Divine Incarnation: The Secret of Dharma, Compassion, and Liberation
Bhagavad Gita Ch. 4 v. 7-10
Discover the secret of divine incarnation—how compassion restores dharma, uplifts the world, and leads seekers to spiritual liberation.
Contents
The Mystery of Divine Incarnation
The Purpose of Divine Descent
The Evolutionary Impulse Toward Harmony
Freedom Through Knowing the Divine
Liberation is Possible: Many Have Awakened
Awakening the Avatar Influence Within
Living in Cooperation with the Infinite
PODCAST EPISODE: Manifestations of the Divine - Understanding Eternal Dharma
When righteousness declines and disharmony rises, the Divine descends, reminding us that truth and compassion are never absent from the world.
We are continuing our exploration of the Fourth Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. This chapter, the yoga of wisdom, action, and renunciation, brings together the insights of jnana yoga, karma yoga, and sannyasa yoga—liberation through knowledge, skillful action, and renunciation. In it, the eternal truth of the Self and the mysterious nature of divine incarnation are revealed to the seeking soul.
Earlier verses 4.1–4.6 reminded us of the imperishable nature of yoga and the eternal transmission of truth through the ages. Lord Krishna spoke of consciousness as birthless, deathless, and imperishable, yet appearing in form as the compassionate descent of the Divine. With this foundation, verses 4.7–4.10 open the great mystery of the avatar—the divine descent into the world.
The Mystery of Divine Incarnation
Lord Krishna declares in the Bhagavad Gita verse 4.7:
“Whenever there is a decline of righteousness and an increase of unrighteousness, I come into manifestation.” (Bhagavad Gita 4.7, Roy Eugene Davis translation
This is one of the most hopeful teachings in all of scripture. It tells us that the Supreme Reality is not a distant or indifferent force, but a compassionate presence that engages with creation. Whenever truth and righteousness are obscured, whenever dharma is neglected, divine grace responds.
This manifestation is not bound by karma. Ordinary beings take birth compelled by karma and desires. The avatar, however, incarnates freely by divine will, as an act of compassion to restore balance and harmony in the world.
"In this time of profound global stress, what is most needed is the shift in consciousness that enlightenment brings. To see others as they are, the same divine Self, and to see the Earth with all its life forms and the universe Self as it is—Supreme Consciousness in expression."
—Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
The Purpose of Divine Descent
Bhagavad Gita verse 4.8 continues this promise:
“For the protection of the virtuous, for the removal of nonvirtue, and to establish righteousness [dharma], I come into manifestation from Age to Age.” (Bhagavad Gita 4.8, Roy Eugene Davis translation)
The divine descent serves three purposes: protection, removal of obstacles, and restoration of dharma—the eternal order of truth and right action. This is not vengeance or punishment but the natural working out of cosmic harmony. Just as physical laws restore balance in nature, spiritual law restores dharma in human life and society.
My guru, Roy Eugene Davis, explained that whenever the natural flow of evolution is obstructed, a new spiritual impulse arises from pure consciousness to restore the upward movement of life. Paramahansa Yogananda emphasized that God’s will moves forward whether or not individuals cooperate—but how much sweeter it is when we consciously align ourselves with it.
The Evolutionary Impulse Toward Harmony
This teaching reminds us that divine order, or ṛta in the Vedic tradition, is inherent in life. Ṛta is truth, law, righteousness—the upward tendency of consciousness itself. When unrighteousness prevails, the impulse of evolution presses forward to reestablish harmony.
We can feel this impulse in our own conscience and soul yearning. It is the same movement that restores balance in the world, urging us to rise above selfish desires and cooperate with the infinite.
The appearance of avatars—such as the Buddha, Jesus, Krishna, and great masters like Sri Ramakrishna and Paramahansa Yogananda—exemplifies this divine intervention. Yet the greater teaching is that this avataric influence must awaken in each of us, so that many illumined souls together embody the light of divine presence in the world.
Freedom Through Knowing the Divine
In the Bhagavad Gita verse 4.9, Lord Krishna continues:
“One who knows in truth My divine manifestation and actions, upon departing the body, is not born again. That soul comes to Me.” (Bhagavad Gita 4.9, Roy Eugene Davis translation)
To know in truth means direct realization, not intellectual understanding. It is to experience and embody the reality of the Divine within one’s own consciousness. Such a one is liberated from the cycle of birth and death, free from karma, established in eternal freedom.
Our spiritual practice—meditation, devotion, selfless service—arranges the inner conditions for this realization. Through sadhana, we make ourselves receptive to divine grace so that this truth is not merely studied but lived.
Liberation is Possible: Many Have Awakened
Bhagavad Gita verse 4.10 offers encouragement:
“Contemplating Me only, resorting to Me, many whose greed, fear, and anger have departed, purified by the discipline of knowledge, have awakened to My state of being.” (Bhagavad Gita 4.10, Roy Eugene Davis translation)
Liberation is not a rare or impossible achievement. Many have awakened. The way is open to us all. By turning our hearts and minds to the Divine, letting go of fear and desire, and disciplining ourselves through the paths of yoga—karma yoga, bhakti yoga, raja yoga, and jnana yoga—we purify the mind and awaken to eternal consciousness.
In the tradition of Kriya Yoga, Lahiri Mahasaya would counsel, “Keep on, keeping on. Behold, one day, the goal.” The call is clear: continue steadfastly in practice, and the promise of realization will be fulfilled.
Awakening the Avatar Influence Within
The avatar is not only a historical figure but also a principle of divine descent into human life. In our time, what is most needed is not the appearance of one great soul but the awakening of many. The light of divine consciousness must shine through each receptive heart.
This is the call of our age: to awaken the avatar influence within, to live as expressions of dharma, compassion, and truth. When many live in this realization, the collective field of consciousness is uplifted, and the world itself is transformed.
Living in Cooperation with the Infinite
The Bhagavad Gita verses 4.7–4.10 remind us that God is with us—eternal, compassionate, and engaged. The Divine descends again and again, not only in the form of great teachers but also as the inner impulse within every soul to awaken and live in harmony with dharma.
The question for us is not when the next avatar will appear, but how will I live today? Will I cooperate with the evolutionary impulse of divine will, or resist it through ignorance and selfish desire? The choice is ours, moment by moment.
Let us contemplate the words of Paramahansa Yogananda: “God’s will be done, whether random individuals cooperate with it or not. But how much sweeter for us to learn to cooperate with this evolutionary divine force.”
The way is open. The path is clear. May we rise in steadfast faith, live as instruments of compassion, and embody the secret of divine incarnation in our own lives.
Listen to the full podcast episode below.
Bhagavad Gita, pt 35: Manifestations of the Divine - Understanding Eternal Dharma
Chapter 4, v. 7-10
Explore Lord Krishna's timeless wisdom as he discusses his eternal manifestations and the cyclic nature of divine intervention. This episode explores the profound concepts of righteousness and the Divine's eternal duty to restore balance. Discover how these teachings are relevant in the grand cosmic scheme and our personal spiritual journeys.
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