Bhagavad Gita: Understanding One Shloka at a time. (Chp. 4, Verse 8) — HBR Patel
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् |
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे || 8||
For the protection of the “Sadhunam” (the sadhus or the saintly devotees) and the annihilation of the miscreants and to reestablish the Righteousness (principles of dharma) I appear millennium after millennium.
The purpose of the Supreme Bhagwan is explained in this shloka. Be it in the form of fish, turtle, boar, man-lion, or dwarf, the Supreme Bhagwan keeps his promise and manifests on this earth for the purpose mentioned above in the shloka.
To protect the Sadhunam: the sadhus or the saintly devotees who dedicate their lives to Bhagwan and seek refuge in his lotus feet in order to know the eternal truth.
The Jivas achieve Moksha by knowing eternal wisdom, which is the ultimate goal of every soul born on this planet or many millions of other such habitat places. Bhagwan manifests in such places to protect the devotees and punish the miscreants.
But, some may doubt the power of the Supreme Bhagwan if, for such reasons, he has to leave his holy abodes and incarnate in this mortal world.
Can’t he finish such a meagre task from his divine abode?
Isn’t he omnipotent? Can’t he take care of it, or better yet, can’t he send somebody else to finish the task?
Yes, with the lens of logic, all questions might make a valid argument. But when you interchange the logic lens with that of faith, the picture will become more clear and more revealing.
To protect ‘Gajendra’, the Supreme Bhagwan leaves his throne in the heavens above and rushes to the scene and liberates Gajendra.
To protect ‘Prahalada’, the Supreme Bhagwan leaves his throne in the heavens above and rushes to the earth in the form of a ‘Narsimha’ to annihilate Hiranyakashipu.
Let me ask you a question and try to answer it from the lens of logic.
Sam and his son were sitting in their backyard garden. Sam’s father was walking on the grass of that garden. The father was walking with a stick due to his deteriorating health. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blows. Sam’s father lost his balance and slipped. What will Sam do?
The logic says that Sam’s son can help the grandfather, and it would be okay for Sam to order his son to take care of the fallen grandfather.
But, what about the other side of the picture? Was it okay for Sam to order his son or that Sam should go there and take care of his father?
I think you got the point.
It is not out of duty but out of love for all of the Jivas that Bhagwan manifests himself on this earth to protect them.
This is on a macro level, but on a micro-level, the Supreme Bhagwan also manifests in our hearts daily. When we remember him, he blesses us with his divine vibration.
When we think of doing something wrong, he manifests within our hearts to show us the right path.
When we remember the actions and the divine leelas of any of the avatars of the Supreme Bhagwan, we experience divine bliss within our hearts.
Bhagwan Swaminarayan explains the benefits of remembering the Divine Actions and Incidents of God in the Vachnamrut GADHADA I-3. He says: “After all, even if a sinner remembers these occasions at the time of his death, he will also attain the abode of God.”
Such is the divine power of the actions and leelas of the Supreme Bhagwan that by remembering them, we can liberate ourselves from this chain of birth-death and attain Moksha.
