6.95
ataeva ’tri-yuga’ kari’ kahi visnu-nama
kali-yuge avatara nahi,--sastra-jnana
SYNONYMS
ataeva—therefore; tri-yuga—the Lord, who appears in three yugas only; kari’-making; kahi—we say; visnu-nama—the holy name of Lord Visnu; kali-yuge—in the Age of Kali; avatara—incarnation; nahi—there is not; sastra-jnana—the verdict of the scriptures “Another name for Lord Visnu is Triyuga because there is no incarnation of Lord Visnu in Kali-yuga.
Indeed, this is the verdict of revealed scriptures.”
PURPORT
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu, is known as Triyuga, which means that He is manifest in three yugas.
However, this means that in the Age of Kali the Lord appears not directly but in disguise.
This is confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.9.38):
ittham nr-tiryag-rsi-deva-jhasavatarair
lokan vibhavayasi hamsi jagat-pratipan
dharmam maha-purusa pasi yuganuvrttam
channah kalau yad abhavas tri-yugo ’tha sa tvam “My Lord, You kill all the enemies of the world in Your multifarious incarnations in the families of men, animals, demigods, rsis, aquatics and so on.
Thus You illuminate the worlds with transcendental knowledge.
In the Age of Kali, O Mahapurusa, You sometimes appear in a covered incarnation.
Therefore You are known as Triyuga (one who appears in only three yugas).”) Srila Sridhara Svami has also verified that Lord Visnu appears in the Age of Kali but does not act as He does in other ages.
Lord Visnu incarnates for two purposes: paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam.
That is, He comes to engage in pastimes with His devotees and to annihilate the demons.
These purposes are visible in the Satya, Treta and Dvapara yugas, but in Kali-yuga the Lord appears disguised.
He does not directly kill demons and give protection to the faithful.
Because the Lord is not directly perceived in Kali-yuga but is directly known in the other three yugas, His name is Triyuga.