The verses “Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata” and the subsequent lines from the Bhagavad Gita are among the most well-known and frequently quoted passages. These verses, found in Chapter 4, Verses 7 and 8, encapsulate the essence of divine intervention and the purpose of avatars in Hindu philosophy.

Transliteration and Translation

Transliteration:

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत |
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ||
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् |
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे ||

Translation:

Whenever there is a decline in righteousness and an increase in unrighteousness, O Arjuna, at that time I manifest myself on earth.
To protect the righteous, to annihilate the wicked, and to reestablish the principles of dharma, I appear millennium after millennium.

Explanation of the Verses

Verse 4.7:
“Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata, Abhyutthaanam adharmasya tadatmaanam srijaamyaham”

• Yada yada: Whenever, wherever.
• Dharmasya glanir: Decline of righteousness (dharma).
• Abhyutthanam adharmasya: Rise of unrighteousness (adharma).
• Bharata: Referring to Arjuna, descendant of King Bharata.
• Tadatmaanam srijaamyaham: At that time, I (Krishna) manifest myself.

Meaning:
Whenever righteousness declines and unrighteousness rises, Krishna (God) incarnates in the world to restore balance.

Verse 4.8:
“Paritranaay saadhunaam vinaashaay cha dushkritaam, Dharma sansthaapanaarthaay sambhavaami yuge yuge”

• Paritranaay saadhunaam: To protect the righteous (saadhus).
• Vinaashaay cha dushkritaam: To destroy the wicked (dushkritaam).
• Dharma sansthaapanaarthaay: To reestablish the principles of righteousness (dharma).
• Sambhavaami yuge yuge: I appear millennium after millennium.

Meaning:
Krishna incarnates to protect the virtuous, destroy the wicked, and reestablish dharma, appearing in every age (yuga).

Significance

1. Divine Intervention: These verses emphasize that the divine takes an active role in maintaining cosmic order. When the balance between good and evil is disturbed, God incarnates to restore harmony.
2. Role of Avatars: The concept of avatars (divine incarnations) is central in Hinduism. Lord Vishnu, in particular, is believed to incarnate in various forms (like Rama, Krishna) to fulfill this purpose.
3. Protection and Justice: The verses reassure devotees that righteousness will ultimately triumph and that the divine will always protect the virtuous and punish the wrongdoers.
4. Cyclical Nature of Time: The phrase “yuge yuge” indicates the cyclical nature of time and the continuous process of decay and renewal in the universe.
5. Moral and Ethical Duty: For individuals, these teachings encourage adherence to dharma and trust in divine justice.

Conclusion

These verses from the Bhagavad Gita highlight the dynamic and responsive nature of the divine in Hindu philosophy. They provide comfort and motivation to believers, affirming that divine intervention will ensure the triumph of righteousness over evil in the eternal cosmic cycle.