The Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 4 · verse 4.8

For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked, and to re-establish dharma, I am born age after age.

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्। धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे॥

Transliteration

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām; dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge

English translation

For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked, and to re-establish dharma, I am born age after age.

Meaning — what the verse is actually saying

The continuation of 4.7. The avatāra has three purposes — to protect, to destroy, to re-establish. The protective and corrective dimensions of the divine work together.

Modern practice — what to do today because of this

Notice in your own life the cycles of breakdown and re-establishment. Things fall apart on a schedule; things are also restored on a schedule. The verse suggests that the restoration is built into the structure. Trust it enough to do your part of it.

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