People believe that incarnations of God happen for only two reasons: punishment of the wicked and protection of the righteous. But these represent only one aspect of the task. Granting of peace and joy, of a sense of fulfilment to seekers who have striven long — this too is His task! The Avatar, or The Form Incarnate, is only the concretization of the yearning of seekers. It is the solidified sweetness of the devotion of godly aspirants. The Formless assumes the form for the sake of these aspirants and seekers. They are the prime cause. The cow secretes milk for the sustenance of the calf. That is the chief beneficiary. But, as we see, others also benefit from that milk. So too, though the devotees (bhaktas) are the prime cause, and their joy and sustenance the prime purpose, other incidental benefits also accrue, such as the fostering of dharma, the suppression of evil, and the overwhelming of the wicked. (Ch 1, Bhagavatha Vahini)