PLATE TEN
Queen Kuntī here recalls another reason why the Lord appeared in the world: “Others say that You appeared because the world, being overburdened like a boat at sea, was much aggrieved, and that Brahmā, who is Your son, prayed for You, and so You appeared to diminish the trouble.” Within the halo of the universe there is a transcendental planet known as Śvetadvīpa, which is the abode of Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, the Supersoul feature of the Supreme Lord. Whenever there is trouble in the universe that cannot be solved by the administrative demigods, they approach Lord Brahmā, the secondary creator of the universe, for a solution. If even Lord Brahmā cannot solve the problem, then he consults with and prays to Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu for an incarnation who can. Such a situation arose when Kaṁsa and other demons ruled the earth. At that time the earth became distressed by the demons’ misdeeds, and Lord Brahmā, along with the other demigods, prayed at the shore of the Kṣīrodaka Ocean. Viṣṇu then informed Brahmā of the imminent descent of Lord Kṛṣṇa as the son of Vasudeva and Devakī. ( pp. 121–22 )