नर
Also known as नरोत्तम · Narottama (best of men)
Nara is the ancient ascetic sage — one of the celebrated tapasvi pair 'Nara-Narayana' of Badarikashrama — of whom the Mahabharata tradition sees Arjuna as a portion. In the processed verses Suta bows to him as 'narottama' beside Narayana, Sarasvati and Vyasa at the opening (SB 1.2.4). SB 1.3.9 is decisive: the Lord 'became the two sages Nara and Narayana' and practiced severe austerities in the dharma-kala creation — so the pair are His assumed avatara-forms (review flag resolved).
Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa 1.2.4 — Sanskrit Wikisource (pinned oldid=110173)
'drishtvatmano bhagavato niyamavalopam devyas tv ananga-pritana ghatitum na shekuh' (SB 2.7.6); where even anger fears to enter, how should Love take refuge (SB 2.7.7).
SB 3.4.22 names Nara as 'bhagavAn R^iShiH', the blessed sage, alongside Narayana; both are called 'loka-bhAvanau', nurturers of the worlds, and their long austerity at Badari is stated.
The Lord became the two sages Nara and Narayana: 'nara-narayanau risi bhutva' (SB 1.3.9). This verse resolves the SB 1.2.4 identity question. Evidence: EXPLICIT.
