In Bhagavad Gita 4.8, Krishna declares that he appears age after age to protect the good, to destroy the wicked and to re-establish dharma.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
परित्राणाय साधूनां
विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय
सम्भवामि युगे युगे ॥ ४-८ ॥
paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṃ
vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām
dharmasaṃsthāpanārthāya
sambhavāmi yuge yuge
English transliteration paritraanaaya saadhoonaam
vinaashaaya cha dushkritaam
dharmasamsthaapanaarthaaya
sambhavaami yuge yuge ॥ 4.8 ॥
Translation / Meaning
To protect the good, to destroy the wicked, and to establish dharma firmly, I come into being age after age.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| परित्राणाय paritrāṇāya | for the protection pari (fully) + trāṇāya (for protecting) |
| साधूनाम् sādhūnām | of the good |
| विनाशाय vināśāya | for the destruction |
| च ca | and |
| दुष्कृताम् duṣkṛtām | of the wicked duṣ (evil) + kṛtām (doers) |
| धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय dharmasaṃsthāpanārthāya | for the purpose of establishing dharma dharma (righteousness) + saṃsthāpana (establishing) + arthāya (for the purpose) |
| सम्भवामि sambhavāmi | I come into being |
| युगे युगे yuge yuge | age after age |
Word-wise Chanting
- pa–rit–rā–ṇā–ya sā–dhū–nāṃ 8 syllables pa-rit-raa-naa-ya saa-dhoo-naam
- vi–nā–śā–ya ca duṣ–kṛ–tām | 8 syllables vi-naa-shaa-ya cha dush-kri-taam
- dhar–ma–saṃs–thā–pa–nār–thā–ya 8 syllables dhar-ma-sams-thaa-pa-naar-thaa-ya
- sam–bha–vā–mi yu–ge yu–ge || 4-8 8 syllables sam-bha-vaa-mi yu-ge yu-ge
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 8
Context
Following 4.7, Krishna states the threefold purpose of his incarnations.
Meaning
The Divine descends for three purposes: paritrāṇa, the protection of the good; vināśa, the destruction of those who do evil; and dharma-saṃsthāpana, the firm re-establishment of righteousness. This happens yuge yuge, in every age. The divine response to disorder is not occasional but ever-recurring.
Many read the “destruction of the wicked” as the removal of wickedness itself, the inner forces of ignorance and cruelty. In this sense, the Divine continually descends into human hearts to protect goodness and restore balance. Each of us can be an instrument of this protecting grace.
In Practice
Choose one way to protect or support goodness today, standing with someone who is honest, kind or vulnerable.
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.