The Personality of Godhead assumed the incarnation of Nṛsiṁhadeva in order to vanquish the great fears of the demigods. He killed the king of the demons [Hiraṇyakaśipu], who challenged the Lord with a club in his hand, by placing the demon on His thighs and piercing him with His nails, rolling His eyebrows in anger and showing His fearful teeth and mouth.
Srimad Bhagavata Purana
श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम्
मूल श्लोकः
त्रैविष्टपोरुभयहा स नृसिंहरूपं कृत्वा भ्रमद्भ्रुकुटिदंष्ट्रकरालवक्त्रम् । दैत्येन्द्रमाशु गदयाभिपतन्तमारा- दूरौ निपात्य विददार नखैः स्फुरन्तम्
traiviṣṭaporubhayahā sa nṛsiṃharūpaṃ kṛtvā bhramadbhrukuṭidaṃṣṭrakarālavaktram | daityendramāśu gadayābhipatantamārā- dūrau nipātya vidadāra nakhaiḥ sphurantam
SB 2.7.14