In the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna mentions that he descends for two purposes (04.07-08 & 04.09-10). To better understand these purposes, let’s consider two classificatory frameworks: external-internal and contextual-perennial.
The external-internal framework: Krishna’s external purpose for descending centers on bringing about a change in the outer world: he restores social order (dharma) by empowering the virtuous and disempowering the vicious (04.08). His internal purpose centers on inspiring a change in the human heart, directing its love toward the spiritual. During his descent, he displays his amazing pastimes that feature his mesmerizing reciprocations with those who love him. And he wants us all to love him, for we all are his eternal parts and are already loved by him. Inspired by this truth, we start practicing bhakti to cultivate our heart and gradually attain prema, divine love that powers us to Krishna’s world of immortal love (04.09).
The contextual-perennial framework: Krishna’s contextual purpose for descending centers on establishing dharma at a particular time in history and a particular place in geography. Whenever the cosmos seems headed toward cosmic catastrophe, he descends personally to fix things. If we are not there when Krishna descends, is his descent relevant for us? Yes, because it also has a perennial purpose: he provides humanity the spiritual legacy of his beautiful pastimes. If we remember his pastimes, we can become lovingly absorbed in him, thereby finding solace and strength even amid times when he is no longer externally manifest.
Arjuna’s life demonstrates the fulfillment of Krishna’s contextual and perennial purposes. On the Kurukshetra battlefield, Arjuna fought to assist Krishna in establishing dharma by enthroning the virtuous Yudhishthira. And after Krishna departed from the world, Arjuna found shelter in remembering Krishna’s activities (Srimad-Bhagavatam 01.15). That divine shelter beckons us all.
One-sentence summary:
Krishna descends not just to establish dharma at a particular time and place, but also to inspire prema at all times and places.
Think it over:
- What are the external & internal purposes for Krishna’s descent?
- What are the contextual & perennial purposes for Krishna’s descent?
- How does Arjuna’s life demonstrate the fulfillment of Krishna’s contextual and perennial purposes?
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04.09: One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.
To know more about this verse, please click on the image
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