Q. i) In the verse "Ramadi murtishu kala niyamenatishthan...," why did Lord Brahma refer to the Avatar of Lord Rama and  why not any other Avatar like Lord Narasimha?

 

ii) In Chapter 11 in Gita why does Arjuna need a special eye to see the Vishvarupa while he is seeing Lord Krsna eye to eye?

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A: i) There are six categories of Avataras (incarnations) of the Supreme Lord of lords, Shri Krishna. They are: Purusha Avataras, Guna Avataras, Leela Avataras, Yuga Avataras, Manvantara Avataras and Avesha Avataras. Shri Krishna appears through expansion in all these categories. Shri Rama belongs to the Leela-avatara category.

Although there is no specific reason for Lord Brahma to mention 'Ramadi' in his prayers, the following factors can be inferred:

a) First of all, Their Lordships Shri Rama, Shri Lakshmana, Shri Bharata and Shri Shatrughna are the direct representative features of the primary quadruple expansion of Shri Krishna - Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha.

b) Like Lord Krishna, Lord Rama also appeared on this planet exhibiting human traits.

c) Apart from Lord Krishna, the timespan of Lord Rama's pastimes compared to other incarnations was quite long.

d) Next only to Lord Krishna, Lord Rama exhibited maximum potency by Himself and through His devotees.

ii) Lord Shri Krishna's pastimes (leelas) are of two types:

a - Madhurya Leela (pastimes of sweetness)

b - Aishvarya Leela (pastimes of majesticity)

Arjuna being the Lord's nitya paarshada (eternal associate has the required eyes to see the Lord's svarupa (sweet form).

The Lord's Vishvarupa (universal form) aspect of Aishwarya Leela is related to this phenomenal world. Therefore, it has no purpose for the transcendental eyes of Arjuna. This is because those who have developed prema (pure love) do not recognize the Lord's majestic aspect just like Mother Yashoda and others.

We should remember that Arjuna is merely playing the role of an ordinary mortal human being. Vishvarupa is not visible to gross material eyes. Therefore, the Lord decided to give him divya chakshu (super-human eyes) to enable him to see.

Shrila Bhakti Vinoda Thakur defines divya chakshu as those eyes which are not filled with pure love, having some relationship with this world, but at the same time are not material.