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Chapter 4 · Transcendental Knowledge · 42 verses

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Krishna’s natureChapter 4 · Transcendental Knowledge
4.64.8

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 4.7

Divine descent, Krishna’s nature and refuge

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत ।

अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ॥ ७ ॥

yadā yadā hi dharmasya

glānir bhavati bhārata

abhyutthānam adharmasya

tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham

Translation

Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion – at that time I descend Myself.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Why the Lord Appears

  1. 1The Lord descends whenever and wherever religious practice declines and irreligion becomes strong.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that the Lord appears freely in His eternal form to awaken Kṛṣṇa consciousness everywhere.
  3. 3Follow the Bhagavad-gītā’s highest religious principle: surrender to the Lord alone.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 4, Transcendental Knowledge: divine descent, krishna’s nature and refuge.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Recognize Kṛṣṇa as the source of all.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhagavān, vibhūti.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 4.7 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to krishna’s nature?

Practice

Notice something excellent and see it as His opulence.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 4 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 4.5Divine descent, Krishna’s nature and refugeBG 4.6Divine descent, Krishna’s nature and refugeBG 11.32Krishna reveals Himself as timeBG 11.51Composure returns in Krishna’s personal presence

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

Ask the study guide

Ask about BG 4.7 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.