Verse 15.2 : Purusottama Yoga "The Supreme Person"
Verse 2 of 20
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The Translation
“Its branches extend downward and upward, nourished by the modes (Gunas), with sense objects as its shoots. Downward, its roots also stretch, binding human beings to action in the world.”
Commentary & Insights
Krishna extends the banyan tree metaphor, describing how its branches are nourished by the Gunas and how its roots stretch down to bind the human soul to action.
Practical Application
1
Identify one compulsive habit or desire today. Trace its root in your mind: what sensory trigger (*viṣaya*) is feeding it? Choose to prune it.
Reflections & Notes
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Self-Reflection Prompts
- How do the 'sense objects as shoots' capture the way small temptations grow into large branches of habit?
- What are the 'auxiliary roots' (unseen motivations) that drive your daily actions?
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15.2
अधश्चोर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखा
गुणप्रवृद्धा विषयप्रवालाः
Shankara notes that the primary root of the tree is Brahman, but the secondary roots are the desires and attachment-aversion pairs that sprout in the human world. These secondary roots force individuals to engage in actions that perpetuate rebirth.