Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 17
Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi and the Lord’s Unlimited Incarnations
हंसस्वरूप्यवददच्युत आत्मयोगं दत्त: कुमार ऋषभो भगवान् पिता न: । विष्णु: शिवाय जगतां कलयावतीर्ण- स्तेनाहृता मधुभिदा श्रुतयोहयास्ये ॥ १७ ॥
haṁsa-svarūpy avadad acyuta ātma-yogaṁ dattaḥ kumāra ṛṣabho bhagavān pitā naḥ viṣṇuḥ śivāya jagatāṁ kalayāvatīrṇas tenāhṛtā madhu-bhidā śrutayo hayāsye
Viṣṇu, o infalível Acyuta, desce para o bem do universo por meio de várias encarnações parciais, como o Senhor Haṁsa, Dattātreya, os quatro Kumāras e nosso próprio pai, o poderoso Ṛṣabhadeva, ensinando a ciência do ātma-yoga. Em Sua forma de Hayagrīva, matou o demônio Madhu e recuperou os Vedas de Pātāla.
It is stated in the Skanda Purāṇa that the Lord of the universe, Hari Himself, once appeared in the form of a young brahmacārī named Kumāra and spoke transcendental knowledge to Sanat-kumāra.
FAQs
This verse states that Madhusūdana (the Lord) restored the stolen śrutis (Vedas) by appearing in His Hayagrīva (horse-faced) form, protecting revealed knowledge for the world.
He is listing the Lord’s compassionate descents that teach ātma-yoga and spiritual wisdom—different avatāras and empowered forms through whom the same Supreme Lord guides the world toward liberation.
Treat spiritual practice as learning the ‘science of the Self’: study authentic śāstra, cultivate detachment and inner discipline, and rely on the Lord’s guidance—seeing Him as the source and protector of true knowledge.