Srimad Bhagavatam. Canto 1: Creation

Chapter 3: Krishna Is the Source of All Incarnations. Text 9

तुर्ये धर्मकलासर्गे नरनारायणावृषी । भूत्वाऽऽत्मोपशमोपेतमकरोद् दुश्चरं तप: ॥ ९॥

turye dharma-kalÄ-sarge
nara-nÄrÄyaṇÄv ṛṣī
bhÅ«tvÄtmopaÅ›amopetam
akarod duścaraṠtapaḥ


Text

Fourth, appearing in the wife of Dharma, he became Nara-nÄrÄyaṇa, and performed severe austerities which give peace to the soul.

Purport

Turye means fourth. Dharma-kala, part of Dharma, refers to the wife of Dharma, since the sruti says ardho va esa atmano yat patni: the wife is half of oneself. Appearing in her (sarge) he became the two sages. They are considered one avatara.