Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 7

Chapter 4 – Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत ।
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ॥

Transliteration

yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānirbhavati bhārata .
abhyutthānamadharmasya tadātmānaṃ sṛjāmyaham ॥

Meaning

Whenever there is a decline of righteousness and a rise of unrighteousness, O Bharata, then I manifest Myself.

Word meanings

यदा यदा – whenever
हि – indeed
धर्मस्य – of righteousness, dharma
ग्लानिः – decline, decay
भवति – there is, occurs
भारत – O descendant of Bharata (Arjuna)
अभ्युत्थानम् – rise, ascendancy
अधर्मस्य – of unrighteousness
तदा – then
आत्मानम् – Myself
सृजामि – I send forth, manifest
अहम् – I

Anvaya (word order)

भारत, यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिः अधर्मस्य अभ्युत्थानं (च) भवति, तदा अहम् आत्मानं सृजामि ।

Explanation

This is one of the best-known verses of the Gita, a source of hope for humanity in every age. In the previous verse Krishna explained ‘how’ He takes birth; now He explains ‘when’ — whenever righteousness declines and unrighteousness raises its head.

The word ‘dharma’ needs to be understood. Dharma does not mean merely a form of worship or a religious sect. ‘Dharanat dharmah’ — that which upholds and sustains creation, society and the individual is dharma. Truth, justice, compassion, devotion to duty, self-restraint — all are limbs of dharma. Shankara describes dharma as the means, through the ordered stations and stages of life, to both worldly well-being (abhyudaya) and the highest good, liberation (nihshreyasa). When this order begins to crumble, there is ‘glani’, a decline, of dharma.

Krishna names two conditions together: the decline of dharma and the ascendancy of adharma. It is not just that goodness grows weak, but that evil becomes organised and powerful. When both happen at once, the balance of the world is shaken. The repetition ‘yada yada’ — whenever, whenever — shows this is not a single event but an eternal law of creation. It has happened again and again in history, and it will continue to happen.

‘Atmanam srijamy aham’ — I manifest Myself. Here ‘srijami’ does not mean to create anew, for the Lord is unborn; it means to bring forth, to reveal. Ramanuja says the Lord, by His own will, reveals His divine form in the likeness of gods, humans and other beings, so that devotees may see Him and relate to Him. Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Rama, Krishna — all are the fulfilment of this promise.

The verse has an inner meaning as well. When virtue grows weak in our own minds and desire, anger and greed become strong, the Lord manifests within too — as discernment, as the voice of a teacher, as the call of conscience. The verse assures us that however deep the darkness, the coming of light is certain. The world is never abandoned by God.

Context

In 4.6 Krishna explained that, though unborn, He manifests through His own power. Here He reveals when that manifestation takes place. In the next verse (4.8) He states its purpose: to protect the good, destroy the wicked and re-establish dharma.

Life lesson

When injustice seems to be spreading everywhere, do not despair — it is the law of creation that divine power arises to protect righteousness. And when wrong rises up within you, awaken the Lord within — your discernment.

Key terms

Dharma: that which upholds creation, society and the individual; the way of truth, justice and duty
Glani: decline, decay, weakening
Abhyutthana: rising up, ascendancy
Avatara: the Lord's descent to protect dharma