Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9, Verse 18

Chapter 9 – Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

गतिर्भर्ता प्रभुः साक्षी निवासः शरणं सुहृत् ।
प्रभवः प्रलयः स्थानं निधानं बीजमव्ययम् ॥

Transliteration

gatirbhartā prabhuḥ sākṣī nivāsaḥ śaraṇaṃ suhṛt .
prabhavaḥ pralayaḥ sthānaṃ nidhānaṃ bījamavyayam ॥

Meaning

I am the goal, the supporter, the Lord, the witness, the abode, the refuge and the friend; I am the origin and the dissolution, the ground, the treasure-house and the imperishable seed.

Word meanings

गतिः – the goal
भर्ता – the supporter, nourisher
प्रभुः – the Lord, master
साक्षी – the witness
निवासः – the abode
शरणम् – the refuge
सुहृत् – the selfless friend
प्रभवः – the origin
प्रलयः – the dissolution
स्थानम् – the ground, resting place
निधानम् – the treasure-house
बीजम् – the seed
अव्ययम् – imperishable

Anvaya (word order)

(अहं) गतिः, भर्ता, प्रभुः, साक्षी, निवासः, शरणं, सुहृत्, प्रभवः, प्रलयः, स्थानं, निधानम्, अव्ययं बीजम् (च अस्मि) ।

Explanation

This verse is a garland of twelve names, each revealing a relationship between the Lord and the soul. Gati: He is the final destination; every journey ends in Him. Bharta: He is the nourisher, providing food, water and means of life to every creature. Prabhu: He is the master and ruler. Sakshi: He witnesses every thought and act; nothing is hidden from Him.

Nivasa: He is the dwelling in which all creation lives. Sharanam: He is the refuge, the protector of those in distress; Shankara explains that a refuge is one who removes the suffering of those who come for shelter. Suhrit: He is the friend who does good without any self-interest. Worldly friends often befriend us with some expectation, but the Lord wants nothing in return. At the close of chapter 5 He called Himself the friend of all beings.

Prabhava and pralaya: He is the place from which creation arises and into which it dissolves. Sthanam: He is the ground of its continuance. Nidhanam: the treasure-house, where beings and their karmic seeds are kept safe through dissolution, like wealth in a vault. Bijam avyayam: the imperishable seed. An ordinary seed perishes as it becomes a tree, but from this seed universes spring endlessly while it remains undiminished.

Reading this verse slowly, the devotee realises that every need of life, a goal, nourishment, protection, friendship, shelter, is fulfilled in the Lord. One who has found Him needs nothing else.

Context

In verse 17 Krishna described Himself as the parent of the world and as the Vedas. Here He describes Himself as the soul’s goal, supporter, refuge and friend. In the next verse He speaks of Himself as the powers of nature: heat, rain, immortality and death.

Life lesson

We wander through the world searching for purpose, security, shelter and a true friend; all of these are found in one place, in God. Treat Him as your selfless friend and share your joys and sorrows with Him.

Key terms

Gati: the supreme goal
Sharana: refuge, protector who removes distress
Suhrit: friend who does good without self-interest
Nidhana: treasure-house, where all rests in dissolution
Avyaya bija: the imperishable seed