The Incarnations of the Supreme Lord

Verse 1 (bhagavata.11.4.1)

श्रीराजोवाच यानि यानीह कर्माणि यैर्यैः स्वच्छन्दजन्मभिः । चक्रे करोति कर्ता वा हरिस्तानि ब्रुवन्तु नः ॥ 4.1 ॥

śrī-rājovāca yāni yānīha karmāṇi yair yaiḥ svacchanda-janmabhiḥ cakre karoti kartā vā haris tāni bruvantu naḥ

The King said: Whatever deeds Hari has performed, is performing, or will perform, through His various self-willed appearances in this world — please tell us of these.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.11.4.2)

श्रीद्रुमिल उवाच यो वा अनन्तस्य गुणाननन्ता- ननुक्रमिष्यन् स तु बालबुद्धिः । रजांसि भूमेर्गणयेत् कथञ्चित् कालेन नैवाखिलशक्तिधाम्नः ॥ 4.2 ॥

śrī-drumila uvāca yo vā anantasya guṇān anantān anukramiṣyan sa tu bāla-buddhiḥ rajāṁsi bhūmer gaṇayet kathañcit kālena naivākhila-śakti-dhāmnaḥ

Shri Drumila said: One who would attempt to enumerate the unlimited qualities of the unlimited Lord has, indeed, the intelligence of a child; one might somehow, in time, count the specks of dust upon the earth, but never the qualities of Him who is the reservoir of every power.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.11.4.3)

भूतैर्यदा पञ्चभिरात्मसृष्टैः पुरं विराजं विरचय्य तस्मिन् । स्वांशेन विष्टः पुरुषाभिधान- मवाप नारायण आदिदेवः ॥ 4.3 ॥

bhūtair yadā pañcabhir ātma-sṛṣṭaiḥ puraṁ virājaṁ viracayya tasmin svāṁśena viṣṭaḥ puruṣābhidhānam avāpa nārāyaṇa ādi-devaḥ

When the primeval Lord Narayana fashioned the universal body from the five elements created by Himself, and entered into it by His own portion, He came to be called Purusha.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.11.4.4)

यत्काय एष भुवनत्रयसन्निवेशो यस्येन्द्रियैस्तनुभृतामुभयेन्द्रियाणि । ज्ञानं स्वतः श्वसनतो बलमोज ईहा सत्त्वादिभिः स्थितिलयोद्भव आदिकर्ता ॥ 4.4 ॥

yat-kāya eṣa bhuvana-traya-sanniveśo yasyendriyais tanu-bhṛtām ubhayendriyāṇi jñānaṁ svataḥ śvasanato balam oja īhā sattvādibhiḥ sthiti-layodbhava ādi-kartā

Within His body is arrayed this whole of the three worlds; from His senses come both kinds of senses of embodied beings; knowledge comes from Him directly, and from His breath, strength and vigor and their activity; and through the modes of nature He is the original agent of maintenance, dissolution, and creation.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.11.4.5)

आदावभूच्छतधृती रजसास्य सर्गे विष्णुः स्थितौ क्रतुपतिर्द्विजधर्मसेतुः । रुद्रोऽप्ययाय तमसा पुरुषः स आद्य इत्युद्भवस्थितिलयाः सततं प्रजासु ॥ 4.5 ॥

ādāv abhūc chata-dhṛtī rajasāsya sarge viṣṇuḥ sthitau kratu-patir dvija-dharma-setuḥ rudro ’pyayāya tamasā puruṣaḥ sa ādya ity udbhava-sthiti-layāḥ satataṁ prajāsu

In the beginning, that same original Person became Brahma through the mode of passion for the creation of this world; as Vishnu, the lord of sacrifice and guardian of the twice-born's dharma, He sustains it; and as Rudra, through the mode of ignorance, He brings about its end. Thus creation, maintenance, and dissolution ever attend created beings.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.11.4.6)

धर्मस्य दक्षदुहितर्यजनिष्ट मूर्त्यां नारायणो नर ऋषिप्रवरः प्रशान्तः । नैष्कर्म्यलक्षणमुवाच चचार कर्म योऽद्यापि चास्त ऋषिवर्यनिषेविताङ्घ्रिः ॥ 4.6 ॥

dharmasya dakṣa-duhitary ajaniṣṭa mūrtyāṁ nārāyaṇo nara ṛṣi-pravaraḥ praśāntaḥ naiṣkarmya-lakṣaṇam uvāca cacāra karma yo ’dyāpi cāsta ṛṣi-varya-niṣevitāṅghriḥ

To Dharma, through his wife Murti, the daughter of Daksha, were born Nara and Narayana, the foremost of sages, ever tranquil; He taught, and Himself practiced, that mark of action which leads to freedom from action, and even today He abides, His feet served by the greatest of sages.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.11.4.7)

इन्द्रो विशङ्क्य मम धाम जिघृक्षतीति कामं न्ययुङ्क्त सगणं स बदर्युपाख्यम् । गत्वाप्सरोगणवसन्तसुमन्दवातैः स्त्रीप्रेक्षणेषुभिरविध्यदतन्महिज्ञः ॥ 4.7 ॥

indro viśaṅkya mama dhāma jighṛkṣatīti kāmaṁ nyayuṅkta sa-gaṇaṁ sa badary-upākhyam gatvāpsaro-gaṇa-vasanta-sumanda-vātaiḥ strī-prekṣaṇeṣubhir avidhyad atan-mahi-jñaḥ

Fearing "He wishes to seize my domain," Indra sent Cupid with his companions to the hermitage called Badari; going there with troupes of celestial women, the spring season, and gentle breezes, Cupid, not knowing His greatness, sought to pierce Him with arrows that were the glances of women.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.11.4.8)

विज्ञाय शक्रकृतमक्रममादिदेवः प्राह प्रहस्य गतविस्मय एजमानान् । मा भैष्टभो मदन मारुत देववध्वो गृह्णीत नो बलिमशून्यमिमं कुरुध्वम् ॥ 4.8 ॥

vijñāya śakra-kṛtam akramam ādi-devaḥ prāha prahasya gata-vismaya ejamānān mā bhair vibho madana māruta deva-vadhvo gṛhṇīta no balim aśūnyam imaṁ kurudhvam

Understanding the transgression committed by Indra, the primeval Lord, free of any pride, said laughingly to those who trembled before Him: "Fear not, O mighty Madana, O wind-god, O wives of the gods — accept these offerings from Us, and make this hermitage no longer empty of your presence."

Verse 9 (bhagavata.11.4.9)

इत्थं ब्रुवत्यभयदे नरदेव देवाः सव्रीडनम्रशिरसः सघृणं तमूचुः । नैतद् विभो त्वयि परेऽविकृते विचित्रं स्वारामधीरनिकरानतपादपद्मे ॥ 4.9 ॥

itthaṁ bruvaty abhaya-de nara-deva devāḥ sa-vrīḍa-namra-śirasaḥ sa-ghṛṇaṁ tam ūcuḥ naitad vibho tvayi pare ’vikṛte vicitraṁ svārāma-dhīra-nikarānata-pāda-padme

O King, when the Giver of fearlessness had spoken thus, the celestial visitors, heads bowed in shame, spoke to Him with humility: "O almighty, this is nothing strange in You, the changeless Supreme, at whose lotus feet countless self-satisfied and steadfast souls bow down."

Verse 10 (bhagavata.11.4.10)

त्वां सेवतां सुरकृता बहवोऽन्तरायाः स्वौको विलङ्घ्य परमं व्रजतां पदं ते । नान्यस्य बर्हिषि बलीन् ददतः स्वभागान् धत्ते पदं त्वमविता यदि विघ्नमूर्ध्नि ॥ 4.10 ॥

tvāṁ sevatāṁ sura-kṛtā bahavo ’ntarāyāḥ svauko vilaṅghya paramaṁ vrajatāṁ padaṁ te nānyasya barhiṣi balīn dadataḥ sva-bhāgān dhatte padaṁ tvam avitā yadi vighna-mūrdhni

Many obstacles, raised by the gods themselves, beset those who serve You and seek to pass beyond their own abodes toward Your supreme realm; no such obstacles beset one who offers the gods their due share in sacrifice — yet even so, because You Yourself are his protector, Your devotee sets his foot upon the very head of any hindrance.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.11.4.11)

क्षुत्तृट्त्रिकालगुणमारुतजैह्वशैष्णा- नस्मानपारजलधीनतितीर्य केचित् । क्रोधस्य यान्ति विफलस्य वशं पदे गो- र्मज्जन्ति दुश्चरतपश्च वृथोत्सृजन्ति ॥ 4.11 ॥

kṣut-tṛṭ-tri-kāla-guṇa-māruta-jaihva-śaiṣṇān asmān apāra-jaladhīn atitīrya kecit krodhasya yānti viphalasya vaśaṁ pade gor majjanti duścara-tapaś ca vṛthotsṛjanti

Some, having crossed us — hunger, thirst, the changes of season, wind, and the cravings of tongue and sex, an ocean without shore — nonetheless fall under the sway of futile anger and drown in a mere cow's hoofprint, casting away in vain their hard-won austerities.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.11.4.12)

इति प्रगृणतां तेषां स्त्रियोऽत्यद्भुरतदर्शनाः । दर्शयामास शुश्रूषां स्वर्चिताः कुर्वतीर्विभुः ॥ 4.12 ॥

iti pragṛṇatāṁ teṣāṁ striyo ’ty-adbhuta-darśanāḥ darśayām āsa śuśrūṣāṁ sv-arcitāḥ kurvatīr vibhuḥ

While they spoke thus in praise, the almighty Lord manifested before them women of most wondrous appearance, richly adorned, engaged in reverent service.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.11.4.13)

ते देवानुचरा दृष्ट्वा स्त्रियः श्रीरिव रूपिणीः । गन्धेन मुमुहुस्तासां रूपौदार्यहतश्रियः ॥ 4.13 ॥

te devānucarā dṛṣṭvā striyaḥ śrīr iva rūpiṇīḥ gandhena mumuhus tāsāṁ rūpaudārya-hata-śriyaḥ

The attendants of the gods, beholding those women — beauty embodied, like Lakshmi herself — were bewildered by their fragrance, their own splendor eclipsed by that beauty and magnificence.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.11.4.14)

तानाह देवदेवेशः प्रणतान् प्रहसन्निव । आसामेकतमां वृङ्ध्वं सवर्णां स्वर्गभूषणाम् ॥ 4.14 ॥

tān āha deva-deveśaḥ praṇatān prahasann iva āsām ekatamāṁ vṛṅdhvaṁ sa-varṇāṁ svarga-bhūṣaṇām

The Lord of the gods of gods, almost smiling, said to those who had bowed before Him: "Choose from among these women whichever suits you — she shall become the ornament of heaven."

Verse 15 (bhagavata.11.4.15)

ओमित्यादेशमादाय नत्वा तं सुरवन्दिनः । उर्वशीमप्सरःश्रेष्ठां पुरस्कृत्य दिवं ययुः ॥ 4.15 ॥

om ity ādeśam ādāya natvā taṁ sura-vandinaḥ urvaśīm apsaraḥ-śreṣṭhāṁ puraskṛtya divaṁ yayuḥ

Accepting His command with the sacred word "Om," and bowing to Him, the celestial attendants placed Urvashi, the foremost of the Apsarases, before them, and returned to heaven.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.11.4.16)

इन्द्रायानम्य सदसि शृण्वतां त्रिदिवौकसाम् । ऊचुर्नारायणबलं शक्रस्तत्रास विस्मितः ॥ 4.16 ॥

indrāyānamya sadasi śṛṇvatāṁ tri-divaukasām ūcur nārāyaṇa-balaṁ śakras tatrāsa vismitaḥ

Bowing to Indra in his assembly, as all the residents of the three heavens listened, they recounted the power of Narayana, at which Indra grew both fearful and amazed.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.11.4.17)

हंसस्वरूप्यवददच्युत आत्मयोगं दत्तः कुमार ऋषभो भगवान् पिता नः । विष्णुः शिवाय जगतां कलयावतीर्ण- स्तेनाहृता मधुभिदा श्रुतयोहयास्ये ॥ 4.17 ॥

haṁsa-svarūpy avadad acyuta ātma-yogaṁ dattaḥ kumāra ṛṣabho bhagavān pitā naḥ viṣṇuḥ śivāya jagatāṁ kalayāvatīrṇas tenāhṛtā madhu-bhidā śrutayo hayāsye

Taking the form of the swan, the infallible Lord taught self-realization; as Dattatreya, as the Kumaras, and as Rishabha, our own father, Vishnu descended in these partial forms for the good of the worlds; and in His form as the horse-headed one, that same slayer of the demon Madhu recovered the Vedas.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.11.4.18)

गुप्तोऽप्यये मनुरिलौषधयश्च मात्स्ये क्रौडे हतो दितिज उद्धरताम्भसः क्ष्माम् । कौर्मे धृतोऽद्रिरमृतोन्मथने स्वपृष्ठे ग्राहात् प्रपन्नमिभराजममुञ्चदार्तम् ॥ 4.18 ॥

gupto ’pyaye manur ilauṣadhayaś ca mātsye krauḍe hato diti-ja uddharatāmbhasaḥ kṣmām kaurme dhṛto ’drir amṛtonmathane sva-pṛṣṭhe grāhāt prapannam ibha-rājam amuñcad ārtam

As the fish, He protected Manu, the earth, and its herbs during the deluge; as the boar, raising the earth from the waters, He slew the son of Diti; as the tortoise, He bore the mountain on His own back while the nectar was being churned; and He freed the suffering king of elephants, who had surrendered to Him, from the crocodile's grip.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.11.4.19)

संस्तुन्वतो निपतितान् श्रमणानृषींश्च शक्रं च वृत्रवधतस्तमसि प्रविष्टम् । देवस्त्रियोऽसुरगृहे पिहिता अनाथा जघ्नेऽसुरेन्द्रमभयाय सतां नृसिंहे ॥ 4.19 ॥

saṁstunvato nipatitān śramaṇān ṛṣīṁś ca śakraṁ ca vṛtra-vadhatas tamasi praviṣṭam deva-striyo ’sura-gṛhe pihitā anāthā jaghne ’surendram abhayāya satāṁ nṛsiṁhe

He rescued the ascetic sages who had fallen while offering prayers, and Indra too, who lay sunk in darkness from the sin of killing Vritra; He freed the helpless wives of the gods imprisoned in the demons' palace; and in His form as Narasimha, He slew the king of demons, to give fearlessness to the saintly.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.11.4.20)

देवासुरे युधि च दैत्यपतीन् सुरार्थे हत्वान्तरेषु भुवनान्यदधात् कलाभिः । भूत्वाथ वामन इमामहरद् बलेः क्ष्मां याच्ञाच्छलेन समदाददितेः सुतेभ्यः ॥ 4.20 ॥

devāsure yudhi ca daitya-patīn surārthe hatvāntareṣu bhuvanāny adadhāt kalābhiḥ bhūtvātha vāmana imām aharad baleḥ kṣmāṁ yācñā-cchalena samadād aditeḥ sutebhyaḥ

In the wars of gods and demons He has slain the demon-lords for the gods' sake, and through His partial forms protected all the worlds in the reign of each Manu; and, becoming Vamana, He took this earth from Bali, on the pretext of alms, and gave it to the sons of Aditi.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.11.4.21)

निःक्षत्रियामकृत गां च त्रिःसप्तकृत्वो रामस्तु हैहयकुलाप्ययभार्गवाग्निः । सोऽब्धिं बबन्ध दशवक्त्रमहन् सलङ्कं सीतापतिर्जयति लोकमलघ्नकीर्तिः ॥ 4.21 ॥

niḥkṣatriyām akṛta gāṁ ca triḥ-sapta-kṛtvo rāmas tu haihaya-kulāpyaya-bhārgavāgniḥ so ’bdhiṁ babandha daśa-vaktram ahan sa-laṅkaṁ sītā-patir jayati loka-mala-ghna-kīṛtiḥ

As Parashurama, the fire of Bhrigu's line that consumed the Haihaya dynasty, He rid the earth of kshatriyas twenty-one times over; and as Sita's husband He bridged the ocean and slew the ten-headed one along with all of Lanka — may that Rama, whose fame destroys the world's impurity, be ever victorious.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.11.4.22)

भूमेर्भरावतरणाय यदुष्वजन्मा जातः करिष्यति सुरैरपि दुष्कराणि । वादैर्विमोहयति यज्ञकृतोऽतदर्हान् शूद्रान् कलौ क्षितिभुजो न्यहनिष्यदन्ते ॥ 4.22 ॥

bhūmer bharāvataraṇāya yaduṣv ajanmā jātaḥ kariṣyati surair api duṣkarāṇi vādair vimohayati yajña-kṛto ’tad-arhān śūdrān kalau kṣiti-bhujo nyahaniṣyad ante

The unborn Lord will take birth in the Yadu line to lighten the earth's burden and accomplish feats even the gods cannot; by His arguments He will bewilder the unworthy performers of sacrifice; and at the close of Kali-yuga He will slay the low-born who pose as rulers.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.11.4.23)

एवंविधानि कर्माणि जन्मानि च जगत्पतेः । भूरीणि भूरियशसो वर्णितानि महाभुज ॥ 4.23 ॥

evaṁ-vidhāni janmāni karmāṇi ca jagat-pateḥ bhūrīṇi bhūri-yaśaso varṇitāni mahā-bhuja

O mighty-armed King, thus have we described but a few of the countless births and deeds of the Lord of the universe, He of boundless glory.