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Chapter 9 · The Most Confidential Knowledge · 34 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Krishna’s natureChapter 9 · The Most Confidential Knowledge
9.179.19

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 9.18

Krishna as shelter, friend and source

Īśvara · God

गतिर्भर्ता प्रभु: साक्षी निवास: शरणं सुहृत् ।

प्रभव: प्रलय: स्थानं निधानं बीजमव्ययम् ॥ १८ ॥

gatir bhartā prabhuḥ sākṣī

nivāsaḥ śaraṇaṁ suhṛt

prabhavaḥ pralayaḥ sthānaṁ

nidhānaṁ bījam avyayam

Translation

I am the goal, the sustainer, the master, the witness, the abode, the refuge and the most dear friend. I am the creation and the annihilation, the basis of everything, the resting place and the eternal seed.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Kṛṣṇa, Our Goal and Shelter

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is the goal, sustainer, master, witness, shelter and dearest friend. He is the source, end and eternal basis of everything.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that everything depends on Kṛṣṇa’s energy. Kṛṣṇa is the ultimate goal and the witness in everyone’s heart.

  3. 3

    Approach Kṛṣṇa directly and take shelter of Him for protection and relief from distress.

Key points from the purport

All the terms mentioned in the translation indicate Krishna to be the eternal cause of all causes

Study translation for all points

Only some important terms are clarified here:

a

‘Gati’ — ‘Ultimate goal is Krishna’, although people do not know it

Many make their destination to different demigods

Thus perform rigid rituals

But all such demigod planets, being creations of Krishna, are simultaneously Krishna and not Krishna – How:

Being manifestation of Krishna’s energy they are Krishna, but

They serve only a step forward for realising Krishna

To approach different energies of Krishna is an indirect approach

Better to have direct approach which saves time and energy

Analogy: Elevator vs staircase

b

‘Sustainer’ — Because everything is resting on Krishna’s energy

c

‘Master’ — Krishna is the Supreme ruler and everything belongs to Him

d

‘Witness’ — He is in everyone’s heart

e

‘Abode’ — Residences, countries or planets on which we live

f

‘Ultimate goal of our shelter’ — Take shelter of Krishna for any distress

g

‘Suhrta’ (Best friend) — Because He is the cause of our generation and Supreme Father

Further reading

Fools Neglect Bhakti: The Divine Don’t

Duratmas – Fools who think Krishna’s form is ordinary are defeated in their endeavours (9.11 – 9.12)

Mahatmas – Those who know that Krishna has a transcendental form take shelter of Him and worship Him (9.13 – 9.14)

Indirect worshippers – All who take shelter of a conception of Supreme and worship it, are ultimately worshipping Krishna, but they worship Him indirectly – These are of 3 types:

Ekatvena – the monist, the lowest, worships himself as one with the Supreme (9.11 – 9.12)

Visvato-mukham – a worshiper of the material, universal form is the best (9.16 – 9.19)

Prthakvena – a demigod worshiper, is situated higher than the ‘ekatvena’ (9.20 – 9.25)

Chapter 9, section III: Fools Neglect Bhakti: The Divine Don’t
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. gatiḥgoal
  2. bhartāsustainer
  3. prabhuḥLord
  4. sākṣīwitness
  5. nivāsaḥabode
  6. śaraṇamrefuge
  7. su-hṛtmost intimate friend
  8. prabhavaḥcreation
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhagavān, vibhūti.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 9.18 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to krishna’s nature?

Practice

Notice something excellent and see it as His opulence.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 9.16Krishna as shelter, friend and sourceBG 9.17Krishna as shelter, friend and sourceBG 11.32Krishna reveals Himself as timeBG 11.51Composure returns in Krishna’s personal presence
Live this todayKṛṣṇa Carries and PreservesA practice from BG 9.22, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
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