Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.8.23
प्रायेण मेऽयं हरिणोरुमायिना
वध: स्मृतोऽनेन समुद्यतेन किम् ।
एवं ब्रुवंस्त्वभ्यपतद् गदायुधो
नदन् नृसिंहं प्रति दैत्यकुञ्जर: ॥ २३ ॥
prāyeṇa me ’yaṁ hariṇorumāyinā
[praayena me ’yam harinorumaayinaa]
vadhaḥ smṛto ’nena samudyatena kim
[vadhah smrito ’nena samudyatena kim]
evaṁ bruvaṁs tv abhyapatad gadāyudho
[evam bruvams tv abhyapatad gadaayudho]
nadan nṛsiṁhaṁ prati daitya-kuñjaraḥ
[nadan nrisimham prati daitya-kunjarah]
Word-for-word
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-siṁham
—
the Lord, appearing in the form of half lion and half man
prati
—
toward
daitya-kuñjaraḥ
—
Hiraṇyakaśipu, who was like an elephant.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
prāyeṇa me ’yaṁ hariṇorumāyinā
prāyeṇa
probably
me
of me
ayam
this
vadhaḥ smṛto ’nena samudyatena kim
hariṇā
by the Supreme Lord
uru-māyinā
who possesses the great mystic power
evaṁ bruvaṁs tv abhyapatad gadāyudho
vadhaḥ
the death
smṛtaḥ
planned
nadan nṛsiṁhaṁ prati daitya-kuñjaraḥ
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-siṁham
the Lord, appearing in the form of half lion and half man
prati
toward
daitya-kuñjaraḥ
Hiraṇyakaśipu, who was like an elephant.
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.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
"Lord Viṣṇu, who possesses great mystic power, has made this plan to kill me, but what is the use of such an attempt?" Uttering this and taking up his club while roaring loudly, Hiraṇyakaśipu, elephant among the demons, attacked the Lord.
Seeing that astonishing form, he thought and then spoke as follows. The Lord has thought of killing me by this form. Smṛtaḥ means that the Lord wanted to do this, and now has taken practical steps, by remembering again. What is the use of this attempt by the Lord? It has not use at all, since it cannot overcome my strength.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Hiraṇyakaśipu thinks Viṣṇu has merely planned a clever attack — 'who can fight with me?' — and charges Nṛsiṁha like an elephant attacking a lion. Demonic confidence does not recognize cosmic inevitability. Underestimating the Lord is the demon's final mistake.
Reflection Questions
- Where are you confidently charging at a situation you have not yet recognized as cosmic?
- What in you needs the humility to stop and look before charging?
My note
Source: vedabase.io