Bhagavad Gita 15.2

Purushottama Yoga · English Translation

Below and above spread its branches, nourished by the Gunas; sense-objects are its buds; and below, in the world of men, stretch forth the roots, originating action.

Sanskrit

अधश्चोर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखा गुणप्रवृद्धा विषयप्रवालाः | अधश्च मूलान्यनुसन्ततानि कर्मानुबन्धीनि मनुष्यलोके ||१५-२||

Transliteration

adhaścordhvaṃ prasṛtāstasya śākhā guṇapravṛddhā viṣayapravālāḥ . adhaśca mūlānyanusantatāni karmānubandhīni manuṣyaloke ||15-2||

What Does This Verse Mean?

In this verse, Lord Krishna describes the material world as a giant inverted banyan tree with its roots growing upward into the spiritual realm and branches spreading downward toward earthly existence. The 'buds' of this tree are our sense objects like food, comfort, and fame, which feed on the three modes of nature (goodness, passion, and ignorance) to keep us trapped in cycles of action and reaction. Krishna teaches that until we understand how these roots bind us through karma, we remain entangled in endless births and deaths within this world.

The Teaching Behind It

This verse is a cornerstone of Sankhya and Vedanta philosophy within the Gita, specifically illustrating the concept of Maya (illusion) and the nature of material existence as an inverted tree. It develops the teaching that true liberation requires cutting off one's attachment to sense objects and karma through Jnana Yoga (the path of knowledge). By realizing the transient nature of this 'tree,' a seeker can turn their consciousness upward toward the eternal Supreme.

Word by Word

अधः below, च and, ऊर्ध्वम् above, प्रसृताः spread, तस्य its, शाखाः branches, गुणप्रवृद्धाः nourished by the Gunas, विषयप्रवालाः senseobjects (are) its buds, अधः below, च and, मूलानि the roots, अनुसन्ततानि are stretched forth, कर्मानुबन्धीनि originating action, मनुष्यलोके in the world of men

Classical Commentary

The countless objects, large and small, which life needs are all products of the five elements through the activity of the alities. This tree of Samsara is nourished by the three alities of Nature. The senseobjects are its buds and the roots which grow downwards are the bonds of Karma for those who lead a life of passion and attachment in this world, who are under the sway of likes and dislikes. The sprouts of this marvellous tree are the charming objects of the senses with their characteristics of sound, touch, colour, taste and smell. The roots, the Karmic tendencies from the past lives, grow downwards to generate the bonds of Karma in the world of men. These roots strengthen the bondage by further actions. The primal root is ignorance from which arises the eightfold Nature -- the five elements, mind, intellect and egoism. From the stem of the tree spring four branches called Svedaja? Andaja?,Jarayuja and Udbhijja. Eightyfour lakhs (eight million and four hundred thousand) of species came into being. One branch shoots straight upwards. This is the branch of Dharma which yields the fruit of enjoyment in heaven. Another branch is the branch of dispassion which yields the fruit of Selfrealisation. The sun, the planets, the manes and the sages have also come out of this wonderful tree. Above them are the branches of the worlds of Indra and the gods. Still higher are those of the sages and the men of austerities and penance. Still higher is the Satyaloka where Hiranyagarbha dwells. From man down to the immovable objects below and from him up to the realm of the Creator above, whatever regions are attained in accordance with the nature of knowledge or action, they are the ramifying branches of the tree of Samsara. They are nurtured and fattened by the three Gunas which form their material base. The senseobjects such as sound, touch, colour, taste and smell represent the buds that sprout from the branches of the physical bodies which are the products of actions. The highest root of this wondeful tree is Brahman. The secondary roots are the latent impressions (Samskaras) of likes and dislikes, which spread in this world of men and impel them to perform virtuus and vicious actions and bind them fast to actions. Now listen to the way by which this tree can be cut off. Only he who thus cuts his bondage to this tree of Samsara can be happy even in this world. He has the highest wisdom because he stands as a spectator of this tree and knows it as it is, without being tied to it.

Where This Happens

This verse appears in Chapter 15 of the Bhagavad Gita during a pivotal moment on the battlefield of Kurukshetra where Lord Krishna is speaking to Arjuna. Just before this, Krishna has been explaining that the material world is temporary and illusory, preparing Arjuna for the concept of detachment from worldly results. Arjuna, having just received instruction on his duty as a warrior but still feeling overwhelmed by grief, needs a clear metaphor to understand why he must fight without attachment.

Living It Out Today

Consider a professional facing burnout after years of chasing promotions and salary increases; this verse explains that the 'roots' are their own unexamined desires for status that keep pulling them back into stressful cycles. By recognizing these cravings as mere buds on an inverted tree, they can consciously choose to stop feeding those specific roots by detaching from the outcome of their work. This shift in perspective allows them to perform their duties with excellence while finding inner peace regardless of external validation.

Explained for Children

Imagine a magical tree where the roots grow up into the sky instead of down into the ground! This is what our world looks like to wise teachers. The branches reach out with sweet fruits that represent toys, games, and treats we see around us. If we keep grabbing those treats without thinking about them, more roots grow deep underground in our hearts, tying us to this place forever.

Daily Reflection

You often feel pulled in different directions by your environment, much like the banyan tree's branches stretching outward toward sense objects. Remember that while this world appears solid and permanent, it is actually nourished by temporary impulses (the Gunas) rather than divine stability. True peace comes not from pruning the external world to suit you, but from turning inward to find the root of your existence in the Supreme.

A Practice for Today

Visualize your current anxieties as roots digging deep into the soil of desire, binding you to a cycle of reaction and reward. As you breathe inwardly, gently imagine cutting these entangled roots with the sword of detachment, allowing them to loosen their grip on your heart.

Key Teachings

The Illusion of Permanence
This verse reveals that the material universe is a shadowy reflection rather than an ultimate reality. Its branches and roots appear substantial to our senses, yet they are merely transient manifestations of the three modes of nature.
The Cycle of Karmic Rooting
Our actions (karma) create deep anchors in the lower world that bind us to repeated birth and death. Every attachment to sense-objects acts as a seed, causing new roots to grow that keep us trapped in the cycle.
The Path of Detached Awareness
To find liberation, one must realize that this tree is an inverted reflection and seek its true source. By cultivating detachment from sense-objects, we sever the binding roots while still engaging with life's duties.

Themes

Material IllusionDetachmentKarma and ActionThe Soul vs BodySense ControlSpiritual Liberation

Related Verses

2.47 3.30 4.18 6.5 18.66

Read This Next

2.47 — Immediately follows up on how to act without being bound by the fruits of action in this world.
3.30 — Reinforces the method of surrendering all actions to Krishna as a way to transcend material entanglement.
12.15 — Describes the qualities of one who has successfully cut through these attachments and is dear to the Divine.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'inverted banyan tree' symbolize in this verse?

It symbolizes the material world where our spiritual roots are actually oriented toward the divine, but we perceive them as growing downward into physical existence. The inversion represents how living beings mistake temporary sense pleasures for true fulfillment, causing their consciousness to be trapped below rather than elevated.

What is the solution to this 'inverted' existence?

The Gita teaches that one must use a weapon of detachment (non-attachment) to cut down this tree and then strive for liberation by turning consciousness upward toward the Supreme. This requires shifting focus from temporary sense objects to eternal spiritual reality.

In Other Languages: Bhagavad Gita 15.2 →