Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, 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 ||
Wika ni Bhishma: Kapag humihina ang dharma sa mga angkan ng mga diyos, saka isinisilang si Krishna sa gitna ng mga tao. Matatag siyang nananatili sa dharma, at taglay ang dalisay at hinubog na kalooban; siya mismo ang namumuhay ayon dito, ibinabalik ang dharma sa katayuan nito, at pinangangalagaan ang kapwa mataas at mababang mga daigdig.
भीष्म उवाच
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.