Chapter Three Agamanodyoga-varṇanam Description of the Lord's Appearance

Śrī Bahulāśva said; O sage, O lord, what did they do when they saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is greater than the greatest? Please be kind and tell me.

Śrī Nārada said: As everyone looked on, Lord Hari, the eight-armed master of Vaikuṇṭha, appeared and merged in the the body of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

The perfect, ferocious, and powerful Lord Nrsiṁha, who was effulgent as millions of suns, merged in Lord Kṛṣṇa's effulgence.

Then the master of Śvetadvīpa, who was decorated with a thousand arms, came in a splendid chariot drawn by a hundred thousand horses.

Opulent with many weapons, accompanied by the goddess of fortune, and served by many associates, He suddenly merged in the body of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

daśa-koṭy-arka-saṅkāśe cāmarair dolite rathe asaṅkhya-vaṇarendrāḍhye lakṣa-cakra-ghana-svane lakṣa-dhvaje lakṣa-haye śatakaumbhe sthitas tataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-vigrahe pūrṇaḥ sampralīno babhūva ha tadā—then; eva—indeed; ca—also; āgataḥ—come; sākṣād—directly; rāmo—Rāmacandra; rajīva—lotus; locanaḥ—eyes; dhanur—bow; bāṇa—and arrows; dharaḥ—holding; sītā—with Sītā; śobhito—glorious; bhrātṛbhir—by brothers; vṛtaḥ—accompanied; daśa—ten; koṭi—ten million; arka—of suns; saṅkāśe—splendor; cāmarair—with cāmaras; dolite—moved; rathe—on the chariot; asaṅkhya—countless; vaṇara—monkey; indra—kings; aḍhye—opulent; lakṣa—ten thousand; cakra—wheels; ghana—deep; svane—sound; lakṣa—ten thousand; dhvaje—flags; lakṣa—ten thousand; haye—horses; śatakaumbhe—golden; sthitas—standing; tataḥ—then; śrī-kṛṣṇa-vigrahe—in Lord Kṛṣṇa's body; pūrṇaḥ—perfect; sampralīno—merged; babhūva—became; ha—indeed. Then, holding a bow and arrows, glorious with Sītā, and accompanied by His brothers, lotus-eyed Lord Rāmacandra came in a golden chariot that was effulgent as a hundred million suns, (decorated) with swaying cāmaras, opulent with countless monkey-kings, rumbling with ten thousand wheels, (decorated with) ten thousand flags, and (pulled by) ten thousand horses, and merged in the body of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

daśa-koṭy-arka-saṅkāśe cāmarair dolite rathe asaṅkhya-vaṇarendrāḍhye lakṣa-cakra-ghana-svane lakṣa-dhvaje lakṣa-haye śatakaumbhe sthitas tataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-vigrahe pūrṇaḥ sampralīno babhūva ha tadā—then; eva—indeed; ca—also; āgataḥ—come; sākṣād—directly; rāmo—Rāmacandra; rajīva—lotus; locanaḥ—eyes; dhanur—bow; bāṇa—and arrows; dharaḥ—holding; sītā—with Sītā; śobhito—glorious; bhrātṛbhir—by brothers; vṛtaḥ—accompanied; daśa—ten; koṭi—ten million; arka—of suns; saṅkāśe—splendor; cāmarair—with cāmaras; dolite—moved; rathe—on the chariot; asaṅkhya—countless; vaṇara—monkey; indra—kings; aḍhye—opulent; lakṣa—ten thousand; cakra—wheels; ghana—deep; svane—sound; lakṣa—ten thousand; dhvaje—flags; lakṣa—ten thousand; haye—horses; śatakaumbhe—golden; sthitas—standing; tataḥ—then; śrī-kṛṣṇa-vigrahe—in Lord Kṛṣṇa's body; pūrṇaḥ—perfect; sampralīno—merged; babhūva—became; ha—indeed. Then, holding a bow and arrows, glorious with Sītā, and accompanied by His brothers, lotus-eyed Lord Rāmacandra came in a golden chariot that was effulgent as a hundred million suns, (decorated) with swaying cāmaras, opulent with countless monkey-kings, rumbling with ten thousand wheels, (decorated with) ten thousand flags, and (pulled by) ten thousand horses, and merged in the body of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

daśa-koṭy-arka-saṅkāśe cāmarair dolite rathe asaṅkhya-vaṇarendrāḍhye lakṣa-cakra-ghana-svane lakṣa-dhvaje lakṣa-haye śatakaumbhe sthitas tataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-vigrahe pūrṇaḥ sampralīno babhūva ha tadā—then; eva—indeed; ca—also; āgataḥ—come; sākṣād—directly; rāmo—Rāmacandra; rajīva—lotus; locanaḥ—eyes; dhanur—bow; bāṇa—and arrows; dharaḥ—holding; sītā—with Sītā; śobhito—glorious; bhrātṛbhir—by brothers; vṛtaḥ—accompanied; daśa—ten; koṭi—ten million; arka—of suns; saṅkāśe—splendor; cāmarair—with cāmaras; dolite—moved; rathe—on the chariot; asaṅkhya—countless; vaṇara—monkey; indra—kings; aḍhye—opulent; lakṣa—ten thousand; cakra—wheels; ghana—deep; svane—sound; lakṣa—ten thousand; dhvaje—flags; lakṣa—ten thousand; haye—horses; śatakaumbhe—golden; sthitas—standing; tataḥ—then; śrī-kṛṣṇa-vigrahe—in Lord Kṛṣṇa's body; pūrṇaḥ—perfect; sampralīno—merged; babhūva—became; ha—indeed. Then, holding a bow and arrows, glorious with Sītā, and accompanied by His brothers, lotus-eyed Lord Rāmacandra came in a golden chariot that was effulgent as a hundred million suns, (decorated) with swaying cāmaras, opulent with countless monkey-kings, rumbling with ten thousand wheels, (decorated with) ten thousand flags, and (pulled by) ten thousand horses, and merged in the body of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

rathe jyotirmaye dṛśye dakṣiṇāḍhyaḥ sureśvaraḥ so 'pi līno babhūvāśu śrī-kṛṣṇe śyāma-vigrahe tadā—then; eva—indeed; ca—also; āgataḥ—came; sākṣād—directly; yajṣas—Yaj 24a; nārāyaṇo—Nārāyaṇa; hariḥ—Hari; prasphurat-pralayāṭopa-jvalad-agni—in the blazing fires of cosmic devastation; śikhā—a flame; upamaḥ—like; rathe—ona chariot; jyotirmaye—effulgent; dṛśye—beautiful; dakṣiṇā—with His consort Dekṣiṇā; ḍhyaḥ—opulent; sura—of the demigods; īśvaraḥ—the master; so—He; api—even; līno—merged; babhūva—became; āśu—suddenly; śrī-kṛṣṇe—in Śrī Kṛṣṇa; śyāma—dark; vigrahe—form. Then Lord Yajṣa, who is known as Nārāyaṇa and Hari, who is glorious like a flame in the fire of cosmic devastation, who is the master of the demigods, and who is glorious with His consort Dakṣiṇa, came in a splendid and beautiful chariot and suiddenly merged in the dark form of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

rathe jyotirmaye dṛśye dakṣiṇāḍhyaḥ sureśvaraḥ so 'pi līno babhūvāśu śrī-kṛṣṇe śyāma-vigrahe tadā—then; eva—indeed; ca—also; āgataḥ—came; sākṣād—directly; yajṣas—Yaj 24a; nārāyaṇo—Nārāyaṇa; hariḥ—Hari; prasphurat-pralayāṭopa-jvalad-agni—in the blazing fires of cosmic devastation; śikhā—a flame; upamaḥ—like; rathe—ona chariot; jyotirmaye—effulgent; dṛśye—beautiful; dakṣiṇā—with His consort Dekṣiṇā; ḍhyaḥ—opulent; sura—of the demigods; īśvaraḥ—the master; so—He; api—even; līno—merged; babhūva—became; āśu—suddenly; śrī-kṛṣṇe—in Śrī Kṛṣṇa; śyāma—dark; vigrahe—form. Then Lord Yajṣa, who is known as Nārāyaṇa and Hari, who is glorious like a flame in the fire of cosmic devastation, who is the master of the demigods, and who is glorious with His consort Dakṣiṇa, came in a splendid and beautiful chariot and suiddenly merged in the dark form of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

taḍit-koṭi-jaṭājutaḥ prasphurad-dīpta-maṇḍalaḥ munīndra-maṇḍalair divyair maṇḍito 'khaṇḍita-vrataḥ sarveṣāṁ paśyatāṁ teṣām āścarya-manasā nṛpa so 'pi līno babhūvāśu śrī-kṛṣṇe śyāma-sundare tadā—then; ca—also; āgatavān—come; sākṣāt—directly; nara-nārāyaṇaḥ—Nara-Nārāyaṇa; prabhuḥ—Lord; catur-bhujo—four arms; viśāla—large; akṣo—eyes; muni—as a muni; veṣo—dressed; ghana—as a dark cloud; dyutiḥ—splendor; taḍit—of lightning flashes; koṭi—millions; jaṭājutaḥ—matted hair; prasphurad-dīpta-maṇḍalaḥ—splendid; munīndra-maṇḍalair—by the great sages; divyair—splendid; maṇḍito—decorated; akhaṇḍita-vrataḥ—observing an unbroken vow of celibacy; sarveṣāṁ—of all; paśyatām—looking; teṣām—of them; āścarya—wonder; manasā—heart; nṛpa—O king; so—He; api—also; līno—merged; babhūva—became; āśu—suddenly; śrī-kṛṣṇe—in Śrī Kṛṣṇa; śyāma—dark; sundare—and handsome. Then Lord Nara-Nārāyaṇa, whose eyes were large, who had four arms, who was dressed as a sage, who was splendid like a dark cloud, whose matted hair was a lightning flash, who observed an unbroken vow (of celibacy), and who was surrounded by splendid multitudes of the kings of sages, suddenly merged in the handsome dark form of Lord Kṛṣṇa as everyone looked on, their hearts filled with wonder.

taḍit-koṭi-jaṭājutaḥ prasphurad-dīpta-maṇḍalaḥ munīndra-maṇḍalair divyair maṇḍito 'khaṇḍita-vrataḥ sarveṣāṁ paśyatāṁ teṣām āścarya-manasā nṛpa so 'pi līno babhūvāśu śrī-kṛṣṇe śyāma-sundare tadā—then; ca—also; āgatavān—come; sākṣāt—directly; nara-nārāyaṇaḥ—Nara-Nārāyaṇa; prabhuḥ—Lord; catur-bhujo—four arms; viśāla—large; akṣo—eyes; muni—as a muni; veṣo—dressed; ghana—as a dark cloud; dyutiḥ—splendor; taḍit—of lightning flashes; koṭi—millions; jaṭājutaḥ—matted hair; prasphurad-dīpta-maṇḍalaḥ—splendid; munīndra-maṇḍalair—by the great sages; divyair—splendid; maṇḍito—decorated; akhaṇḍita-vrataḥ—observing an unbroken vow of celibacy; sarveṣāṁ—of all; paśyatām—looking; teṣām—of them; āścarya—wonder; manasā—heart; nṛpa—O king; so—He; api—also; līno—merged; babhūva—became; āśu—suddenly; śrī-kṛṣṇe—in Śrī Kṛṣṇa; śyāma—dark; sundare—and handsome. Then Lord Nara-Nārāyaṇa, whose eyes were large, who had four arms, who was dressed as a sage, who was splendid like a dark cloud, whose matted hair was a lightning flash, who observed an unbroken vow (of celibacy), and who was surrounded by splendid multitudes of the kings of sages, suddenly merged in the handsome dark form of Lord Kṛṣṇa as everyone looked on, their hearts filled with wonder.

taḍit-koṭi-jaṭājutaḥ prasphurad-dīpta-maṇḍalaḥ munīndra-maṇḍalair divyair maṇḍito 'khaṇḍita-vrataḥ sarveṣāṁ paśyatāṁ teṣām āścarya-manasā nṛpa so 'pi līno babhūvāśu śrī-kṛṣṇe śyāma-sundare tadā—then; ca—also; āgatavān—come; sākṣāt—directly; nara-nārāyaṇaḥ—Nara-Nārāyaṇa; prabhuḥ—Lord; catur-bhujo—four arms; viśāla—large; akṣo—eyes; muni—as a muni; veṣo—dressed; ghana—as a dark cloud; dyutiḥ—splendor; taḍit—of lightning flashes; koṭi—millions; jaṭājutaḥ—matted hair; prasphurad-dīpta-maṇḍalaḥ—splendid; munīndra-maṇḍalair—by the great sages; divyair—splendid; maṇḍito—decorated; akhaṇḍita-vrataḥ—observing an unbroken vow of celibacy; sarveṣāṁ—of all; paśyatām—looking; teṣām—of them; āścarya—wonder; manasā—heart; nṛpa—O king; so—He; api—also; līno—merged; babhūva—became; āśu—suddenly; śrī-kṛṣṇe—in Śrī Kṛṣṇa; śyāma—dark; sundare—and handsome. Then Lord Nara-Nārāyaṇa, whose eyes were large, who had four arms, who was dressed as a sage, who was splendid like a dark cloud, whose matted hair was a lightning flash, who observed an unbroken vow (of celibacy), and who was surrounded by splendid multitudes of the kings of sages, suddenly merged in the handsome dark form of Lord Kṛṣṇa as everyone looked on, their hearts filled with wonder.

Filled with wonder, and now understanding that Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, the demigods offered many prayers.

The demigods said: Obeisances to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, greater than the greatest, the master of sacrifices, the cause of causes, the lover of Rādhā, the most perfect, and the Lord who resides in Goloka.

The masters of yoga say You are the Brahman effulgence, and the great devotees say You have a form. Today we understand Your feet. Obeisances to You, the master of the Brahman effulgence.

We take shelter of You, the unborn Supreme, who are free from the material modes, who are beyond the world of matter, and who cannot be described. The greatest philosophers cannot describe You, either directly, indirectly, or by the most oblique hint.

Some teach that You are the greatest, some that You are time, some that You are the sum total of everything, some that You are karma, some that You are yoga, and some that You are the first cause. We take shelter of You, who cannot be perfectly known by all their words.

O Lord, they who reject the auspicious service of Your feet, and instead visit holy places, perform sacrifices and austerities, and try to cultivate spiritual knowledge are beaten by a host of obstacles. How miserably will they fail.

What request shall we place before You today? The pure-hearted devotees whose forms are not material offer respectful obeisances to You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead who, the witness of everything, stays in everyone's heart.

O Lord, You are a necklace of moons Śrī Rādhā places over Her heart. You are the source of life for the gopīs' eyes. You are a flag over Goloka. You are the original Supreme Personality of Godhead. O Lord, from all calamities please protect, please protect the demigods.

Śrī Nārada said: Addressed in this way, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the king of Gokula, in a voice of thunder replied to the demigods prostrate before Him.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O Śiva, O eldest of the demigods, O demigods, hear My words. By My order you and your wives should take birth, by your aṁśa expansions, in the family of the Yadus.

I will also descend. I will remove the earth's burden. I will perform the work you (request). I will take birth in the Yadus' family.

The Vedas are My words. The brāhmaṇas are My mouth. The cows are My body. You demigods are My limbs. My devotees are the life-breath in My heart.

Millennium after millennium, whenever the blasphemers stop religion, sacrifice, and mercy, I descend Myself.

Śrī Nārada said: When Her husband, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the master of the universes, had spoken, Śrī Rādhā, overcome with fear of being separated from Him, and now like a flowering vine burning in a great forest fire, weeping, trembling, about to faint unconscious, and the hairs of her body erect, spoke to Him.

If You do not believe My words, I will say them a second time. (If You go) then My life, yearning to depart, will become like camphor dust.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: I will go with You. O Rādhā, don't lament. I will remove the earth's burden and I will keep Your word.

Śrī Rādhā said: My heart cannot be happy where there is no Vṛndāvana forest, no Yamunā river, and no Govardhana Hill.

Śrī Nārada said: Then Lord Kṛṣṇa sent to the earth Govardhana Hill, the Yamunā river, and a 47 krośa portion of His abode. Note: One krośa equals two miles.

Bowing and bowing again and again with the demigods, Brahmā addressed the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Brahmā said: Where will I take birth? Where will You take birth? Where will the (demigods) take birth? In what homes? With what names?

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: I will take birth in Devakī from Vasudeva. My transcendental kalā expansion Śeṣa will take birth in Rohiṇī. Of this there is no doubt.

The goddess of fortune will take birth as Bhīṣmaka's daughter Rukmiṇī. Lord Śiva's consort will take birth as Jāmbavatī. Tulasī will take birth as Satyā and Vasundharā as Satyabhāmā.

Dakṣiṇā will become Lakṣmaṇā, Virajā will become Kālindī, Hrī will become Bhadrā, and Jhnavī, who destroys sins, will become Mitravindā.

(Born) in Rukmiṇī, Kāmadeva will be known as Pradyumna. You will take birth as his son. Of this there is no doubt.

The Vasu Droṇa will become Nanda, and Dharā will be remembered as Yaśodā. Sucandra will take birth as Vṛṣabhānu, and his wife Kalāvatī will also take birth.

On the earth she will be known as Kīrti. In her Rādhā will take birth. Again and again I will perform the rāsa dance in the circle of Vraja with the gopīs.