Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 20.248
Visible Here, Yet Beyond the Material World
“There are innumerable incarnations of Kṛṣṇa, and there is no possibility of counting them. We can simply indicate them by giving the example of the moon and the branches of a tree.
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa’s incarnations are innumerable; there is no possibility of counting them. We can only indicate them through an example.
- The moon may appear to be located among a tree’s branches, although it is actually very far away. Similarly, the Lord’s incarnations should not be considered to belong to this material world.
- The incarnations become visible by the causeless mercy of the Lord. Their visibility does not make them material.
Try this today
Write one sentence explaining how the moon-and-branches example guards against considering the incarnations material.
Ask yourself
How does the example of the moon and branches help you understand the Lord’s incarnations?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.