Verse 4.7
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत। अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्।।
Transliteration (IAST)
yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham
Word-by-Word Meanings
yadā yadā-whenever and wherever
dharmasya-of dharma/righteousness
glāniḥ-decline/discrepancy
abhyutthānam-rise/predominance
adharmasya-of irreligion
sṛjāmi-I manifest/create
Translation
Whenever and wherever there is a decline in dharma and a predominant rise of adharma, at that time I manifest Myself.
Commentary
This is one of the most celebrated verses of the Gita, establishing the doctrine of divine intervention in cosmic history. The repetition 'yadā yadā' emphasizes the recurring nature of divine descent. It provides the theological basis for the avatāra doctrine central to Hindu thought.
Themes
dharmatimekarma