In Bhagavad Gita 11.18, Arjuna declares Krishna to be the imperishable, the supreme object of knowledge, the final refuge of the universe, the eternal guardian of dharma and the eternal Person.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
त्वमक्षरं परमं वेदितव्यं
त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम्
त्वमव्ययः शाश्वतधर्मगोप्ता
सनातनस्त्वं पुरुषो मतो मे ॥ ११-१८ ॥
tvamakṣaraṃ paramaṃ veditavyaṃ
tvamasya viśvasya paraṃ nidhānam
tvamavyayaḥ śāśvatadharmagoptā
sanātanastvaṃ puruṣo mato me
English transliteration tvamaksharam paramam veditavyam
tvamasya vishvasya param nidhaanam
tvamavyayah shaashvatadharmagoptaa
sanaatanastvam purusho mato me ॥ 11.18 ॥
Translation / Meaning
You are the Imperishable, the supreme one to be known. You are the ultimate resting place of this universe. You are the imperishable guardian of eternal dharma. You are, I believe, the eternal Person.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| त्वम् tvam | You |
| अक्षरम् akṣaram | the Imperishable |
| परमम् paramam | supreme |
| वेदितव्यम् veditavyam | to be known |
| त्वम् tvam | You |
| अस्य asya | of this |
| विश्वस्य viśvasya | universe |
| परम् param | ultimate |
| निधानम् nidhānam | resting place |
| त्वम् tvam | You |
| अव्ययः avyayaḥ | imperishable |
| शाश्वतधर्मगोप्ता śāśvatadharmagoptā | guardian of eternal dharma śāśvata (eternal) + dharma (dharma) + goptā (guardian) |
| सनातनः sanātanaḥ | eternal |
| त्वम् tvam | You |
| पुरुषः puruṣaḥ | Person |
| मतः mataḥ | believed |
| मे me | by me |
Word-wise Chanting
- tva–ma–kṣa–raṃ pa–ra–maṃ ve–di–tav–yaṃ 11 syllables tva-ma-ksha-ram pa-ra-mam ve-di-tav-yam
- tva–mas–ya viś–vas–ya pa–raṃ ni–dhā–nam | 11 syllables tva-mas-ya vish-vas-ya pa-ram ni-dhaa-nam
- tva–mav–ya–yaḥ śāś–va–ta–dhar–ma–gop–tā 11 syllables tva-mav-ya-yah shaash-va-ta-dhar-ma-gop-taa
- sa–nā–ta–nas–tvaṃ pu–ru–ṣo ma–to me || 11-18 11 syllables sa-naa-ta-nas-tvam pu-ru-sho ma-to me
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 11 Verse 18
Context
Arjuna’s description turns to praise (11.15–11.31).
Meaning
Seeing the vision, Arjuna understands. Krishna is the akṣara, the Imperishable; the paramaṃ veditavyam, the supreme truth to be known; the para nidhāna, the final resting place of the universe; the guardian of śāśvata dharma, eternal righteousness; and the sanātana puruṣa, the eternal Person.
Arjuna’s vision confirms what he was taught. Teaching and experience meet.
In Practice
Reflect on the Divine as the guardian of righteousness, and resolve to act righteously today.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 11: Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga (The Vision of the Universal Form). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.