"Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself."– Bhagavad Gita 4.7
In every age, when dharma weakens and adharma rises, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears in forms befitting the time, place, and circumstance—just to protect His devotees and re-establish the principles of religion. Though He is unborn and eternal, Krishna takes birth by His own sweet will.
From the Srimad-Bhagavatam we hear of His countless avatāras—Matsya, the divine fish who rescued the Vedas; Kurma, the tortoise who held the Mandara mountain; Varaha, who lifted the Earth; Narasimha, who protected Prahlāda and tore apart Hiraṇyakaśipu; Vāmana, the dwarf brāhmaṇa who humbled Bali Mahārāja; Paraśurāma, the warrior sage; Rāma, the ideal king; Balarāma, the Lord of strength; Buddha, the preacher of nonviolence; and finally Kalki, who will appear at the end of this age.
And in the Dvāpara-yuga, the all-attractive Śrī Krishna, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, appeared not merely as an avatāra, but as the fountainhead of all incarnations. ete cāṁśa-kalāḥ puṁsaḥ kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam — all the other incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions, but Śrī Krishna is Bhagavān Himself.
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