THEMATIC STUDY

OF
SRIMAD BHĀGAVATAM
A Thematic study of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam
Post Graduate curriculum on science of Godhead
A Thematic study of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam
Post Graduate curriculum on science of Godhead

Canto 1 Chapter 3 Kṛṣṇa Is the Source of

All Incarnations

Role of Purushavataras
(SB 1.3.1-5)

Incarnation of Lord and Krishna is the fountainhead

of all Incarnations
(SB 1.3.6-29)

Krishna is the fountainhead of all Incarnations

(SB 1.3.28-29)

Universal form of Lord

(SB 1.3.30-39)

Glories of Srimad Bhagavatam

(SB 1.3.40-44)
 Theme
Role of Purushavataras
Canto 1 Chapter
3Theme 1 (SB 1.3.1-5)

Sūta said: In the beginning of the creation, the A The first puruṣa is the Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. From His skin holes
Lord first expanded Himself in the universal form innumerable universes have sprung up. In each and every universe,
of the puruṣa incarnation and manifested all the the puruṣa enters as the Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. He is lying within the
ingredients for the material creation. And thus at half of the universe which is full with the water of His body.
first there was the creation of the sixteen
principles of material action. This was for the And from the navel of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu has sprung the stem of the
purpose of creating the material universes. lotus flower, the birthplace of Brahmā, who is the father of all living
beings and the master of all the demigod engineers engaged in the
perfect design and working of the universal order.
A part of the puruṣa lies down within the water
of the universe, from the navel lake of His body Within the stem of the lotus there are fourteen divisions of planetary
sprouts a lotus stem, and from the lotus flower systems, and the earthly planets are situated in the middle. Upwards
atop this stem, Brahmā, the master of all there are other, better planetary systems, and the topmost system is
engineers in the universe, becomes manifest. called Brahmaloka or Satyaloka. Downwards from the earthly planetary
system there are seven lower planetary systems inhabited by
the asuras and similar other materialistic living beings.

From Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu there is expansion of the Kṣīrodakaśāyī

Viṣṇu, who is the collective Paramātmā of all living beings. He is called
(Sb 1.3.1-2)
Hari, and from Him all incarnations within the universe are expanded.
 Theme Role of Purushavataras
Canto 1 Chapter 3 (SB 1.3.1-5)
Theme 1

With our present materialized senses we cannot perceive anything of the transcendental Lord.
Our present senses are to be rectified by the process of devotional service, and then the Lord
Himself becomes revealed to us. In the Bhagavad-gītā it is confirmed that the transcendental
It is believed that all the universal planetary systems are Lord can be perceived only by pure devotional service. So it is confirmed in the Vedas that only
situated on the extensive body of the puruṣa, but He has devotional service can lead one to the side of the Lord and that only devotional service can
nothing to do with the created material ingredients. His reveal Him. In the Brahma-saṁhitā also it is said that the Lord is always visible to the devotees
whose eyes have been anointed with the tinge of devotional service. So we have to take
body is eternally in spiritual existence par excellence.
information of the transcendental form of the Lord from persons who have actually seen Him
with perfect eyes smeared with devotional service - (Bg. 13.14 /bs 5.38 / bg 11.54)

The devotees, with their perfect eyes, see the

transcendental form of the puruṣa who has thousands of The puruṣa, after creating innumerable universes in the mahat-tattva, entered in each of them
as the second puruṣa, Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. When He saw that within the universe there was
legs, thighs, arms and faces — all extraordinary. In that
only darkness and space, without a resting place, He filled half of the universe with water from
body there are thousands of heads, ears, eyes and noses. His own perspiration and laid Himself down on the same water. This water is called Garbhodaka.
They are decorated with thousands of helmets and glowing Then from His navel the stem of the lotus flower sprouted, and on the flower petals the birth of
earrings and are adorned with garlands. Brahmā, or the master engineer of the universal plan, took place. Brahmā became the engineer
of the universe, and the Lord Himself took charge of the maintenance of the universe as Viṣṇu.
Brahmā was generated from rajo-guṇa of prakṛti, or the mode of passion in nature, and Viṣṇu
became the Lord of the mode of goodness. Viṣṇu, being transcendental to all the modes, is
This form [the second manifestation of the puruṣa] is the
always aloof from materialistic affection. This has already been explained. From Brahmā there is
source and indestructible seed of multifarious incarnations
Rudra (Śiva), who is in charge of the mode of ignorance or darkness. He destroys the whole
within the universe. From the particles and portions of this creation by the will of the Lord.
form, different living entities, like demigods, men and
others, are created. The Viṣṇu who is the plenary portion of the Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu is the Supersoul of the
universal life, and He is known as the maintainer of the universe or Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. So the
three features of the original puruṣa are thus understood. And all the incarnations within the
universe are emanations from this Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu.
(Sb 1.3.3-4-5)
 Theme Incarnation of Lord
Canto 1 Chapter 3 (SB 1.3.6-27)
Theme 1
The Kumāras, as above mentioned, appeared in the Kaumāra creation of the material world, and
to teach us the process of Brahman realization, they underwent a severe type of disciplinary
action as bachelors. These Kumāras are empowered incarnations. And before executing the
severe type of disciplinary actions, all of them became qualified brāhmaṇas. This example
First of all, in the beginning of creation, there were the four suggests that one must first acquire the qualifications of a brāhmaṇa, not simply by birth but
unmarried sons of Brahmā [the Kumāras], who, being also by quality, and then one can undergo the process of Brahman realization.
situated in a vow of celibacy, underwent severe austerities
for realization of the Absolute Truth. The Boar :The indication is that for each and every incarnation of the Personality of Godhead,
the particular function executed is also mentioned. There cannot be any incarnation without a
particular function, and such functions are always extraordinary. They are impossible for any
living being to perform. The incarnation of the boar was to take the earth out of Pluto’s region of
filthy matter. Picking up something from a filthy place is done by a boar, and the all-powerful
The supreme enjoyer of all sacrifices accepted the Personality of Godhead displayed this wonder to the asuras, who had hidden the earth in such a
incarnation of a boar [the second incarnation], and for the filthy place. There is nothing impossible for the Personality of Godhead, and although He played
welfare of the earth He lifted the earth from the nether the part of a boar, by the devotees He is worshiped, staying always in transcendence. CANT0 3.
regions of the universe. Chapter 13-19

The Narada The great Ṛṣi Nārada, who is an empowered incarnation of the Personality of
Godhead, propagates devotional service all over the universe. All great devotees of the Lord all
over the universe and in different planets and species of life are his disciples. Śrīla Vyāsadeva,
This form [the second manifestation of the puruṣa] is the the compiler of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, is also one of his disciples. Nārada is the author
source and indestructible seed of multifarious incarnations of Nārada-pañcarātra, which is the exposition of the Vedas particularly for the devotional service
within the universe. From the particles and portions of this of the Lord. This Nārada-pañcarātra trains the karmīs, or the fruitive workers, to achieve
form, different living entities, like demigods, men and liberation from the bondage of fruitive work. The conditioned souls are mostly attracted by
fruitive work because they want to enjoy life by the sweat of their own brows. The whole
others, are created.
universe is full of fruitive workers in all species of life.

Śrī Nārada informs these foolish fruitive workers how to realize the reality of happiness. He gives
(SB 1.3.6-7-8) direction to the diseased men of the world how one’s present engagement can lead one to the
path of spiritual emancipation. serving the Lord by the fruits of one’s labor
 Theme Incarnation of Lord
Canto 1 Chapter 3 (SB 1.3.6-27)
Theme 1

In the fourth incarnation, the Lord became Nara and

Nārāyaṇa, the twin sons of the wife of King Dharma. Thus Nara and Nārāyaṇa The incarnation of Nārāyaṇa is worshiped still at Badarī-nārāyaṇa, on the
He undertook severe and exemplary penances to control range of the Himālayas. Canto 4 chapter 1
the senses.

Lord Kapila :The sum total of the creative elements is twenty-four in all. Each and every one of
them is explicitly explained in the system of Sāṅkhya philosophy. Sāṅkhya philosophy is
The fifth incarnation, named Lord Kapila, is foremost generally called metaphysics by the European scholars. The etymological meaning of sāṅkhya is
among perfected beings. He gave an exposition of the “that which explains very lucidly by analysis of the material elements.” This was done for the first
creative elements and metaphysics to Āsuri Brāhmaṇa, for time by Lord Kapila, who is said herein to be the fifth in the line of incarnations. Canto 4 chapter
in course of time this knowledge had been lost. 25-33

Dattātreya The Lord incarnated Himself as Dattātreya, the son of Ṛṣi Atri and Anasūyā. The
The sixth incarnation of the puruṣa was the son of the sage history of the birth of Dattātreya as an incarnation of the Lord is mentioned in the Brahmāṇḍa
Atri. He was born from the womb of Anasūyā, who prayed Purāṇa in connection with the story of the devoted wife. It is said there that Anasūyā, the wife of
for an incarnation. He spoke on the subject of Ṛṣi Atri, prayed before the lords Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva as follows: “My lords, if you are pleased
transcendence to Alarka, Prahlāda and others [Yadu, with me, and if you desire me to ask from you some sort of blessings, then I pray that you
Haihaya, etc.]. combine together to become my son.” This was accepted by the lords, and as Dattātreya the
Lord expounded the philosophy of the spirit soul and especially instructed Alarka, Prahlāda,
Yadu, Haihaya, etc. Canto 4 chapter 1

(SB 1.3.9-10-11)
 Theme Incarnation of Lord
Canto 1 Chapter 3 (SB 1.3.6-27)
Theme 1

Yajña The administrative posts occupied by the demigods for maintaining the regulations of the
material world are offered to the highly elevated pious living beings. When there is a scarcity of
The seventh incarnation was Yajña, the son of Prajāpati Ruci such pious living beings, the Lord incarnates Himself as Brahmā, Prajāpati, Indra, etc., and takes
and his wife Ākūti. He controlled the period during the up the charge. During the period of Svāyambhuva Manu (the present period is of Vaivasvata
change of the Svāyambhuva Manu and was assisted by Manu) there was no suitable living being who could occupy the post of Indra, the King of the
demigods such as His son Yāma. Indraloka (heaven) planet. The Lord Himself at that time became Indra. Assisted by His own sons
like Yāma and other demigods, Lord Yajña ruled the administration of the universal affairs
Canto 4 chapter 1

The fifth incarnation, named Lord Kapila, is foremost Lord Kapila :The sum total of the creative elements is twenty-four in all. Each and every one of
them is explicitly explained in the system of Sāṅkhya philosophy. Sāṅkhya philosophy is
among perfected beings. He gave an exposition of the
generally called metaphysics by the European scholars. The etymological meaning of sāṅkhya is
creative elements and metaphysics to Āsuri Brāhmaṇa, for “that which explains very lucidly by analysis of the material elements.” This was done for the first
in course of time this knowledge had been lost. time by Lord Kapila, who is said herein to be the fifth in the line of incarnations. Canto 4 and 8

The sixth incarnation of the puruṣa was the son of the sage
Atri. He was born from the womb of Anasūyā, who prayed
Lord Ṛṣabha King Ṛṣabha propagated this mission of Varnasrama, and at the last stage He
for an incarnation. He spoke on the subject of became completely aloof from the material bodily needs, which is a rare stage not to be imitated
transcendence to Alarka, Prahlāda and others [Yadu, by foolish men, but to be worshiped by all. Canto 5
Haihaya, etc.].

(SB 1.3.9-10-11)
 Theme Incarnation of Lord
Canto 1 Chapter 3 (SB 1.3.6-27)
Theme 1

Pṛthu Before the advent of King Pṛthu, there was great havoc of maladministration due to the
vicious life of the previous king Vena, the father of Mahārāja Pṛthu.

O brāhmaṇas, in the ninth incarnation, the Lord, prayed for The intelligent class of men, however, do not occupy the royal throne, because they have much
by sages, accepted the body of a king [Pṛthu] who more important duties for the welfare of the public. Instead of occupying the royal throne, they
cultivated the land to yield various produce, and for that prayed for the incarnation of the Lord, and the Lord came as Mahārāja Pṛthu. Real intelligent
reason the earth was beautiful and attractive. men, or qualified brāhmaṇas, never aspire for political posts. Mahārāja Pṛthu excavated many
produces from the earth, and thus not only did the citizens become happy to have such a good
king, but the complete sight of the earth also became beautiful and attractive.
Canto 4 chapter 15 to 23

When there was a complete inundation after the period of

Matsyavatar : Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī has given definite proofs from authoritative scriptures
the Cākṣuṣa Manu and the whole world was deep within
(like Viṣṇu-dharmottara, Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, Harivaṁśa, etc.) that there is always a devastation
water, the Lord accepted the form of a fish and protected after the end of each and every Manu. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī has also supported Śrīla Jīva
Vaivasvata Manu, keeping him up on a boat. Gosvāmī, and he (Śrī Cakravartī) has also quoted from Bhāgavatāmṛta about this inundation
after each Manu. Apart from this, the Lord, in order to show special favor to Satyavrata, a
devotee of the Lord, in this particular period, incarnated Himself.. Canto 4 and 8

The eleventh incarnation of the Lord took the form of a

Kurmavatar Once both the atheists and the theists were engaged in producing nectar from the
tortoise whose shell served as a pivot for the Mandarācala
sea so that all of them could become deathless by drinking it. At that time the Mandarācala Hill
Hill, which was being used as a churning rod by the theists was used as the churning rod, and the shell of Lord Tortoise, the incarnation of Godhead,
and atheists of the universe. became the resting place (pivot) of the hill in the seawater. Canto 5

(SB 1.3.14-15-16)
 Theme Incarnation of Lord
Canto 1 Chapter 3 (SB 1.3.6-27)
Theme 1

Dhanvantari Before the advent of King Pṛthu, there was great havoc of maladministration due to
the vicious life of the previous king Vena, the father of Mahārāja Pṛthu.

In the twelfth incarnation, the Lord appeared as The intelligent class of men, however, do not occupy the royal throne, because they have much
Dhanvantari, and in the thirteenth He allured the atheists by more important duties for the welfare of the public. Instead of occupying the royal throne, they
the charming beauty of a woman and gave nectar to the prayed for the incarnation of the Lord, and the Lord came as Mahārāja Pṛthu. Real intelligent
demigods to drink. men, or qualified brāhmaṇas, never aspire for political posts. Mahārāja Pṛthu excavated many
produces from the earth, and thus not only did the citizens become happy to have such a good
king, but the complete sight of the earth also became beautiful and attractive.
Canto 4 chapter 15 to 23

In the fourteenth incarnation, the Lord appeared as

Nṛsiṁha and bifurcated the strong body of the atheist
Nṛsiṁha : Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī has given definite proofs from authoritative scriptures (like Viṣṇu-
Hiraṇyakaśipu with His nails, just as a carpenter pierces dharmottara, Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, Harivaṁśa, etc.) that there is always a devastation after the
cane. end of each and every Manu. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī has also supported Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī,
and he (Śrī Cakravartī) has also quoted from Bhāgavatāmṛta about this inundation after each
Manu. Apart from this, the Lord, in order to show special favor to Satyavrata, a devotee of the
Lord, in this particular period, incarnated Himself.. Canto 4 and 8
In the fifteenth incarnation, the Lord assumed the form of a
dwarf brāhmaṇa [Vāmana] and visited the arena of sacrifice Vāmana Once both the atheists and the theists were engaged in producing nectar from the sea
arranged by Mahārāja Bali. Although at heart He was willing so that all of them could become deathless by drinking it. At that time the Mandarācala Hill was
to regain the kingdom of the three planetary systems, He used as the churning rod, and the shell of Lord Tortoise, the incarnation of Godhead, became the
simply asked for a donation of three steps of land. resting place (pivot) of the hill in the seawater. Canto 5

(SB 1.3.9-10-11)
 Theme Incarnation of Lord
Canto 1 Chapter 3 (SB 1.3.6-27)
Theme 1
Bhṛgupati or Parsuram The kṣatriyas, or the administrative class of men, are expected to rule
the planet by the direction of the intelligent class of men, who give direction to the rulers in
terms of the standard śāstras, or the books of revealed knowledge. The rulers carry on the
administration according to that direction. Whenever there is disobedience on the part of
In the sixteenth incarnation of the Godhead, the Lord [as the kṣatriyas, or the administrative class, against the orders of the learned and
Bhṛgupati] annihilated the administrative class [kṣatriyas] intelligent brāhmaṇas, the administrators are removed by force from the posts, and
twenty-one times, being angry with them because of their arrangement is made for better administrationCanto 4 chapter 15 to 23
rebellion against the brāhmaṇas [the intelligent class].
Vyāsadeva: Originally the Veda is one. But Śrīla Vyāsadeva divided the original Veda into four,
namely Sāma, Yajur, Ṛg, Atharva, and then again they were explained in different branches like
the Purāṇas and the Mahābhārata. Vedic language and the subject matter are very difficult for
Thereafter, in the seventeenth incarnation of Godhead, Śrī ordinary men. They are understood by the highly intelligent and self-realized brāhmaṇas. But
the present Age of Kali is full of ignorant me
Vyāsadeva appeared in the womb of Satyavatī through
Parāśara Muni, and he divided the one Veda into several
Śrīla Vyāsadeva divided the Vedas into various branches and subbranches for the sake of the
branches and subbranches, seeing that the people in less intelligent classes like the dvija-bandhus, śūdras and women. Canto 4 and 8
general were less intelligent.
Rama The Personality of Godhead Śrī Rāma assumed the form of a human being and appeared
on the earth for the purpose of doing some pleasing work for the demigods or the administrative
personalities to maintain the order of the universe. Sometimes great demons and atheists like
In the eighteenth incarnation, the Lord appeared as King Rāvaṇa and Hiraṇyakaśipu and many others become very famous due to advancing material
Rāma. In order to perform some pleasing work for the civilization by the help of material science and other activities with a spirit of challenging the
demigods, He exhibited superhuman powers by controlling established order of the Lord.
the Indian Ocean and then killing the atheist King Rāvaṇa,
Lord Rāma came to chastise this atheist, answering the prayer and desire of the demigods. He
who was on the other side of the sea.
therefore took up the challenge of Rāvaṇa, and the complete activity is the subject matter of
the Rāmāyaṇa. Because Lord Rāmacandra was the Personality of Godhead, He exhibited
superhuman activities which no human being, including the materially advanced Rāvaṇa, could
perform. Lord Rāmacandra prepared a royal road on the Indian Ocean with stones that floated
(SB 1.3.9-10-11)
on the water Canto 9
 Theme Incarnation of Lord
Canto 1 Chapter 3 (SB 1.3.6-27)
Theme 1
Krishna or Balaram The specific mention of the word bhagavān in this text indicates that
Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa are original forms of the Lord. This will be further explained later. Lord
Kṛṣṇa is not an incarnation of the puruṣa, as we learned from the beginning of this chapter. He is
directly the original Personality of Godhead, and Balarāma is the first plenary manifestation of
In the nineteenth and twentieth incarnations, the Lord the Lord. From Baladeva the first phalanx of plenary expansions, Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa,
advented Himself as Lord Balarāma and Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Aniruddha and Pradyumna, expands. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is Vāsudeva, and Baladeva is
family of Vṛṣṇi [the Yadu dynasty], and by so doing He Saṅkarṣaṇa.Canto 10
removed the burden of the world.
Buddha: Lord Buddha, a powerful incarnation of the Personality of Godhead, appeared in the province of Gayā
(Bihar) as the son of Añjanā, and he preached his own conception of nonviolence and deprecated even the animal
sacrifices sanctioned in the Vedas. At the time when Lord Buddha appeared, the people in general were atheistic
and preferred animal flesh to anything else. On the plea of Vedic sacrifice, every place was practically turned into a
slaughterhouse, and animal-killing was indulged in unrestrictedly.
Then, in the beginning of Kali-yuga, the Lord will appear as
Lord Buddha, the son of Añjanā, in the province of Gayā, Lord Buddha preached nonviolence, taking pity on the poor animals. He preached that he did not believe in the
just for the purpose of deluding those who are envious of tenets of the Vedas and stressed the adverse psychological effects incurred by animal-killing. Less intelligent men
of the Age of Kali, who had no faith in God, followed his principle, and for the time being they were trained in moral
the faithful theist. discipline and nonviolence, the preliminary steps for proceeding further on the path of God realization. He deluded
the atheists because such atheists who followed his principles did not believe in God, but they kept their absolute
faith in Lord Buddha, who himself was the incarnation of God. Thus the faithless people were made to believe in
God in the form of Lord Buddha. That was the mercy of Lord Buddha: he made the faithless faithful to him.

Technically Lord Buddha’s philosophy is called atheistic because there is no acceptance of the Supreme Lord and
(SB 1.3.9-10-11) because that system of philosophy denied the authority of the Vedas. But that is an act of camouflage by the Lord.
Lord Buddha is the incarnation of Godhead. As such, he is the original propounder of Vedic knowledge. He
therefore cannot reject Vedic philosophy. But he rejected it outwardly because the sura-dviṣa, or the demons who
are always envious of the devotees of Godhead, try to support cow-killing or animal-killing from the pages of
the Vedas, and this is now being done by the modernized sannyāsīs. Lord Buddha had to reject the authority of
the Vedas altogether. This is simply technical, and had it not been so he would not have been so accepted as the
incarnation of Godhead. Nor would he have been worshiped in the transcendental songs of the poet Jayadeva, who
is a Vaiṣṇava ācārya. Lord Buddha preached the preliminary principles of the Vedas in a manner suitable for the
time, (and so also did Śaṅkarācārya) to establish the authority of the Vedas. Therefore both Lord Buddha and Ācārya
Śaṅkara paved the path of theism, and Vaiṣṇava ācāryas, specifically Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, led the people
on the path towards a realization of going back to Godhead.
 Theme Incarnation of Lord
Canto 1 Chapter 3 (SB 1.3.6-27)
Theme 2
Kalki Here is another foretelling of the advent of Lord Kalki, the incarnation of Godhead. He is to
appear at the conjunction of the two yugas, namely at the end of Kali-yuga and the beginning of
Satya-yuga. The cycle of the four yugas, namely Satya, Tretā, Dvāpara and Kali, rotates like the
calendar months. The present Kali-yuga lasts 432,000 years, out of which we have passed only
Thereafter, at the conjunction of two yugas, the Lord of the 5,000 years after the Battle of Kurukṣetra and the end of the regime of King Parīkṣit. So there
creation will take His birth as the Kalki incarnation and are 427,000 years balance yet to be finished. Therefore at the end of this period, the incarnation
become the son of Viṣṇu Yaśā. At this time almost all the of Kalki will take place, as foretold in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. The name of His father, Viṣṇu
Yaśā, a learned brāhmaṇa, and the village Śambhala are also mentioned. As above mentioned,
rulers of the earth will have degenerated into plunderers.
all these foretellings will prove to be factual in chronological order. That is the authority
of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

The list of incarnations of the Personality of Godhead given herein is not complete. It is only a
O brāhmaṇas, the incarnations of the Lord are innumerable, partial view of all the incarnations. There are many others, such as Śrī Hayagrīva, Hari, Haṁsa,
Pṛśnigarbha, Vibhu, Satyasena, Vaikuṇṭha, Sārvabhauma, Viṣvaksena, Dharmasetu, Sudhāmā,
like rivulets flowing from inexhaustible sources of water.
Yogeśvara, Bṛhadbhānu and others of the bygone ages. Śrī Prahlāda Mahārāja said in his prayer,
“My Lord, You manifest as many incarnations as there are species of life, namely the aquatics,
the vegetables, the reptiles, the birds, the beasts, the men, the demigods, etc., just for the
maintenance of the faithful and the annihilation of the unfaithful. You advent Yourself in this way
All the ṛṣis, Manus, demigods and descendants of Manu,
in accordance with the necessity of the different yugas. In the Kali-yuga You have incarnated
who are especially powerful, are plenary portions or garbed as a devotee.” This incarnation of the Lord in the Kali-yuga is Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu
portions of the plenary portions of the Lord. This also
includes the Prajāpatis. So the Lord is the inexhaustible source for innumerable incarnations which are not always
mentioned. But such incarnations are distinguished by specific extraordinary feats which are
impossible to be performed by any living being. That is the general test to identify an
incarnation of the Lord, directly and indirectly empowered. Some incarnations mentioned above
are almost plenary portions. For instance, the Kumāras are empowered with transcendental
knowledge. Śrī Nārada is empowered with devotional service. Mahārāja Pṛthu is an empowered
incarnation with executive function. The Matsya incarnation is directly a plenary portion. So the
innumerable incarnations of the Lord are manifested all over the universes constantly, without
(SB 1.3.25-27) cessation, as water flows constantly from waterfalls.
 Theme Krishna is the fountainhead of all Incarnations
Canto 1 Chapter 3 (SB 1.3.28-29)
Theme 3

KrishnaIn this particular stanza Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, is distinguished
from other incarnations. He is counted amongst the avatāras (incarnations) because out of His
causeless mercy the Lord descends from His transcendental abode. Avatāra means “one who
descends.” All the incarnations of the Lord, including the Lord Himself, descend to the different
ete cāṁśa-kalāḥ puṁsaḥ
planets of the material world as also in different species of life to fulfill particular missions.
kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam Sometimes He comes Himself, and sometimes His different plenary portions or parts of the
indrāri-vyākulaṁ lokaṁ plenary portions, or His differentiated portions directly or indirectly empowered by Him,
mṛḍayanti yuge yuge descend to this material world to execute certain specific functions. Originally the Lord is full of
all opulences, all prowess, all fame, all beauty, all knowledge and all renunciation. When they are
partly manifested through the plenary portions or parts of the plenary portions, it should be
noted that certain manifestations of His different powers are required for those particular
functions. When in the room small electric bulbs are displayed, it does not mean that the electric
All of the above-mentioned incarnations are either plenary
powerhouse is limited by the small bulbs. The same powerhouse can supply power to operate
portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but large-scale industrial dynamos with greater volts. Similarly, the incarnations of the Lord display
Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the original Personality of Godhead. All of limited powers because so much power is needed at that particular time.
them appear on planets whenever there is a disturbance
created by the atheists. The Lord incarnates to protect the
According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī’s statement, in accordance with authoritative sources, Lord
theists.
Kṛṣṇa is the source of all other incarnations. It is not that Lord Kṛṣṇa has any source of
incarnation. All the symptoms of the Supreme Truth in full are present in the person of Lord Śrī
Kṛṣṇa, and in the Bhagavad-gītā the Lord emphatically declares that there is no truth greater
than or equal to Himself. In this stanza the word svayam is particularly mentioned to confirm that
Lord Kṛṣṇa has no other source than Himself. Although in other places the incarnations are
described as bhagavān because of their specific functions, nowhere are they declared to be the
Supreme Personality. In this stanza the word svayam signifies the supremacy as the summum
bonum. BS 5.1 /Bg. 7.7/10.8/bg 3.22 p /ŚB 10.2.40
(SB 1.3.27-28)
 Theme Krishna is the fountainhead of all Incarnations
Canto 1 Chapter 3 (SB 1.3.28-29)
Theme 3

In the Bhagavad-gītā the Personality of Godhead has declared that anyone who knows the
janma guhyaṁ bhagavato principles of the transcendental birth and activities of the Lord will go back to Godhead after
ya etat prayato naraḥ being relieved from this material tabernacle. So simply knowing factually the mysterious way of
sāyaṁ prātar gṛṇan bhaktyā the Lord’s incarnation in this material world can liberate one from material bondage. Therefore
duḥkha-grāmād vimucyate the birth and activities of the Lord, as manifested by Him for the welfare of the people in general,
are not ordinary.

SB 11.6.24 /SB 10.40.16

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.

According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī’s statement, in accordance with authoritative sources, Lord
Kṛṣṇa is the source of all other incarnations. It is not that Lord Kṛṣṇa has any source of
incarnation. All the symptoms of the Supreme Truth in full are present in the person of Lord Śrī
Kṛṣṇa, and in the Bhagavad-gītā the Lord emphatically declares that there is no truth greater
than or equal to Himself. In this stanza the word svayam is particularly mentioned to confirm that
Lord Kṛṣṇa has no other source than Himself. Although in other places the incarnations are
described as bhagavān because of their specific functions, nowhere are they declared to be the
Supreme Personality. In this stanza the word svayam signifies the supremacy as the summum
bonum. BS 5.1 /Bg. 7.7/10.8/bg 3.22 p
(SB 1.3.29)
 Theme
Universal form of Lord
Canto 1 Chapter 3
Theme 3 (SB 1.3.30-39)

The conception of the virāṭ universal form of the Lord, as

appearing in the material world, is imaginary. It is to enable Because the Lord is the Absolute Transcendence, all of His forms, names, pastimes, attributes,
the less intelligent [and neophytes] to adjust to the idea of associates and energies are identical with Him. His transcendental energy acts according to His
omnipotency. The same energy acts as His external, internal and marginal energies, and by His
the Lord’s having form. But factually the Lord has no
omnipotency He can perform anything and everything through the agency of any of the above
material form.
energies. He can turn the external energy into internal by His will. Therefore by His grace the
external energy, which is employed in illusioning those living beings who want to have it,
Clouds and dust are carried by the air, but less intelligent
subsides by the will of the Lord in terms of repentance and penance for the conditioned soul.
persons say that the sky is cloudy and the air is dirty. And the very same energy then acts to help the purified living being make progress on the path
Similarly, they also implant material bodily conceptions on of self-realization. The example of electrical energy is very appropriate in this connection. The
the spirit self. expert electrician can utilize the electrical energy for both heating and cooling by adjustment
only. Similarly, the external energy, which now bewilders the living being into continuation of
Beyond this gross conception of form is another, subtle birth and death, is turned into internal potency by the will of the Lord to lead the living being to
conception of form which is without formal shape and is eternal life. When a living being is thus graced by the Lord, he is placed in his proper
unseen, unheard and unmanifest. The living being has his constitutional position to enjoy eternal spiritual life
form beyond this subtlety, otherwise he could not have
repeated births.

According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī’s statement, in accordance with authoritative sources, Lord
Whenever a person experiences, by self-realization, that
Kṛṣṇa is the source of all other incarnations. It is not that Lord Kṛṣṇa has any source of
both the gross and subtle bodies have nothing to do with
incarnation. All the symptoms of the Supreme Truth in full are present in the person of Lord Śrī
the pure self, at that time he sees himself as well as the Lord Kṛṣṇa, and in the Bhagavad-gītā the Lord emphatically declares that there is no truth greater
than or equal to Himself. In this stanza the word svayam is particularly mentioned to confirm that
W=If the illusory energy subsides and the living entity Lord Kṛṣṇa has no other source than Himself. Although in other places the incarnations are
becomes fully enriched with knowledge by the grace of the described as bhagavān because of their specific functions, nowhere are they declared to be the
Lord, then he becomes at once enlightened with self- Supreme Personality. In this stanza the word svayam signifies the supremacy as the summum
realization and thus becomes situated in his own glory. bonum. BS 5.1 /Bg. 7.7/10.8/bg 3.22 p

(SB 1.3.29)
 Theme Universal form of Lord
Canto 1 Chapter 3 (SB 1.3.30-39)
Theme 3

The prime difference between the Lord and the living entities is that the Lord is the creator and
Thus learned men describe the births and activities of the the living entities are the created
unborn and inactive, which is undiscoverable even in the
No one can properly describe the transcendental nature of the Absolute Truth. Therefore it is
Vedic literatures. He is the Lord of the heart.
said that He is beyond the expression of mind and speech. And yet there are some men, with a
The Lord, whose activities are always spotless, is the poor fund of knowledge, who desire to understand the Absolute Truth by imperfect mental
speculation and faulty description of His activities. To the layman His activities, appearance and
master of the six senses and is fully omnipotent with six
disappearance, His names, His forms, His paraphernalia, His personalities and all things in
opulences. He creates the manifested universes, maintains relation with Him are mysterious. There are two classes of materialists, namely the fruitive
them and annihilates them without being in the least workers and the empiric philosophers. The fruitive workers have practically no information of
affected. He is within every living being and is always the Absolute Truth, and the mental speculators, after being frustrated in fruitive activities, turn
independent. their faces towards the Absolute Truth and try to know Him by mental speculation. And for all
these men, the Absolute Truth is a mystery, as the jugglery of the magician is a mystery to
children.
The foolish with a poor fund of knowledge cannot know the
transcendental nature of the forms, names and activities of 4.11 /7/25 10/14/29/ 10/14/38. 6.3.14-15
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. According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī’s statement, in accordance with authoritative sources, Lord
Kṛṣṇa is the source of all other incarnations. It is not that Lord Kṛṣṇa has any source of
incarnation. All the symptoms of the Supreme Truth in full are present in the person of Lord Śrī
Kṛṣṇa, and in the Bhagavad-gītā the Lord emphatically declares that there is no truth greater
than or equal to Himself. In this stanza the word svayam is particularly mentioned to confirm that
If the illusory energy subsides and the living entity Lord Kṛṣṇa has no other source than Himself. Although in other places the incarnations are
becomes fully enriched with knowledge by the grace of the described as bhagavān because of their specific functions, nowhere are they declared to be the
Lord, then he becomes at once enlightened with self- Supreme Personality. In this stanza the word svayam signifies the supremacy as the summum
realization and thus becomes situated in his own glory. bonum. BS 5.1 /Bg. 7.7/10.8/bg 3.22 p

(SB 1.3.29)
 Theme
Universal form of Lord
Canto 1 Chapter 3
Theme 3 (SB 1.3.30-39)

Only those who render unreserved, uninterrupted, Only the pure devotees can know the transcendental name, form and activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa
due to their being completely freed from the reactions of fruitive work and mental speculation.
favorable service unto the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who
The pure devotees have nothing to derive as personal profit from their unalloyed service to the
carries the wheel of the chariot in His hand, can know the Lord. They render incessant service to the Lord spontaneously, without any reservation.
creator of the universe in His full glory, power and
transcendence. CC Madhya-lila 17.136 10/14/29/ sb/10/2/36

The inquiries of the sages headed by Śaunaka are herewith praised by Sūta Gosvāmī on the
Only by making such inquiries in this world can one be merit of their transcendental nature. As already concluded, only the devotees of the Lord can
successful and perfectly cognizant, for such inquiries know Him to a considerable extent, and no one else can know Him at all, so the devotees are
invoke transcendental ecstatic love unto the Personality of perfectly cognizant of all spiritual knowledge
Godhead, who is the proprietor of all the universes, and
guarantee cent-percent immunity from the dreadful
repetition of birth and death.

(SB 1.3.29)
 Theme
Glories of Srimad Bhagavatam
Canto 1 Chapter 3
Theme 3 (SB 1.3.40-44)
Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu declared that Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the spotless sound
representation of all Vedic knowledge and history. There are selected histories of great devotees
idaṁ bhāgavataṁ nāma who are in direct contact with the Personality of Godhead. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the literary
purāṇaṁ brahma-sammitam incarnation of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and is therefore nondifferent from Him. Śrīmad-
uttama-śloka-caritaṁ Bhāgavatam should be worshiped as respectfully as we worship the Lord. Thereby we can derive
cakāra bhagavān ṛṣiḥ the ultimate blessings of the Lord through its careful and patient study. As God is all light, all
niḥśreyasāya lokasya bliss and all perfection, so also is Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. We can have all the transcendental light
of the Supreme Brahman, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, from the recitation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, provided it is
dhanyaṁ svasty-ayanaṁ mahat
received through the medium of the transparent spiritual master. Lord Caitanya’s private
secretary Śrīla Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī advised all intending visitors who came to see the
Lord at Purī to make a study of the Bhāgavatam from the
This Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the literary incarnation of God, person Bhāgavatam. Person Bhāgavatam is the self-realized bona fide spiritual master, and
and it is compiled by Śrīla Vyāsadeva, the incarnation of through him only can one understand the lessons of Bhāgavatam in order to receive the desired
God. It is meant for the ultimate good of all people, and it is result. One can derive from the study of the Bhāgavatam all benefits that are possible to be
all-successful, all-blissful and all-perfect. derived from the personal presence of the Lord. It carries with it all the transcendental blessings
of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa that we can expect from His personal contact.

Śrī Vyāsadeva delivered it to his son, who is the most

respected among the self-realized, after extracting the In the Bhagavad-gītā the Lord says that the purpose of all the Vedas is to know Him (Lord Kṛṣṇa),
cream of all Vedic literatures and histories of the universe. and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself in the form of recorded knowledge.
Therefore, it is the cream of all the Vedas, and it contains all historical facts of all times in
relation with Śrī Kṛṣṇa. It is factually the essence of all histories.

(SB 1.3.29)
 Theme Glories of Srimad Bhagavatam
Canto 1 Chapter 3 (SB 1.3.40-44)
Theme 3

All transcendental messages are received properly in the chain of disciplic succession. This
isa tu saṁśrāvayām āsa disciplic succession is called paramparā. Unless therefore Bhāgavatam or any other Vedic
mahārājaṁ parīkṣitam literatures are received through the paramparā system, the reception of knowledge is not bona
prāyopaviṣṭaṁ gaṅgāyāṁ fide. Vyāsadeva delivered the message to Śukadeva Gosvāmī, and from Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Sūta
parītaṁ paramarṣibhiḥ Gosvāmī received the message. One should therefore receive the message of Bhāgavatam from
Sūta Gosvāmī or from his representative and not from any irrelevant interpreter.

Emperor Parīkṣit received the information of his death in time, and he at once left his kingdom
and family and sat down on the bank of the Ganges to fast till death. All great
Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the son of Vyāsadeva, in his turn sages, ṛṣis, philosophers, mystics, etc., went there due to his imperial position. They offered
delivered the Bhāgavatam to the great Emperor Parīkṣit, many suggestions about his immediate duty, and at last it was settled that he would hear from
who sat surrounded by sages on the bank of the Ganges, Śukadeva Gosvāmī about Lord Kṛṣṇa. Thus the Bhāgavatam was spoken to him
awaiting death without taking food or drink.

(SB 1.3.29)
 Theme Glories of Srimad Bhagavatam
Canto 1 Chapter 3 (SB 1.3.40-44)
Theme 3

The Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, appeared before us just a little prior to the beginning of
Kali-yuga, and He returned to His eternal home practically at the commencement of Kali-yuga.
kṛṣṇe sva-dhāmopagate
While He was present, He exhibited everything by His different activities. He spoke
dharma-jñānādibhiḥ saha
the Bhagavad-gītā specifically and eradicated all pretentious principles of religiosity. And prior
kalau naṣṭa-dṛśām eṣa to His departure from this material world, He empowered Śrī Vyāsadeva through Nārada to
purāṇārko ’dhunoditaḥ compile the messages of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and thus both the Bhagavad-gītā and
the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam are like torchbearers for the blind people of this age. In other words, if
men in this Age of Kali want to see the real light of life, they must take to these two books only,
and their aim of life will be fulfilled. Bhagavad-gītā is the preliminary study of
This Bhāgavata Purāṇa is as brilliant as the sun, and it has the Bhāgavatam. And Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the summum bonum of life, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa
arisen just after the departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa to His own personified. We must therefore accept Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as the direct representation of Lord
abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons Kṛṣṇa. One who can see Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam can see also Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa in person. They are
who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of identical.
ignorance in the Age of Kali shall get light from this Purāṇa.
One can certainly see directly the presence of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa in the pages of Bhāgavatam if one
has heard it from a self-realized great soul like Śukadeva Gosvāmī. One cannot, however,
learn Bhāgavatam from a bogus hired reciter whose aim of life is to earn some money out of
such recitation and employ the earning in sex indulgence. No one can learn Śrīmad-
Bhāgavatam who is associated with persons engaged in sex life. That is the secret of
learning Bhāgavatam. Nor can one learn Bhāgavatam from one who interprets the text by his
mundane scholarship. One has to learn Bhāgavatam from the representative of Śukadeva
Gosvāmī, and no one else, if one at all wants to see Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa in the pages. That is the
process, and there is no alternative. Sūta Gosvāmī is a bona fide representative of Śukadeva
Gosvāmī because he wants to present the message which he received from the great
learned brāhmaṇa. Śukadeva Gosvāmī presented Bhāgavatam as he heard it from his great
father, and so also Sūta Gosvāmī is presenting Bhāgavatam as he had heard it from Śukadeva
Gosvāmī. Simple hearing is not all; one must realize the text with proper attention
(SB 1.3.43)