The sky turned a dark crimson as the Vagrant once again channeled the voice of gods.
    "Know now, ye mortals, what it is to be my enemy.  Do not persecute my followers, because you will be severely punished. If you follow me, you will be protected. Come now and learn what happens to those who rise against the innocent and doubt my power. Hear of Narasimha, the Man-lion!"


    The fallen king lies lifeless on my lap. His entrails spill down as I claw my way through his soft flesh. This is me, Vishnu, at my fiercest, my most sadistic, and my most protective. 





350 years ago...

I am in the form of  my avatar Varaha, the boar, battling the rakshasa known as Hiranyaksha. After a thousand years the fight is at an end. My tusks shatter his sternum and delve into his thoracic cavity and he yells out a terrifying scream, one that is heard by his brother Hiranyakshipu. 




Hiranyakshipu vowed that day to defeat me. He decided that he would serve a long and arduous penance in order to please Brahma. Upon completion of his penance, Hiranyakshipu asked for the following boons: To be protected from all Devas and to be lord above all of them. To be invincible on land and in the air. To be invincible to all weapons. He further asked to be invincible in day and night, indoors and outdoors.

One should never wish for power over others - and should respect my authority, and the authority of my followers.

Hiranyakshipu had a son; his name was Prahlada. After being abducted by Indra and several other Devas, and thus hearing of my powers, Prahlada  became one  of  my many followers. Learning of his son's allegiance, Hiranyakshipu became enraged that his son now worshiped his mortal enemy. He demanded of Prahlada: 

    "You must worship me! I am lord over all the gods. Vishnu hasn't showed his ugly face in centuries; he's nowhere to be found! How can you worship something you can't even see, when I am here day after day displaying my mighty powers?" To this Prahlada replied:

    "But Vishnu is everywhere. He is in the tiniest twig and the largest mountain. "  The rage inside Hiranyakshipu grew as he struck Prahlada to the ground.

    "Fool You are no longer my son! You have been indoctrinated into Vishnu's evil ways! I will not let you live! I never loved you, and once I end your wretched life I will end your mother's!"

    "No! Please, Vishnu, help!"

    "You would still ask for his help!? Yes! Cry, child. Cry,for your hero! He isn't in any twig and isn't  in any mountain! Ha ha, I suppose next you will say he's in this pillar! Come on out ,Vishnu, if you really are anything special, I'm going to kill your precious devotee! You see?! He can't save anyone!"






Then I said to Hiranyakshipu:   "Your tyrannical rule is over! I will destroy you, for your boons mean nothing to me. I am Narasimha, the Man-Lion, not fully god, nor fully man, nor fully beast. Time rests at twilight, neither day nor night. My claws will rip your flesh, and you will die neither on the ground nor in space,  in my lap. You will be killed on the threshold of your palace, neither indoors, nor out.


And here we are, another dead rakshasa at my feet, and yet they never learn.





The Vagrant put down the Sudarshana Chakra next to the Conch Shell. The children shook with fear. The sound of thunder rumbled across the heavens and an ominous cloud approached.