—json {

  "name":"SB 7.8.23",
  "h1":"SB 7.8.23",
  "label":"Text 23",
  "title":"Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.8.23",
  "description":"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."

} —

SB 7.8.23

Text

prāyeṇa me 'yaṁ hariṇorumāyinā
vadhaḥ smṛto 'nena samudyatena kim
evaṁ bruvaṁs tv abhyapatad gadāyudho
nadan nṛsiṁhaṁ 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-siṁham—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.