त्वमक्षरं परमं वेदितव्यं
त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम् |
त्वमव्यय: शाश्वतधर्मगोप्ता
सनातनस्त्वं पुरुषो मतो मे || 18||
tvam akṣharaṁ paramaṁ veditavyaṁ
tvam asya viśhvasya paraṁ nidhānam
tvam avyayaḥ śhāśhvata-dharma-goptā
sanātanas tvaṁ puruṣho mato me
tvam—you; akṣharam—the imperishable; paramam—the supreme being; veditavyam—worthy of being known; tvam—you; asya—of this; viśhwasya—of the creation; param—supreme; nidhānam—support; tvam—you; avyayaḥ—eternal; śhāśhvata-dharma-goptā—protector of the eternal religion; sanātanaḥ—everlasting; tvam—you; puruṣhaḥ—the Supreme Divine Person; mataḥ me—my opinion
Translation:
Thou art the Imperishable, the Supreme Being to be realized; Thou art the Supreme Support of the universe; Thou art the undying Guardian of the Eternal Dharma; Thou art, in my belief, the Primal Being.
Commentary:
Sasvatadharmagopta: Dharma is eternal. At no time does it perish. Its power may be reduced or corrupted at times, but the Lord sustains it in such periods when Adharma dominates the world. The Lord is Himself the highest Dharma. Nothing can please the Lord more than adherence to Dharma. Men who follow the law of righteousness are the dearest devotees of the Lord.