Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga
ज्ञान कर्म संन्यास योग
बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन। तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप॥ 4:5॥
बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि, तव च अर्जुन, तानि अहम् वेद सर्वाणि, न त्वम् वेत्थ परन्तप।
परन्तप (हे शत्रुओं को पराजित करने वाले) अर्जुन (अर्जुन) मे (मेरे) च (और) तव (तुम्हारे) बहूनि (कई) जन्मानि (जन्म) व्यतीतानि (बीते चुके हैं) तानि (वे) सर्वाणि (सभी) त्वम् (तुम) न (नहीं) वेत्थ (जानते हो) अहम् (मैं) वेद (जानता हूँ)।
Hindi
हे अर्जुन! मेरे और तुम्हारे बहुत-से जन्म व्यतीत हो चुके हैं। उन सबका तुम्हें स्मरण नहीं, किंतु मैं जानता हूँ।
English
I have had many incarnations in the past, and you have undergone numerous births too, which are all known to Me though you are unaware of them. (4:5)
Hindi
यहाँ ईश्वर के पूर्व के अवतारों का संकेत है।
English
In this verse, the principle of Avatāra is introduced, which will find further elaboration in subsequent verses. It signifies the manifestation of God (Ishvara) in physical form at specific intervals for various reasons. Primarily, these incarnations aim to uphold righteousness and vanquish malevolent forces, particularly during times of significant imbalance in cosmic harmony. However, other scriptures unveil additional purposes behind divine incarnations. These include safeguarding the authenticity of utterances by a saint and fulfilling the wishes of staunch devotees, among others. Ishvara, Bhagawān Vishnu, incarnated Himself as Rāma not only to vanquish the forces of evil, notably Rāvana and his team, but also to fulfill the wish of Manu and his wife Satrupā to see Him as their son. Incarnations may also serve to present an ideal to humanity, as exemplified by Bhagawān Rāma's life. Furthermore, divine manifestations on Earth encompass the performance of "leela" or divine play, providing moments of divine bliss to devotees, as seen in Bhagawān Krishna's deeds. Additionally, they serve to impart true knowledge and wisdom to humanity, as demonstrated by Bhagawān Rāma in the Rāmāyana and the Rām-charit-mānas, and Sri Krishna's teachings in the Gitā and the Bhagavatam. The knowledge passed on by Kapil Muni, also an incarnation of Bhagawān Vishnu, in the Bhāgavatam is also exemplary.