Bhagavad Gita · Jnana Karma Sannyasa YogaChapter 4, Shloka 7 (4.7)
Original Sanskrit · श्रीभगवान्
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदाऽऽत्मानं सृजाम्यहम्
॥ 4.7 ॥
yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānirbhavati bhārata
abhyutthānamadharmasya tadā''tmānaṃ sṛjāmyaham
Translation
"O Bharata! Whenever there is a decline (fall) of dharma and adharma rises, then I manifest myself."
Interpretation
Two conditions, one response. (1) Dharmasya glāniḥ — dharma growing weak; (2) adharmasya abhyutthānam — adharma rising. Then — ātmānaṃ sṛjāmi (I manifest myself).
Shankaracharya: glāniḥ hāniḥ — the loss of dharma; dharma = varṇāśramādi-lakṣaṇasya prāṇinām abhyudaya-niḥśreyasa-sādhanasya — that which takes the form of varna, ashrama and so on, the means to the abhyudaya (worldly well-being) and nihshreyasa (liberation) of beings; ātmānaṃ sṛjāmi … māyayā — I manifest myself through maya (as in 4.6).
Acharya Ramanuja: na kāla-niyamaḥ asmat-sambhavasya — there is no fixed time for my appearing. Dharma = vedena uditasya cāturvarṇya-cāturāśramya-vyavasthayā avasthitasya kartavyasya — the duty taught by the Veda, set within the order of the four varnas and four ashramas. Aham eva sva-saṅkalpena … ātmānaṃ sṛjāmi — I myself, by my own will, manifest myself (in the manner of 4.6).
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.