Krsna’s Appearances and Activities 65
without any misery and without any doubt. There-
fore we should not think that Krsna comes here just
us we do, being obliged by the laws of nature. The
Sanskrit word avatara literally means “he who
descends.” One who descends from the spiritual
universe into the material universe through his
own will is called an avatara. Sometimes Sri Krsna
descends Himself, and sometimes He _ sends: His
representative. The major religions of the world—
Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and Moslem—believe in
some supreme authority or personality coming down
from the kingdom of God. In the Christian religion,
Jesus Christ claimed to be the son of God and to
be coming from the kingdom of God to reclaim con-
ditioned souls. As followers of Bhagavad-gita, we
admit this claim to be true. So basically there is no
difference of opinion. In details there may be
differences due to differences in culture, climate
and people, but the basic principle remains the
same—that is, God or His representatives come to
reclaim conditioned souls.

yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham
“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in
religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a
predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend
Myself.” (Bg. 4.7)
God is very compassionate. He wishes to see our
miseries cease, but we are trying to adjust to these
