BG 4.7
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत
Whenever there is decline of dharma, O Bharata, I manifest myself.
Chapter 4 of 18 · 42 verses · Jnana Yoga + Karma Sannyasa
ज्ञानकर्मसन्न्यासयोग
The Yoga of Knowledge & Renunciation of Action
Jñāna-karma-sannyāsa-yoga
Theme: Divine descent, sacrifice, wisdom
Speaker: Krishna
Chapter summary
Krishna reveals he has taught this yoga across many ages and descends (avatara) whenever dharma declines (4.7-8 — paritranaya sadhunam). Different types of yajna are catalogued. Knowledge is the supreme purifier: jnanagni reduces all karma to ashes.
Key verses
BG 4.8
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्
To protect the virtuous, to destroy the wicked, to re-establish dharma — I take birth age after age.
BG 4.38
न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते
Nothing in this world is as purifying as knowledge.
Central takeaway
Knowledge converted into action becomes the highest sacrifice.
Jump to chapter
1. Arjuna's Despair2. The Yoga of Knowledge3. The Yoga of Action4. The Yoga of Knowledge & Renunciation of Action5. The Yoga of Renunciation of Action6. The Yoga of Self-Restraint / Meditation7. The Yoga of Knowledge & Realization8. The Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman9. The Royal Knowledge, The Royal Secret10. The Yoga of Divine Manifestations11. The Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form12. The Yoga of Devotion13. The Yoga of the Field and the Knower of the Field14. The Yoga of the Three Gunas15. The Yoga of the Supreme Person16. The Yoga of the Divine & Demoniac Natures17. The Yoga of the Threefold Faith18. The Yoga of Liberation by Renunciation