अथापि काले स्वजनाभिगुप्तये बिभर्षि सत्त्वं खलनिग्रहाय च । स्वलीलया वेदपथं सनातनं वर्णाश्रमात्मा पुरुष: परो भवान् ॥ १८ ॥
athāpi kāle sva-janābhiguptaye bibharṣi sattvaṁ khala-nigrahāya ca sva-līlayā veda-pathaṁ sanātanaṁ varṇāśramātmā puruṣaḥ paro bhavān
- atha api
- nonetheless
- kāle
- at the correct time
- sva-jana
- of Your devotees
- abhiguptaye
- for the protection
- bibharṣi
- You assume
- sattvam
- the mode of goodness
- khala
- of the wicked
- nigrahāya
- for the punishment
- ca
- and
- sva
- Your
- līlayā
- by the pastimes
- veda-patham
- the path of the Vedas
- sanātanam
- eternal
- varṇa-āśrama
- of the divine system of occupational and spiritual divisions of society
- ātmā
- the Soul
- puruṣaḥ
- the Personality of Godhead
- paraḥ
- Supreme
- bhavān
- Your good self
Nonetheless, at suitable times You assume the pure mode of goodness to protect Your devotees and punish the wicked. Thus You, the Soul of the varṇāśrama social order, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, maintain the eternal path of the Vedas by enjoying Your pleasure pastimes.