CC MADHYA 20.263
sṛṣṭi-hetu yei mūrti prapañce avatare
sei īśvara-mūrti 'avatāra' nāma dhare
sei īśvara-mūrti 'avatāra' nāma dhare
SYNONYMS
sṛṣṭi-hetu—for the purpose of creation; yei mūrti—which form of the Lord; prapañce—in the material world; avatare—descends; sei—that; īśvara-mūrti—form of the Lord; avatāra—incarnation; nāma dhare—takes the name.
TRANSLATION
"The form of the Lord that descends into the material world to create is called an avatāra, or incarnation.