krishnavishnubhagavad-gitaavatar

Paritranaya Sadhunam

Paritranaya Sadhunam in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Morning or evening prayer; especially on Janmashtami and Ekadashi·📜 Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4 (Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga), verse 8

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

This famous verse from the Bhagavad Gita (4.8) is Lord Krishna's declaration of why the Divine incarnates: to protect the righteous, destroy the wicked, and re-establish dharma in every age. It is the scriptural foundation of the doctrine of avatars (Dashavatara). It is chanted as an affirmation of faith that God descends whenever righteousness declines.

Origin & Story

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4 (Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga), verse 8 · Spoken by Lord Krishna; part of the Mahabharata (Veda Vyasa) · Classical antiquity (part of the Mahabharata)

In the fourth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna reveals to Arjuna the secret of his repeated incarnations. In verse 4.7 he says that whenever righteousness declines and unrighteousness rises, he manifests himself. In this verse, 4.8, he states the purpose of that descent — to protect the good, destroy the wicked, and re-establish dharma — age after age. Together these verses form the cornerstone of the Hindu understanding of the avatar.

✦ As told in scripture

Devotees through the ages have drawn courage from this promise in times of oppression and despair, trusting that no matter how dark the age, the Lord will surely descend 'yuge yuge' to restore righteousness — a faith embodied in every story of Vishnu's Dashavatara.

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The Mantra

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Paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṃ vināśāya cha duṣkṛtām। dharma-saṃsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge॥

Meaning:For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked, and for the firm establishment of righteousness (dharma), I am born in every age.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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paritrāṇāya🔊for the deliverance / protection

sādhūnāṃ🔊of the righteous / virtuous ones

vināśāya🔊for the destruction / annihilation

cha🔊and

duṣkṛtām🔊of the evil-doers / wicked

dharma🔊righteousness, cosmic order, duty

saṃsthāpanārthāya🔊for the purpose of firmly re-establishing

sambhavāmi🔊I come into being / I manifest (incarnate)

yuge yuge🔊age after age, in every era

Benefits of Chanting Paritranaya Sadhunam

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Affirms faith that God always intervenes to protect the righteous

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A powerful reminder of the eternal triumph of dharma over adharma

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Instills courage and reassurance in dark and difficult times

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Encapsulates the entire philosophy of the Dashavatara of Vishnu

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Chanted for protection and the restoration of order and justice

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Strengthens devotion and surrender to the Lord's divine plan

How to Chant Paritranaya Sadhunam

Repetitions11times

Best TimeMorning or evening prayer; especially on Janmashtami and Ekadashi

Chant this verse from the Bhagavad Gita slowly and with understanding, reflecting on its meaning that the Divine incarnates in every age to uphold righteousness. It pairs naturally with the preceding verse (4.7, 'Yada yada hi dharmasya'). It may be repeated 11 or 108 times as an affirmation of faith, or recited daily as part of Gita parayana and Krishna worship.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Paritranaya Sadhunam written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It is verse 4.8 of the Bhagavad Gita, spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna. It immediately follows the famous verse 4.7 ('Yada yada hi dharmasya'), and together the two verses explain when and why God incarnates.

Krishna declares that He takes birth in every age (yuge yuge) for three reasons: to protect the virtuous (paritranaya sadhunam), to destroy the wicked (vinashaya cha dushkritam), and to re-establish dharma (dharma-samsthapanarthaya).

This verse is the philosophical basis of the avatar doctrine. The ten incarnations of Vishnu (Dashavatara) — Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha and Kalki — are understood as fulfillments of this promise to descend whenever dharma declines.

It is recited during daily prayer and Gita study, and is especially meaningful on Janmashtami (Krishna's birth) and Ekadashi. Many chant it in difficult times as an affirmation that righteousness will ultimately prevail.