X. 3 XXXII. to XLIII.

These are the three Incarnations of Nara Narayana, mentioned in the Bhagavata. They are certainly not the many births to which Sri Krishna alludes in the Gita. Those many births took place in previous Kalpas of which we know nothing. In this Kalpa, however, he appeared at the turning points in the Evolution of our universe. He appeared in the First Manvantara, the Manvantara of manifestation, as Prisni-garbha. We do not know the good done by Him in His first birth. As Vamana, however, he restored the Triloki to the Devas and asserted the supremacy of the spiritual forces. The Earth was again overpowered by the Asuras. The Kalpa was about to be half over. The last struggle was to be made. Satva had to be infused into all beings, even into the materials composing them. Every thing in the universe was to be wedded to the Lord of Preservation. An upward trend was to be given to the whole course of evolution. Materialism could not be stamped out all at once. But henceforth there was to be a steady fall of Materiality and rise of Spirituality, subject to such variations as minor Cycles might cause. Sri Krishna is therefore the greatest Avatara of our Kalpa. "For the good of those that seek Atma, Nara Narayana shall perform Tapas in Bharata Varsha, unknown to others, till the end of the Kalpa." V. 19-9 Sri Krishna as Bhagavat is greater than the Second Purusha. To the devotees, he is greater than the Purusha manifestation. He now appeared as the preserver of the Universe, the embodiment of Satva, the force of ascent. And the Tatvas had to be wedded to him, so that they might acquire the energy of higher evolution in them. Unless there was change in the innate downward tendency of the Tatvas, the spiritual ascent of the universe was not possible. The Lord brought about this change by permeating the whole universe with His Satva body, or becoming something like the spiritual soul in every being. Therefore Lord Krishna is in the hearts of all beings and can be perceived by all in meditation. He is everywhere, in every atom. Whether Sri Krishna is Bhagavat Himself or some manifestation of Bhagavat makes no difference whatever. By His works, He is Bhagavat. His worshippers are bound for the abode of Bhagavat. They have not to wait in Brahma or Satya Loka, till the end of Brahma's life. Those who worship. Hiranya garbha or Brahma cannot pass beyond the limits of Brahma Loka. In answer to Raja Parikshit, Suka Deva delineated the Paths to be followed after death.