In Bhagavad Gita 4.7, Krishna reveals why the Divine takes form: whenever righteousness declines and unrighteousness rises, He manifests Himself in the world.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य
ग्लानिर्भवति भारत
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य
तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ॥ ४-७ ॥
yadā yadā hi dharmasya
glānirbhavati bhārata
abhyutthānamadharmasya
tadātmānaṃ sṛjāmyaham
English transliteration yadaa yadaa hi dharmasya
glaanirbhavati bhaarata
abhyutthaanamadharmasya
tadaatmaanam srijaamyaham ॥ 4.7 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Whenever there is a decline of righteousness, O Bharata, and a rise of unrighteousness, then I manifest Myself.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यदा यदा yadā yadā | whenever |
| हि hi | indeed |
| धर्मस्य dharmasya | of righteousness, of dharma |
| ग्लानिः glāniḥ | decline |
| भवति bhavati | occurs |
| भारत bhārata | O descendant of Bharata (Arjuna) |
| अभ्युत्थानम् abhyutthānam | rise, upsurge |
| अधर्मस्य adharmasya | of unrighteousness |
| तदा tadā | then |
| आत्मानम् ātmānam | Myself |
| सृजामि sṛjāmi | manifest, bring forth |
| अहम् aham | I |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–dā ya–dā hi dhar–mas–ya 8 syllables ya-daa ya-daa hi dhar-mas-ya
- glā–nir–bha–va–ti bhā–ra–ta | 8 syllables glaa-nir-bha-va-ti bhaa-ra-ta
- abh–yut–thā–na–ma–dhar–mas–ya 8 syllables abh-yut-thaa-na-ma-dhar-mas-ya
- ta–dāt–mā–naṃ sṛ–jām–ya–ham || 4-7 8 syllables ta-daat-maa-nam sri-jaam-ya-ham
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 4 Verse 7
Context
Krishna has told Arjuna that He taught this yoga long ago to Vivasvān (4.1). When Arjuna asks how that is possible, Krishna explains that He has passed through many births and appears through His own power (4.5–4.6). This verse gives the reason, and 4.8 completes it: to protect the good and re-establish dharma.
Meaning
Having told Arjuna that He is unborn and yet appears through His own power, Krishna now gives the reason. Dharma is the order that sustains life: truth, balance, care for the whole. When that order weakens and its opposite gains strength, the Divine does not remain distant. It enters the world to restore the balance. The verse speaks of a cycle, “whenever,” not a single event in history.
Inwardly, the same law operates in each person. When clarity fades and confusion, greed or fear take hold, something deeper rises in response: conscience, insight, the call to return to what is true. The descent of the Divine can be read as the awakening of that higher awareness at the very moment it is most needed. The verse is a promise that darkness is never the last word, and an invitation to become an instrument of that restoring light.
In Practice
When you see something wrong around you, ask not only who will fix it, but what in you can rise to meet it today, in one honest act.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga (Knowledge and Renunciation of Action). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.