Chapter 15 · Purushottama Yoga - The Yoga of the Supreme PersonKrishna
Verse 1
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 15, श्लोक 1
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
श्रीभगवानुवाच —
ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम्।
छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित्॥१॥
Transliteration
Shri Bhagavan Uvacha —
Urdhva-Mulam Adhah-Shakham-Ashvattham Prahur-Avyayam.
Chhandamsi Yasya Parnani Yas-Tam Veda Sa Veda-Vit.
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
ऊर्ध्वमूलम्urdhva-mulamwith roots above
अधःशाखम्adhah-shakhamwith branches below
अश्वत्थम्ashvatthamthe sacred fig tree (Peepal)
प्राहुःprahuhthey speak of
अव्ययम्avyayamimperishable
छन्दांसिchhandamsithe Vedic hymns
यस्यyasyawhose
पर्णानिparnanileaves
यः तम् वेदyah tam vedawho knows it
सः वेदवित्sah veda-vithe is the knower of the Vedas
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
श्रीभगवान ने कहा — जिसकी जड़ें ऊपर हैं और शाखाएँ नीचे हैं, ऐसे अविनाशी अश्वत्थ वृक्ष को कहते हैं। वेदमन्त्र इसके पत्ते हैं। जो इसे जानता है, वही वेदवेत्ता है।
English Translation
The Blessed Lord said — They speak of an imperishable Ashvattha tree with its roots above and branches below, whose leaves are the Vedic hymns. He who knows it is the knower of the Vedas.
Commentary (टीका)
Krishna opens with the famous metaphor of the inverted cosmic tree, found in the Katha Upanishad. The roots above represent Brahman, the ultimate source, while the branches below represent the manifest world. The Vedic hymns are compared to leaves that sustain this tree through ritual activity. True knowledge of the Vedas means understanding this entire cosmic structure, not mere bookish learning.