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"Thy Name (nama) and Thy Form (rtipa) are not however
to be known by Thy attributes, births and deeds. For Thou art their
Seer and Thy Path is beyond the reach of Manas and speech. Still
in the act of devotion, Thy votaries realise Thee. By hearing, utter-
ing, causing others to remember and by meditating on Thy blessed
names and forms in devotional practices, one becomes fixed in mind
on Thy Lotus Feet and does not then stand the chance of another
birth."
"By Thy birth, the pressure on the Earth is removed. The
marks of Thy feet already adorn her. Heaven and Earth look favor-
ed by Thee."
"What else can be the cause of Thy birth but a mere fancy on
Thy part, for even the birth, life and death of Jivatmas are but seeming
things caused by Thy Avidya."
"The Fish, the Horse, the Tortoise, the Man Lion, the Boar, the
Swan, in these and in Kings, Brahmanas and wise men, Thou hast
incarnated. As thou dost preserve us and preserve this Trilokl, so
dost Thou take away the load from off the Earth. Our salutations
to Thee."
"And mother Devaki, the Great Purusha Himself is in Thy
womb in part, for our good. Fear not then from Kansa, whose death
is near at hand. Thy Son shall be the Saviour of the Yadus."
Having thus adored the Lord, the Devas left the place.
In time, when all nature looked still and there was joy in heav-
en and earth, Sri Krishna was born under the influence of the Rohini
constellation. It was all dark at dead of night. He had four hands
bearing Sankha, Chakra, Gada, and Padma. The mark of Srivatsa
the Koustubha gem, the yellow cloth, the crown on the head glittering
with stones, the brilliant ear-rings all marked Him out as the Purusha,
and Vasudeva and Devaki adored Him as such. Devaki asked him
to withdraw his lordly form with four hands.
Said Bhagavan, addressing Devaki.
"In the Svayambhuva Manvantara, thou wert called Prisni,
and this Vasudeva, Prajapati Sutapas. Commanded by Brahma to
beget progeny, thou didst make austere Tapas and prayed for a son
even like unto my own self. So I was born of thee as Prisni-Garbha.
This was my first Incarnation. When you two were Aditi and Ka-
syapa, I was born of you as Upendra, othenvised called Vamana (the
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