Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 23
Bhagavān’s Avatāras, Their Protections (Poṣaṇa), and the Limits of Knowing Him
अस्मत्प्रसादसुमुख: कलया कलेश इक्ष्वाकुवंश अवतीर्य गुरोर्निदेशे । तिष्ठन् वनं सदयितानुज आविवेश यस्मिन् विरुध्य दशकन्धर आर्तिमार्च्छत् ॥ २३ ॥
asmat-prasāda-sumukhaḥ kalayā kaleśa ikṣvāku-vaṁśa avatīrya guror nideśe tiṣṭhan vanaṁ sa-dayitānuja āviveśa yasmin virudhya daśa-kandhara ārtim ārcchat
由于对一切众生无因的慈悲，至上人格神连同其全分扩展降生于伊克什瓦库家族，显现为内在能量悉多之主。遵父王达沙拉塔之命，他与妻子及幼弟入林久居；十首罗波那与之为敌，犯下重罪，终被征服。
Lord Rāma is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and His brothers, namely Bharata, Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna, are His plenary expansions. All four brothers are viṣṇu-tattva and were never ordinary human beings. There are many unscrupulous and ignorant commentators on Rāmāyaṇa who present the younger brothers of Lord Rāmacandra as ordinary living entities. But here in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the most authentic scripture on the science of Godhead, it is clearly stated that His brothers were His plenary expansions. Originally Lord Rāmacandra is the incarnation of Vāsudeva, Lakṣmaṇa is the incarnation of Saṅkarṣaṇa, Bharata is the incarnation of Pradyumna, and Śatrughna is the incarnation of Aniruddha, expansions of the Personality of Godhead. Lakṣmījī Sītā is the internal potency of the Lord and is neither an ordinary woman nor the external potency incarnation of Durgā. Durgā is the external potency of the Lord, and she is associated with Lord Śiva.
FAQs
This verse states that the Supreme Lord descended (with a plenary portion) in the Ikṣvāku dynasty, manifesting His Rāma-līlā for the welfare of beings and to display dharma.
The verse highlights that the Lord acted according to the instruction of His guru, teaching by example that honoring rightful guidance and dharmic instruction is integral even for the greatest.
Cultivate integrity and self-discipline by honoring legitimate duties and wise guidance, even when inconvenient—turning hardship into purposeful, dharmic conduct.