गतिर्भर्ता प्रभुः साक्षी निवासः शरणं सुहृत्। प्रभवः प्रलयः स्थानं निधानं बीजमव्ययम्।।9.18।।
gatiḥ bhartā prabhuḥ sākṣī nivāsaḥ śaraṇaṁ suhṛtḥ prabhavaḥ pralayaḥ sthānaṁ nidhānaṁ bījam avyayam
Translation
I am the Supreme Goal, the Sustainer, the Lord, the Witness, the Abode, the Refuge, the Most Intimate Friend; I am the Origin, the Dissolution, the Place, the Treasure, the Seed, the Imperishable.
Word Meanings
gatiḥ — goal; bhartā — sustainer; prabhuḥ — Lord; sākṣī — witness; nivāsaḥ — abode; śaraṇaṁ — refuge; su-hṛt — most intimate friend; prabhavaḥ — creation; pralayaḥ — dissolution; sthānaṁ — ground; nidhānaṁ — resting place; bījaṁ — seed; avyayam — imperishable.
Understanding the Verse
In this verse Krishna reveals the all‑encompassing nature of the Divine, stating that He is not merely a distant creator but the very essence that permeates every aspect of existence. The term gatiḥ (goal) signifies that the Supreme Self is the ultimate aim of all beings, the point toward which all striving culminates. By adding bhartā (sustainer), the verse emphasizes that the same Divine that is the destination also provides the sustenance necessary for life to continue.
The designation prabhuḥ (Lord) affirms divine sovereignty, while sākṣī (witness) conveys an ever‑present consciousness that observes all actions without attachment. This witnessing aspect reflects the impartial nature of the Divine, who sees the deeds of every soul without being entangled in them. Nivāsaḥ (abode) and śaraṇaṁ (refuge) together illustrate that the Divine is both the permanent home for the soul and the safe haven one can turn to in moments of distress, reinforcing a personal, intimate relationship between the seeker and the Supreme.
The term su‑hṛt (most intimate friend) deepens this relationship, indicating that beyond reverence and surrender, one can experience the Divine as a beloved companion. This friendliness removes the barrier of formality, inviting devotees to approach the Divine with the same affection they would a close confidant.
Krishna then expands the scope to cosmic dimensions. Prabhavaḥ (creation) and pralayaḥ (dissolution) underline that the Divine is both the source from which the universe emanates and the force that eventually draws it back, embracing the full cycle of birth, maintenance, and death. Sthānaṁ (place) and nidhānaṁ (resting place) suggest that the entirety of existence ultimately finds its grounding in the Divine, serving as the ultimate platform upon which all realities rest.
Finally, bījam (seed) and avyayam (imperishable) convey the notion of an eternal, unchanging essence that sows the potential for all life and never perishes. The seed here is not a mere beginning but a timeless principle that continuously generates and sustains creation without ever being exhausted. In sum, this verse encapsulates a profound theological statement: the Divine is the goal, guardian, lord, witness, home, refuge, friend, origin, dissolution, foundation, treasure, seed, and the immutable essence of existence—all within a single, indivisible reality.
