Text 9]
Kṛṣṇa Is the Source of All Incarnations
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is comparative material distress. But material conditions, either in so-called happiness or in so-called distress, are all meant ultimately for distress only. Foolish materialists have no information how to obtain eternal happiness in the unconditional state. Śrī Nārada informs these foolish fruitive workers how to realize the reality of happiness. He gives direction to the diseased men of the world how one's present engagement can lead one to the path of spiritual emancipation. The physician gives direction to the patient to take treated milk in the form of curd for his sufferings from indigestion due to his taking another milk preparation. So the cause of the disease and the remedy of the disease may be the same, but it must be treated by an expert physician like Nārada. The  Bhagavad-gītā  also gives the same solution for serving the Lord by the fruits of one's labor. That will lead one to the path of  naiṣkarmya , or liberation.
TEXT 9
तुर्ये धर्मकलासर्गे नरनारायणावृषी । भूत्वाऽऽत्मोपशमोपेतमकरोद् दुश्चरं तपः ॥ ९ ॥
turye dharma-kalā-sarge nara-nārāyaṇāv ṛṣī bhūtvātmopaśamopetam akarod duścaraṁ tapaḥ
turye —in the fourth of the line;  dharma-kalā —wife of Dharmarāja;  sarge —being born of;  nara-nārāyaṇau —named Nara and Nārāyaṇa;  ṛṣī —sages;  bhūtvā —becoming;  ātma-upaśama —controlling the senses;  upetam —for achievement of;  akarot —undertook;  duścaram —very strenuous;  tapaḥ —penance.
TRANSLATION
In the fourth incarnation, the Lord became Nara and Nārāyaṇa, the twin sons of the wife of King Dharma. Thus He undertook severe and exemplary penances to control the senses.
PURPORT
As it was advised by King Rṣabha to His sons,  tapasya , or voluntary acceptance of penance for realization of the transcendence, is the only duty of the human being; it was so done by the Lord Himself in an