Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.8.19-22
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesBehold the Lord’s Fearsome Form
“Hiraṇyakaśipu studied the form of the Lord, trying to decide who the form of Nṛsiṁhadeva 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.”
What the purport teaches
- Hiraṇyakaśipu studied Nṛsiṁhadeva’s form, trying to understand who stood before him. The Lord’s angry eyes resembled molten gold, and His shining mane expanded His fearful face.
- The Lord had deadly teeth and a razor-sharp tongue that moved like a dueling sword. His entire body touched the sky, and His bodily hairs were white like moon rays.
- His arms spread in all directions. With His conchshell, disc, club, lotus and other natural weapons, He killed the demons, rogues and atheists.
Try this today
Slowly reread the description and spend one minute remembering one feature of the Lord’s form.
Ask yourself
Which detail of Nṛsiṁhadeva’s form most draws my attention to His overwhelming power?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.