Questioner: Is it true when they say that Lord Rama was partial Purshottam and Lord Krishna was absolute Purshottam (the highest amongst men, the absolute state of enlightenment)?
Dadashri: Actually Lord Krishna cannot be considered absolute Purshottam. Only Lord Rama is the absolute Purshottam because he attained complete enlightenment and attained final liberation. Lord Rama became Parmatma (supreme Self). Lord Krishna cannot be called Parmatma; He is considered God (Bhagwan; Lord). He has not attained final moksha yet. He is going to be a Tirthankara in the next cycle of twenty-four Tirthankaras and then he will attain final moksha. Why do they call Lord Krishna absolute Purshottam? It is just to give significance and importance to the one who is present. Those who have gone to moksha cannot do anything for us. It is only the One who is still present in the universe who may make a connection for us and get our work done. Devaki, Balaram and Krishna, all three are going to be Tirthankaras of the same family. His nephew, Lord Neminath, became the twenty-second Tirthankara. His whole family was of dark complexion; great men were born in that!