश्शतोद्गतनखक्रूरांशुदूरोल्बणम् ।
व्योमोल्लङ्घि घनाघनोपमघनप्रध्वाननिर्धावित-
स्पर्धालुप्रकरं नमामि भवतस्तन्नारसिंहं वपु: ॥४॥
utsarpadvalibhanga bhiiShaNahanuM hrasvasthaviiyastara
griivampiivaradOshshatOdgata nakhakruuraamshuduurOlbaNam |
vyOmOllanghi ghanaaghanOpamaghana pradhvaana nirdhaavitasparddhaaluprakaraM
namaami bhavatastaM naarasinhaM vapuH ||4||
I bow to you, Jagathprabhu, who took on the shape of a human-lion (Nara-human, Simha-lion) with a strong jaw and noticeably enlarged nerves all over it. Your neck was muscular and short. The rays that emanated from you gave the appearance of fierceness. And from that strong hand that reached the sky, your strong fingernails reached upward. The storm clouds that foretold an impending downpour were the source of the loud thundering noises. Enemies fled in fear and anxiety at your powerful presence.
नूनं विष्णुरयं निहन्म्यमुमिति भ्राम्यद्गदाभीषणं
दैत्येन्द्रं समुपाद्रवन्तमधृथा दोर्भ्यां पृथुभ्याममुम् ।
वीरो निर्गलितोऽथ खड्गफलकौ गृह्णन्विचित्रश्रमान्
व्यावृण्वन् पुनरापपात भुवनग्रासोद्यतं त्वामहो ॥५॥
nuunaM viShNurayaM nihanmyamumiti bhraamyadgadaabhiiShaNaM
daityendraM samupaadravantamadhR^ithaa dOrbhyaaM pR^ithubhyaamamum |
viirO nirgalitO(a)tha khaDgaphalakegR^ihNan vichitra shramaan
vyaavR^iNvan punaraapapaata bhuvanagraasOdyataM tvaamahO ||5||
Hiranyakashipu recognized this figure as Vishnu and approached him threatening to kill him while wielding a heavy mace. You grabbed him with both of your powerful arms. The strong Asura was able to break free from the Lord’s hold. He grabbed his sword and shield and used them to execute amazing swordsmanship before launching an assault on the lord who was prepared to devour all universes.
भ्राम्यन्तं दितिजाधमं पुनरपि प्रोद्गृह्य दोर्भ्यां जवात्
द्वारेऽथोरुयुगे निपात्य नखरान् व्युत्खाय वक्षोभुवि ।
निर्भिन्दन्नधिगर्भनिर्भरगलद्रक्ताम्बु बद्धोत्सवं
पायं पायमुदैरयो बहु जगत्संहारिसिंहारवान् ॥६॥
bhraamyantaM ditijaadhamaM punarapi prOdgR^ihya dOrbhyaaM javaat
dvaare(a)thOruyuge nipaatya nakharaan vyutkhaaya vakshObhuvi |
nirbhindannadhigarbha nirbharagaladraktaambu baddhOtsavaM
paayaM paayamudairayO bahujagatsanhaari sinhaaravaan ||6||
As the evil Asura turned around, Lord Achyuta caught him by both hands and threw him to the ground in the doorway, where his nails drove deep holes in Hiranyakashipu’s chest. Lord roared like a strong lion whose roar could shatter the entire creation as he continued to drink the blood that poured out of Asura’s body.
त्यक्त्वा तं हतमाशु रक्तलहरीसिक्तोन्नमद्वर्ष्मणि
प्रत्युत्पत्य समस्तदैत्यपटलीं चाखाद्यमाने त्वयि ।
भ्राम्यद्भूमि विकम्पिताम्बुधिकुलं व्यालोलशैलोत्करं
प्रोत्सर्पत्खचरं चराचरमहो दु:स्थामवस्थां दधौ ॥७॥
tyaktvaa taM hatamaashu raktalahariisiktOnnamadvarShmaNi
pratyutpatya samasta daityapaTaliiM chaakhaadyamaane tvayi |
bhraamyadbhuumi vikampitaambudhikulaM vyaalOlashailOtkaraM
prOtsarpatkhacharaM charaacharamahO duHsthaamavasthaaM dadhau ||7||
Lord Narasimha left the dead Asura behind and swiftly rose in his enormous blood-soaked form to devour all the Asura warriors. O Guruvayoorappa, every world spun wildly as oceans became stormy, mountains shook violently and celestial bodies and all living and non-living objects scattered throughout space. The situation descended into absolute and unendurable disorder.
तावन्मांसवपाकरालवपुषं घोरान्त्रमालाधरं
त्वां मध्येसभमिद्धकोपमुषितं दुर्वारगुर्वारवम् ।
अभ्येतुं न शशाक कोपि भुवने दूरे स्थिता भीरव:
सर्वे शर्वविरिञ्चवासवमुखा: प्रत्येकमस्तोषत ॥८॥
taavanmaamsa vapaakaraalavapuShaM ghOraantra maalaadharaM
tvaaM madhye sabhamiddhakOpamuShitaM durvaara gurvaaravam |
abhyetuM na shashaaka kO(a)pi bhuvane duure sthitaa bhiiravaH
sarve sharvaviri~ncha vaasava mukhaaH pratyekamastOShata ||8||
Lord Narasimha roared in rage as he took his place among the crowd, his hideous body adorned with Hiranyakashipu’s intestines and covered in fat and flesh. No one dared to approach the Lord, so awe-stricken people kept a safe distance from him. To soothe the Lord, all of the gods, including Shiva, Brahmaa, and Indra, remained afar and sang hymns of praise.
भूयोऽप्यक्षतरोषधाम्नि भवति ब्रह्माज्ञया बालके
प्रह्लादे पदयोर्नमत्यपभये कारुण्यभाराकुल: ।
शान्तस्त्वं करमस्य मूर्ध्नि समधा: स्तोत्रैरथोद्गायत-
स्तस्याकामधियोऽपि तेनिथ वरं लोकाय चानुग्रहम् ॥९॥
bhuuyO(a)pyakshata rOShadhaamni bhavati brahmaaj~nayaa baalake
prahlaade padayOrnamatyapabhaye kaaruNya bhaaraakulaH |
shaantastvaM karamasya muurdhni samadhaaH stOtrairathOdgaayataH
tasyaakaamadhiyO(a)pi tenitha varaM lOkaaya chaanugraham ||9||
More prayers were offered for you, but your rage remained unbridled. You continued to burn in wrath, your anger uncontrollable. And when as per the wishes of Brahma, the fearless Prahlada approached, bowed down and worshiped you. As Prahlada came toward you, your tender heart turned your erratic mood into peace. As Prahlada joyfully sang your praise, you placed your hand on his forehead. The boy received several blessings from you without asking for anything. Your divine blessings were abundantly distributed throughout the world.
एवं नाटितरौद्रचेष्टित विभो श्रीतापनीयाभिध-
श्रुत्यन्तस्फ़ुटगीतसर्वमहिमन्नत्यन्तशुद्धाकृते ।
तत्तादृङ्निखिलोत्तरं पुनरहो कस्त्वां परो लङ्घयेत्
प्रह्लादप्रिय हे मरुत्पुरपते सर्वामयात्पाहि माम् ॥१०॥
evaM naaTita raudracheShTita vibhO shriitaapaniiyaabhidha
shrutyantasphuTagiita sarvamahimannatyanta shuddhaakR^ite |
tattaadR^iN nikhilOttaraM punarahO kastvaaM parOlanghayet
prahlaada priya he marutpurapate sarvaamayaatpaahi maam ||10||
The Lord is portrayed in the hymns of the Narasimha Taapaneeya Shruti as a kind, amiable being. You are superior to all other beings, O Lord, for no one can defeat You. Hey Guruvaayurappa, who loves Prahlad with devotion. Heavenly Master of the universe, I humbly ask for healing from all sicknesses that affect me.