What were the principles of dharma that Krishna descended to establish?

What were the principles of dharma that Krishna descended to establish? How were they lost? How were they restored after the Kurukshetra war?
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What Were the Principles of Dharma That Krishna Descended to Establish?

Question: What were the principles of dharma that the Bhagavad Gita refers to? How were they lost, and how were they restored through the Kurukshetra war? Let’s first examine this in the immediate textual context of the Gita, and then in the broader historical context.

At the beginning of the fourth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita (4.1), Krishna says:

“I gave this knowledge to the sun god Vivasvan, who passed it on to Manu, and then to Ikshvaku.”

This refers to the divine knowledge being passed down through a disciplic succession. However, Krishna adds that this succession was broken, and therefore the knowledge was lost. He now re-establishes it by imparting it to Arjuna.

When Arjuna questions how Krishna could have given this knowledge in the distant past, Krishna responds by revealing that He appears repeatedly throughout history to establish dharma. He says (4.7–8):

“Whenever there is a decline in dharma and a rise in adharma, I descend. I appear to protect the righteous, annihilate the wicked, and re-establish dharma.”

To understand what Krishna means by “dharma” in this context, we can look back to Chapter 3 of the Gita. There, Krishna emphasizes the importance of doing one’s own dharma—performing one’s prescribed duties—rather than imitating the duties of others. Thus, when Krishna speaks of establishing dharma (dharma-samsthāpanārthāya), He refers to restoring a social order in which everyone acts according to their rightful roles.

Dharma as Social and Spiritual Order

Dharma, in this context, is both a social and a spiritual principle. Socially, it refers to the proper functioning of society—where rulers, warriors, priests, and other members of society perform their respective duties responsibly. Spiritually, it refers to creating a societal structure that fosters devotion to the Divine and spiritual elevation.

This is seen in earlier avatars as well. For example, Lord Rama descended to defeat Ravana, a demon king who disrupted the moral and spiritual order. Rama protected sages and maintained conditions under which they could perform their spiritual duties peacefully.

Similarly, in the Mahabharata, the social and spiritual order was being disturbed by figures like Duryodhana, who abused his power, defied dharma, and committed grievous wrongs in public without accountability. Though a human, Duryodhana acted with asuric pravṛtti—a demoniac mentality—opposing spirituality and obstructing others from following the path of righteousness.

Restoration Through the Kurukshetra War

Krishna’s aim was to establish a just socio-political order in which spiritual values could thrive. This required disempowering those who opposed such values—like Duryodhana—and empowering those who upheld them—like Yudhishthira. Krishna wanted Arjuna to be His instrument in this divine mission.

This is why Krishna urged Arjuna to fight: not out of personal desire or vengeance, but as a duty aligned with a higher purpose. Arjuna, as a Kshatriya, was responsible for upholding justice and protecting the righteous. By engaging in the war and helping to enthrone Yudhishthira, Arjuna contributed to the reestablishment of dharma.

The Kurukshetra war, therefore, was not merely a political struggle; it was a means to restore divine order by removing anti-spiritual forces and establishing righteous leadership.

The Loss of Dharma and Krishna’s Response

When Krishna speaks of dharma being lost, He does not mean that scriptural knowledge was entirely forgotten. Rather, He refers to the disintegration of the living tradition—the practical application of that knowledge in the governance and structure of society. The knowledge of dharma, passed down through generations, was meant to guide rulers and citizens alike in both worldly and spiritual matters. When this chain was broken, dharma declined.

Thus, Krishna descended to not only give intellectual knowledge but also implemented knowledge—knowledge that would inform social and political institutions. He taught Arjuna how to act according to his dharma in the midst of crisis and tasked him with helping to restore a righteous order.

Conclusion

To summarize, the dharma Krishna came to establish in the Bhagavad Gita refers to a social order that supports spiritual advancement. This includes:

• Each person performing their appropriate duties (svadharma),
• Leaders and rulers upholding justice and protecting the righteous,
• The promotion of spiritual growth through devotion and right action,
• The neutralization of destructive, self-centered forces—both external (like Duryodhana) and internal (like lust and anger).

The Kurukshetra war was the necessary means to remove the forces that opposed this dharma and to reestablish a righteous order under virtuous leadership, enabling society to progress spiritually.