158
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 1, Ch. 3]
PURPORT
Originally the  Veda  is one. But Śrīla Vyāsadeva divided the original  Veda  into four, namely  Śāma ,  Yajus ,  Rk ,  Atharva , and then again they were explained in different branches like the  Purāṇas  and the  Mahābhārata . Vedic language and the subject matter are very difficult for ordinary men. They are understood by the highly intelligent and self-realized  brāhmaṇas . But the present age of Kali is full of ignorant men. Even those who are born by a  brāhmaṇa  father are, in the present age, no better than the  śūdras  or the women. The twice-born men, namely the  brāhmaṇas ,  kṣatriyas  and  vaiśyas , are expected to undergo a cultural purificatory process known as  saṁskāras , but because of the bad influence of the present age the so-called members of the  brāhmaṇa  and other high order families are no longer highly cultured. They are called the  dvija-bandhu  or the friends and family members of the twice-born. But these  dvija-bandhus  are classified amongst the  śūdras  and the women. Śrīla Vyāsadeva divided the  Vedas  in various branches and sub-branches for the sake of the less intelligent classes like the  dvija-bandhus ,  śūdras  and the women.
TEXT 22
नरदेवत्वमापनः सुरकार्यचिकीर्षया । समुद्रनिग्रहादीनि चक्रे वीर्याण्यतः परम् ॥२२॥
nara-devatvam āpannaḥ sura-kārya-cikīrṣayā samudra-nigrahādīni cakre vīryāṇy ataḥ param
nara —human being;  devatvam —divinity;  āpannaḥ —having assumed the form of;  sura —the demigods;  kārya —activities;  cikīrṣayā —for the purpose of performing;  samudra —the Indian Ocean;  nigraha-ādīni —controlling, etc.;  cakre —did perform;  vīryāṇi —superhuman prowess;  ataḥ param —thereafter.
TRANSLATION
In the eighteenth incarnation, the Lord appeared as King Rāma. In order to perform some pleasing work for the demigods, He exhibited superhuman powers by controlling the Indian Ocean and then killing the atheist King Rāvaṇa, who was on the other side of the sea.