BHAGAVAD-GITA 15:2

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 15:2

 

adhas cordhvam prasrtas tasya sakha

guna-pravrddha visaya-pravalah

adhas ca mulany anusantatani

karmanubandhini manusya-loke

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

adhah--downward; ca--and; urdhvam--upward; prasrtah--extended;

tasya--its; sakhah--branches; guna--by the modes of material nature;

pravrddhah--developed; visaya--sense objects; pravalah--twigs;

adhah--downward; ca--and; mulani--roots; anusantatani--extended;

karma--to work; anubandhini--bound; manusya-loke--in the world of

human society.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The branches of this tree extend downward and upward, nourished by the

three modes of material nature. The twigs are the objects of the

senses. This tree also has roots going down, and these are bound to

the fruitive actions of human society.

 

PURPORT

 

The description of the banyan tree is further explained here. Its

branches spread in all directions. In the lower parts, there are

variegated manifestations of living entities--human beings, animals,

horses, cows, dogs, cats, etc. These are situated on the lower parts

of the branches, whereas on the upper parts are higher forms of living

entities: the demigods, Gandharvas and many other higher species of

life. As a tree is nourished by water, so this tree is nourished by

the three modes of material nature. Sometimes we find that a tract of

land is barren for want of sufficient water, and sometimes a tract is

very green; similarly, where particular modes of material nature are

proportionately greater in quantity, the different species of life are

manifested accordingly.

 

The twigs of the tree are considered to be the sense objects. By

development of the different modes of nature we develop different

senses, and by the senses we enjoy different varieties of sense

objects. The tips of the branches are the senses--the ears, nose,

eyes, etc.--which are attached to the enjoyment of different sense

objects. The twigs are sound, form, touch, and so on--the sense

objects. The subsidiary roots are attachments and aversions, which are

byproducts of different varieties of suffering and sense enjoyment.

The tendencies toward piety and impiety are considered to develop from

these secondary roots, which spread in all directions. The real root

is from Brahmaloka, and the other roots are in the human planetary

systems. After one enjoys the results of virtuous activities in the

upper planetary systems, he comes down to this earth and renews his

karma, or fruitive activities for promotion. This planet of human

beings is considered the field of activities.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.