Verse 15.1 : Purusottama Yoga "The Supreme Person"
Verse 1 of 20
“
The Translation
“The Supreme Lord said: They speak of an eternal Ashvattha tree with its roots above and branches below, whose leaves are the Vedic hymns. One who knows this tree is a knower of the Vedas.”
Commentary & Insights
At the beginning of Chapter 15 (Purūṣottama Yoga), Krishna introduces the powerful Vedic metaphor of the inverted Ashvattha tree (banyan tree) to represent the complex structure of material existence (Samsara).
Practical Application
1
When caught in daily details today, visualize your life as a branch on a vast cosmic tree, keeping you connected to the larger source.
Reflections & Notes
Saved to browser
Self-Reflection Prompts
- Why is the tree of material existence described as having its roots above? What does this say about the origin of the physical world?
- If ritualistic scriptures are just the 'leaves' of this tree, what does that imply about the ultimate goal of spiritual seeking?
Have you finished this lesson?
Mark this verse as studied to track your progress and see your learning journey on the dashboard.
15.1
श्रीभगवानुवाच
Shankara explains that Samsara is called 'avyaya' because it is a beginningless flow, like a river that keeps running. Its root is Brahman, situated in the highest status. The leaves are the Vedas because they protect and sustain the tree through instructions on karma and its results.