Chapter IV · Śloka 8
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् ।
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे ॥
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे ॥
paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṃ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām |
dharma-saṃsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge ||
dharma-saṃsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge ||
For the protection of the good, for the destruction of evil-doers, for the firm establishment of righteousness, I come into being age after age.
Three purposes—protection, destruction, and re-establishment—comprise the complete mission of every avatāra. The phrase yuge yuge underscores that this is a recurring cosmic necessity, not a singular historical event.