Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 2
Nābhi’s Sacrifice and Lord Viṣṇu’s Promise to Appear as a Son (Ṛṣabhadeva’s Advent Prelude)
तस्य ह वाव श्रद्धया विशुद्धभावेन यजत: प्रवर्ग्येषु प्रचरत्सु द्रव्यदेशकालमन्त्रर्त्विग्दक्षिणाविधानयोगोपपत्त्या दुरधिगमोऽपि भगवान् भागवतवात्सल्यतया सुप्रतीक आत्मानमपराजितं निजजनाभिप्रेतार्थविधित्सया गृहीतहृदयो हृदयङ्गमं मनोनयनानन्दनावयवाभिराममाविश्चकार ॥ २ ॥
tasya ha vāva śraddhayā viśuddha-bhāvena yajataḥ pravargyeṣu pracaratsu dravya-deśa-kāla-mantrartvig-dakṣiṇā-vidhāna-yogopapattyā duradhigamo ’pi bhagavān bhāgavata-vātsalyatayā supratīka ātmānam aparājitaṁ nija-janābhipretārtha-vidhitsayā gṛhīta-hṛdayo hṛdayaṅgamaṁ mano-nayanānandanāvayavābhirāmam āviścakāra.
As he worshiped with faith and a purified heart—performing the pravargya rites with proper offerings, place, time, mantras, priests, gifts (dakṣiṇā), and observances—though the Lord is not always attained by such paraphernalia, Bhagavān, out of affection for His devotee, was moved by King Nābhi’s bhakti and, to fulfill his cherished desire, manifested His unconquerable, captivating four-armed form, delighting the minds and eyes of the faithful.
In Bhagavad-gītā it is clearly said:
FAQs
This verse explains that although Bhagavān is inherently difficult to reach, He becomes accessible by bhāgavata-vātsalya—His affectionate mercy toward devotees—and personally reveals His beautiful form to fulfill their sincere desire.
Because the devotee worships with śraddhā and a purified heart, and the Lord intends to grant the devotee’s cherished aim; thus He appears as supratīka—auspicious, heart-captivating, and delightful to the mind and eyes.
Perform spiritual practice with sincerity, inner purity, and careful attention to proper method—offering what you can with devotion—trusting that genuine bhakti draws the Lord’s grace more than mere external complexity.