*SKANDHA II. CHAP. 7.*
1. _Varaha_ -- In order to raise the Earth from the waters, the
Purusha adopted the body of Varaha or Boar and killed with His
tusks the first Daitya Hiranyaksha.
2. _Yajna_ -- was born of Ruchi and Akuti. The Suyama Devas were
born of Yajna. He dispelled the fears of Triloki.
3. _Kapila_ -- was born of Kardama Prajapati and his wife Devahuti.
He taught Brahma Vidya to his mother.
4. _Dattatreya_ -- He preached Yoga to his disciples, who acquired
powers and became liberated.
5. _The Kumaras._ -- Sanat Kumara, Sanaka, Sanandana and Sanatana.
They completely promulgated the Atma Vidya, which had been lost in
Pralaya.
6. _Nara Narayana._ -- They were born of Dharma and his wife Murti,
daughter of Daksha. Their Tapas was so great that the Deva ladies
could not shake it.
7. _Dhruva._ -- Though a boy, he could not bear the words of his
step-mother. He went into the forests and made Tapas. He was
rewarded with ascent to Dhruva Loka or the region of the polar
star.
8. _Prithu._ -- He milked out riches and edibles from the earth.
9. _Rishabha._ -- Rishabha was the son of Nabhi by Sudevi or Meru
Devi. He roamed about as Parama Hansa.
10. _Hayagriva._ -- This horse-headed Avatara appeared in the Vedic
Yajna and promulgated the Vedas.
11. _Matsya._ -- Vaivasvata Mann found out this Avatara at the end
of a cycle of Yugas. He preserved all beings and the Vedas from
the waters of the Deluge.
12. _Kurma._ -- At the great churning of the Ocean, the Tortoise
Avatara supported the Mandara mountain.
13. _Nrisinha._ -- The Man-Lion Avatara killed Hiranyakasipu.
14. _Hari_ -- saved the Elephant King of the famous story of Gajendra
Moksha.
15. _Vamana_ -- measured the Triloki by His two steps.
16. _Hansa_ -- related Bhakti Yoga, Gnana and Bhagavata Purana to
Narada.
17. The presiding deity of each Manvantara.
18. _Dhanvantari_ -- promulgated the science of medicine.
19. _Parasu Rama_ -- suppressed the Kshatriyas who became disregardful
of the Brahmanas and the Sastras.
20. _Rama_ -- destroyed Lanka and killed Ravana.
21. _Rama_ and _Krishna_. -- The tenth Canto of Bhagavata is entirely
devoted to their deeds.
22. _Vyasa._ -- He divided the trunk of the Veda tree into several
branches.
23. _Buddha._ -- When the Asuras came to know the Vedic mysteries and
to oppress people, Buddha incarnated Himself in order to confound
them by preaching a variety of by-religions.
24. _Kalki_ -- will appear before the end of Kali Yuga, to set things
right.
Besides these Lila Avataras, there are Maya Guna Avataras and Vibhutis
or Saktis.
In _creation_ these are:
Tapas, Brahma, the Rishis, and the Nine Prajapatis.
In _preservation_ they are:
Dharma, Vishnu, Manu, Devas and Kings.
In _Pralaya_ they are:
Adharma, Siva, Serpents and Asuras.
O Narada, this is, in brief, the Bhagavata Purana. You relate it to
others in a much more expanded form, so that people may have Bhakti or
Divine attachment to Bhagavan.