The various forms of the past, present and future incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Hari, and the various transcendental characteristics of each of these avataras constitute the subject matter of this chapter.

Even if it were ever possible to count all the particles of dust on the face of the earth, any attempt to count all the innumerable transcendental qualities of the unlimited Lord Hari, the foundation of all potencies, would be simply madness. The Personality of Godhead Narayana created the universe out of the five elements manufactured by His own maya, entered into that universe in the form of the Supersoul and became known as the Purusha-avatara. He effects the work of creation in the mode of passion through the personal form of Brahma, of protection in the mode of goodness through the form of the Lord of sacrifice, Vishnu, and of annihilation in the mode of ignorance through the form of Rudra. Incarnating in the form of Nara-Narayana, the greatest of sages, from the womb of Murti, the daughter of Daksha and wife of Dharma, He preached by His own practical demonstration the science of naishkarmyam. When Cupid (Kandarpa) and his hosts were sent to Badarikasrama by King Indra, who had become fearful and envious at seeing the austerities of Lord Nara-Narayana, that best of sages welcomed Cupid as an honored guest. The pacified Cupid then offered prayers to the Supreme Personality Nara-Narayana Rishi. By the order of the sage, Cupid returned from there with Urvasi and upon presenting himself before Indra related to him everything that had taken place.

The Personality of Godhead Lord Vishnu has appeared in various partial incarnations for the benefit of the entire world and has given instructions in spiritual knowledge in the forms of Hamsa, Dattatreya, Sanaka and the other Kumara brothers, and Rishabhadeva. In the form of Hayagriva He killed the demon Madhu and saved all the Vedas. In the avatara of Matsya, the fish, He protected both the earth and Satyavrata Manu. In the incarnation of Varaha, the boar, He delivered the earth and destroyed Hiranyaksha; in that of Kurma, the tortoise, He carried Mandara Mountain upon His back; and in the form of Sri Hari He gave liberation to the king of the elephants. The Lord delivered the Valakhilyas, who had been trapped in the water in a cow's hoofprint, He delivered Indra from the reaction for murdering a brahmana, and He delivered the wives of the demigods from imprisonment in the palaces of the demoniac asuras. In the avatara of Nrisimha, He killed Hiranyakasipu. In the reign of each Manu He kills the demons, fulfills the needs of the demigods and protects all the planetary systems. In the form of Vamana, the dwarf brahmana boy, He cheated Bali Maharaja; in the form of Parasurama He rid the earth of kshatriyas twenty-one times; and in the form of Sri Rama He brought the ocean under His submission and killed Ravana. Descending into the Yadu dynasty, He removed the burden of the earth. In the form of Buddha, by His argumentative preaching in defiance of the Vedas He bewildered the demons who were unqualified to perform sacrifices, and at the end of Kali-yuga He will destroy the sudra kings in His form of Kalki. In this way the innumerable appearances and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Hari are described.