974 Srimad-Bhagavatam [ Canto 3, Ch. 24

vivikta upasangamya
pranamya samabhasata

sah—the sage Kardama; ca—and; avatirpam—descended; tri-yugam—
Vignu; ajndya—having understood; vibudha-rsabham—the chief of the
demigods; vivikte—in a secluded place; upasangamya—having approached;
pranamya-— offering obeisances; samabhasata—he spoke.

TRANSLATION

When Kardama Muni understood that the Supreme Personality of God-
head, the chief of all the demigods, Visnu, had descended, he approached
Him in a secluded place, offered obeisances, and spoke as follows.

PURPORT

Lord Visnu is called tri-yuga. He appears in three yugas, Satya, Treta,
Dvapara—but in Kali-yuga He does not appear. From the prayers of
Prahlada Maharaja, however, we understand that He appears garbed as a
devotee in Kali-yuga. Lord Caitanya is that devotee. Krsna appeared in the
form of a devotee, but although He never disclosed Himself, Ripa Gosvami
could understand His identity, for the Lord cannot hide Himself from a
pure devotee. Riipa Gosvami detected Him when he offered his first
obeisances to Lord Caitanya. He knew that He was Krsna Himself and
therefore offered his obeisances with the following words: “I offer my
respects to Krsna, who has now appeared as Lord Caitanya.”’ This is also
confirmed in the prayers of Prahlada Maharaja: in Kali-yuga He does not
directly appear, but He appears as a devotee. Visnu, therefore, is known as
tri-yuga. Another explanation of tn-yuga is that He has three pairs of
divine attributes, namely power and affluence, piety and renown, and
wisdom and dispassion. According to Sridhara Svami, His three pairs of
opulences are complete riches and complete strength, complete fame and
complete beauty, and complete wisdom and complete renunciation. There
are different interpretations of tn-yuga, but it is accepted by all learned
scholars that tri-yuga means Vishu. When Kardama Muni understood that
His son Kapila was Visnu Himself, he wanted to offer his obeisances.
Therefore, when Kapila was alone he offered his respects and expressed
his mind as follows.

TEXT 27
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