Whenever and wherever there is a decline in dharma, oh descendant of Bharata, and a rise of adharma, then I manifest myself.

The classic verse of divine incarnation. Yadā yadā — whenever — indicates recurrence, not a single time.

Glāniḥ — decline, fatigue — of dharma — cosmic order, justice, duty — and abhyutthānam — rising — of adharma — disorder — activate divine response. Sṛjāmi — I emit, manifest — describes not creation but revelation of the always-present. The Lord is always here; only human perception requires renewal.