Krishna — Divine Play, the Charioteer

Krishna is Svayam Bhagavan — the purna-avatara (complete descent) of Vishnu, who manifests lila (divine play) across every stage of life. As Makhan-chor he steals butter in Vrindavan; as Rasa-lila-dhari he dances the Rasa with the gopis, embodying prema-bhakti (ecstatic love) as described in the Bhagavata Purana (Book 10). On the field of Kurukshetra, as Parthasarathi (Arjuna's charioteer), he reveals the teaching of nishkama karma — desireless action — and the path of sharanaagati (total surrender) in the Bhagavad Gita (18.66): 'Abandon all dharmas and take refuge in Me alone.' He is the Jagadguru whose flute-song (venu-gana) calls every jiva back to its source.