Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 4, Verse 7 · Krishna Avatar
Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya — Bhagavad Gita 4.7
The Sanskrit text, transliteration, Hindi and English meaning of the shloka "Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya" (Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 7), with explanation and life lesson.
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत। अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्॥
yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham
Meaning
Whenever there is a decline of righteousness (dharma) and a rise of unrighteousness (adharma), O Bharata (Arjuna), at that time I manifest myself.
हे भारत (अर्जुन)! जब-जब धर्म की हानि होती है और अधर्म बढ़ने लगता है, तब-तब मैं स्वयं को प्रकट करता हूँ (अवतार लेता हूँ)।
Explanation
This is one of the most quoted verses of the Bhagavad Gita, and it introduces the doctrine of avatar — the idea that the divine incarnates in the world during periods of moral and cosmic crisis, not on a fixed schedule but in response to genuine need. Krishna is explaining to Arjuna why he, though God, has appeared as a human charioteer on this particular battlefield: the balance between dharma and adharma has tipped, and restoration requires direct intervention. The verse continues directly into 4.8, which explains the purpose of that intervention.
Life Lesson
Beyond its theological meaning, this verse is often read as a broader principle: systems and values naturally erode over time without active maintenance, and restoring balance sometimes requires deliberate, even disruptive, action rather than passive hope that things will correct themselves. It's frequently cited outside religious contexts as a statement about renewal and course-correction.
Why this verse matters
Verse 4.7 is the single most-cited scriptural basis for the concept of avatar (divine incarnation) in Hindu philosophy — the idea that Vishnu appears in different forms across different ages (Krishna, Rama, and others) whenever dharma is under serious threat.
Related verses
This verse is inseparable from Chapter 4, Verse 8, which completes the thought by explaining exactly what the incarnation accomplishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya" mean?
"Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya" is Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 7. Whenever there is a decline of righteousness (dharma) and a rise of unrighteousness (adharma), O Bharata (Arjuna), at that time I manifest myself.
What is the full "Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya" shloka?
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत। अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्॥ — yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata / abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham
What is the practical lesson?
Beyond its theological meaning, this verse is often read as a broader principle: systems and values naturally erode over time without active maintenance, and restoring balance sometimes requires deliberate, even disruptive, action rather than passive hope that things will correct themselves. It's frequently cited outside religious contexts as a statement about renewal and course-correction.