On the nature of Krishna

Question

I want to know whether

1. Lord Krishna was a realized person but at birth born like us normal creatures (because he says many times that=he was aware of the divine nature of the soul and his previous births, but Arjuna was not-so is he referring to him being a normal human and then getting enlightened or enlightened by birth

or

2. Lord Krishna was aware of his divine nature and was God descended directly. Also then, did Lord Vishnu disappear from his abode and appear on Earth, or did Lord Narayana divide himself into one for his abode and one for Earth?

3. Who is the "I" in the Gita? Krishna as in himself descended in his body or the soul?

Answer 1

Krishna was already a "realized". He's the ever-realized for he's Vishnu himself, or Krishna (of Goloka) himself.

This is what he says in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Purāṇa when he "departs" from his mortal coils when hit by the hunter Jarā.

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श्रीभगवानुवाच

मा भैर्जरे त्वमुत्तिष्ठ काम एष कृतो हि मे । याहि त्वं मदनुज्ञात: स्वर्गं सुकृतिनां पदम् ॥ ३९ ॥

Sri Krishna said: My dear Jarā, do not fear. Please get up. What has been done is actually My own desire. With My permission, go now to the abode of the pious, the spiritual world.

• So the answer to your question 1 & 2(a) is, he was a realized person.

• As regards question 2(b) Vishnu being present in his abode, when he descended as Krishna, yes. He was very much present in the Svetadvipa - Ksheer Sagara, as we can see in this excerpt from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Purāṇa where Krishna (along with Arjuna) meets Vishnu.

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ववन्द आत्मानमनन्तमच्युतो जिष्णुश्च तद्दर्शनजातसाध्वस: । तावाह भूमा परमेष्ठिनां प्रभु- र्बद्धाञ्जली सस्मितमूर्जया गिरा ॥ ५७ ॥

Lord Kṛṣṇa offered homage to Himself in this boundless form, and Arjuna, astonished at the sight of Lord Mahā-Viṣṇu, bowed down as well. Then, as the two of them stood before Him with joined palms, the almighty Mahā-Viṣṇu, supreme master of all rulers of the universe, smiled and spoke to them in a voice full of solemn authority.

Further,

• For question 3, it's well established that Krishna is Vishnu himself, and/ or the Original person of the Spiritual Goloka.

For the "I" in Gita, refer these -

• Is there any reference that Krishna was connected to Brahman while speaking Gita?

• According to Bhagvad Gita, Lord Krishna is the ultimate God. So why are there other beliefs in Hinduism?

Answer 2

The nature of Krishna was divine. This can be deduced from the events related to his childhood. He was born in jail, but events lead to his escape and miraculously crossing over stormy Jamuna rive. During his childhood he performed several miraculous deeds, including giving the Vishvaroop darshan to Jasoda maiya!

Answer 3

Sri Maha Vishnu takes the form a body to come to Earth ( as body is very much required to live on Earth). Bhagwan (Narayana) can take many avatars, he is omnipotent which means he can take several avatars,

Prahlada Charitram says Narashimha was staying in every pillar of the house of Prahlada as he didn't know which pillar will be shown by him which implies he can stay everywhere at the same time

Krishna's soul is Maha Vishnu and I refers to himself, the supreme