Verse - the Bhagavad Gita

 This verse is from the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, Verses 7 and 8, where Lord Krishna explains the purpose of his divine incarnations (avatars). Here is the meaning of both shlokas:

Verse 4.7:

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत।

अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्॥

Yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati Bhārata,

Abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānam sṛjāmyaham.

Translation: "Whenever there is a decline in righteousness (dharma) and an increase in unrighteousness (adharma), O Bharata (Arjuna), at that time I manifest myself on earth."

Verse 4.8:

परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्।

धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे॥

Paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśhāya cha duṣhkṛitām,

Dharmasaṁsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge.

 

Translation: "To protect the virtuous (sādhus), to destroy the wicked, and to re-establish the principles of dharma, I appear millennium after millennium."

"For the protection of the virtuous, the destruction of the wicked, and the establishment of dharma, I incarnate myself from age to age."

Overall Explanation:

These verses explain the reasons for divine incarnations (avatars). Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that whenever righteousness (dharma) is in decline and unrighteousness (adharma) prevails, he takes birth in a physical form. The primary purposes of his incarnation are to protect the good, annihilate the evil-doers, and restore the balance of dharma on Earth. This process is continuous, occurring whenever necessary across different ages (yugas).