"Once, the Lord was so touched by the sincerity of Narada's devotion to Him that He assumed the form of a Hamsa (celestial swan) and, elaborated to Him the nature of Bhaktha, Bhagavan and of the relation between the two, so that all aspirants may be led and liberated. He placed the wisdom and the path on a foundation strong enough to survive the end of this present age, without any fear of defeat or decline. He rendered the seven worlds shine in purity, through the splendour of His spotless renown. During the great churning of the ocean of milk, the Lord assumed the form of the tortoise, to hold up the Mandara Mountain peak, which was the churning rod. At that very time, the Lord took another form too, as Dhanvanthari, to bring the divine vessel filled with Amrith (immortality-granting nectar). As Dhanvanthari, He taught the means of conquering disease and enable man to cure their physical ills. He rendered many, famous as physicians and doctors, skilled in diagnosis and cure."

"He did much more, O king! Physicians and doctors were until then not entitled to receive a share of the offerings made to the Gods in sacrifices. Dhanvanthari laid down that they must be given a share and thus, He raised their status in society."

"Did you note the inscrutable sport of the Lord, evident in these manifestations? God! God alone knows the ways of God! How can others gauge their grandeur and their glory? How can they successfully measure them with their poor equipment of intellect and imagination? Since men are bound by the shackles of Ajnana (ignorance), they argue and dilate, long and loud, on God and His attributes and flounder in the sin of sacrilege. Instead, man can win the grace of God, if only he discards doubt when he sees divine manifestations, if his picture of God is untarnished by passing moods and events, and if he transmutes his own moods and acts, in conformity with the manifestations of God he is privileged to witness. If he acts otherwise, he cannot hope to win the grace, or taste the bliss."

"Among these, the incarnations, Rama and Krishna, are most meaningful to mankind, since man can grasp their example, follow their solutions to problems, and derive Ananda through the contemplation of their excellences and teachings. These two have installed themselves in the hearts of mankind and are receiving the adoration of men. I shall narrate to you the more noteworthy among the incidents in the careers of these two incarnations. Listen."