The Battle Between Lord Boar and the Demon Hiranyaksha
Maitreya now described the confrontation that arose after Hiranyaksha learned the Supreme Lord had lifted the Earth from the depths of the cosmic ocean. Consumed by pride and eager to test his strength, the demon rushed to challenge Lord Varaha, boasting that he would end the Lord's exploits. His insults echoed through the universe, and the demigods trembled, knowing they lacked the power to face him. Yet the Lord, holding the Earth securely on His tusks, remained composed and continued His ascent, demonstrating that divine duty—to protect the world—takes precedence over engaging a challenger on the challenger’s terms.
Seeing the demon's arrogance, the demigods prayed for protection, acknowledging that only the Supreme Lord could curb Hiranyaksha's violence. Lord Varaha, smiling, placed the Earth safely upon the water's surface and prepared to meet the adversary. His playful smile revealed confidence born of omnipotence, while His readiness to fight showed His commitment to defend creation. This balance of sweetness and strength illustrated how the Lord simultaneously comforts His devotees and terrifies the wicked.
Hiranyaksha attacked first, hurling abusive words and brandishing his massive mace. The Lord met his challenge with His own mace, and the clash resounded like thunder, shaking planetary systems. Sparks flew, oceans roared, and mountains quaked as their weapons collided. The battle revealed how material power, no matter how immense, remains insignificant before the Lord’s transcendental prowess. The demon, intoxicated by his strength, mistook the Lord's playful exchanges for an equal contest, not realizing he was being drawn toward his destined defeat.
As the duel intensified, the Lord exhibited various martial skills, parrying mace blows, dodging tridents, and returning strikes with effortless grace. The demigods watched anxiously, sometimes fearing when the Lord appeared to yield ground, not understanding that He was simply increasing the demon’s pride to make the final victory more instructive. The sages noted that the Lord often allows the arrogant to overextend themselves, so their downfall becomes a lesson to others about the emptiness of pride.
At one point, the Lord set aside His mace to engage barehanded, revealing that His strength does not depend on weaponry. This gesture stunned Hiranyaksha, whose confidence rested entirely on his weapons and physical might. The Lord’s serene demeanor amidst ferocious combat highlighted the difference between divine self-mastery and demoniac fury. Even while fighting, He remained fully compassionate, aiming not just to defeat the demon but to liberate him from his deluded opposition.
The chapter ends with the sense of an impending conclusion. The demon, though still roaring, was being gradually exhausted, while the Lord remained inexhaustible. Maitreya’s narration built anticipation for the decisive moment, reminding Vidura that all power in the material world is temporary, but the Lord’s will inevitably prevails. The battle served as a cosmic drama demonstrating that the Lord protects His creation and devotees, and that arrogance inevitably meets its limit when confronting the Supreme.