Chapter 4 · Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga · ०७
Whenever dharma declines
Reflect on this shlok
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत। अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्॥
Transliteration
yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛijāmyaham
Sit with this verse
Verse 7 of Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga rests on “yadā yadā — whenever”. Whenever righteousness declines and unrighteousness rises, I manifest Myself. The closing term “dharmasya — of righteousness” is a handle for reflection.
Meaning
Whenever righteousness declines and unrighteousness rises, I manifest Myself.
Commentary: Swami AdidevanandaAnother reading
O scion of the Bharata dynasty, whenever there is a decline in virtue and an increase in vice, then I manifest Myself.
Commentary: Swami GambiranandaWord meanings
yadā yadā — whenever
hi — certainly
dharmasya — of righteousness
glāniḥ — decline
bhavati — is
bhārata — Arjun, descendant of Bharat
abhyutthānam — increase
adharmasya — of unrighteousness
tadā — at that time
ātmānam — self
sṛijāmi — manifest
aham — I
Essence
Dharma is the living principle of truth, compassion, and balance that is renewed in every age.
A life example
Speaking truth in the face of injustice keeps dharma alive in our immediate world.
Its place in sequence
This verse follows “अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन्। प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय संभवाम्यात्ममायया।।4.6।।” and precedes “परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्। धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय संभवामि युगे युगे।।4.8।।”. Reading the three together restores the rhythm of the dialogue.
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