BHAGAVAD-GITA 15:3-4

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 15:3-4

 

na rupam asyeha tathopalabhyate

nanto na cadir na ca sampratistha

asvattham enam su-virudha-mulam

asanga-sastrena drdhena chittva

 

tatah padam tat parimargitavyam

yasmin gata na nivartanti bhuyah

tam eva cadyam purusam prapadye

yatah pravrttih prasrta purani

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

na--not; rupam--the form; asya--of this tree; iha--in this world;

tatha--also; upalabhyate--can be perceived; na--never; antah--end;

na--never; ca--also; adih--beginning; na--never; ca--also;

sampratistha--the foundation; asvattham--banyan tree; enam--this;

su-virudha--strongly; mulam--rooted; asanga-sastrena--by the weapon of

detachment; drdhena--strong; chittva--cutting; tatah--thereafter;

padam--situation; tat--that; parimargitavyam--has to be searched out;

yasmin--where; gatah--going; na--never; nivartanti--they come back;

bhuyah--again; tam--to Him; eva--certainly; ca--also; adyam--original;

purusam--the Personality of Godhead; prapadye--surrender; yatah--from

whom; pravrttih--the beginning; prasrta--extended; purani--very old.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The real form of this tree cannot be perceived in this world. No one

can understand where it ends, where it begins, or where its foundation

is. But with determination one must cut down this strongly rooted tree

with the weapon of detachment. Thereafter, one must seek that place

from which, having gone, one never returns, and there surrender to

that Supreme Personality of Godhead from whom everything began and

from whom everything has extended since time immemorial.

 

PURPORT

 

It is now clearly stated that the real form of this banyan tree cannot

be understood in this material world. Since the root is upwards, the

extension of the real tree is at the other end. When entangled with

the material expansions of the tree, one cannot see how far the tree

extends, nor can one see the beginning of this tree. Yet one has to

find out the cause. "I am the son of my father, my father is the son

of such-and-such a person, etc." By searching in this way, one comes

to Brahma, who is generated by the Garbhodakasayi Visnu. Finally, in

this way, when one reaches the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that is

the end of research work. One has to search out that origin of this

tree, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, through the association of

persons who are in knowledge of that Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Then by understanding one becomes gradually detached from this false

reflection of reality, and by knowledge one can cut off the connection

and actually become situated in the real tree.

 

The word asanga is very important in this connection because the

attachment for sense enjoyment and lording it over the material nature

is very strong. Therefore one must learn detachment by discussion of

spiritual science based on authoritative scriptures, and one must hear

from persons who are actually in knowledge. As a result of such

discussion in the association of devotees, one comes to the Supreme

Personality of Godhead. Then the first thing one must do is surrender

to Him. The description of that place whence having gone one never

returns to this false reflected tree is given here. The Supreme

Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is the original root from whom

everything has emanated. To gain favor of that Personality of Godhead,

one has only to surrender, and this is a result of performing

devotional service by hearing, chanting, etc. He is the cause of the

extension of the material world. This has already been explained by

the Lord Himself. Aham sarvasya prabhavah: "I am the origin of

everything." Therefore to get out of the entanglement of this strong

banyan tree of material life, one must surrender to Krsna. As soon as

one surrenders unto Krsna, one becomes detached automatically from

this material extension.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.