The Dashavatara (दशावतार) is an excerpt from Srimad Bhagavatam that speaks about the ten primary Avataras of Vishnu. Dasha (दश) means ten and Avatara (अवतार) means incarnation.

The Matsya Avatāra (मत्स्य-अवतार) is the first of ten primary avatāras of Bhagavan Vishnu. In this Avatāra, Vishnu took the form of a fish.

In Kūrma (कूर्म) avatāra, Bhagavān incarnated as a turtle to help the Devas and Asuras with the churning of the ocean to get amṛta (a nectar that gave everlasting life to those who drank it).

Bhagavān Viṣhṇu incarnated as a huge boar - Varāha (वराह), to rescue Mother Earth from an underwater loka (लोक) called Rasātala (रसातल) by killing the Asura called Hiraṇyākṣha (हिरण्याक्ष).

In Narasiṃha (नरसिंह) Avatāra, Bhagavān Viṣhṇu incarnated as half-man, half-lion and saved Prahlāda (प्रह्लाद), the greatest devotee of Bhagavān from the Asura, Hiraṇyakaśhipu (हिरण्यकशिपु).

Bhagavān Viṣhṇu incarnated as a dwarf to help Indra Deva get his kingdom back from Mahābali (महाबलि) - the king of Asuras.

In Paraśhurāma (परशुराम) Avatāra, Bhagavān Viṣhṇu incarnated as a warrior Brāhmaṇa and killed 21 generations of Kṣhatriya (क्षत्रिय) Kings who had gone against dharma.

The Rāma Avatāra is a story of a role model who is an epitome of perfection – a role model worthy of emulating.

The Bāla Kāṇḍa covers the life of Rama from his birth up till his marriage to Sita.

The Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa covers the life of Rama from Kaikeyī's boon, to the exile to Bharata's resolve.

The Aranya Kāṇḍa covers the story from Sita's infatuation with the golden deer, Ravana kidnapping Sita, Jatayu's bravery, and Rama's meeting with Shabari

The Kiṣhkindhā Kāṇḍa covers the meeting of Sugriva and Rama. Hanuman meets Rama for the first time. Rama helps Sugriva in the fight against Vali. The Vanara army starts the search for Sita.

The Sundara Kāṇḍa covers the story of Hanuman's visit to Lanka. Hanuman's meeting with Sita and Hanuman's meeting with Ravana.

The Yuddha Kāṇḍa covers the story of Rama's defeat of Ravana and victorious return to Ayodhya.

Kaṁsa, fearing a prophecy that Devakī’s eighth son would kill him, imprisoned the couple and killed their newborns until Bhagavān Viṣṇu incarnated as Krishna. With Yogamāyā’s help, Vasudeva secretly carried the divine baby to Gokula and exchanged Him with Yaśhodā’s daughter, who later revealed herself as Durgā and announced Krishna’s birth.

Kaṁsa sends the demoness Pūtanā to kill infant Krishna, but the divine child instead destroys her and grants her liberation. Soon after, Krishna also kills Śhakaṭāsura, hiding in a cart, and later the whirlwind demon Tṛṇāvarta, astonishing the villagers with His miraculous strength. These early incidents reveal Krishna’s divine power even as a small child.

Krishna’s playful mischief leads to many miraculous moments, including showing Yaśhodā the entire universe in His mouth and allowing her to bind Him as “Dāmodara,” only to uproot two cursed trees and liberate the souls within them. His divine grace also blesses a humble fruit vendor with priceless gems. After several supernatural dangers threaten Krishna, Nanda and the villagers decide to move from Gokula to Vṛndāvana for the children’s safety.

In Vṛndāvana, young Krishna continues his divine adventures, effortlessly destroying the Asuras Vatsa, Baka, and Aghāsura who come in disguise to harm him. Each demon meets their end through Krishna’s playful yet powerful acts, leaving the Gopāla boys astonished and the villagers grateful. Even these enemies attain liberation through Krishna’s touch, showing the boundless grace of devotion to him.

Amazed by Krishna’s divine power, Brahmā tests Him by hiding the Gopa boys and calves, but Krishna effortlessly assumes all their forms for an entire year, keeping Vṛndāvana blissfully unaware. Realizing his mistake, Brahmā returns, witnesses Krishna’s infinite divinity, apologizes, and restores the children and calves to their place. Around this time, Balarāma also protects the group by slaying the demons Dhenukāsura and Pralambhāsura.

When the Gopa boys and cows are poisoned by the deadly serpent Kāliya in Lake Madu, Krishna jumps into the waters, battles the serpent, and subdues him by dancing on his many hoods. Kāliya’s wives plead for mercy, and Krishna spares the serpent on the condition that they leave the lake forever. With a compassionate glance, Krishna revives the boys and cows, bringing immense relief to Yaśhodā and the villagers.

Krishna’s flute enchants all of Vṛndāvana—cows, calves, Gopikās, and even the breeze over the Yamunā—drawing everyone into divine bliss. During the holy month of Mārgaśīrṣha, the Gopikās pray to Devī Kātyāyanī for Krishna’s loving glance, and on a radiant full-moon night Krishna answers their wish. Playing an irresistible melody, he draws them to the riverside, multiplies himself so each Gopikā feels him beside her, and dances with them in a night of pure joy and devotion.

Krishna persuades the people of Vṛndāvana to worship Govardhana Hill instead of Indra, leading the rain-god to unleash a destructive storm in anger. To protect the villagers, Krishna effortlessly lifts Govardhana with one hand, sheltering everyone under it for seven days until the storm ends. Realizing Krishna’s divinity, a humbled Indra apologizes and honors him with the name Govinda, the protector of cows, Vedas, and the Earth.

Sage Nārada reveals to Kaṃsa that the boy growing up in Vṛndāvana is actually Devakī’s eighth son, prompting the enraged king to plot Krishna and Balarāma’s death by sending Akrūra to bring them to Mathurā. Overjoyed at the chance to see Krishna, Akrūra travels to Vṛndāvana, meets the divine brothers with deep emotion, and honestly conveys Kaṃsa’s plans. Despite the Gopikās’ heartbreak, Krishna and Balarāma depart for Mathurā, determined to confront Kaṃsa and end his tyranny.

In Mathurā, Krishna and Balarāma astonish everyone—healing Trivakrā, snapping Kaṁsa’s sacred bow, and defeating the vicious elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa before entering the wrestling arena. They effortlessly kill the wrestlers Chāṇūra and Muṣṭika and then strike down Kaṁsa himself, freeing Mathurā from his tyranny. Krishna and Balarāma release their parents and King Ugrasena, unite the Yādava clans, study at Sāndīpani’s gurukula, and later protect the people by relocating them safely to the newly built city of Dwārakā.

Princess Rukmiṇī of Vidarbha, deeply devoted to Krishna, refuses to accept her brother Rukmī’s plan to marry her to the evil Śiśupāla. She secretly sends a heartfelt letter to Krishna, begging him to rescue her, and Krishna immediately rides to Vidarbha with Balarāma’s support. On the wedding day, Krishna dramatically lifts Rukmiṇī onto his chariot before all the assembled kings and carries her away, fulfilling her devotion and uniting with her as his chosen bride.

Sudāmā, Krishna’s childhood friend, lives in deep poverty but goes to visit Krishna carrying a tiny bundle of poha as a gift. Krishna welcomes him with immense love, eats the humble offering, and quietly blesses Sudāmā’s family with great prosperity—without Sudāmā ever asking for anything. When Sudāmā returns home, he finds his hut transformed into a mansion, realizing that Krishna has removed all his hardships, rewarding his pure devotion.

As the Dvāpara Yuga came to an end, Krishna completed his earthly mission—guiding the Pāṇḍavas, restoring dharma, and gifting the Bhagavad Gītā to the world. When Kali Yuga approached, he allowed a hunter’s arrow to end his earthly life and returned to Vaikuṇṭha. Yet Krishna lives on wherever there is devotion, love, dharma, and the study of the Bhāgavatam, forever blessing his devotees with unwavering, eternal bhakti.

Though always ready to protect His devotees, Bhagavān patiently gives humanity another 427,000 years to return to Dharma. When adharma reaches its peak and rulers exploit the weak, He will incarnate again. According to Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, Bhagavān will appear as Kalki Avatāra, the son of the brāhmaṇa Viṣṇuyaśa, in the village of Sambhala. Riding a white horse and wielding a fiery sword, Kalki will destroy adharma and re-establish righteousness on earth.