He appeared splendid as he raised up the sunken earth from the water using his tusks. With intense anger, enflamed by his cakra, in the water he killed Hiraṇyakṣa, of intolerable strength, who was approaching with a club and wandering about to obstruct him. Varāha killed him, just as a lion playfully kills an elephant. Varāha appeared like Gajendra who had a red trunk and cheeks when he dug up the reddish earth. Tatrāpi means “in that great water of devastation.” Api indicates astonishment. Daityam indicates Hiraṇyākṣa. An alternative version of the line is hiraṇyākṣaṁ jaghāna ādidaityam. He approached with his club. The Lord was illuminated with his cakra. His anger was enflamed, “Even in my presence, he raises a club.” Rundhānam means that he was wandering about to obstruct Varāha from lifting the earth. There is a comparison of Varāha when he kills the demon. Gajendra refers to the elephant situated at Trikūṭa Mountain. He can kill lions and śarabhas. Cleaving the earth (jagatī) in play the elephant’ cheeks and trunk turn reddish. Amara-koṣa says that jagatī refers to a Vedic meter, and to the earth.