Canto 01- Chapter 3- Krsna is the Source of All Incarnations

Suta Muni said: In the beginning of the creation, the Lord first expanded Himself in the universal form of the Purusa incarnation and manifested all the ingredients for the material creation. And thus at first there was the creation of the sixteen principles of material action. This was for the purpose of creating the material universe. The elemental creation of sixteen principles of matter - namely the five gross elements (Pancha-bhutas), the five objects of sense perception (Tan-Matras), the five knowledge acquiring senses (Jnanendriyas) and the mind. The five gross elements are earth, water, fire, air and ether; the five objects of sensual perception are sound, form, taste, smell, and touch; and the five knowledge acquiring senses are the eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin. Together with the mind, these sixteen principles are created by the first purusa incarnation.

SB 1.3.2: A part of the Purusa lies down within the water of the universe (Karanodakasayi Visnu), from the navel lake of His body sprouts a lotus stem, and from the lotus flower atop this stem, Brahma, the master of all engineers in the universe, becomes manifest. It is better explained later and also in my Brahma Samhita Blogs. The first Purusa is the Karanodakasayi Visnu. From His skin holes innumerable universes have sprung up. In each and every universe, Purusa enters as the Garbhodakasayi Visnu. From Garbhodakasayi Visnu is the expansion of the Ksirodakasayi Visnu, who is Sri Hari, and from Him all incarnations within the universe are expanded. Hence the original form is known as - Krishna, The Godhead.

SB 1.3.3: It is believed that all the universal planetary systems are situated on the extensive body of the Purusa, but He has nothing to do with the created material ingredients. His body is eternally in spiritual existence par excellence. That is the Viswa-Rupa/Virat-Rupa.

SB 1.3.4: The devotees, with their perfect eyes, see the transcendental form of the Purusa who has thousands of legs, thighs, arms and faces -- all extraordinary. In that body there are thousands of heads, ears, eyes and noses. They are decorated with thousands of helmets and glowing earrings and are adorned with garlands.

SB 1.3.5: Garbhodakasayi Visnu  - the second manifestation of the Purusa, is the source and indestructible seed of multifarious incarnations within the universe. From the particles and portions of this form, different living entities, like demigods, men and others, are created. For more detailed explanation please blog. When He saw that within the universe there was only darkness and space, without a resting place, He filled half of the Universe with water from His own perspiration and laid Himself down on the same water. This water is called Garbhodaka (Garbha+Udaka). Then from His navel the stem of the lotus flower sprouted, and on the flower petals the birth of Brahma, or the master engineer of the universal plan, took place.

SB 1.3.6: First of all, in the beginning of creation, there were the four unmarried sons of Brahma [the Kumaras], who, being situated in a vow of celibacy, underwent severe austerities for realization of the Absolute Truth. The Kumaras appeared in the creation of the material world to teach us the process of Brahman realization. They underwent a severe type of disciplinary action as bachelors. These Kumaras are empowered incarnations. And before executing the severe type of disciplinary actions, all of them became qualified brahmanas. Thus one must first acquire the qualifications of a brahmana by virtue of the discipline and realization but not simply by birth.

SB 1.3.7: The supreme enjoyer of all sacrifices, Krishna accepted the second incarnation as Varaha (Boar) for the welfare of the earth. He lifted the earth from the nether regions of the universe and pierced the first demon Hiranyaksa with His tusks. The indication is that for each and every incarnation of the Personality of Godhead, the particular function is executed. There cannot be any incarnation without a particular function, and such functions are always extraordinary in the sense that, they are impossible for any living being to perform.

SB 1.3.8: In the millennium of the rishis, the Personality of Godhead accepted the third empowered incarnation in the form of Devarshi Narada, who is a great sage among the demigods (this might come as a surprise for those who thought Narada was a regular Brahman who preached vedas). He collected expositions of the Vedas which deal with devotional service and which inspire nonfruitive action. He took this form to propagate the devotional service and mostly in favor of 'karmis' or those who take up the material possessions. He advised several people, including Vyasa Maharshi, on how to reach the ultimate and be happy, only through devotion.

SB 1.3.9: In the fourth incarnation, the Lord became Nara and Narayana, the twin sons of the wife of King Dharma. Thus He undertook severe and exemplary penances to control the senses. Nara and Narayana, performed great penances at the holy spot of Badrinath. The twins were sons of Dharma and his wife Murti (Daughter Of Daksha). They live at Badrikashram performing severe austerities and meditation for the welfare of the world. These two inseparable sages take avatars on earth for the welfare of mankind and to punish the wicked asura named ShashtraKavacha. He had got boon of having 1000 Kavachas (armours); hence it will take 1000 Years to break each one of his Kavacha, and the one, who would break a Kavacha, would instantly die. Hence, first Narayana pennaced for 1000 Yrs and Nara fought 1000 Years with ShahasrKavacha and after 1000 Years, Nara was able to break his one Kavacha. The deal was that as Nara broke the Kavacha, he died, but Narayan due his penance of 1000 Yrs could get back life of Nara and Narayan starts fighting and Nara starts penance for the next 1000 years. Nara and Narayana alternatively penace and fight for 1000 years and the cycle continued till both were able to break 999 Kavachas. ShahastraKavacha hides himself behind the Surya with his last Kavacha due to fear that he would be killed by Nara and Narayana then. At this time, there is Pralaya on Earth due to the change of the Yuga. Thus ShashtraKavacha escapes death. In Dwapara Yuga, he was reborn as Karna with Kavacha and Nar and Narayan as Arjun and Krishna respectively. Urvashi the celestial dancer was born when sage Narayana put a flower on his thigh, when Indra was distrubing their penance, Since she was born on his thigh (Ur in sanskrit), she was called Urvasi.

B 1.3.10: The fifth incarnation, was Kapila Maharshi, the foremost among perfected beings. He gave an exposition of the creative elements and metaphysics to Asuri Brahmana, for in course of time this knowledge had been lost. The sum total of the creative elements is twenty-four in all. Apart from the 16 principles explained above, there are 8 mre creative principles (5 panchendiryas, 5 Tan-matras, 5 Mahabutas, 5 karmendriyas, Manas (Mind), Ahamkara (Ego), Buddhi (intelligence) and Mahat (Prakriti/Primordial Nature). Each and every one of them is explicitly explained in the system of Sankhya philosophy (Metaphysics). Sankhya means "that which explains very lucidly by analysis of the material elements." This was done for the first time by Kapila, who is said herein to be the fifth in the line of incarnations. Buddhism has its roots here.

SB 1.3.11: The sixth incarnation of the Purusa was Dattatreya, the son of the sage Maharshi Atri and Anasuya. He was born from the womb of Anasuya, who prayed for an incarnation. He spoke on the subject of transcendence, spirit and soul to Alarka, Prahlada, Yadu and Haihaya. Anasuya prayed for the rebirth of Brahma, Visnu and Siva as one and Visnu took the form of Dattatreya, Siva the form of Durvasa Muni and Brahma as Soma (Moon).

SB 1.3.12: The seventh incarnation was Yajna, the son of Prajapati Ruci and his wife Akuti. He controlled the period during the change of the Svayambhuva Manu and was assisted by demigods such as His son Yama. During the period of Svayambhuva Manu (the present period is of Vaivasvata Manu and we will have this dicussion in detailed elsewhere..), there was no suitable living being who could occupy the post of Indra, the King of the Indraloka planet. The Lord Himself at that time reincarnated for that position. Assisted by His own sons like Yama and other demigods, Lord Yajna ruled the administration of the universal affairs.

SB 1.3.13: The eighth incarnation was King Rishabha, son of King Nabhi and his wife Merudevi. In this incarnation the Lord showed the path of perfection, which is followed by those who have fully controlled their senses and who are honored by all orders of life. This incarnation lead to the Jainism sect (Mahavira was a grandson of Rishabha) and King's noted sons were Bahubali (Sravanabelagola) and Bharata (origin of Bharata-Varsha).

SB 1.3.14: O brahmanas, in the ninth incarnation, the Lord, prayed for by sages, accepted the body of a King Prithu who cultivated the land to yield various produces, and for that reason the earth was beautiful and attractive. This was beleived to be the advent of agrculture.

SB 1.3.15: When there was a complete inundation (flood) after the period of the Cakshusha Manu and the whole world was deep within water, the Lord accepted the Matysa Avatara, the tenth incarnation in the form of a fish and protected Vaivasvata Manu, keeping him up on a boat. Here comes the origin of Dravidas, at Malaya Mountains. This was also inerpreted by many as 'Manu' to be the 'Noah' (from 'Manua') and the origin of Christianity and Jewism. Lord ordered Manu to collect seeds and animals for the start of a new world, and kept his boat from sinking so that they could survive the inundation.

SB 1.3.16: The eleventh incarnation of the Lord took the form of a Kurmam tortoise whose shell served as a pivot for the Mandaracala Hill, which was being used as a churning rod by the theists and atheists of the universe.

SB 1.3.17: In the twelfth incarnation, the Lord appeared as Dhanvantari, and in the thirteenth He allured the atheists by the charming beauty of a Mohini avatar and gave nectar to the demigods to drink. He is beleived by ayurvedists as the Lord of medicine and surgery.

SB 1.3.18: In the fourteenth incarnation, the Lord appeared as Nrisimha and bifurcated the strong body of the atheist Hiranyakasipu with His nails, just as a carpenter pierces cane.

SB 1.3.19: In the fifteenth incarnation, the Lord assumed the form of a dwarf-brahmana, Vamana and visited the arena of sacrifice arranged by Maharaja Bali. Although at heart He was willing to regain the kingdom of the three planetary systems, He simply asked for a donation of three steps of land.

SB 1.3.20: In the sixteenth incarnation of the Godhead, the Lord Bhrigupati (Parashurama) annihilated the kshatriyas, twenty-one times, being angry with them because of their rebellion against the brahmanas.

SB 1.3.21: Thereafter, in the seventeenth incarnation, Sri Vyasa Maharshi appeared in the womb of Satyavati through Parasara Muni, and he divided the one Veda into several branches and subbranches, seeing that the people in general were less intelligent.

SB 1.3.22: In the eighteenth incarnation, the Lord appeared as King Rama. In order to perform some pleasing work for the demigods, He exhibited superhuman powers by controlling the Indian Ocean and then killing the King Ravana, who was on the other side of the sea.

SB 1.3.23: In the nineteenth and twentieth incarnations, the Lord advented Himself as Lord Balarama and Lord Krishna in the Yadu dynasty, and by so doing He removed the burden of the world.

SB 1.3.24: Then, in the beginning of Kali-yuga, the Lord will appear as Lord Buddha, the son of Anjana, in the province of Gaya, just for the purpose of deluding those who are envious of the faithful theist.

SB 1.3.25: Thereafter, at the conjunction of two yugas, the Lord of the creation will take His birth as the Kalki incarnation and become the son of Vishnu Yasa. At this time the rulers of the earth will have degenerated into plunderers.

SB 1.3.26: O brahmanas, the incarnations of the Lord are innumerable, like rivulets flowing from inexhaustible sources of water.

SB 1.3.27: All the rishis, Manus, demigods and descendants of Manu, who are especially powerful, are plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord. This also includes the Prajapatis.

SB 1.3.28: All of the above-mentioned incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Sri Krishna is the original Personality of Godhead. All of them appear on planets whenever there is a disturbance created by the atheists. The Lord incarnates to protect the theists.

SB 1.3.29: Whoever carefully recites the mysterious appearances of the Lord, with devotion in the morning and in the evening, gets relief from all miseries of life.

SB 1.3.30: The conception of the virat universal form of the Lord, as appearing in the material world, is imaginary. It is to enable the less intelligent [and neophytes] to adjust to the idea of the Lord's having form. But factually the Lord has no material form.

SB 1.3.31: Clouds and dust are carried by the air, but less intelligent persons say that the sky is cloudy and the air is dirty. Similarly, they also implant material bodily conceptions on the spirit self.

SB 1.3.32: Beyond this gross conception of form is another, subtle conception of form which is without formal shape and is unseen, unheard and unmanifest. The living being has his form beyond this subtlety, otherwise he could not have repeated births.

SB 1.3.33: Whenever a person experiences, by self-realization, that both the gross and subtle bodies have nothing to do with the pure self, at that time he sees himself as well as the Lord.

SB 1.3.34: If the illusory energy subsides and the living entity becomes fully enriched with knowledge by the grace of the Lord, then he becomes at once enlightened with self-realization and thus becomes situated in his own glory.

SB 1.3.35: Thus learned men describe the births and activities of the unborn and inactive, which is undiscoverable even in the Vedic literatures. He is the Lord of the heart.

SB 1.3.36: The Lord, whose activities are always spotless, is the master of the six senses and is fully omnipotent with six opulences. He creates the manifested universes, maintains them and annihilates them without being in the least affected. He is within every living being and is always independent.

SB 1.3.37: The foolish with a poor fund of knowledge cannot know the transcendental nature of the forms, names and activities of the Lord, who is playing like an actor in a drama. Nor can they express such things, neither in their speculations nor in their words.

SB 1.3.38: Only those who render unreserved, uninterrupted, favorable service unto the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, who carries the wheel of the chariot in His hand, can know the creator of the universe in His full glory, power and transcendence.

SB 1.3.39: Only by making such inquiries in this world can one be successful and perfectly cognizant, for such inquiries invoke transcendental ecstatic love unto the Personality of Godhead, who is the proprietor of all the universes, and guarantee immunity from the dreadful repetition of birth and death.

SB 1.3.40: This Srimad-Bhagavatam is the literary incarnation of God, and it is compiled by Sri Vyasa, the incarnation of God. It is meant for the ultimate good of all people, and it is all-successful, all-blissful and all-perfect.

SB 1.3.41: Sri Vyasa delivered it to his son, who is the most respected among the self-realized, after extracting the cream of all Vedic literatures and histories of the universe.

SB 1.3.42: Suka Maharshi, son of Vyasa Maharshi, in his turn delivered the Bhagavatam to the great Emperor Parikshit, who sat surrounded by sages on the bank of the Ganges, awaiting death without taking food or drink.

SB 1.3.43: This Bhagavata Purana is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Krishna to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from this Purana.

SB 1.3.44: O learned brahmanas, when Suka Maharshi recited Bhagavatam there in the presence of Emperor Parikshit, I heard him with rapt attention, and thus, by his mercy, I learned the Bhagavatam from that great and powerful sage. Now I shall try to make you hear the very same thing as I learned it from him and as I have realized it.