Parithranaya – Further reading
Paritraanaaya saadhunaam vinaashaaya cha dushkritaam Dharma-sansthaapana-arthaaya sambhavaami yuge yuge
(chap.4, verse 8)
For the protection of the good and for the destruction of evil forces and to re-establish Righteousness I incarnate from age to age.
God embodies Himself in every age to protect the good, to destroy the evil and to re-establish the principles of righteousness. For example, God came as Narasimha Avataar to protect Prahlada and destroy Hiranyakashipu. He came as Lord Krishna in Dwapara Yuga to destroy Kansa and the Kauravas. He came as Lord Ram in the Treta Yuga to kill Ravana.
Today in the Kali Yuga, He is in our midst as Sai Avataar to educate and reform the world. Baba says, When there is a small local disturbance, a constable is enough to put it down. When the trouble is threatening to develop into sizeable proportions a Sub-inspector is sent. When it grows into a riot, the Superintendent of Police himself has to quell it. But, when, as of now, all mankind is threatened with moral ruin, the Inspector General comes down the Lord with His army of Saintly men and saadhakaas.”
Why does the Lord Himself incarnate?
One may ask, ‘Why should the Lord Himself incarnate? Why should He not set about the task of restoring Dharma through the many minor gods and angels that He has at His command?’
The Mughal Emperor Akbar once posed the same question before the courtiers, for he scoffed at the Hindu idea of the Formless adopting a Form and descending into the world as an Avataar to save Dharma.
Birbal (the celebrated courtier in Akbar’s court, known for his wit and wisdom) asked for a week’s time to answer the question. A few days later, when he was in the boat of the Emperor, sailing across the lake with his family, Birbal threw overboard a doll which had been made to look like the Emperor’s little son. He cried out, “O, the prince has fallen into the water!” Hearing this, immediately Emperor Akbar jumped into the lake to rescue his son.
Birbal then disclosed that it was only a doll that had been thrown into the lake and that the prince was safe. He allayed the anger of Akbar by explaining that he had to enact this drama in order to demonstrate the truth that God takes human form to save Dharma without commissioning some other entity to carry out that task.
Akbar could have ordered any one among the many personnel he had on board to jump in and rescue his son. But his affection was so great and the urgency so acute that the Emperor himself plunged into the lake to save his son from drowning.
The decline in Dharma is so acute a tragedy and the intensity of affection that the Lord has for good men is so great, that He Himself comes to the rescue.