“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, and a predominant rise of irreligion–at that time I descend Myself. In order to deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I advent Myself millennium after millennium. One who knows this transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode.” (Bg.4.7-9)

“I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this perfectly engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.” (Bg.10.8)

These verses describe the importance of understanding the divine nature of God. God is always the source of all spiritual and material worlds and, therefore, never comes under control of His own creation. Thus, He can enter and exit it at will. And He does so to protect dharma and the spiritual path for the benefit of the masses. However, if He has His representatives or pure devotees present to protect and preserve His instructions and the path of dharma, then that is just as good as His personal presence. Society can still take advantage of it, which is essential.

This is why Lord Krishna comes to deliver the pious. But He also comes to annihilate the miscreants. So this also means that there may be times when drastic measures must be taken to protect the dharma if it is threatened by others who want to damage or alter it, or make it extinct. So Krishna’s representatives must also be able to stand up for what is right and do what is necessary if there are those who want to destroy the dharma.

As Sri Krishna explains, by understanding His divine nature and the reasons for His appearance in this world, we do not take birth in this material creation again. Such wise persons, knowing that the Lord is the origination of everything, certainly engage in the devotional service to the Lord with all their hearts.