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Shloka 12

यदा धर्मों ग्लाति वंशे सुराणां तदा कृष्णो जायते मानुषेषु । धर्मे स्थित्वा स तु वै भावितात्मा परांक्ष लोकानपरांश्ष पाति

yadā dharmo glāti vaṁśe surāṇāṁ tadā kṛṣṇo jāyate mānuṣeṣu | dharme sthitvā sa tu vai bhāvitātmā parāṁś ca lokān aparāṁś ca pāti ||

เมื่อธรรมะเสื่อมถอยลงในวงศ์สกุลของเหล่าเทพ เมื่อนั้นพระกฤษณะย่อมอุบัติในหมู่มนุษย์ ทรงตั้งมั่นในธรรม มีจิตภายในบริสุทธิ์และบ่มเพาะแล้ว ทรงประพฤติตามธรรมนั้นด้วยพระองค์เอง ทรงฟื้นฟูให้ตั้งมั่น และทรงพิทักษ์ทั้งโลกเบื้องสูงและโลกเบื้องล่าง

यदाwhen
यदा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयदा
धर्मःdharma, righteousness
धर्मः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
ग्लायतिdeclines, wanes
ग्लायति:
TypeVerb
Rootग्ला
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
वंशेin the lineage
वंशे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवंश
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
सुराणाम्of the gods
सुराणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootसुर
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
तदाthen
तदा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा
कृष्णःKrishna
कृष्णः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकृष्ण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
जायतेis born, arises
जायते:
TypeVerb
Rootजन्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Atmanepada
मानुषेषुamong humans
मानुषेषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमानुष
FormMasculine, Locative, Plural
धर्मेin dharma
धर्मे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
स्थित्वाhaving stood/abided
स्थित्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootस्था
FormAbsolutive (क्त्वा), active
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
वैindeed, surely
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
भावितात्माone whose self is purified/formed (pure-minded)
भावितात्मा:
TypeAdjective
Rootभावित-आत्मन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally
परान्higher, other
परान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootपर
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
लोकान्worlds
लोकान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootलोक
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अपरान्lower, other (this-worldly)
अपरान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअपर
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
पातिprotects
पाति:
TypeVerb
Rootपा
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
K
Krishna
D
Devas (gods)
H
Humans (mankind)
H
Higher worlds (parā lokāḥ)
L
Lower worlds (aparā lokāḥ)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches that when dharma declines, a divinely guided figure like Krishna manifests among humans, personally embodies dharma, restores it through conduct and guidance, and thereby safeguards the moral-cosmic balance across all realms.

In Bhishma’s instruction (Anushasana Parva), he explains Krishna’s role as a restorer of dharma: Krishna takes birth in the human sphere at times of moral decline, lives rooted in righteousness, and acts to protect both higher and lower worlds.