Chapter 2-Incarnations

रामकृष्णादयो ये ह्यवतारा रमापतेः।
तेऽपि जीवांशसंयुक्ताः किंवा ब्रूहि मुनिश्वर॥ १॥

1. Rama, Krishna, as well as the other incarnations of Ramapati, do they have their own individuality? Tell me, O excellent Sage.

Ramapati is one of Vishnu's many names.

रामः कृष्णश्च भो विप्र नृसिंहः सूकरस्तथा।
एते पूर्णावताराश्च ह्यन्ये जीवांशकान्विताः॥ २॥

2. Rama, Krishna, Narasimha and Sukara are all fully incarnations of Vishnu. The others have their own individuality as well.

Sukara is the boar, a reference to the well known incarnation Varaha. Parashara uses a variety of names in his descriptions, including less common ones. He reminds us that each name has its own story.

अवताराण्यनेकानि ह्यजस्य परमात्मनः।
जीवानां कर्मफलदो ग्रहरूपी जनार्दनः॥ ३॥

3. Innumerable incarnations are born from the unborn Paramatma. Janardana takes the form of the grahas to bestow on the living beings the results of their karma.

Janardana is another of Vishnu's names.

Karma is action. Positive actions are rewarded with positive results, negative actions bring negative consequences.

दैत्यानां बलनाशाय देवानां बलबृद्धये।
धर्मसंस्तापनार्थाय ग्रहाज्जाताः शुभाः क्रमात्‌॥ ४॥

4. The grahas incarnate as a succession of eminent births whose purpose is to destroy the strength of the demons, enhance the strength of the Gods and to re-establish dharma.

Dharma is natural law that ensures that life progresses to greater levels of fulfilment.

रामोऽवतारः सूर्यस्य चन्द्रस्य यदुनायकः।
नृसिंहो भूमिपुत्रस्य बुद्धः सोमसुतस्य च॥ ५॥

5. Rama is the incarnation of Surya (the Sun), Krishna of Chandra (the Moon), Narasimha of Bhumiputra (Mars) and Budha is from Somasuta (Mercury).

Bhumiputra is 'son of the Earth' and refers to Mars. Soma is another name for the Moon. Somasuta means 'born of the Soma', a reference to Mercury.

वामनो विबुधेज्यस्य भार्गवो भार्गवस्य च।
कूर्मो भास्करपुत्रस्य सैंहिकेयस्य सूकरः॥ ६॥

6. Vamana is from the learned one (Jupiter), Bhargava (Parashurama) from Bhargava (Venus). Koorma is from Bhaskaraputra (Saturn) and Sukara from Saimhikeya (Rahu).

Both Venus and its incarnation Parashurama are referred to as Bhargava. Bhaskara is another name for the Sun. Saturn is Bhaskaraputra or 'son of the Sun'. Rahu is called Saimhikeya, 'child of Simhika'.

केतोर्मीनावतारश्च ये चान्ये तेऽपि खेटजाः।
परात्मांशोऽधिको येषु ते सर्वे खेचराभिधः॥ ७॥

7. Meena is the incarnation of Ketu. Other incarnations are born from the planets as well. The ones that are predominately Paramatma reside in the Heavens.

जीवांशोह्यधिको येषु जीवास्ते चै प्रकीर्तितः।
सूर्यादिभो ग्रहेभ्यश्च परमात्मांशनिःसृताः॥ ८॥

8. Whilst the ones with more individuality are said to be the living beings. From the grahas, beginning with Surya, from their Paramatma...

रामकृष्णादयः सर्व ह्यवतारा भवन्ति चै।
तत्रैव ते विलीयन्ते पुनः कार्योत्तर सदा॥ ९॥

9. Rama, Krishna and the other incarnations are born. And then they return again to their origins. This is their eternal supreme role.

जीवांशनिःसृतास्तेषां तेभ्यो जाता नरादयः।
तेऽपि तत्रैव लीयन्ते तेऽव्यक्ते समयन्ति हि॥ १०॥

10. From the individuality of the grahas, human and other beings are born. And then they too return to their origins, uniting with the unmanifest.

Each of the grahas has its own individual set of traits and characteristics. Every living being is a unique combination of those traits.

इदं ते कथितं विप्र सर्वं यस्मिन्‌ भवेदिति।
भूतान्यपि भविष्यन्ति तत्तज्जातन्ति तद्विदः॥ ११॥

11. The entire universe, Vipra, finds its final resolution when it rejoins the unmanifest. Those who understand the mechanics of all of this become all ­knowing.

विना तज्ज्यैतिषं नान्यो ज्ञातुं शक्नोति कर्हिचित्‌।
तत्मादवश्यमध्येयं ब्राह्मणेश्च विशेषतः॥ १२॥

12. One cannot have this ability without the light of Jyotish. Therefore it is important for everyone to acquire this knowledge, especially the brahmins.

यो नरः शास्त्रमज्ञात्वा ज्यौतिषं खलु निन्दति।
रौरवं नरकं भुक्त्वा चान्धत्वं चान्यजन्मनि॥ १३॥

13. Any man who is ignorant of Jyotish yet nonetheless criticises it will find himself in the hell called Raurava before being reborn blind.