Story 20 The Ten Avatars of God

 Story 20

The Ten Avatars of God

Rahul is in his school library. There are many books neatly arranged on the shelves all around him. He is standing in the middle, looking for a nice book to read.

Rahul (looking at the books slowly):  Today I want to read a good book… something new and fun…(Suddenly, his eyes fall on a shining book.)

On the cover, there are ten forms of Lord Vishnu. The name of the book is:
“Dashavatar — The Ten Forms of God.”

Rahul (excited):  Wow! These are the same avatars Grandpa told me about—God takes different forms in every age!

(Rahul starts turning the pages.)

Rahul:  Matsya… Kurma… Varaha… Wow! These are like superhero stories! So interesting!

Rahul gets lost in reading the book. Just then…

Librarian: Children, library time is over now.

Rahul (surprised): Oh no! I haven’t even finished half the book…

(After thinking for a moment)
Ma’am, can I take this book home?

Librarian (smiling): Yes, you can issue this book.

Rahul happily gets the book issued and carefully keeps it in his bag.

As soon as Rahul reaches home, he quickly opens his bag, takes out the book, and runs to his Grandpa.

(Grandpa is sitting on chair and reading a newspaper.)

Rahul (excited): Grandpa! Look this book—“Dashavatar — The Ten Forms of God”!
You told me about these avatars yesterday. This book has all of them—I brought it!

Grandpa (looking up and folding the newspaper): This is a very nice book. Where did you get it from? Great! Now you will easily learn about Lord Vishnu’s avatars.

Rahul (with shining eyes): From the school library, Grandpa!
So today, we will read each avatar’s story one by one!

Grandpa (lovingly): Of course, Rahul. Every avatar has a deep message and purpose in life.

Rahul (excited):  Grandpa, these avatars… they look like superheroes!

Grandpa: Even greater than superheroes!
These divine avatars come to teach us important lessons and guide us in life.

Rahul: But Grandpa, I don’t understand one thing—
Why does God have to come to Earth again and again?

Grandpa (smiling gently): My child, God is not an ordinary human.
He comes to Earth when His true devotees need Him the most.

Rahul: So… He comes to protect His devotees?

Grandfather:  Yes, my child. God comes to show His love to those who always remember Him. He also comes to destroy the demons.

In fact, in Chapter 4, Verse 7 of the Gita, God tells us why He takes avatars.
You must have heard this verse. Listen carefully:

"Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata…"

Rahul: Yes, Grandpa! I have heard it… (slowly repeats)
"Yada yada… hi dharmasya… glanih… bhavati bharata…"…
But I don’t remember the rest.

Grandfather: Let me complete it for you:

"Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata,
Abhyutthanam adharmasya tadatmanam srijamyaham."

It means,
"O Arjuna, whenever righteousness (dharma) declines and unrighteousness (adharma) rises, I manifest Myself."

Rahul (surprised): What does “manifest” mean?

Grandfather: It means God appears in a visible form—an avatar.
God is unborn and eternal. He never truly takes birth or dies.
When we see Him, it seems like He is born.
Like we think the Sun rises and sets, but actually, the Earth is rotating.
Similarly, God’s appearance and disappearance is a divine play. He does not truly have birth and death like us.

Rahul: Oh! So God comes in His divine form, but looks like us?

Grandfather: Exactly, my child.

The next verse is also very famous. Gita 4.8:

"Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya cha dushkritam,
Dharmasamsthapanaarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge."

Rahul: What does this mean, Grandpa?

Grandfather: It means,
"I appear in every age to protect the good, destroy the wicked, and establish righteousness."

Rahul (thinking deeply): So, Grandpa… every avatar has a purpose? Not just to fight demons, but also to teach something?

Grandfather: Yes, my child! Each avatar teaches us something important.

Lord Ram teaches values and morality,Lord Krishna teaches duty and action.

Lord Buddha teaches compassion,Lord Narasimha shows protection of devotees.

Rahul (opening his book): Grandpa, I want to understand the story of each avatar.

Rahul: 1️⃣ Matsya Avatar – The Fish Form
(Rahul reads story from the book)
Long ago, a great flood was about to come. Everything would be drowned in water.
God appeared as Matsya, the fish, and told King Satyavrata to build a huge boat with the Vedas, sages, and good people—so that knowledge, culture, and good people could be saved.

Rahul: So God saved everyone as a fish! But what lesson does this avatar teach us?

Grandfather: It teaches us that when everything is in danger, protecting knowledge, culture, and dharma is most important.
We should also understand God’s warnings on time. And God can help us in any form.

Rahul: Grandpa, the second avatar?

2️⃣ Kurma Avatar – The Tortoise Form
(A story from the book)
Once, Demigods and demons churned the ocean to get amrit (nectar of immortality).
During the churning, the huge Mandarachal mountain started sinking.
God took the form of a tortoise and held the mountain on His back.
With His strong and steady back, the mountain stayed in place, and the churning continued.

Rahul: Couldn’t the ocean have been churned without God becoming a tortoise?

Grandfather: No, my child. The mountain was sinking, and nothing else could have held it.
God becoming a tortoise shows us that patience and stability are the greatest strength.
Also, just as demigods and demons worked together during churning, we too should cooperate with others for a big purpose, forgetting small differences.

Rahul: And Grandpa, never think of yourself as small.
God did an extraordinary task by taking a simple form of a tortoise.

Grandfather: Exactly!

Rahul (flipping the page and seeing a picture): Oh! Now Varaha Avatar… the Boar form!
Did God really take the form of a boar?

Grandfather: Yes, my child. God loves all creatures.

Rahul: 3️⃣ Varaha Avatar – The Boar Form
(Rahul reads story from the book)
Once, the demon Hiranyaksha dragged the Earth under the ocean.
God appeared as a giant boar (Varaha), dove into the ocean, lifted the Earth on His tusks, fought the demon, and saved the Earth.

Rahul: Wow, Grandpa! God worked so hard to save the Earth!

Grandfather: Yes, my child. We should also try to protect the Earth—by not littering, planting trees, and saving water. In small ways, we also become like Varaha avatars.

Rahul: And Grandpa, even creatures considered “impure” like a boar were used by God to save the Earth. So we should love all living beings.

Grandfather: Absolutely, my child.

Rahul was now very curious about the next avatar.
He quickly turned the page, and his eyes lit up with excitement.

4️⃣ Narasimha Avatar – Half-Man, Half-Lion

Rahul reads the story:
Prahlad was a devotee, the son of the demon king Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyakashipu was very powerful and egocentric. He tried many times to kill Prahlad, but Prahlad always survived.

Finally, Hiranyakashipu asked Prahlad,
"Where is your God?"

Prahlad said, "He is everywhere."

Hiranyakashipu asked, "Even in this pillar?"

When Prahlad said yes, Hiranyakashipu struck the pillar. From the pillar appeared Lord Narasimha, half-lion, half-man! He obeyed all boons given to Hiranyakashipu and killed the demon at sunset, on the threshold of the palace, with His claws.

Rahul: Grandpa, God looks very angry in this form! Does God ever get angry?

Grandfather: Yes, my child. God gets angry only when someone harms His devotee. Then He protects the true devotee and gives justice.

Rahul (excitedly): So when Prahlad said, “He is in the pillar too,” it means God is everywhere?

Grandfather: Yes! When we have true faith, we can feel God’s presence everywhere.

Rahul: So even if we are alone, we should not be afraid! Because God can come from anywhere!

Grandfather (smiling): Exactly, Rahul! God’s avatars are not just stories—they are inspiration for every time.

5️⃣ Vamana Avatar – The Tiny Brahmin Boy

Rahul reads:
King Bali was a very strong and generous demon king. But he was also proud. He had defeated the demigods and conquered heaven.

God came in the form of a tiny Brahmin boy (Vamana) and asked for three steps of land.

First step he took Earth

Second step he took Sky

Third step? Nothing was left, so Bali offered his own head.

God was pleased and made Bali the king of the underworld, saying:
"Your sacrifice is greater than your pride. You have become my dear devotee."

Rahul (laughing): Even a proud demon king became God’s devotee!

Grandfather: Yes, sometimes sacrifice is the greatest victory. True strength is in humility, not in power.

6️⃣ Parashurama Avatar – The Sage and Warrior

Rahul reads: When the Kshatriya kings became too proud and cruel, God was born in a Brahmin family as Parashurama (Parashu = axe, Rama = form of Vishnu).
He defeated the unjust kings 21 times and established dharma. Later, he followed a life of penance and peace.

Grandfather (smiling): Parashurama teaches that dharma depends on actions, not caste. Dharma is not just worship—it is also standing against injustice.

Rahul (thinking): So… staying silent against injustice is wrong?

Grandfather: Yes! Patience is good, but ignoring injustice is adharm.

7️⃣ Ram Avatar – Maryada Purushottam

Rahul: I know the story! Lord Ram killed Ravana, with Sita, Lakshman, Hanuman—all!

Grandfather: The Ram avatar teaches us how a true king, a good son, a husband, and a brother should behave. Even in exile, separation from Sita, and in battle, Ram remained calm and patient. A true hero controls emotions and makes right decisions.

Rahul (with respect in his eyes): We should be like Ram, Grandpa! Only then we can become great.

Grandfather (affectionately): Exactly! God teaches us to perform our duties happily.

Rahul (smiling, turning the page quickly): Now Krishna will come, right Grandpa?

8️⃣ Krishna Avatar – The Playful God

Grandfather (smiling): “Yes, Rahul! Now comes the eighth avatar—Lord Krishna. His life is full of fun and playful stories—stealing butter, dancing in Raslila—but in the end, he gives Arjuna the knowledge of the Gita.”

Rahul: Krishna’s avatar seems the coolest! So fun!

Grandfather: Yes! By being playful and cool, God taught us the path of karma and dharma. He showed that life needs both emotions and wisdom. His lessons in the Gita still teach us what is right and wrong.

Rahul: And Grandpa, God can be a friend, charioteer, brother, lover, or teacher—He comes in all forms to guide us.

Grandfather (smiling): Yes, Krishna is not just God—He is a companion, guide, and the voice of our soul.

Rahul: So eight avatars are done… only two left!

Grandfather: Yes, now only Buddha and Kalki avatars remain.

9️⃣ Buddha Avatar – The Form of Compassion

Grandfather: God was born as Siddhartha, left a life of comfort, and searched for true knowledge. He meditated and became Buddha.

Rahul reads: Buddha taught people:
"Ahimsa is the greatest dharma—love every living being and do not harm anyone, not even with thoughts."

Grandfather: Compassion and wisdom purify the soul, not just ritual or showy offerings.

🔟 Kalki Avatar – The Future Warrior

Rahul flips the last page: “Grandpa! It says this avatar hasn’t come yet? He hasn’t appeared?”

Grandfather (serious): “Yes, Rahul. This avatar will come in the future—the Kalki Avatar.”

Rahul (amazed at the picture): “Grandpa! In this picture, God is riding a horse with a sword… is this Kalki?”

Grandfather: “Yes, son. He hasn’t come yet. But when lies, cheating, greed, and disrespect for dharma increase, and good people are treated as weak, God will appear as a divine warrior in Kalki Avatar.”

Rahul: What lesson does this avatar teach us?

Grandfather: God is always watching. If injustice grows, He won’t remain silent—He will appear at the right time to protect dharma. Every age has change—after darkness, light comes. Even in Kali Yuga, after Kalki, a new dawn will come.

Grandfather and Rahul look through the whole book:

Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Ram, Krishna, Buddha, and Kalki…

Grandfather: “Through these ten avatars, God teaches us—never leave dharma, compassion, truth, and duty in any age or situation. God is always with you in some form.”

Rahul closes the book, looks at his grandfather, and says:
“So Grandpa… God can come in any form… and He also lives inside me.”

Grandfather (smiling) hugs him.