Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā · Chapter 15 of 18
Purushottama Yoga — The Yoga of the Supreme Being
पुरुषोत्तमयोगः
Krishna describes the world as an inverted cosmic fig tree, roots above and branches below, whose true form cannot be grasped until cut down with the axe of detachment, revealing the path to a realm from which none return. He explains that every living being is an eternal fragment of himself, carrying the mind and senses from body to body like wind carrying fragrance. He describes his presence in the light of the sun, moon, and fire, in the digestive fire within every creature, and seated in the heart of all beings as the source of memory and knowledge. The chapter closes with Krishna's key distinction between the perishable (all created things), the imperishable (the unchanging self), and the Supreme Being beyond both -- Krishna himself -- concluding that one who understands this attains complete wisdom.
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Verse by verse
Krishna
15.1
ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम्। छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित्॥
ūrdhvamūlamadhaḥśākhamaśvatthaṃ prāhuravyayam, chandāṃsi yasya parṇāni yastaṃ veda sa vedavit.
हिन्दी अर्थ
श्रीभगवान् बोले -- ऊपरकी ओर मूलवाले तथा नीचेकी ओर शाखावाले जिस संसाररूप अश्वत्थवृक्षको अव्यय कहते हैं और वेद जिसके पत्ते हैं, उस संसारवृक्षको जो जानता है, वह सम्पूर्ण वेदोंको जाननेवाला है।
English
Lord Shri Krishna continued: This phenomenal creation, which is both ephemeral and eternal, is like a tree, but having its seed above in the Highest and its ramifications on this earth below. The scriptures are its leaves, and he who understands this, knows.
Krishna describes the world as an eternal fig tree with roots above and branches below, whose leaves are the Vedic hymns -- one who understands this tree truly knows the scriptures.
Krishna
15.2
अधश्चोर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखा गुणप्रवृद्धा विषयप्रवालाः। अधश्च मूलान्यनुसन्ततानि कर्मानुबन्धीनि मनुष्यलोके॥
adhaścordhvaṃ prasṛtāstasya śākhā guṇapravṛddhā viṣayapravālāḥ, adhaśca mūlānyanusantatāni karmānubandhīni manuṣyaloke.
हिन्दी अर्थ
उस संसारवृक्षकी गुणों-(सत्त्व, रज और तम-) के द्वारा बढ़ी हुई तथा विषयरूप कोंपलोंवाली शाखाएँ नीचे, मध्यमें और ऊपर सब जगह फैली हुई हैं। मनुष्यलोकमें कर्मोंके अनुसार बाँधनेवाले मूल भी नीचे और ऊपर (सभी लोकोंमें) व्याप्त हो रहे हैं।
English
Its branches shoot upwards and downwards, deriving their nourishment from the Qualities; its buds are the objects of sense; and its roots, which follow the Law causing man's regeneration and degeneration, pierce downwards into the soil.
Its branches spread up and down, nourished by the three qualities, its buds are the sense objects, and its roots extend downward, bound to action in the human world.
Krishna
15.3
न रूपमस्येह तथोपलभ्यते नान्तो न चादिर्न च संप्रतिष्ठा। अश्वत्थमेनं सुविरूढमूल मसङ्गशस्त्रेण दृढेन छित्त्वा॥
na rūpamasyeha tathopalabhyate nānto na cādirna ca saṃpratiṣṭhā, aśvatthamenaṃ suvirūḍhamūla masaṅgaśastreṇa dṛḍhena chittvā.
हिन्दी अर्थ
इस संसारवृक्षका जैसा रूप देखनेमें आता है, वैसा यहाँ (विचार करनेपर) मिलता नहीं; क्योंकि इसका न तो आदि है, न अन्त है और न स्थिति ही है। इसलिये इस दृढ़ मूलोंवाले संसाररूप अश्वत्थवृक्षको दृढ़ असङ्गतारूप शस्त्रके द्वारा काटकर --
English
In this world its true form is not known, neither its origin nor its end, and its strength is not understood., until the tree with its roots striking deep into the earth is hewn down by the sharp axe of non-attachment.
This tree's true form cannot be perceived here -- neither its beginning, end, nor foundation; one must cut it down with the strong axe of detachment.
Krishna
15.4
ततः पदं तत्परिमार्गितव्यम् यस्मिन्गता न निवर्तन्ति भूयः। तमेव चाद्यं पुरुषं प्रपद्ये यतः प्रवृत्तिः प्रसृता पुराणी॥
tataḥ padaṃ tatparimārgitavyam yasmingatā na nivartanti bhūyaḥ, tameva cādyaṃ puruṣaṃ prapadye yataḥ pravṛttiḥ prasṛtā purāṇī.
हिन्दी अर्थ
उसके बाद उस परमपद-(परमात्मा-) की खोज करनी चाहिये जिसको प्राप्त होनेपर मनुष्य फिर लौटकर संसारमें नहीं आते और जिससे अनादिकालसे चली आनेवाली यह सृष्टि विस्तारको प्राप्त हुई है, उस आदिपुरुष परमात्माके ही मैं शरण हूँ।
English
Beyond lies the Path, from which, when found, there is no return. This is the Primal God from whence this ancient creation has sprung.
Then one should seek that place from which, once reached, there is no return, taking refuge in the primal being from whom this ancient creation flows.
Krishna
15.5
निर्मानमोहा जितसङ्गदोषा अध्यात्मनित्या विनिवृत्तकामाः। द्वन्द्वैर्विमुक्ताः सुखदुःखसंज्ञै र्गच्छन्त्यमूढाः पदमव्ययं तत्॥
nirmānamohā jitasaṅgadoṣā adhyātmanityā vinivṛttakāmāḥ, dvandvairvimuktāḥ sukhaduḥkhasaṃjñai rgacchantyamūḍhāḥ padamavyayaṃ tat.
हिन्दी अर्थ
जो मान और मोहसे रहित हो गये हैं, जिन्होंने आसक्तिसे होनेवाले दोषोंको जीत लिया है, जो नित्य-निरन्तर परमात्मामें ही लगे हुए हैं, जो (अपनी दृष्टिसे) सम्पूर्ण कामनाओंसे रहित हो गये हैं, जो सुख-दुःखरूप द्वन्द्वोंसे मुक्त हो गये हैं, ऐसे (ऊँची स्थितिवाले) मोहरहित साधक भक्त उस अविनाशी परमपद-(परमात्मा-) को प्राप्त होते हैं।
English
The wise attain Eternity when, freed from pride and delusion, they have conquered their love for the things of sense; when, renouncing desire and fixing their gaze on the Self, they have ceased to be tossed to and fro by the opposing sensations, like pleasure and pain.
Free from pride and delusion, having conquered attachment, ever dwelling in the self, desires stilled, released from the dualities of pleasure and pain, the undeluded reach that eternal state.
Krishna
15.6
न तद्भासयते सूर्यो न शशाङ्को न पावकः। यद्गत्वा न निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम॥
na tadbhāsayate sūryo na śaśāṅko na pāvakaḥ, yadgatvā na nivartante taddhāma paramaṃ mama.
हिन्दी अर्थ
उस-(परमपद-) को न सूर्य, न चन्द्र और न अग्नि ही प्रकाशित कर सकती है; और जिसको प्राप्त होकर जीव लौटकर (संसारमें) नहीं आते, वही मेरा परमधाम है।
English
Neither sun, moon, nor fire shines there. Those who go thither never come back. For, O Arjuna, that is my Celestial Home!
That supreme abode is not illuminated by sun, moon, or fire; having reached it, none return -- this is Krishna's highest home.
Krishna
15.7
ममैवांशो जीवलोके जीवभूतः सनातनः। मनःषष्ठानीन्द्रियाणि प्रकृतिस्थानि कर्षति॥
mamaivāṃśo jīvaloke jīvabhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ, manaḥṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛtisthāni karṣati.
हिन्दी अर्थ
इस संसारमें जीव बना हुआ आत्मा मेरा ही सनातन अंश है; परन्तु वह प्रकृतिमें स्थित मन और पाँचों इन्द्रियोंको आकर्षित करता है (अपना मान लेता है)।
English
It is only a very small part of My Eternal Self, which is the life of the universe, drawing round itself the six senses, the mind the last, which have their source in Nature.
An eternal fragment of Krishna himself becomes the living being in this world, drawing to itself the mind and five senses which rest in material nature.
Krishna
15.8
शरीरं यदवाप्नोति यच्चाप्युत्क्रामतीश्वरः। गृहीत्वैतानि संयाति वायुर्गन्धानिवाशयात्॥
śarīraṃ yadavāpnoti yaccāpyutkrāmatīśvaraḥ, gṛhītvaitāni saṃyāti vāyurgandhānivāśayāt.
हिन्दी अर्थ
जैसे वायु गन्धके स्थानसे गन्धको ग्रहण करके ले जाती है, ऐसे ही शरीरादिका स्वामी बना हुआ जीवात्मा भी जिस शरीरको छोड़ता है, वहाँसे मनसहित इन्द्रियोंको ग्रहण करके फिर जिस शरीरको प्राप्त होता है, उसमें चला जाता है।
English
When the Supreme Lord enters a body or leaves it, He gathers these senses together and travels on with them, as the wind gathers perfume while passing through the flowers.
When the embodied self takes on or leaves a body, it carries these senses along, just as the wind carries fragrance from their source.
Krishna
15.9
श्रोत्रं चक्षुः स्पर्शनं च रसनं घ्राणमेव च। अधिष्ठाय मनश्चायं विषयानुपसेवते॥
śrotraṃ cakṣuḥ sparśanaṃ ca rasanaṃ ghrāṇameva ca, adhiṣṭhāya manaścāyaṃ viṣayānupasevate.
हिन्दी अर्थ
यह जीवात्मा मनका आश्रय लेकर श्रोत्र, नेत्र, त्वचा, रसना और घ्राण -- इन पाँचों इन्द्रियोंके द्वारा विषयोंका सेवन करता है।
English
He is the perception of the ear, the eye, the touch, the taste and the smell, yea and of the mind also; and the enjoyment the things which they perceive is also His.
Presiding over the ear, eye, touch, taste, smell, and mind, the self experiences the sense objects through them.
Krishna
15.10
उत्क्रामन्तं स्थितं वापि भुञ्जानं वा गुणान्वितम्। विमूढा नानुपश्यन्ति पश्यन्ति ज्ञानचक्षुषः॥
utkrāmantaṃ sthitaṃ vāpi bhuñjānaṃ vā guṇānvitam, vimūḍhā nānupaśyanti paśyanti jñānacakṣuṣaḥ.
हिन्दी अर्थ
शरीरको छोड़कर जाते हुए या दूसरे शरीरमें स्थित हुए अथवा विषयोंको भोगते हुए भी गुणोंसे युक्त जीवात्माके स्वरूपको मूढ़ मनुष्य नहीं जानते, ज्ञानरूपी नेत्रोंवाले ज्ञानी मनुष्य ही जानते हैं।
English
The ignorant do not see that it is He Who is present in life and Who departs at death or even that it is He Who enjoys pleasure through the Qualities. Only the eye of wisdom sees.
The deluded do not see the self departing, remaining, or experiencing through the qualities, but those with the eye of wisdom do perceive it.
Krishna
15.11
यतन्तो योगिनश्चैनं पश्यन्त्यात्मन्यवस्थितम्। यतन्तोऽप्यकृतात्मानो नैनं पश्यन्त्यचेतसः॥
yatanto yoginaścainaṃ paśyantyātmanyavasthitam, yatanto'pyakṛtātmāno nainaṃ paśyantyacetasaḥ.
हिन्दी अर्थ
यत्न करनेवाले योगीलोग अपने-आपमें स्थित इस परमात्मतत्त्वका अनुभव करते हैं। परन्तु जिन्होंने अपना अन्तःकरण शुद्ध नहीं किया है, ऐसे अविवेकी मनुष्य यत्न करनेपर भी इस तत्त्वका अनुभव नहीं करते।
English
The saints with great effort find Him within themselves; but not the unintelligent, who in spite of every effort cannot control their minds.
Striving yogis see the self dwelling within themselves, but the undisciplined, though striving, do not perceive it, since their minds are not purified.
Krishna
15.12
यदादित्यगतं तेजो जगद्भासयतेऽखिलम्। यच्चन्द्रमसि यच्चाग्नौ तत्तेजो विद्धि मामकम्॥
yadādityagataṃ tejo jagadbhāsayate'khilam, yaccandramasi yaccāgnau tattejo viddhi māmakam.
हिन्दी अर्थ
सूर्यमें आया हुआ जो तेज सम्पूर्ण जगत् को प्रकाशित करता है और जो तेज चन्द्रमामें है तथा जो तेज अग्निमें है, उस तेजको मेरा ही जान।
English
Remember that the Light which, proceeding from the sun, illumines the whole world, and the Light which is in the moon, and That which is in the fire also, all are born of Me.
The radiance of the sun that illuminates the entire world, and the light in the moon and fire, know that radiance to come from Krishna.
Krishna
15.13
गामाविश्य च भूतानि धारयाम्यहमोजसा। पुष्णामि चौषधीः सर्वाः सोमो भूत्वा रसात्मकः॥
gāmāviśya ca bhūtāni dhārayāmyahamojasā, puṣṇāmi cauṣadhīḥ sarvāḥ somo bhūtvā rasātmakaḥ.
हिन्दी अर्थ
मैं ही पृथ्वीमें प्रविष्ट होकर अपनी शक्तिसे समस्त प्राणियोंको धारण करता हूँ; और मैं ही रसमय चन्द्रमाके रूपमें समस्त ओषधियों-(वनस्पतियों-) को पुष्ट करता हूँ।
English
I enter this world and animate all My creatures with My vitality; and by My cool moonbeams I nourish the plants.
Krishna, entering the earth, sustains all beings by his vital energy, and nourishes all plants by becoming the moon, rich in sap.
Krishna
15.14
अहं वैश्वानरो भूत्वा प्राणिनां देहमाश्रितः। प्राणापानसमायुक्तः पचाम्यन्नं चतुर्विधम्॥
ahaṃ vaiśvānaro bhūtvā prāṇināṃ dehamāśritaḥ, prāṇāpānasamāyuktaḥ pacāmyannaṃ caturvidham.
हिन्दी अर्थ
प्राणियोंके शरीरमें रहनेवाला मैं प्राण-अपानसे युक्त वैश्वानर होकर चार प्रकारके अन्नको पचाता हूँ।
English
Becoming the fire of life, I pass into their bodies and, uniting with the vital streams of Prana and Apana, I digest the various kinds of food.
Becoming the fire of digestion within the bodies of living beings, and joined with the incoming and outgoing breath, Krishna digests the four kinds of food.
Krishna
15.15
सर्वस्य चाहं हृदि सन्निविष्टो मत्तः स्मृतिर्ज्ञानमपोहनं च। वेदैश्च सर्वैरहमेव वेद्यो वेदान्तकृद्वेदविदेव चाहम्॥
sarvasya cāhaṃ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtirjñānamapohanaṃ ca, vedaiśca sarvairahameva vedyo vedāntakṛdvedavideva cāham.
हिन्दी अर्थ
मैं सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंके हृदयमें स्थित हूँ। मेरेसे ही स्मृति, ज्ञान और अपोहन (संशय आदि दोषोंका नाश) होता है। सम्पूर्ण वेदोंके द्वारा मैं ही जाननेयोग्य हूँ। वेदोंके तत्त्वका निर्णय करनेवाला और वेदोंको जाननेवाला भी मैं ही हूँ।
English
I am enthroned in the hearts of all; memory, wisdom and discrimination owe their origins to Me. I am He Who is to be realised in the scriptures; I inspire their wisdom and I know their truth.
Krishna is seated in the hearts of all; from him come memory, knowledge, and their loss; he alone is what is to be known through all the scriptures, and he is the author and knower of the Vedanta.
Krishna
15.16
द्वाविमौ पुरुषौ लोके क्षरश्चाक्षर एव च। क्षरः सर्वाणि भूतानि कूटस्थोऽक्षर उच्यते॥
dvāvimau puruṣau loke kṣaraścākṣara eva ca, kṣaraḥ sarvāṇi bhūtāni kūṭastho'kṣara ucyate.
हिन्दी अर्थ
इस संसारमें क्षर (नाशवान्) और अक्षर (अविनाशी) -- ये दो प्रकारके पुरुष हैं। सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंके शरीर नाशवान् और कूटस्थ (जीवात्मा) अविनाशी कहा जाता है।
English
There are two aspects in Nature: the perishable and the imperishable. All life in this world belongs to the former, the unchanging element belongs to the latter.
There are two beings in this world: the perishable, comprising all created things, and the imperishable, the unchanging self.
Krishna
15.17
उत्तमः पुरुषस्त्वन्यः परमात्मेत्युदाहृतः। यो लोकत्रयमाविश्य बिभर्त्यव्यय ईश्वरः॥
uttamaḥ puruṣastvanyaḥ paramātmetyudāhṛtaḥ, yo lokatrayamāviśya bibhartyavyaya īśvaraḥ.
हिन्दी अर्थ
उत्तम पुरुष तो अन्य ही है, जो परमात्मा नामसे कहा गया है। वही अविनाशी ईश्वर तीनों लोकोंमें प्रविष्ट होकर सबका भरण-पोषण करता है।
English
But higher than all am I, the Supreme God, the Absolute Self, the Eternal Lord, Who pervades the worlds and upholds them all.
But distinct from both is the supreme being, called the highest self, who as the imperishable Lord pervades and sustains the three worlds.
Krishna
15.18
यस्मात्क्षरमतीतोऽहमक्षरादपि चोत्तमः। अतोऽस्मि लोके वेदे च प्रथितः पुरुषोत्तमः॥
yasmātkṣaramatīto'hamakṣarādapi cottamaḥ, ato'smi loke vede ca prathitaḥ puruṣottamaḥ.
हिन्दी अर्थ
मैं क्षरसे अतीत हूँ और अक्षरसे भी उत्तम हूँ, इसलिये लोकमें और वेदमें पुरुषोत्तम नामसे प्रसिद्ध हूँ।
English
Beyond comparison of the Eternal with the non-eternal am I, Who am called by scriptures and sages the Supreme Personality, the Highest God.
Since Krishna transcends both the perishable and even the imperishable, he is celebrated in the world and the Vedas as the Supreme Being.
Krishna
15.19
यो मामेवमसम्मूढो जानाति पुरुषोत्तमम्। स सर्वविद्भजति मां सर्वभावेन भारत॥
yo māmevamasammūḍho jānāti puruṣottamam, sa sarvavidbhajati māṃ sarvabhāvena bhārata.
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे भरतवंशी अर्जुन ! इस प्रकार जो मोहरहित मनुष्य मुझे पुरुषोत्तम जानता है, वह सर्वज्ञ सब प्रकारसे मेरा ही भजन करता है।
English
He who with unclouded vision sees Me as the Lord-God, knows all there is to be known, and always shall worship Me with his whole heart.
One who, undeluded, knows Krishna thus as the Supreme Being, knows everything there is to know, and worships him with their whole being.
Krishna
15.20
इति गुह्यतमं शास्त्रमिदमुक्तं मयाऽनघ। एतद्बुद्ध्वा बुद्धिमान्स्यात्कृतकृत्यश्च भारत॥
iti guhyatamaṃ śāstramidamuktaṃ mayā'nagha, etadbuddhvā buddhimānsyātkṛtakṛtyaśca bhārata.
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे निष्पाप अर्जुन ! इस प्रकार यह अत्यन्त गोपनीय शास्त्र मेरे द्वारा कहा गया है। हे भरतवंशी अर्जुन ! इसको जानकर मनुष्य ज्ञानवान् (तथा प्राप्त-प्राप्तव्य) और कृतकृत्य हो जाता है।
English
Thus, O Sinless One, I have revealed to thee this most mystic knowledge. He who understands gains wisdom and attains the consummation of life.
Krishna declares he has revealed this most secret teaching; understanding it, one becomes truly wise, having accomplished all that needs to be done.