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Shri Datta Swami

 23 May 2025

 

What is the right way to understand the below verse from the Gita about Multiple Incarnations of God?

[Shri Hrushikesh asked: What is right way to understand the below verse from Bhagavad Gita about Multiple Incarnations of God? Does this Shloka have any reference to God incarnating simultaneously in Multiple Universes? Chapter 11, Verse 5 Shloka:

śhrī-bhagavān uvācha

paśhya me pārtha rūpāṇi śhataśho ’tha sahasraśhaḥ

nānā-vidhāni divyāni nānā-varṇākṛitīni cha.

Meaning quoted on internet: After listening to Arjun’s prayers, Shree Krishna now asks him to have a vision of his viśhwarūp or universal form. He uses the word paśhya, meaning “behold” to indicate that Arjun must pay attention. Although the form is one, it has unlimited features and contains innumerable personalities of multitude shapes and variegated colours. Shree Krishna uses the phrase śhataśho ’tha sahasraśhaḥ to indicate they exist in innumerable fashions and multitude ways.]

Swami replied:- The Bhagavatam also says that the incarnations of God are beyond count (Avatārā hyasaṅkhyeyāḥ…). The Gita also says that God will incarnate whenever and wherever justice is damaged (Yadā yadā hi dharmasya…- Gita).

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