In Bhagavad Gita 9.18, Krishna says he is the goal, supporter, lord, witness, abode, refuge and friend, the origin and dissolution, the foundation, the treasure-house and the imperishable seed.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
गतिर्भर्ता प्रभुः साक्षी
निवासः शरणं सुहृत्
प्रभवः प्रलयः स्थानं
निधानं बीजमव्ययम् ॥ ९-१८ ॥
gatirbhartā prabhuḥ sākṣī
nivāsaḥ śaraṇaṃ suhṛt
prabhavaḥ pralayaḥ sthānaṃ
nidhānaṃ bījamavyayam
English transliteration gatirbhartaa prabhuh saakshee
nivaasah sharanam suhrit
prabhavah pralayah sthaanam
nidhaanam beejamavyayam ॥ 9.18 ॥
Translation / Meaning
I am the goal, the supporter, the Lord, the witness, the abode, the refuge and the friend; the origin, the dissolution, the foundation, the treasure-house and the imperishable seed.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| गतिः gatiḥ | the goal |
| भर्ता bhartā | the supporter |
| प्रभुः prabhuḥ | the Lord |
| साक्षी sākṣī | the witness |
| निवासः nivāsaḥ | the abode |
| शरणम् śaraṇam | the refuge |
| सुहृत् suhṛt | the friend |
| प्रभवः prabhavaḥ | the origin |
| प्रलयः pralayaḥ | the dissolution |
| स्थानम् sthānam | the foundation |
| निधानम् nidhānam | the treasure-house |
| बीजम् bījam | the seed |
| अव्ययम् avyayam | imperishable |
Word-wise Chanting
- ga–tir–bhar–tā pra–bhuḥ sā–kṣī 8 syllables ga-tir-bhar-taa pra-bhuh saa-kshee
- ni–vā–saḥ śa–ra–ṇaṃ su–hṛt | 8 syllables ni-vaa-sah sha-ra-nam su-hrit
- pra–bha–vaḥ pra–la–yaḥ sthā–naṃ 8 syllables pra-bha-vah pra-la-yah sthaa-nam
- ni–dhā–naṃ bī–ja–mav–ya–yam || 9-18 8 syllables ni-dhaa-nam bee-ja-mav-ya-yam
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 9 Verse 18
Context
Krishna continues to reveal himself in all things (9.16–9.19).
Meaning
This verse is a litany of relationships. The Divine is gati, the destination; bhartā, the one who sustains; prabhu, master; sākṣī, witness; nivāsa, home; śaraṇa, refuge; and suhṛt, the well-wishing friend. It is the beginning and end, the ground, the storehouse of all things and the seed that never perishes.
Each word can be a doorway to the Divine. In times of fear, we can turn to it as refuge; in loneliness, as friend; in confusion, as goal. The Divine meets every human need.
In Practice
Choose the word from this verse that you most need today, refuge, friend or goal, and remember the Divine in that form.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 9: Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga (The Royal Knowledge and Royal Secret). 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.