Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.9.19
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord’s Incarnations Are Always Transcendental
“O my Lord, by Your own will You appear in the various species of living entities, among animals lower than human beings as well as among the demigods, to perform Your transcendental pastimes. You are not affected by material contamination. You come just to fulfill the obligations of Your own principles of religion, and therefore, O Supreme Personality, I offer my obeisances unto You for manifesting such different forms.”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord appears in different species by His own will, without material contamination. All His incarnations are transcendental.
- Kṛṣṇa and Rāma appear in human form but are not ordinary human beings. The Lord’s hog and fish forms are likewise transcendental, not material.
- The Lord manifests these forms for His pleasure and pastimes, especially to enliven and deliver His devotees. He also appears to maintain His own principles of religion.
Try this today
Reread this translation and offer respects to the Lord for appearing to protect His devotees.
Ask yourself
Do I sometimes judge the Lord’s forms by ordinary material appearances?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.