athāpi kāle sva-janābhiguptaye
bibharṣi sattvaḿ khala-nigrahāya ca
sva-līlayā veda-pathaḿ sanātanaḿ
varṇāśramātmā puruṣaḥ paro bhavān
atha api -- nonetheless; kale -- at the correct time; sva-jana -- of Your devotees; abhiguptaye -- for the protection; bibharshi -- You assume; sattvam -- the mode of goodness; khala -- of the wicked; nigrahaya -- for the punishment; ca -- and; sva -- Your; lilaya -- by the pastimes; veda-patham -- the path of the Vedas; sanatanam -- eternal; varna-asrama -- of the divine system of occupational and spiritual divisions of society; atma -- the Soul; purushah -- the Personality of Godhead; parah -- Supreme; bhavan -- 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 varnasrama social order, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, maintain the eternal path of the Vedas by enjoying Your pleasure pastimes.
This verse describes the Lord's enlightening people in general (jana-sangraha) and His imitation of worldly behavior. Because the Personality of Godhead remains always perfect, the body He manifests when He comes to this world is not touched by material goodness; rather, it is a manifestation of the pure goodness known as visuddha-sattva, the same spiritual substance that constitutes His original form.
