राम

Harivaṃśa-parva

Harivaṃśa · Adhyāya 41

32 versesBrahmā's Counsel

Synopsis

Hearing Viṣṇu's question, Brahmā the world-grandfather speaks the supreme word, benefit of all the gods. "There is no fear at all for the devas, Viṣṇu-destroyer-of-asuras, so long as you stand as giver of fearlessness, as their helmsman in every battle." When actions are rightly turned and withdraw from transgression, when the whole earth is satisfied for men, where is the fear of death? The chapter closes with Brahmā calling the Lord to come with him to the peak of Meru, where the earth herself waits.

First-pass synopsis; pending review by a Sanskritist.

Verse commentary below

Brahmā's Plea to Viṣṇu: the Earth's Burden: Verses 2, 4, 18, 23, 24, 26, 27: the earth having no fear of gods whose refuge is Viṣṇu, the teaching that those intent on truth and dharma are not overtaken by untimely death, the earth as a ship overloaded and about to sink, the earth taking refuge in Brahmā's abode with Viṣṇu declared her supreme recourse, the identification of the earth as karma-bhūmi which must never sink lest all worlds be polluted, the earth having gone from 'unmoving' to 'moving' under the weight, and Brahmā's explicit request that a council be held with Viṣṇu for the lifting of the burden. Template commentary, pending Editorial Council review.

Verse 1

तच् छ्रुत्वा विष्णुगदितं ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः उवाच परमं वाक्यं हितं सर्वदिवौकसाम्

tac chrutvā viṣṇugaditaṃ brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ uvāca paramaṃ vākyaṃ hitaṃ sarvadivaukasām

Hearing that Viṣṇu-speech, Brahmā, the grandfather of the world, spoke a supreme word, benefit of all the heaven-dwellers.

Verse 2

नास्ति किंचिद् भयं विष्णो सुराणाम् असुरान्तक येषां भवान् अभयदः कर्णधारो रणे रणे

nāsti kiṃcid bhayaṃ viṣṇo surāṇām asurāntaka yeṣāṃ bhavān abhayadaḥ karṇadhāro raṇe raṇe

Verse 3

शक्रे जयति देवेशे त्वयि चासुरसूदने धर्मे प्रयतमानानां मानवानां कुतो भयम्

śakre jayati deveśe tvayi cāsurasūdane dharme prayatamānānāṃ mānavānāṃ kuto bhayam

Verse 4

सत्ये धर्मे च निरता मानवा विगतज्वराः नाकालधर्मणा मृत्युः शक्नोति प्रसमीक्षितुम्

satye dharme ca niratā mānavā vigatajvarāḥ nākāladharmaṇā mṛtyuḥ śaknoti prasamīkṣitum

Verse 5

मानवानां च पतयः पार्थिवाश् च परस्परम् षड्भागम् उपयुञ्जाना न भेदं कुर्वते मिथः

mānavānāṃ ca patayaḥ pārthivāś ca parasparam ṣaḍbhāgam upayuñjānā na bhedaṃ kurvate mithaḥ

Verse 6

ते प्रजानां शुभकराः करदैर् अविगर्हिताः अकरैर् विप्रयुक्तार्थाः कोशम् आपूरयन् सदा

te prajānāṃ śubhakarāḥ karadair avigarhitāḥ akarair viprayuktārthāḥ kośam āpūrayan sadā

Verse 7

स्फीताञ्जनपदान् स्वान् स्वान् पालयन्तः क्षमापराः अतीक्ष्णद् अण्डाश् चतुरो वर्णाञ् जुगुपुर् अञ्जसा

sphītāñjanapadān svān svān pālayantaḥ kṣamāparāḥ atīkṣṇad aṇḍāś caturo varṇāñ jugupur añjasā

Verse 8

नोद्वेजनीया भूतानां सचिवैः साधु पूजिताः चतुरङ्गबलैर् युक्ताः षड्गुणान् उपयुञ्जते

nodvejanīyā bhūtānāṃ sacivaiḥ sādhu pūjitāḥ caturaṅgabalair yuktāḥ ṣaḍguṇān upayuñjate

Verse 9

धनुर्वेदपराः सर्वे सर्वे वेदेषु निष्ठिताः यजन्ति च यथाकालं यज्ञैर् विपुलदक्षिणैः

dhanurvedaparāḥ sarve sarve vedeṣu niṣṭhitāḥ yajanti ca yathākālaṃ yajñair vipuladakṣiṇaiḥ

Verse 10

वेदान् अधीत्य दीक्षाभिर् महर्षीन् ब्रह्मचर्यया श्राद्धैश् च मेध्यैः शतशस् तर्पयन्ति पितामहान्

vedān adhītya dīkṣābhir maharṣīn brahmacaryayā śrāddhaiś ca medhyaiḥ śataśas tarpayanti pitāmahān

Verse 11

नैषाम् अविदितं किंचित् त्रिविधं भुवि विद्यते वैदिकं लौकिकं चैव धर्मशास्त्रोक्तम् एव च

naiṣām aviditaṃ kiṃcit trividhaṃ bhuvi vidyate vaidikaṃ laukikaṃ caiva dharmaśāstroktam eva ca

Verse 12

ते परावरदृष्टार्था महर्षिसमतेजसः भूयः कृतयुगं कर्तुम् उत्सहन्ते नराधिपाः

te parāvaradṛṣṭārthā maharṣisamatejasaḥ bhūyaḥ kṛtayugaṃ kartum utsahante narādhipāḥ

Verse 13

तेषाम् एव प्रभावेन शिवं वर्षति वासवः यथार्थं च ववुर् वाता विरजस्का दिशो दश

teṣām eva prabhāvena śivaṃ varṣati vāsavaḥ yathārthaṃ ca vavur vātā virajaskā diśo daśa

Verse 14

... वाताः शिवसुगन्धिनः निर्मलं चाभवद् व्योम ... निरुत्पाता च वसुधा सुप्रचाराश् च वै ग्रहाः चन्द्रमाश् च सनक्षत्रः सौम्यं चरति योगतः

... vātāḥ śivasugandhinaḥ nirmalaṃ cābhavad vyoma ... nirutpātā ca vasudhā supracārāś ca vai grahāḥ candramāś ca sanakṣatraḥ saumyaṃ carati yogataḥ

Verse 15

अनुलोमकरः सूर्यो अयने द्वे चचार ह हव्यैश् च विविधैस् तृप्तः शुभगन्धो हुताशनः

anulomakaraḥ sūryo ayane dve cacāra ha havyaiś ca vividhais tṛptaḥ śubhagandho hutāśanaḥ

Verse 16

एवं सम्यक्प्रवृत्तेषु निवृत्तेष्व् अपराधतः तर्पयत्सु महीं कृत्स्नां नृणां कालभयं कुतः

evaṃ samyakpravṛtteṣu nivṛtteṣv aparādhataḥ tarpayatsu mahīṃ kṛtsnāṃ nṛṇāṃ kālabhayaṃ kutaḥ

Verse 17

तेषां ज्वलितकीर्तीनाम् अन्योन्यम् अनुवर्तिनाम् राज्ञां बलैर् बलवतां पीड्यते वसुधातलम्

teṣāṃ jvalitakīrtīnām anyonyam anuvartinām rājñāṃ balair balavatāṃ pīḍyate vasudhātalam

Verse 18

सेयं भारपरिश्रान्ता पीड्यमाना नराधिपैः पृथिवी समनुप्राप्ता नौर् इवासन्न् अविप्लवा

seyaṃ bhārapariśrāntā pīḍyamānā narādhipaiḥ pṛthivī samanuprāptā naur ivāsann aviplavā

Verse 19

युगान्तसदृशं रूपं शैलोच्चलितबन्धनम् जलोत्पीडाकुला स्वेदं दर्शयन्ती मुहुर् मुहुः

yugāntasadṛśaṃ rūpaṃ śailoccalitabandhanam jalotpīḍākulā svedaṃ darśayantī muhur muhuḥ

Verse 20

क्षत्रियाणां वपुर्भिश् च तेजसा च बलेन च नृणां च राष्ट्रैर् विस्तीर्णैः श्राम्यतीव वसुंधरा

kṣatriyāṇāṃ vapurbhiś ca tejasā ca balena ca nṛṇāṃ ca rāṣṭrair vistīrṇaiḥ śrāmyatīva vasuṃdharā

Verse 21

यच् चोक्तं ब्रह्मसदने ब्रह्मणा परमेष्ठिना तच् छृणुष्व महाबाहो रहस्यम् इदम् उत्तमम् पुरे पुरे नरपतिः कोटिसंख्यैर् बलैर् वृतः राष्ट्रे राष्ट्रे च बहवो ग्रामाः शतसहस्रशः

yac coktaṃ brahmasadane brahmaṇā parameṣṭhinā tac chṛṇuṣva mahābāho rahasyam idam uttamam pure pure narapatiḥ koṭisaṃkhyair balair vṛtaḥ rāṣṭre rāṣṭre ca bahavo grāmāḥ śatasahasraśaḥ

Verse 22

भूमिपानां सहस्रैश् च तेषां च बलिनां बलैः ग्रामायुताढ्यै राष्ट्रैश् च भूमिर् निर्विवरीकृता

bhūmipānāṃ sahasraiś ca teṣāṃ ca balināṃ balaiḥ grāmāyutāḍhyai rāṣṭraiś ca bhūmir nirvivarīkṛtā

Verse 23

सेयं निरामिषं कृत्वा निश्चेष्टं कालम् अग्रतः प्राप्ता ममालयं विष्णो भवांश् चास्याः परा गतिः

seyaṃ nirāmiṣaṃ kṛtvā niśceṣṭaṃ kālam agrataḥ prāptā mamālayaṃ viṣṇo bhavāṃś cāsyāḥ parā gatiḥ

Verse 24

कर्मभूमिर् इहस्थानां भूमिर् एषा व्यथां गता यथा न सीदेत् तत्कार्यं जगत्य् एषा हि शाश्वती

karmabhūmir ihasthānāṃ bhūmir eṣā vyathāṃ gatā yathā na sīdet tatkāryaṃ jagaty eṣā hi śāśvatī

Verse 25

अस्या हि पीडने दोषो महान् स्यान् मधुसूदन क्रियालोपश् च लोकानां दूषितं च जगद् भवेत्

asyā hi pīḍane doṣo mahān syān madhusūdana kriyālopaś ca lokānāṃ dūṣitaṃ ca jagad bhavet

Verse 26

श्राम्यते व्यक्तम् एवेयं पार्थिवौघप्रपीडिता सहजां या क्षमां त्यक्त्वा चलत्वम् अचला गता

śrāmyate vyaktam eveyaṃ pārthivaughaprapīḍitā sahajāṃ yā kṣamāṃ tyaktvā calatvam acalā gatā

Verse 27

तद् अस्याः श्रुतवन्तः स्म तच् चापि भवता श्रुतम् भारावतरणार्थं हि मन्त्रयामस् त्वया सह

tad asyāḥ śrutavantaḥ sma tac cāpi bhavatā śrutam bhārāvataraṇārthaṃ hi mantrayāmas tvayā saha

Verse 28

सत्पथे हि स्थिताः सर्वे राजानो राष्ट्रवर्धनाः नराणां च त्रयो वर्णा ब्राह्मणान् अनुयायिनः

satpathe hi sthitāḥ sarve rājāno rāṣṭravardhanāḥ narāṇāṃ ca trayo varṇā brāhmaṇān anuyāyinaḥ

Verse 29

सर्वं सत्यमयं वाक्यं वर्णा धर्मपरास् तथा सर्वे वेदपरा विप्राः सर्वे विप्रपरा नराः

sarvaṃ satyamayaṃ vākyaṃ varṇā dharmaparās tathā sarve vedaparā viprāḥ sarve vipraparā narāḥ

Verse 30

एवं जगति वर्तन्ते मनुष्या धर्मकारणात् यथा धर्मवधो न स्यात् तथा मन्त्रः प्रवर्तताम्

evaṃ jagati vartante manuṣyā dharmakāraṇāt yathā dharmavadho na syāt tathā mantraḥ pravartatām

Verse 31

सतां गतिर् इयं नान्या धर्मश् चास्याः सुसाधनम् राज्ञां चैव वधः कार्यो धरण्या भारनिर्णये

satāṃ gatir iyaṃ nānyā dharmaś cāsyāḥ susādhanam rājñāṃ caiva vadhaḥ kāryo dharaṇyā bhāranirṇaye

Verse 32

तदागच्छ महाभाग सह वै मन्त्रकारणात् व्रजाम मेरुशिखरं पुरस्कृत्य वसुंधराम्

tadāgaccha mahābhāga saha vai mantrakāraṇāt vrajāma meruśikharaṃ puraskṛtya vasuṃdharām

'Therefore come, great-fortuned one, together with us, as the cause of counsel; let us go to the peak of Meru, keeping the earth in front.'

Verse commentary

Brahmā's Plea to Viṣṇu: the Earth's Burden

ब्रह्मणः विष्णुं प्रति भारप्रार्थना

Verses 2, 4, 18, 23, 24, 26, 27: the earth having no fear of gods whose refuge is Viṣṇu, the teaching that those intent on truth and dharma are not overtaken by untimely death, the earth as a ship overloaded and about to sink, the earth taking refuge in Brahmā's abode with Viṣṇu declared her supreme recourse, the identification of the earth as karma-bhūmi which must never sink lest all worlds be polluted, the earth having gone from 'unmoving' to 'moving' under the weight, and Brahmā's explicit request that a council be held with Viṣṇu for the lifting of the burden. Template commentary, pending Editorial Council review.

HV 41 is one of the Harivaṃśa's most important chapters for understanding the whole avatāra-narrative that follows. The earth herself, overwhelmed by the weight of proud kings and their vast armies, approaches Brahmā in his abode; Brahmā turns to Viṣṇu. Not a single political enemy is named; the crisis is ontological. The earth is the *karma-bhūmi*, the ground of action; if she fails, the entire dharmic cosmos fails. Brahmā asks Viṣṇu to descend — not as one more warrior but as the one who alone is equal to the burden. The whole Viṣṇu-parva's avatāra, from Kṛṣṇa's birth through the Jarāsandha campaigns, is set in motion by this chapter's plea.

HV 41.2

नास्ति किंचिद् भयं विष्णो सुराणाम् असुरान्तक । येषां भवान् अभयदः कर्णधारो रणे रणे ॥

nāsti kiṃcid bhayaṃ viṣṇo surāṇām asurāntaka | yeṣāṃ bhavān abhayadaḥ karṇa-dhāro raṇe raṇe

'There is no fear at all for the gods, O Viṣṇu, foe of the asuras — for whom you are the giver of fearlessness, the helmsman in every combat.'

The Living Words

*Nāsti kiṃcid bhayam*, 'no fear at all'. *Surāṇām asurāntaka*, 'for the gods, O killer of asuras'. *Abhayadaḥ*, 'giver of fearlessness'. *Karṇa-dhāro raṇe raṇe*, 'helmsman in every combat'.

The Heart of It

The verse is Brahmā's opening credo. *Yeṣāṃ bhavān abhayadaḥ* — 'for whom you are the giver of fearlessness' — this is why there is no fear for the gods. The Varkari tradition's constant formula — that the Name is *abhayadāyaka*, the giver of fearlessness — is Brahmā's Sanskrit precedent. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh's every abhaṅga tests against this standard: what is the Name doing if not giving *abhaya*? And *karṇa-dhāro raṇe raṇe* — 'helmsman in every combat' — names the Name as ship's-pilot, the one who steers through each battle, one at a time.

HV 41.4

सत्ये धर्मे च निरता मानवा विगतज्वराः । नाकालधर्मणा मृत्युः शक्नोति प्रसमीक्षितुम् ॥

satye dharme ca niratā mānavā vigata-jvarāḥ | nākāla-dharmaṇā mṛtyuḥ śaknoti prasamīkṣitum

'Humans intent on truth and on dharma, free of fever — death by untimely-way cannot even look upon them.'

The Living Words

*Satye dharme ca niratāḥ*, 'intent on truth and dharma'. *Vigata-jvarāḥ*, 'free of fever (of striving)'. *Nākāla-dharmaṇā mṛtyuḥ*, 'death by un-time-way'. *Śaknoti prasamīkṣitum*, 'is able even to look upon [them]'.

The Heart of It

The verse is a theology of life-span. *Nākāla-dharmaṇā mṛtyuḥ śaknoti prasamīkṣitum* — 'death by the untimely-way cannot even look upon' the satya-dharma-nirata. The Varkari tradition's teaching that the bhakta's life is protected from *akāla-mṛtyu*, un-time-death, not by magic but by the character that *satya-dharma-nirata* sustains, is in this verse. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh's long argument that the Name, coupled with character, produces a *vigata-jvara* life: free of feverish striving, protected from the death that comes early.

HV 41.18

सेयं भारपरिश्रान्ता पीड्यमाना नराधिपैः । पृथिवी समनुप्राप्ता नौर् इवासन्न् अविप्लवा ॥

seyaṃ bhāra-pariśrāntā pīḍyamānā narādhipaiḥ | pṛthivī samanuprāptā naur ivāsann aviplavā

'She, burden-worn, afflicted by the kings, has come — this earth — like a ship not yet foundering.'

The Living Words

*Bhāra-pariśrāntā*, 'burden-worn'. *Pīḍyamānā narādhipaiḥ*, 'afflicted by kings'. *Naur iva āsann aviplavā*, 'like a ship not yet foundering'. A remarkable image.

The Heart of It

The verse gives us the earth as a ship. *Nau ivāsann aviplavā* — 'like a ship not yet foundering' — names the precariousness exactly. The Varkari tradition's love of ship-imagery for the soul — Jñāneśvar's repeated use of *tāraka*, the one who ferries — has HV 41.18 as one of its Sanskrit antecedents. The earth is a ship; the bhakta's heart is a ship; and both need the same *karṇa-dhāra*, helmsman, of verse 41.2. Viṣṇu is the one who ferries both.

HV 41.23

सेयं निरामिषं कृत्वा निश्चेष्टं कालम् अग्रतः । प्राप्ता ममालयं विष्णो भवांश् चास्याः परा गतिः ॥

seyaṃ nirāmiṣaṃ kṛtvā niśceṣṭaṃ kālam agrataḥ | prāptā mamālayaṃ viṣṇo bhavāṃś cāsyāḥ parā gatiḥ

'She — making the time ahead emptied of substance, motionless — has come to my abode, O Viṣṇu; and you are her supreme refuge.'

The Living Words

*Nirāmiṣaṃ kṛtvā niśceṣṭam*, 'having made it empty of substance, motionless'. *Mamālayam*, 'my abode' (Brahmā's). *Parā gatiḥ*, 'supreme refuge/goal'.

The Heart of It

The verse is the chapter's central theological statement. *Bhavāṃś cāsyāḥ parā gatiḥ* — 'you are her supreme refuge'. Brahmā, the creator, says to Viṣṇu that he is not the earth's ultimate *gati*; Viṣṇu is. The Varkari tradition's teaching that even the most exalted created being — including the sage, the philosopher, the theologian — recognizes that the *parā gati*, the ultimate refuge, is the Lord alone. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh's constant *parama gati rāma kṛṣṇa hari* — 'the supreme goal is Rāma-Kṛṣṇa-Hari' — is HV 41.23 in Marāṭhī.

HV 41.24

कर्मभूमिर् इहस्थानां भूमिर् एषा व्यथां गता । यथा न सीदेत् तत्कार्यं जगत्य् एषा हि शाश्वती ॥

karma-bhūmir iha-sthānāṃ bhūmir eṣā vyathāṃ gatā | yathā na sīdet tat-kāryaṃ jagaty eṣā hi śāśvatī

'This earth — the karma-ground for the here-standing — has come to distress. So that she may not sink — that is the task; in the world she is eternal.'

The Living Words

*Karma-bhūmir iha-sthānām*, 'the karma-ground of the here-standing' (embodied beings). *Vyathāṃ gatā*, 'come to distress'. *Na sīdet*, 'may not sink'. *Śāśvatī*, 'eternal'.

The Heart of It

The verse names the earth's theological identity. *Karma-bhūmiḥ* — the 'action-ground' — is the specific name for Bhārata-varṣa, the only continent where karma, and therefore liberation, is possible. *Jagaty eṣā hi śāśvatī* — 'in the world she is eternal'. The Varkari tradition's intense devotion to the specific earth — the soil of Maharashtra, of the vari-path, of Paṇḍharpūr — as the *karma-bhūmi* where devotion can be done, is in this verse. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh is sung into this specific earth, never dismissing it; the ship is real, and its saving is the task.

HV 41.26

श्राम्यते व्यक्तम् एवेयं पार्थिवौघप्रपीडिता । सहजां या क्षमां त्यक्त्वा चलत्वम् अचला गता ॥

śrāmyate vyaktam eveyaṃ pārthiva-ugha-prapīḍitā | sahajāṃ yā kṣamāṃ tyaktvā calatvam acalā gatā

'She is clearly worn out, this earth, crushed by floods of kings — the one who, abandoning her innate patience, has gone from motionless to moving.'

The Living Words

*Śrāmyate vyaktam eveyam*, 'she is clearly worn out'. *Pārthiva-ugha-prapīḍitā*, 'crushed by floods of pārthivas (kings)'. *Sahajāṃ kṣamāṃ tyaktvā*, 'having abandoned her innate patience'. *Calatvam acalā gatā*, 'gone from acalā (unmoving) to calatva (moving)'.

The Heart of It

The verse's final phrase is stunning: *acalā calatvaṃ gatā* — 'the unmoving has gone to moving'. The earth, whose very epithet is *acalā*, has been made *cala* by the weight. The Varkari tradition's reading: *kṣamā* — both 'patience' and 'earth' — is what has been lost. When *kṣamā* is abandoned, even the one whose nature is *acalā* starts trembling. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh's constant counsel to cultivate *kṣamā* — that the steady ground of the bhakta's life is earth-like patience — has HV 41.26 as its scriptural warning: when *kṣamā* is abandoned, the whole foundation begins to move.

HV 41.27

तद् अस्याः श्रुतवन्तः स्म तच् चापि भवता श्रुतम् । भारावतरणार्थं हि मन्त्रयामस् त्वया सह ॥

tad asyāḥ śrutavantaḥ sma tac cāpi bhavatā śrutam | bhārāvataraṇārthaṃ hi mantrayāmas tvayā saha

'So we have heard her, and you too have heard; for the lifting of the burden let us take counsel together with you.'

The Living Words

*Śrutavantaḥ sma*, 'we have heard'. *Bhārāvataraṇārtham*, 'for the purpose of the burden-lifting'. *Mantrayāmas tvayā saha*, 'let us take counsel with you'.

The Heart of It

The verse names the whole avatāra by its technical term. *Bhārāvataraṇa* — 'the lifting of the burden' — is the classical epithet for Viṣṇu's descents. The Varkari tradition's reading: *avataraṇa* ('descent' / 'lifting') is a word with two directions at once — Viṣṇu descends *so that* the burden may be lifted. The coming-down is the going-up of the load. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh sings the same theology: *Rāma-Kṛṣṇa-Hari* has come down into the syllables precisely so that the bhakta's burden can rise. *Mantrayāmas tvayā saha* — 'let us take counsel with you' — names the whole Harivaṃśa to come: a chronicle of the plan agreed upon in this chapter.

Thread

The seven verses trace the chapter's plea: the gods' fearlessness rooted in Viṣṇu as abhayadaḥ and karṇa-dhāraḥ (41.2), the protection against untimely death for the dharma-satya-nirata (41.4), the earth as a ship not yet foundering (41.18), Viṣṇu as the earth's parā gati (41.23), the earth as karma-bhūmi which must not sink (41.24), the earth having gone from acalā to calatva (41.26), and Brahmā's explicit request for council on the burden-lifting (41.27). The Harivaṃśa's seminal avatāra-chapter: the whole Viṣṇu-parva that follows is set in motion here.

Echo in the saints

HV 41 is the Harivaṃśa's clearest statement of what the Warkari tradition calls *avatāra-kāraṇa* — the why of the Lord's descent. The earth as karma-bhūmi in crisis, patience abandoned, ship about to sink: this is the problem the saints read into their own age. And HV 41.27's *bhārāvataraṇārtham* becomes, for Jñāneśvar, the very logic of the Name's appearance in every age: the Lord comes down into a syllable so that the soul may rise out of its weight. Tukaram's abhaṅgas repeatedly invoke the earth's *pīḍā*, affliction, as the specific sorrow that the Name is sung to relieve; the *kṣamā* lost in HV 41.26 is the *kṣamā* the saints labor to restore.

Scripture references

DirectBhagavad Gītā 4.7

To relieve the burden of the earth, I come into being.

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत । अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ॥

yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata | abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṃ sṛjāmy aham

Whenever there is a decline of dharma, O Bhārata, and a rise of adharma, then I manifest myself.

HV 41 is the Harivaṃśa's narrative of exactly the Gītā 4.7 occasion: dharma's decline, adharma's rise, and the Lord's response. The Warkari tradition reads them as one doctrine told twice — once in the earth's voice (HV 41), once in the Lord's own voice (Gītā 4.7).

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BORI critical edition, ed. P. L. Vaidya (1969). Digital text from the GRETIL Zurich constituted text. Distributed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.