गतिर्भर्ता प्रभुः साक्षी निवासः शरणं सुहृत्।
प्रभवः प्रलयः स्थानं निधानं बीजमव्ययम्।।9.18।।
9.18 (I am) the fruit of actions, the nourisher, the Lord, witness, abode, refuge, friend, origin, end, foundation, store and the imperishable seed.
9.18 I am the goal, the supporter, the Lord, the witness, the abode, the shelter, the friend, the origin, the dissolution, the foundation, the treasure-house and the seed which is imperishable.
9.18. [I am] the method, the nourisher, the lord, the witness, the abode, the refuge, the good-hearted (friend), the origin, the dissolution, the sustenance, the repository and the imperishable seed [of the world].
9.18 गतिः the goal? भर्ता the supporter? प्रभुः the Lord? साक्षी the witness? निवासः the abode? शरणम् the shelter? सुहृत् the friend? प्रभवः the origin? प्रलयः the dissolution? स्थानम् the foundation? निधानम् the treasurehouse? बीजम् the seed? अव्ययम् imperishable.Commentary I am the goal? the fruit of action. He who nourishes and supports is the huand. I am the witness of the good and evil actions done by the Jivas (individuals). I am the abode wherein all living beings dwell. I am the shelter or refuge for the distressed. I relieve the sufferings of those who take shelter under Me. I am the friend? i.e.? I do good without expecting any return. I am the source of this universe. In Me the whole world is dissolved. I am the mainstay or the foundation of this world. I am the treasurehouse which living beings shall enjoy in the future. I am the imperishable see? i.e.? the cause of the origin of all beings. Therefore? take shelter under My feet.
9.18 (I am) the gatih, fruit of actions; the bharta, nourisher; [The giver of the fruits of actions.] the prabhuh, Lord; the saksi, witness of all tha is done or not done by creatures; the nivasah, abode, where creatures live; the saranam, refuge, remover of sufferings of the afflicted who take shelter; the suhrt, friend, one who does a good turn without thought of reward; the prabhavah, origin of the world; the pralayah, end, the place into which the world merges. So also, (I am) the sthanam, foundation on which the world rests; the nidhanam, store, which is for future enjoyment of creatures; and the avyayam, imperishable; bijam, seed, the cause of growth of all things which germinate. The seed is imperishable because it continues so long as the world lasts. Indeed, nothing springs up without a seed. And since creation is noticed to be continuous, it is understood that the continuity of the seed never ends. Further,
9.18 See Comment under 9.19
9.18 Gaith means that which is reached. The meaning is that it is the place to be reached from everywhere. The supporter is one who props. The ruler is one who rules. The witness is one who sees directly. The abode is that where one dwells in as in a house etc. The refuge is the intelligent being wh has to be sought, as he leads one to the attainment of desirable things and avoidance of evils. A friend is one who wishes well. The base is that place in which origin and dissolution takes place. I alone am that Nidhana, that which is preserved. What comes into being and is dissolved is Myself. The imperishable seed is that exhaustless cause everywhere. I alone am that.
Please see text 19 for Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur’s combined commentary to texts 18 and 19.
Explaining further Lord Krishna reveals that He is that which is attained as the ultimate goal of all existence. He is the sustainer, the nourisher, the maintainer and the controller. As paramatma the Supreme Soul within all living entities He is the witness and observer of all actions good and evil. He is the abode and resting place as He encompasses everything, everywhere. He is the refuge, the protector. He is the dear friend who always does what is beneficial. Lord Krishna is the basis and source of that which pre-eminently comes into existence known as all creation and He is also basis and destination of that which inevitably meets it end known as dissolution. He is the support of all by which they are able to exist. He is the repository by which they may remain latent and He is root seed in all things by which they are eternal for His spiritual seedis not destructible like seeds of rice and grains.
Since Lord Krishna is the ultimate of all He is vedyam the goal to know and attained. This is also confirmed in the Vasistha section of the Sama Veda. Asked why is Lord Krishna declared to be the ultimate. It is because the light emanating from His transcendental body is the brahman or spiritual substratum pervading all existence and knowledge of the brahman is the goal. This is realised by those who have neutralised their karma freeing themselves from reactions to previous actions and who have achieved moksa or liberation from material existence. The Supreme Lord is the only refuge for those who have achieved moksa and for those still helplessly caught in samsara or the endless cycle of birth and death. At the time of universal dissolution the entire creation becomes dissolved within Him, therefore He is the resting place. The Rig Veda states: Having pure vision the entire creation can be seen being manifested within the Supreme Lord by His external sakti known as Maya the deluding feminine energy.
Lord Krishna states that He embodies the following atributes in this verse: 1) gatih the ultimate goal of all existence. 2) bharta the support like a husband, the sustainer as gravitation sustains. 3) prabhuh the master, the sovereign, the ruler. 4) saksat the witness, the monitor of all thoughts and actions. 5) nivasah the abode where all things dwell. 6) saranam the refuge where all spiritual beings may resort to for guidance. 7) suhrt the dear most friend and well wisher. 8) prabhava pralaya sthanam the basis of creation and dissolution wherever it occurs. 9) nidhanam that from whence all things arise from and all things return to. 10) avyayam bijam the imperishable seed of all, the inextinguishable cause of everything.
Lord Krishna states that He embodies the following atributes in this verse: 1) gatih the ultimate goal of all existence. 2) bharta the support like a husband, the sustainer as gravitation sustains. 3) prabhuh the master, the sovereign, the ruler. 4) saksat the witness, the monitor of all thoughts and actions. 5) nivasah the abode where all things dwell. 6) saranam the refuge where all spiritual beings may resort to for guidance. 7) suhrt the dear most friend and well wisher. 8) prabhava pralaya sthanam the basis of creation and dissolution wherever it occurs. 9) nidhanam that from whence all things arise from and all things return to. 10) avyayam bijam the imperishable seed of all, the inextinguishable cause of everything.
Gatirbhartaa prabhuh saakshee nivaasah sharanam suhrit; Prabhavah pralayah sthaanam nidhaanam beejamavyayam.
gatiḥ—the Supreme Goal; bhartā—Sustainer; prabhuḥ—Master; sākṣhī—Witness; nivāsaḥ—Abode; śharaṇam—Shelter; su-hṛit—Friend; prabhavaḥ—the Origin; pralayaḥ—Dissolution; sthānam—Store House; nidhānam—Resting Place; bījam—Seed; avyayam—Imperishable
