# Cc. Madhya 20.354 ## Text > avatāra nāhi kahe—'āmi avatāra' > muni saba jāni' kare lakṣaṇa-vicāra ## Synonyms *avatāra*—the actual incarnation of Godhead; *nāhi*—never; *kahe*—says; *āmi* *avatāra*—I am an incarnation; *muni*—the great sage Mahāmuni Vyāsadeva; *saba* *jāni'*—knowing all (past, present and future); *kare* *lakṣaṇa*-*vicāra*—describes the symptoms of the avatāras. ## Translation **"An actual incarnation of God never says, 'I am God,' or 'I am an incarnation of God.' The great sage Vyāsadeva, knowing all, has already recorded the characteristics of the avatāras in the śāstras.** ## Purport In this verse it is clearly stated that a real incarnation of God never claims to be a real incarnation. According to the symptoms described in the *śāstra,* one can understand who is an *avatāra* and who is not.