Srimad Bhagavatam – day 13
In this universal form of the Lord which extends throughout the entire creation, there is not even a trace of rajas and tamo gunās. It is in the form of pure existence (suddha sattva) which is beyond any form of comparison. In other words, it is the form of total purity.
paśyanty ado rūpam adabhra-cakṣuṣā
sahasra-pādoru-bhujānanādbhutam
sahasra-mūrdha-śravaṇākṣi-nāsikaṁ
sahasra-mauly-ambara-kuṇḍalollasat
This universal form of the Lord glows resplendently in his earrings (kunḍala). Great saints/ yogis see this universal form of the Lord with their jnana netra (divine eye). This is the first incarnation. This universal form is the incarnation as Adi Nārāyana.
From Him, many incarnations emerge and after the completion of the purpose for which they emerge, these incarnations merge back into this universal form itself! This universal form is a fractional part of the Supreme Lord. Lord Brahma emerged as an aspect/ fractional part of this Supreme Lord. From Him came Marichi and other eminent Maharishis. From them are born celestials, humans, animals, birds and all other forms of living beings.
Lord Adi Nārāyana who is the Universal form, in the creation called Koumara, accepted the forms of eminent Maharishis Sanaka, Sananda, Sanātana and Sanat kumara and without any hindrances practiced the most difficult and strenuous vow of Brahmacharya (walking on the path to realize God).
Incarnating as the four eminent sages Sanaka, Sananda, Sanātana and Sanat kumara is the first incarnation of the Supreme Lord.
Now the second incarnation. In this the Lord as Yagneshwara (the Lord of all sacrificial rituals/ yagnas) accepted the form of the boar (Yagnavarāha) for the well-being of this earth and lifted it up from the nether regions (pātāla) of the universe.
In the third incarnation, Lord Sriman Narayana, in the creation filled with saints (rṣis), incarnated as the divine saint Maharishi Narada. He taught to the devotees the Pancarātrāgama, which talks about karma. In the normal course, actions (karma) are the cause behind all bondages. But due to adherence to the good deeds (sat karmas) taught by Maharishi Narada, the inner mind gets purified. This becomes conducive for attaining liberation. Through this approach, the Supreme Lord in the form of Narada, preached liberation itself!
In the fourth incarnation, the Supreme Lord was born as Nara and Narayana, the sons of King Dharma. Maharishis Nara and Narayana totally controlled their minds and undertook severe strenuous austerities that were impossible for others to accomplish.
In His fifth incarnation the Lord incarnated as Kapila Maharishi, the Lord of all Siddhas. He defined all the sum total of all the principles (tattvas) and preached the Sānkhya Shastra to Maharishi Āsuri. In course of time, this sacred scripture has vanished.
In His sixth incarnation the Lord incarnated as Dattatreya, the Son of Maharishi Atri. He was born to Mother Anasuya as an answer to her prayers. He taught the knowledge of the Self to Alarka, Prahlada, Yadu, Kartavirya and others. Datta was the sixth incarnation of the Supreme Lord.
Now in the seventh incarnation the Lord incarnated as the son of Prajapati Ruci and his wife Ākuti. His name was Yajna. Together with his sons Yāma and other divine troops he saved the period of time known as Swāyambhuva manvantara. Yajna was the seventh incarnation.
In the eighth incarnation the Lord who is all pervading and who can take huge steps, incarnated as Rṣabha, the Son of King Nābhi and his wife Merudevi. To those with right judgment and critical discriminative capacity he showed the path of ultimate knowledge (paramahamsa jnana marga) which is revered by people from all orders (ashramas, stages) of life.
Om Namo Narayana.