Text 20] Rsabhadeva’s Appearance 135

TRANSLATION

O Visnudatta, Pariksit Maharaja, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead was pleased by the great sages at that sacrifice. Conse-
quently the Lord decided to personally exhibit the method of exe-
cuting religious principles [as observed by brahmacaris, sannyasis,
vanaprasthas and grhasthas engaged in rituals] and also satisfy
Maharaja Nabhi’s desire. Consequently He appeared as the son of
Merudevi in His original spiritual form, which is above the modes
of material nature.

PURPORT

When the Supreme Lord appears or descends as an incarnation within
this material world, He does not accept a body made of the three modes
of material nature (sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna). Mayavadi
philosophers say that the impersonal God appears in this material world
by accepting a body in the shit BRS Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti
states that the word sukla means “consisting of suddha-sattva.’’ Lord
Visnu descends in His Suddha-sattva form. Suddha-sattva refers to the
sattva-guna which is never contaminated. In this material world, even
the mode of goodness (sattva-guna) is contaminated by tinges of rajo-
guna and tamo-guna. When sattva-guna is never contaminated by rajo-
guna and een it is called suddha-sattva. Sattvam visuddham
vasudeva-sabditam (Bhdg. 4.3.23). That is the platform of vasudeva,
whereby the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, can be ex-
perienced. In Bhagavad-gita (4.7) Sri Krsna Himself says:

yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata

abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham

‘Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice. O de-
scendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I
descend Myself.”

Unlike ordinary living entities, the Supreme Lord is not forced by the
modes of material nature to appear. He appears dharman darSsayitu-
