Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 10
The Appearance and Coronation of King Pṛthu (Pṛthu-avatāra) and His Humble Refusal of Premature Praise
ब्रह्मा जगद्गुरुर्देवै: सहासृत्य सुरेश्वरै: । वैन्यस्य दक्षिणे हस्ते दृष्ट्वा चिह्नं गदाभृत: ॥ ९ ॥ पादयोररविन्दं च तं वै मेने हरे: कलाम् । यस्याप्रतिहतं चक्रमंश: स परमेष्ठिन: ॥ १० ॥
brahmā jagad-gurur devaiḥ sahāsṛtya sureśvaraiḥ vainyasya dakṣiṇe haste dṛṣṭvā cihnaṁ gadābhṛtaḥ
梵天与诸天及其主宰同来。见普利图右掌具持杵毗湿奴之瑞纹，足底有莲华印，便知普利图为圣主哈利的分身之分（aṁśa-kalā）；凡掌中具轮（cakra）等圣相者，当视为至上主的部分化身。
There is a system by which one can detect an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Nowadays it has become a cheap fashion to accept any rascal as an incarnation of God, but from this incident we can see that Lord Brahmā personally examined the hands and feet of King Pṛthu for specific signs. In their prophecies the learned sages and brāhmaṇas accepted Pṛthu Mahārāja as a plenary partial expansion of the Lord. During the presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa, however, a king declared himself Vāsudeva, and Lord Kṛṣṇa killed him. Before accepting someone as an incarnation of God, one should verify his identity according to the symptoms mentioned in the śāstras. Without these symptoms the pretender is subject to be killed by the authorities for pretending to be an incarnation of God.
FAQs
This verse shows that exalted beings like Brahmā recognize divine empowerment by specific auspicious marks connected to Lord Viṣṇu—here, the sign of the mace-bearer on Pṛthu’s right hand.
Because Pṛthu’s appearance was a major divine event meant to restore righteous rule; Brahmā and the demigods came to witness and confirm the Lord’s empowerment indicated by sacred signs.
The verse teaches discernment: spiritual authority is confirmed by genuine qualities and divine alignment—not by claims—so one should look for consistent signs of dharma, humility, and devotion.