Chapter 4: Jñāna Karma Sannyāsa Yoga – Renunciation of Actions through Enlightenment: Verse 8
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् ।
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे ॥
paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṃ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām
dharma-saṃsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge – 4.8
Meaning of verses 4.7 and 4.8 –
Whenever, O Bharata (Arjuna), righteousness declines and unrighteousness grows, I manifest specially. For protection of the benevolent and eradication of the wicked, to establish righteousness, I manifest time and again.
Chapter 4: Jñāna Karma Sannyāsa Yoga – Renunciation of Actions through Enlightenment - Verse 8
Ma Gurupriya
Explanation of verses 4.7 and 4.8 –
The world is a conglomeration of dvandvas (pairs of opposites). As a result, human society is bound to face ups and downs. But they are equipped with adequate potential to employ their wish and will and effect drastic changes. Obviously these can be benevolent or malignant to oneself and the others.
Krishna describes the instance of a grave societal danger, with a definite decline of righteousness and an upsurge of unrighteousness. The plight becomes so grave that ordinary people will not be able to resist and contain it effectively. The situation calls for a supra-human interference and rescue.
Krishna refers to such emergent occasions. Then the Soul itself takes up the task of societal redress, appearing in a very special form.
It is not that Krishna standing before Arjuna would physically appear to deliver the rescue in all such crises. The Soul in Krishna and in everyone else is the same. One Soul alone is. It is like the single, broad sea, giving rise to numerous waves. The difference in waves affects not the least the nature of the singular sea.
Like Krishna, many others will be born in different places to bring corrections and revivals. It may be together at the same time, or separately at different times and places. May be as a Prime Minister, President, Administrator, Social or Religious Reformer, Teacher, Scientist or anyone else.Society needs multiple contributions from various sources at different levels. All these together make the society enlightened, prosperous, resourceful and sustainable.
None can predict as to what or who will come to the scene and deliver what is needed. Be sure the power and presence behind the world is not totally mute and insensitive. As are we sensitive, even more so is our source!
It is like a family person striving to set right matters to make his family safe and stable. Or a social thinker trying to reform his society’s ill-gotten ways, and making it rational and righteous in its behaviour and response.
