Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita 4.8
Chapter 4, verse 8: the Sanskrit, the Roman letters, the meaning and what it is used for.
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे
paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṃ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām
dharmasaṃsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge
Meaning
For the protection of the good, for the destruction of evildoers and for the establishment of righteousness, I come into being age after age.
Explanation
The three purposes are protection of the good, removal of wrongdoing and the establishment of dharma. Many readers focus on the destruction of evil; others stress the order in which the purposes are listed: the first is protection. The verse is often quoted in festivals that celebrate the victory of good over evil.
Where it fits
This is verse 8 of 42 in chapter 4, "Knowledge, action and renunciation" (Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga). previous verse (4.7) · next verse (4.9)
Related verses
- Bhagavad Gita 4.7
- Bhagavad Gita 7.14
- Bhagavad Gita 9.22
- Bhagavad Gita 9.26
- Bhagavad Gita 10.8
- Bhagavad Gita 15.15
Questions people ask
What does Bhagavad Gita 4.8 mean?
For the protection of the good, for the destruction of evildoers and for the establishment of righteousness, I come into being age after age.
Where is this verse?
It is verse 8 of chapter 4 (Knowledge, action and renunciation), which has 42 verses.
Meanings and explanations are our own wording, not an authorised translation. Readers of the Gita follow different traditions and teachers; please ask yours about what you read here.