Sixteen kalas, assumed at creation's dawn
'Jagrihe paurusam rupam... sambhutam sodasa-kalam adau loka-sisrksaya' (SB 1.3.1).
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Purusha-avatara (the first cosmic Purusha)
पुरुष अवतार
Also known as Adhipurusha · Hiranmaya-purusha · अधिपुरुष · हिरण्मयः पुरुषः · पौरुषं रूपम् · Paurusha-rupa (the purusha form)
The Purusha-avatara is the Lord's first cosmic form at creation's dawn: the sixteen-kala purusha composed of mahat and other principles (SB 1.3.1), reclining on the causal waters in yoga-nidra, from whose navel-lotus Brahma arises (1.3.2). It corresponds to the Karana/Maha-Vishnu conception of Vedanta tradition (the verse itself names only 'paurusam rupam', so no personal name is asserted). The universe's layout follows His limbs; He is the inexhaustible seed-treasury of all avataras (1.3.3-5). This form of the otherwise formless cit-self is fashioned of maya's gunas beginning with mahat (1.3.30).
Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa 1.3.1 — Sanskrit Wikisource (pinned oldid=369178)
Reclines on the causal waters
'Yasyambhasi sayanasya' (SB 1.3.2).
Pattern of the universe's layout; pure exalted sattva
'Yasyavayava-samsthanaih kalpito loka-vistarah... tad vai bhagavato rupam visuddham sattvaurjitam' (SB 1.3.3).
The universal form with thousands of limbs
Unlimited, with thousands of feet, thighs, arms, faces, heads, ears, eyes, noses, crowns, garments and earrings (SB 1.3.4).
Inexhaustible seed-treasury of all avataras
'Etat nanavataranam nidhanam bijam avyayam' — devas, beasts and humans spring from His portions (SB 1.3.5).
Fashioned of maya's gunas from mahat, of the formless cit-self
'Etad rupam bhagavato hy arupasya cid-atmanah maya-gunair viracitam mahad-adibhih' (SB 1.3.30).
His threefold division: with the self, with the gods, with the elements
He divides himself by himself onefold, tenfold and threefold (SB 3.6.7); the threefold division is then given: 'sAdhyAtmaH sAdhidaivaH cha sAdhibhUta iti tridhA / virAT prANo dashavidha ekadhA hR^idayena cha' (SB 3.6.9).
Purusha-avatara (the first cosmic Purusha) — composed of — Mahat-tattva
The purusha form is composed of the mahat and other principles: 'sambhutam... mahad-adibhih' (SB 1.3.1). Evidence: EXPLICIT.
Purusha-avatara (the first cosmic Purusha) — avatara of — Krishna
The first cosmic purusha form is the Bhagavan's own assumption: 'jagrihe paurusam rupam bhagavan' (SB 1.3.1); with SB 1.3.28 ('ete camsa-kalah pumsah') this grounds every avatara_of edge of the chapter. Evidence: EXPLICIT.
Purusha-avatara (the first cosmic Purusha) — rests in — Yoga-nidra (the Lord's mystic slumber)
The purusha reclines on the causal waters, spreading yoga-nidra: 'yoganidram vitanvatah' (SB 1.3.2). Evidence: EXPLICIT.
Purusha-avatara (the first cosmic Purusha) — source of — Brahma
Brahma, lord of the world-creators, arose from the purusha's navel-lotus: 'nabhi-hradambujad asid brahma' (SB 1.3.2) — direction verified (purusha -> Brahma, never reversed). Evidence: EXPLICIT.
Dwelling golden in the shell of the egg for a thousand cycles
Maitreya's account: the company of twenty-three principles brought forth the presiding Person with their own measures (SB 3.6.4); he, golden, dwelt a thousand cycles in the shell of the egg, in the waters, accompanied by all beings: 'hiraNmayaH sa puruShaH sahasra-parivatsarAn / ANDakosha uvAsApsu sarva-sattvopabR^iMhitaH' (SB 3.6.6). SB 3.6.8 calls him 'Adyo avatAraH', the first avatara.