Madhya20.211

TEXT 211

inha-sabara prthak vaikuntha--paravyoma-dhame

purvadi asta-dike tina tina krame

SYNONYMS

inha—of them; sabara—of all; prthak—separate; vaikuntha—a Vaikuntha planet; paravyoma-dhame—in the spiritual world; purva-adi—beginning from the east; asta-dike—in the eight directions; tina tina—three in each; krame—in consecutive order.

TRANSLATION

"All these forms preside over different Vaikuntha planets in the spiritual world, beginning from the east in consecutive order. In each of eight directions, there are three different forms.

Madhya20.212

TEXT 212

yadyapi paravyoma sabakara nitya-dhama

tathapi brahmande karo kanho sannidhana

SYNONYMS

yadyapi—although; paravyoma—the spiritual sky; sabakara—of all of Them; nitya-dhama—the eternal abode; tathapi—still; brahmande—in the material universes; karo—of some of Them; kanho—somewhere; sannidhana—the residential places.

TRANSLATION

"Although They all have Their residences eternally in the spiritual sky, some of Them are situated within the material universes.

Madhya20.213

TEXT 213

paravyoma-madhye narayanera nitya-sthiti

paravyoma-upari krsnalokera vibhuti

SYNONYMS

paravyoma-madhye—in the spiritual sky; narayanera—of Narayana; nitya-sthiti—eternal residence; paravyoma-upari—in the upper portion of the spiritual sky; krsna-lokera vibhuti—the opulence of the Krsnaloka planet.

TRANSLATION

"There is an eternal residence of Narayana in the spiritual sky. In the upper portion of the spiritual sky is a planet known as Krsnaloka, which is filled with all opulences.

Madhya20.214

TEXT 214

eka ’krsnaloka’ haya trividha-prakara

gokulakhya, mathurakhya, dvarakakhya ara

SYNONYMS

eka—one; krsna-loka—the planet known as Krsnaloka; haya—there is; tri-vidha-prakara—in three different divisions; gokula-akhya—Gokula; mathura-akhya—Mathura; dvaraka-akhya—Dvaraka; ara—and.

TRANSLATION

"The planet of Krsnaloka is divided into three sections-Gokula, Mathura and Dvaraka.

Madhya20.215

TEXT 215

mathurate kesavera nitya sannidhana

nilacale purusottama--jagannatha’ nama

SYNONYMS

mathurate—in Mathura; kesavera—of Lord Kesava; nitya—eternal; san-nidhana—residence; nilacale—in Nilacala (Jagannatha Puri); purusottama—Purusottama; jagannatha nama—also known as Jagannatha.

TRANSLATION

"Lord Kesava eternally resides at Mathura, and Lord Purusottama, known by the name Jagannatha, eternally resides at Nilacala.

Madhya20.216

TEXT 216

prayage madhava, mandare sri-madhusudana

anandaranye vasudeva, padmanabha janardana

SYNONYMS

prayage—at Prayaga; madhava—Bindu Madhava; mandare—at Mandara-parvata; sri-madhusudana—Sri Madhusudana; ananda-aranye—at the place known as Anandaranya; vasudeva—Lord Vasudeva; padmanabha—Lord Padmanabha; janardana—Lord Janardana.

TRANSLATION

"At Prayaga, the Lord is situated as Bindu Madhava, and at Mandara-parvata, the Lord is known as Madhusudana. Vasudeva, Padmanabha and Janardana reside at Anandaranya.

Madhya20.217

TEXT 217

visnu-kancite visnu, hari rahe, mayapure

aiche ara nana murti brahmanda-bhitare

SYNONYMS

visnu-kancite—at Visnu-kanci; visnu—Lord Visnu; hari—Lord Hari; rahe—remains; mayapure—at Mayapur; aiche—similarly; ara—also; nana—various; murti—forms; brahmanda-bhitare—throughout the universe.

TRANSLATION

"At Visnu-kanci there is Lord Visnu, at Mayapur Lord Hari, and throughout the universe a variety of other forms.

PURPORT

All of these forms are murti forms, and They are worshiped in the temples. Their names are Kesava at Mathura, Purusottama or Jagannatha at Nilacala, Sri Bindu Madhava at Prayaga, Madhusudana at Mandara, and Vasudeva, Padmanabha and Janardana at Anandaranya, which is situated in Kerala, South India. At Visnu-kanci, which is situated in the Barada state, there is Lord Visnu, and Hari is situated at Mayapur, Lord Caitanya’s birthsite. Thus in different places throughout the universe there are various Deities in temples bestowing Their causeless mercy upon the devotees. All these Deity forms are nondifferent from the murtis in the spiritual world of the Vaikunthas. Although the arca-murti, the worshipable Deity form of the Lord, appears to be made of material elements, it is as good as the spiritual forms found in the spiritual Vaikunthalokas. The Deity in the temple, however, is visible to the material eyes of the devotee. It is not possible for one in material conditional life to see the spiritual form of the Lord. To bestow causeless mercy upon us, the Lord appears as arca-murti so that we can see Him. It is forbidden to consider the arca-murti to be made of stone or wood. In the Padma Purana it is said:

arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhir
visnor va vaisnavanam kali-mala-mathane pada-tirthe ’mbu-buddhih
sri-visnor namni mantre sakala-kalusa-he sabde-samanya-buddhir
visnau sarvesvarese tad-itara-sama-dhir yasya va naraki sah

No one should consider the Deity in the temple to be made of stone or wood, nor should one consider the spiritual master an ordinary human being. No one should consider a Vaisnava to belong to a particular caste or creed, and no one should consider caranamrta or Ganges water to be like ordinary water. Nor should anyone consider the Hare Krsna maha-mantra to be a material vibration. All these expansions of Krsna in the material world are simply demonstrations of the Lord’s mercy and willingness to give facility to His devotees who are engaged in His devotional service within the material world.

Madhya20.218

TEXT 218

ei-mata brahmanda-madhye sabara ’parakasa’

sapta-dvipe nava-khande yanhara vilasa

SYNONYMS

ei-mata—in this way; brahmanda-madhye—within this universe; sabara—of all of Them; parakasa—manifestations; sapta-dvipe—on seven islands; nava-khande—in different sections, nine in number; yanhara vilasa—the pastimes of whom.

TRANSLATION

"Within the universe the Lord is situated in different spiritual manifestations. These are situated on seven islands in nine sections. Thus Their pastimes are going on.

PURPORT

The seven islands are mentioned in the Siddhanta-siromani:

bhumer ardham ksira-sindhor udaka-stham
jambu-dvipam prahur acarya-varyah
ardhe ’nyasmin dvipa-satkasya yamye
ksara-ksirady-ambudhinam nivesah

sakam tatah salmala-matra kausam
krauncam ca go-medaka-puskare ca
dvayor dvayor antaram ekam ekam
samudrayor dvipam udaharanti

The seven islands (dvipas) are known as (1) Jambu, (2) Saka, (3) Salmali, (4) Kusa, (5) Kraunca, (6) Gomeda, or Plaksa, and (7) Puskara. The planets are called dvipa. Outer space is like an ocean of air. just as there are islands in the watery ocean, these planets in the ocean of space are called dvipas, or islands in outer space. There are nine khandas, known as (1) Bharata, (2) Kinnara, (3) Hari, (4) Kuru, (5) Hiranmaya, (6) Ramyaka, (7) Ilavrta, (8) Bhadrasva and (9) Ketumala. These are different parts of the Jambudvipa. A valley between two mountains is called a khanda or varsa.

Madhya20.219

TEXT 219

sarvatra prakasa tanra--bhakte sukha dite

jagatera adharma nasi’ dharma sthapite

SYNONYMS

sarvatra—everywhere; prakasa—manifestations; tanra—His; bhakte—to the devotees; sukha dite—to give happiness; jagatera—of the material world; adharma—irreligious principles; nasi’-destroying; dharma—religious principles; sthapite—to establish.

TRANSLATION

"The Lord is situated in all the universes in different forms just to please His devotees. Thus the Lord destroys irreligious principles and establishes religious principles.

PURPORT

In the material world the Lord is situated in different arca-murtis (Deities) in the temples, just to decrease the material activities of the conditioned soul and increase his spiritual activities. Particularly in India there are many temples throughout the country. Devotees may take advantage of them and go see the Lord at Jagannatha Puri, Vrndavana, Prayaga, Mathura, Hardwar and Visnu-kanci. When the devotees travel to these places and see the Lord, they become very happy in devotional service.

Madhya20.220

TEXT 220

inhara madhye karo haya ’avatare’ ganana

yaiche visnu, trivikrama, nrsimha, vamana

SYNONYMS

inhara madhye—of Them; karo—of some; haya—there is; avatare—as incarnations; ganana—counting; yaiche—as; visnu—Lord Visnu; trivikrama—Lord Trivikrama; nrsimha—Lord Nrsimha; vamana—Lord Vamana.

TRANSLATION

"Of these forms, some are considered incarnations. Examples are Lord Visnu, Lord Trivikrama, Lord Nrsimha and Lord Vamana.

Madhya20.221

TEXT 221

astra-dhrti-bheda--nama-bhedera karana

cakradi-dharana-bheda suna, sanatana

SYNONYMS

astra-dhrti—of holding the weapon; bheda—difference; nama-bhedera—of differences of names; karana—the cause; cakra-adi—of weapons, beginning with the disc; dharana—of holding; bheda—differences; suna—please hear; sanatana—O Sanatana.

TRANSLATION

"My dear Sanatana, just hear from Me as I tell you how the different visnu-murtis hold Their weapons, beginning with the disc, and how They are named differently according to the placement of objects in Their hands.

Madhya20.222

TEXT 222

daksinadho hasta haite vamadhah paryanta

cakradi astra-dharana-gananara anta

SYNONYMS

daksina-adhah—the lower right; hasta—hand; haite—from; vama-adhah—the lower left hand; paryanta—up to; cakra-adi—beginning with the disc; astra-dharana—of holding the weapons; gananara—of counting; anta—the end.

TRANSLATION

"The procedure for counting begins with the lower right hand and goes to the upper right hand, the upper left hand, and the lower left hand. Lord Visnu is named according to the order the objects are held in His hands.

Madhya20.223

TEXT 223

siddhartha-samhita kare cabbisa murti ganana

tara mate kahi age cakradi-dharana

SYNONYMS

siddhartha-samhita—the revealed scripture named Siddhartha-samhita; kare—does; cabbisa—twenty-four; murti—forms; ganana—counting; tara mate—according to the opinion of Siddhartha-samhita; kahi—I shall describe; age—first; cakra-adi-dharana—holding of the weapons, beginning with the disc.

TRANSLATION

"According to the Siddhartha-samhita there are twenty-four forms of Lord Visnu. First I shall describe, according to the opinion of that book, the location of the weapons, beginning with the disc.

PURPORT

The twenty-four forms are (1) Vasudeva, (2) Sankarsana, (3) Pradyumna, (4) Aniruddha, (5) Kesava, (6) Narayana, (7) Madhava, (8) Govinda, (9) Visnu, (10) Madhusudana, (11) Trivikrama, (12) Vamana, (13) Sridhara, (14) Hrsikesa, (15) Padmanabha, (16) Damodara, (17) Purusottama, (18) Acyuta, (19) Nrsimha, (20) Janardana, (21) Hari, (22) Krsna, (23) Adhoksaja and (24) Upendra.

Madhya20.224

TEXT 224

vasudeva--gada-sankha-cakra-padma-dhara

sankarsana--gada-sankha-padma-cakra-kara

SYNONYMS

vasudeva—Vasudeva; gada—club; sankha—conchshell; cakra—disc; padma—lotus flower; dhara—holding; sankarsana—Sankarsana; gada—club; sankha—conchshell; padma—lotus flower; cakra-kara—the disc in the hand.

TRANSLATION

"In His lower right hand, Lord Vasudeva holds a club, in the upper right hand a conchshell, in the upper left hand a disc and in the lower left hand a lotus flower. In His lower right hand, Sankarsana holds a club, in His upper right hand a conchshell, in His upper left hand a lotus flower and in His lower left hand a disc.

Madhya20.225

TEXT 225

pradyumna--cakra-sankha-gada-padma-dhara

aniruddha--cakra-gada-sankha-padma-kara

SYNONYMS

pradyumna—Lord Pradyumna; cakra—disc; sankha—conch; gada—club; padma—lotus; dhara—holding; aniruddha—Lord Aniruddha; cakra—disc; gada—club; sankha—conch; padma-kara—lotus flower in hand.

TRANSLATION

"Pradyumna holds the disc, conch, club and lotus. Aniruddha holds the disc, club, conch and lotus.

Madhya20.226

TEXT 226

paravyome vasudevadi--nija nija astra-dhara

tanra mata kahi, ye-saba astra-kara

SYNONYMS

para-vyome—in the spiritual sky; vasudeva-adi—beginning with Lord Vasudeva; nija nija—Their own respective; astra-dhara—holding of different weapons; tanra mata kahi—I am speaking the opinion of Siddhartha-samhita; ye-saba—all; astra-kara—weapons in the different hands.

TRANSLATION

"Thus in the spiritual sky the expansions, headed by Vasudeva, hold weapons in Their own respective order. I am repeating the opinion of Siddhartha-samhita in describing Them.

Madhya20.227

TEXT 227

sri-kesava--padma-sankha-cakra-gada-dhara

narayana--sankha-padma-gada-cakra-dhara

SYNONYMS

sri-kesava—Lord Kesava; padma—lotus; sankha—conch; cakra—disc; gada—club; dhara—holding; narayana—Lord Narayana; sankha—conch; padma—lotus; gada—club; cakra—disc; dhara—holding.

TRANSLATION

"Lord Kesava holds the lotus, conch, disc and club. Lord Narayana holds the conch, lotus, club and disc.

Madhya20.228

TEXT 228

sri-madhava--gada-cakra-sankha-padma-kara

sri-govinda--cakra-gada-padma-sankha-dhara

SYNONYMS

sri-madhava—Lord Madhava; gada—club; cakra—disc; sankha—conch; padma—lotus; kara—in the hands; sri-govinda—Lord Govinda; cakra—disc; gada—club; padma—lotus; sankha—conch; dhara—holding.

TRANSLATION

"Lord Madhava holds the club, disc, conch and lotus. Lord Govinda holds the disc, club, lotus and conch.

Madhya20.229

TEXT 229

visnu-murti--gada-padma-sankha-cakra-kara

madhusudana--cakra-sankha-padma-gada-dhara

SYNONYMS

visnu-murti—Lord Visnu; gada—club; padma—lotus; sankha—conch; cakra—disc; kara—in the hands; madhusudana—Lord Madhusudana; cakra—disc; sankha—conch; padma—lotus; gada—club; dhara—holding.

TRANSLATION

"Lord Visnu holds the club, lotus, conch and disc. Lord Madhusudana holds the disc, conch, lotus and club.

Madhya20.230

TEXT 230

trivikrama--padma-gada-cakra-sankha-kara

sri-vamana--sankha-cakra-gada-padma-dhara

SYNONYMS

trivikrama—Lord Trivikrama; padma—lotus; gada—club; cakra—disc; sankha—conch; kara—in the hands; sri-vamana—Lord Vamana; sankha—conch; cakra—disc; gada—club; padma—lotus; dhara—holding.

TRANSLATION

"Lord Trivikrama holds the lotus, club, disc and conch. Lord Vamana holds the conch, disc, club and lotus.

Madhya20.231

TEXT 231

sridhara--padma-cakra-gada-sankha-kara

hrsikesa--gada-cakra-padma-sankha-dhara

SYNONYMS

sridhara—Lord Sridhara; padma—lotus; cakra—disc; gada—club; sankha—conch; kara—in the hands; hrsikesa—Lord Hrsikesa; gada—club; cakra—disc; padma—lotus; sankha—conch; dhara—holding.

TRANSLATION

"Lord Sridhara holds the lotus, disc, club and conch. Lord Hrsikesa holds the club, disc, lotus and conch.

Madhya20.232

TEXT 232

padmanabha--sankha-padma-cakra-gada-kara

damodara--padma-cakra-gada-sankha-dhara

SYNONYMS

padmanabha—Lord Padmanabha; sankha—conch; padma—lotus; cakra—disc; gada—club; kara—in the hands; damodara—Lord Damodara; padma—lotus; cakra—disc; gada—club; sankha—conch; dhara—holding.

TRANSLATION

"Lord Padmanabha holds the conch, lotus, disc and club. Lord Damodara holds the lotus, disc, club and conch.

Madhya20.233

TEXT 233

purusottama--cakra-padma-sankha-gada-dhara

sri-acyuta--gada-padma-cakra-sankha-dhara

SYNONYMS

purusottama—Lord Purusottama; cakra—disc; padma—lotus; sankha—conch; gada—club; dhara—holding; sri-acyuta—Lord Acyuta; gada—club; padma—lotus; cakra—disc; sankha—conch; dhara—holding.

TRANSLATION

"Lord Purusottama holds the disc, lotus, conch and club. Lord Acyuta holds the club, lotus, disc and conch.

Madhya20.234

TEXT 234

sri-nrsimha--cakra-padma-gada-sankha-dhara

janardana--padma-cakra-sankha-gada-kara

SYNONYMS

sri-nrsimha—Lord Nrsimha; cakra—disc; padma—lotus; gada—club; sankha—conch; dhara—holding; janardana—Lord Janardana; padma—lotus; cakra—disc; sankha—conch; gada—club; kara—in the hands.

TRANSLATION

"Lord Nrsimha holds the disc, lotus, club and conch. Lord Janardana holds the lotus, disc, conch and club.

Madhya20.235

TEXT 235

sri-hari--sankha-cakra-padma-gada-kara

sri-krsna--sankha-ga da-padma-cakra-kara

SYNONYMS

sri-hari—Lord Hari; sankha—conch; cakra—disc; padma—lotus; gada—club; kara—in the hand; sri-krsna—Lord Krsna; sankha—conch; gada—club; padma—lotus; cakra—disc; kara—in the hands.

TRANSLATION

"Sri Hari holds the conch, disc, lotus and club. Lord Sri Krsna holds the conch, club, lotus and disc.

Madhya20.236

TEXT 236

adhoksaja--padma-gada-sankha-cakra-kara

upendra--sankha-gada-cakra-padma-kara

SYNONYMS

adhoksaja—Lord Adhoksaja; padma—lotus; gada—club; sankha—conch; cakra—disc; kara—in hand; upendra—Lord Upendra; sankha—conch; gada—club; cakra—disc; padma—lotus; kara—in hand.

TRANSLATION

"Lord Adhoksaja holds the lotus, club, conch and disc. Lord Upendra holds the conch, club, disc and lotus.

Madhya20.237

TEXT 237

hayasirsa-pancaratre kahe sola-jana

tara mate kahi ebe cakradi-dharana

SYNONYMS

hayasirsa-pancaratre—the revealed scripture named the Hayasirsa-pancaratra; kahe—says; sola-jana—sixteen personalities; tara mate—according to this opinion; kahi—I shall describe; ebe—now; cakra-adi-dharana—the holding of weapons, beginning with the disc.

TRANSLATION

"According to the Hayasirsa-pancaratra, there are sixteen personalities. I shall now describe that opinion of how They hold the weapons.

PURPORT

The sixteen personalities are as follows: (1) Vasudeva, (2) Sankarsana, (3) Pradyumna, (4) Aniruddha, (5) Kesava, (6) Narayana, (7) Madhava, (B) Govinda, (9) Visnu, (10) Madhusudana, (11) Trivikrama, (12) Vamana, (13) Sridhara, (14) Hrsikesa, (15) Padmanabha, (16) Damodara.

Madhya20.238

TEXT 238

kesava-bhede padma-sankha-gada-cakra-dhara

madhava-bhede cakra-gada-sankha-padma-kara

SYNONYMS

kesava-bhede—according to the different opinion about Lord Kesava; padma—lotus; sankha—conch; gada—club; cakra—and disc; dhara—holding; madhava-bhede—according to the different opinion about the bodily features of Lord Madhava; cakra—disc; gada—club; sankha—conch; padma—lotus; kara—in the hands.

TRANSLATION

"Kesava is described differently as holding the lotus, conch, club and disc, and Madhava is described as holding disc, club, conch and lotus in His hands.

Madhya20.239

TEXT 239

narayana-bhede nana astra-bheda-dhara

ityadika bheda ei saba astra-kara

SYNONYMS

narayana-bhede—according to the different opinion about the bodily features of Lord Narayana; nana—various; astra—of weapons; bheda-dhara—differences in holding; iti-adika—in this way; bheda—differentiated; ei saba—all these; astra-kara—weapons in the hands.

TRANSLATION

"According to the Hayasirsa Pancaratra, Narayana and others are also presented differently as holding the weapons in different hands.

Madhya20.240

TEXT 240

’svayam bhagavan’ ara ’lila-purusottama’

ei dui nama dhare vrajendra-nandana

SYNONYMS

svayam bhagavan—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ara—and; lila-purusottama—the Lord Purusottama of pastimes; ei dui—these two; nama—names; dhare—takes; vrajendra-nandana—Krsna, the son of Nanda Maharaja.

TRANSLATION

"Krsna, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, indicated as the son of Maharaja Nanda, has two names. One is svayam bhagavan, and the other is lila-purusottama.

Madhya20.241

TEXT 241

purira avarana-rupe purira nava-dese

nava-vyuha-rupe nava-murti parakase

SYNONYMS

purira—of Dvaraka Puri; avarana-rupe—as a covering for the four sides; purira nava-dese—in nine different parts of the city; nava-vyuha-rupe—in nine Deities; nava-murti—nine forms; parakase—manifests.

TRANSLATION

"Lord Krsna personally surrounds Dvaraka Puri as its protector. In different parts of the Puri, in nine places, He expands in nine different forms.

Madhya20.242

TEXT 242

catvaro vasudevadya

narayana-nrsimhakau

hayagrivo mahakrodo

brahma ceti navoditah

SYNONYMS

catvarah—four principal protectors; vasudeva-adyah—Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha; narayana—including Lord Narayana; nrsimhakau—as well as Lord Nrsimha; hayagrivah—Lord Hayagriva; mahakrodah—Lord Varaha; brahma—Lord Brahma; ca—also; iti—thus; nava-uditah—nine personalities.

TRANSLATION

" ’The nine personalities mentioned are Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Narayana, Nrsimha, Hayagriva, Varaha and Brahma.’

PURPORT

This verse is found in the Laghu-bhagavatamrta (1.451). The Brahma mentioned herein is not a living entity. Sometimes, when there is a scarcity of living entities to take charge of Brahma’s post, Maha-Visnu expands Himself as Lord Brahma. This Brahma is not considered to be a living entity; He is an expansion of Visnu.

Madhya20.243

TEXT 243

prakasa-vilasera ei kailun vivarana

svamsera bheda ebe suna, sanatana

SYNONYMS

prakasa-vilasera—of pastime forms and manifestations; ei—this; kailun—I have made; vivarana—description; svamsera—of personal expansions; bhede—the differences; ebe—now; suna—please hear; sanatana—O Sanatana Gosvami.

TRANSLATION

"I have already described the pastime and prakasa forms. Now please hear about the different personal expansions.

Madhya20.244

TEXT 244

sankarsana, matsyadika,--dui bheda tanra

sankarsana--purusavatara, lilavatara ara

SYNONYMS

sankarsana—Sankarsana; matsya-adika—and incarnations such as the fish; dui—two; bheda—differentiations; tanra—His; sankarsana—Sankarsana; purusa-avatara—incarnations of Visnu; lila-avatara—pastime incarnations; ara—and.

TRANSLATION

"The first personal expansion is Sankarsana, and the others are incarnations like the fish incarnation. Sankarsana is an expansion of the Purusa, or Visnu. The incarnations such as Matsya, the fish incarnation, appear in different yugas for specific pastimes.

PURPORT

The purusa-avataras are the Lords of the universal creation. These are the Karanodakasayi Visnu, Garbhodakasayi Visnu and Ksirodakasayi Visnu. There are also lila-avataras, and these include (1) Catuhsana, (2) Narada, (3) Varaha, (4) Matsya, (5) Yajna, (6) Nara-Narayana, (7) Kardami Kapila, (8) Dattatreya, (9) Hayasirsa, (10) Hamsa, (11) Dhruvapriya, or Prsnigarbha, (12) Rsabha, (13) Prthu, (14) Nrsimha, (15) Kurma, (16) Dhanvantari, (17) Mohini, (18) Vamana, (19) Bhargava Parasurama, (20) Raghavendra, (21) Vyasa, (22) Pralambari Balarama, (23) Krsna, (24) Buddha and (25) Kalki.

These twenty-five Personalities of Godhead are known as lila-avataras. Because they appear in each day of Brahma, or in each kalpa (millennium), they are sometimes known as kalpa-avataras. Of these incarnations, Hamsa and Mohini are not very permanent or well known, but They are listed among the prabhava-avataras. Kapila, Dattatreya, Rsabha, Dhanvantari and Vyasa are eternally situated and very widely known. They are also counted among the prabhava incarnations. Kurma, Matsya, Narayana, Varaha, Hayagriva, Prsnigarbha, and Baladeva, the killer of Pralambasura, are counted among the vaibhava-avataras.

Madhya20.245

TEXT 245

avatara haya krsnera sad-vidha prakara

purusavatara eka, lilavatara ara

SYNONYMS

avatara—incarnations; haya—there are; krsnera—of Lord Krsna; sat-vidha prakara—six kinds; purusa-avatara—incarnations of Visnu; eka—one; lila-avatara—incarnations for the execution of pastimes; ara—also.

TRANSLATION

"There are six types of incarnations [avataras] of Krsna. One is the incarnations of Visnu [purusa-avataras], and another is the incarnations meant for the performance of pastimes [lila-avataras].

Madhya20.246

TEXT 246

gunavatara, ara manvantaravatara

yugavatara, ara saktyavesavatara

SYNONYMS

guna-avatara—the incarnations to control the material qualities; ara—also; manu-antara-avatara—the incarnations of the Manus; yuga-avatara—the incarnations according to different yugas; ara—and; sakti-avesa-avatara—empowered incarnations.

TRANSLATION

"There are incarnations that control the material qualities [guna-avataras], incarnations of the Manus [manvantara-avataras], incarnations in different millenniums [yuga-avataras] and incarnations of empowered living entities [saktyavesa-avataras].

PURPORT

The guna-avataras are three-Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and Lord Visnu (Bhag. 10.88.3). The avataras of Manu, or manvantara-avataras, are listed as follows in Srimad-Bhagavatam (8.1.5,13): (1) Yajna, (2) Vibhu, (3) Satyasena, (4) Hari, (5) Vaikuntha, (6) Ajita, (7) Vamana, (8) Sarvabhauma, (9) Rsabha, (10) Visvaksena, (11) Dharmasetu, (12) Sudhama, (13) Yogesvara and (14) Brhadbhanu. Altogether these are fourteen in number, and of these, both Yajna and Vamana are also counted among the lila-avataras. All these Manu incarnations are sometimes called vaibhava-avataras.

The four yuga-avataras are (1) sukla (white) in the Satya-yuga (Bhag. 11.5.21), (2) rakta (red) in the Treta-yuga (Bhag. 11.5.24), (3) syama (dark blue) in the Dvapara-yuga (Bhag. 11.5.27), and (4) generally krsna (black) but in special cases pita (yellow) as Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the Kali-yuga, (Bhag. 11.5.32 and 10.8.13).

The saktyavesa-avatara is categorized into (1) forms of divine absorption (bhagavad-avesa) like Kapiladeva or Rsabhadeva and (2) divinely empowered forms (saktyavesa), of whom there are seven: (1) Sesa Naga in the Vaikuntha world, empowered for the personal service of the Supreme Lord (sva-sevana-sakti), (2) Anantadeva, empowered to bear all the planets within the universe (bhu-dharana-sakti), (3) Lord Brahma, empowered with the energy to create the cosmic manifestation (srsti-sakti), (4) Catuhsana, or the Kumaras, specifically empowered to distribute transcendental knowledge (jnana-sakti), (5) Narada Muni, empowered to distribute devotional service (bhakti-sakti), (6) Maharaja Prthu, specifically empowered to rule and maintain the living entities (palana-sakti) and (7) Parasurama, specifically empowered to cut down rogues and demons (dusta-damana-sakti).

Madhya20.247

TEXT 247

balya, pauganda haya vigrahera dharma

eta-rupe lila karena vrajendra-nandana

SYNONYMS

balya—childhood; pauganda—boyhood; haya—there are; vigrahera—of the Deity; dharma—characteristics; eta-rupe—in so many forms; lila—pastimes; karena—executes; vrajendra-nandana—Krsna, the son of Nanda Maharaja.

TRANSLATION

"Childhood and boyhood are the typical ages of the Deity. Krsna, the son of Maharaja Nanda, performed His pastimes as a child and as a boy.

Madhya20.248

TEXT 248

ananta avatara krsnera, nahika ganana

sakha-candra-nyaya kari dig-darasana

SYNONYMS

ananta—unlimited; avatara—incarnations; krsnera—of Lord Krsna; nahika ganana—there is no possibility of counting; sakha-candra-nyaya—by the analogy of the moon and the branches of a tree; kari—I make; dik-darasana—a slight indication.

TRANSLATION

"There are innumerable incarnations of Krsna, and there is no possibility of counting them. We can simply indicate them by giving the example of the moon and the branches of a tree.

PURPORT

Although the moon appears to be located in the branches of a tree, it is actually situated very far away. Similarly, none of the avataras, or incarnations, of Lord Krsna are within this material world, but they are visible by the causeless mercy of the Lord. We should not consider them to belong to this material world. As stated in Bhagavad-gita:

avajananti mam mudha
manusim tanum asritam
param bhavam ajananto
mama bhuta-mahesvaram