CC Madhya 6.101
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 101
- āsan varṇās trayo hy asya
- gṛhṇato ’nu-yugaṁ tanūḥ
- śuklo raktas tathā pīta
- idānīṁ kṛṣṇatāṁ gataḥ
SYNONYMS
āsan—there were; varṇāḥ—colors; trayaḥ—three; hi—indeed; asya—of Him; gṛhṇataḥ—accepting; anu-yugam—according to the age; tanūḥ—bodies; śuklaḥ—white; raktaḥ—red; tathā—also; pītaḥ—yellow; idānīm—at the present moment; kṛṣṇatām—blackish; gataḥ—has accepted.
TRANSLATION
“‘In the past, your son has had bodies of three different colors, according to the age. These colors were white, red and yellow. In this age [Dvāpara-yuga] He has accepted a blackish body.’
PURPORT
This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (SB 10.8.13) was spoken by Garga Muni when he was performing the rituals at Lord Kṛṣṇa’s name-giving ceremony. He states that the incarnations of the Lord in other ages had been white, red and yellow. This yellow color refers to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, whose bodily complexion was yellowish. This confirms that in past Kali-yugas the Lord also had incarnated in a body that was yellow in hue. It is understood that the Lord incarnates in different colors for the different yugas (Satya, Tretā, Dvāpara and Kali). Accepting the color yellow (pīta), as well as other characteristics, the Lord incarnated as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This is the verdict of all Vedic authorities.