|| 9.18 ||

गतिर्भर्ता प्रभुः साक्षी निवासः शरणं सुहृत्। प्रभवः प्रलयः स्थानं निधानं बीजमव्ययम्।।

gatir bhartā prabhuḥ sākṣī nivāsaḥ śaraṇaṁ suhṛt prabhavaḥ pralayaḥ sthānaṁ nidhānaṁ bījam avyayam

gatiḥ (the goal) bhartā (the sustainer) prabhuḥ (the lord) sākṣī (the witness) nivāsaḥ (the abode) śaraṇam (the refuge) su-hṛt (the most dear friend) prabhavaḥ (the origin) pralayaḥ (the dissolution) sthānam (the ground/foundation) nidhānam (the resting place) bījam (the seed) avyayam (imperishable)

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.

Kṛṣṇa lists the many roles He plays in our lives. He is the ‘Gatiḥ’ (the Goal toward which we all move), the ‘Bhartā’ (the Sustainer who carries us), and the ‘Prabhuḥ’ (the Master of all events). Most importantly, He is the ‘Sākṣī’, the silent Witness who knows our every secret thought and deed. He is our ‘Nivāsaḥ’ (Home), our ‘Śaraṇaṁ’ (Refuge), and our ‘Su-hṛt’ (dearest well-wishing Friend). He is the start, the end, and the foundation of everything. He is the ‘Avyayam bījam’, the seed that never dries up or fails to produce. He is the ultimate all-in-one support system for the soul. Understanding these roles changes how we view our troubles. If Kṛṣṇa is the Witness and the Friend, we can never be unfairly judged or truly abandoned. If He is the Goal and the Abode, we know exactly where we are going. This verse provides a comprehensive list of reasons to trust and love Him. He is everything we need in every possible capacity.