Krishna as an Avatar

[shvu]

 

The following verses are from the Bhagavatam describing Krishna as an Avatar. The translations are by Swami Tapasyananda.

 

For the record, the Bhagavatam is the best authority available on the life of Krishna alongwith Hari-Vamsha and Vishnu Purana.

 

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Desirous of creating the Universe, the Omnipotent and Omniscient Lord assumed by his creative will, the cosmic form formed of the sixteen categories. 1.3.1

 

This Purushavatara is the source of numerous incarnations, as also the centre of their withdrawal. 1.3.5

 

In his nineteenth and twentieth incarnations, he took birth as Rama [balarama] and Krishna among the Vrishnis

in order to lighten the burden of the earth. 1.3.23

 

While all these are the parts and particles of the Supreme Being, Krishna is Bhagavan himself. 1.3.28

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Once Krishna took Arjuna to Vaikuntha the abode of Vishnu.The following verses are from that incident.

 

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He [Arjuna] saw the Transcendent, Supreme Lord, blue like a thunder cloud, dressed in yellow, and having a serene face with attractive long eyes. 10.89.55

 

Achyutha [Krishna] made obeisance to himself in a different form, as part of His divine play. 10.89.58

 

The Lord said 'You leaders of men are incarnations of the Rishis Nara and Narayana. Though you have no desires of your own to achieve, perform your duties in the world for the good of the society and the maintenance of Dharma. 10.89.60

 

By the experience of the Supreme Abode of Vishnu, Arjuna learned wisdom, that all success achieved by man, appearing to be through self-effort is only by the operation of divine grace. 10.89.63

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The following verse is during the event of Krishna's death.

 

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Seeing Brahma, the grandsire of the world and other divine manifestations of his own power, the Lord closed his eyes and his self became one with the supreme self in Samadhi. 11.31.5

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Cheers