यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत |
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् || 7||
yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata
abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛijāmyaham
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
Translation:
O Arjuna! Whenever there is a decline of righteousness and rise of evil, I manifest Myself.
Commentary:
The imperative necessity of Dharma as the basic principle of man’s existence, peace, and happiness, is declared by the Lord. Dharmo rakshati rakshitah – If one protects Dharma, Dharma protects him, Dharma alone gives peace and prosperity to humanity. So when the laws of righteousness are violated and suppressed, the Lord has to manifest Himself to re-establish, Dharma. Otherwise, the universe falls to pieces. Men destroy themselves in a hundred ways. The whole scheme of creation will be disturbed and the very purpose of human existence is defeated. So the righteous way of life has to be kept clear and clean for humanity to tread the path of God – realisation. For that purpose, the Lord manifests Himself. Therefore whoever follows the Dharmic way of life is doing God’s work. Whoever defies the Dharma is the foe of the Lord, and he shall be destroyed by the Lord.
Sri Ramakrishna Says —
Sri Ramakrishna sat with the devotees on the mat on the floor. He was smiling. He said to the devotees, “Please stroke my feet gently.” They carried out his request. He said to M:, “There is great significance in this.” (The stroking of his feet) Placing his hand on his heart, the Master said, “If there is anything here, then through this service the ignorance and illusion of the devotees will be completely destroyed.”
Suddenly Sri Ramakrishna became serious, as if about to reveal a secret.
MASTER (to M.): “There is no outsider here. The other day, when Harish was with me, I saw Satchidananda come out of this sheath. (Sri Ramakrishna’s body.) It said ‘I incarnate Myself in every age.’ I thought that I myself was saying these words out of mere fancy. I kept quiet and watched. Again Satchidananda Itself spoke, saying, ‘Chaitanya, too, worshipped Sakti.'”
The devotees listened to these words in amazement. Some wondered whether God Himself was seated before them in the form of Sri Ramakrishna. The Master paused a moment. Then he said, addressing M., “I saw that it is the fullest manifestation of Satchidananda; but this time the Divine Power is manifested through the glory of sattva.”
The devotees sat spellbound. (Source: Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna)
Question: When does the Lord manifest Himself?
Answer: When righteousness declines and evil rises, the Lord manifests Himself.
See also:
- Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 4, Verse 8; Paritranaya Sadhunam Vinashaya Cha Dushkritam
- Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 7-8: Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 4 
(42 Verses)
