Shloka 25
The Departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa from Hastināpura
यदा ह्यधर्मेण तमोधियो नृपा जीवन्ति तत्रैष हि सत्त्वत: किल । धत्ते भगं सत्यमृतं दयां यशो भवाय रूपाणि दधद्युगे युगे ॥ २५ ॥
yadā hy adharmeṇa tamo-dhiyo nṛpā jīvanti tatraiṣa hi sattvataḥ kila dhatte bhagaṁ satyam ṛtaṁ dayāṁ yaśo bhavāya rūpāṇi dadhad yuge yuge
ಅಧರ್ಮದಿಂದ ಆವೃತ ತಮೋಬುದ್ಧಿಯ ರಾಜರು ಪಶುವಿನಂತೆ ಬದುಕುವಾಗ, ಭಗವಾನ್ ಯುಗಯುಗಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ತನ್ನ ದಿವ್ಯ ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಕಟ होकर ಪರಮ ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ತೋರಿಸಿ, ಸತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸಿ, ಭಕ್ತರ ಮೇಲೆ ವಿಶೇಷ ಕರುಣೆ ಮಾಡಿ, ಲೋಕಹಿತಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ವಿವಿಧ ರೂಪಗಳನ್ನು ಧರಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ।
As mentioned above, the cosmic creation is the property of the Supreme Lord. This is the basic philosophy of Īśopaniṣad: everything is the property of the Supreme Being. No one should encroach upon the property of the Supreme Lord. One should accept only what is kindly awarded by Him. Therefore, the earth or any other planet or universe is the absolute property of the Lord. The living beings are certainly His parts and parcels, or sons, and thus every one of them has a right to live at the mercy of the Lord to execute his prescribed work. No one, therefore, can encroach upon the right of another individual man or animal without being so sanctioned by the Lord. The king or the administrator is the representative of the Lord to look after the management of the Lord’s will. He must therefore be a recognized person like Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira or Parīkṣit. Such kings have full responsibility and knowledge from authorities about the administration of the world. But at times, due to the influence of the ignorance mode of material nature ( tamo-guṇa ), the lowest of the material modes, kings and administrators come into power without knowledge and responsibility, and such foolish administrators live like animals for the sake of their own personal interest. The result is that the whole atmosphere becomes surcharged with anarchy and vicious elements. Nepotism, bribery, cheating, aggression and, therefore, famine, epidemic, war and similar other disturbing features become prominent in human society. And the devotees of the Lord or the faithful are persecuted by all means. All these symptoms indicate the time of an incarnation of the Lord to reestablish the principles of religion and to vanquish the maladministrators. This is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā.
FAQs
This verse says that when rulers live by adharma and people suffer under ignorance, the Lord manifests age after age to reestablish truth, righteousness, compassion, and divine order for the world’s welfare.
While narrating Krishna’s departure for Dvaraka and His role in protecting the world, Suta emphasizes the recurring divine principle: God descends whenever adharma dominates, especially through corrupt leadership.
Recognize societal decline as a call to live dharmically—cultivate truthfulness, compassion, and integrity—and take shelter of bhakti, trusting that the Lord’s guidance and protection operate across time.