Step 4 of 7 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.

  1. 1Tap a chapter, then a verse
  2. 2Read what it means
  3. 3Try the practice
700 verses37 detailed
Or browse by chapter
Chapter

Chapter 15 · The Yoga of the Supreme Person · 20 verses

1234567891011121314151617181920

Deep profile← → keys move between verses

Nature & guṇasChapter 15 · The Yoga of the Supreme Person
14.2715.2

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 15.1

The inverted banyan tree of material existence

श्रीभगवानुवाच

ऊर्ध्वमूलमध:शाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम् ।

छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

ūrdhva-mūlam adhaḥ-śākham

aśvatthaṁ prāhur avyayam

chandāṁsi yasya parṇāni

yas taṁ veda sa veda-vit

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: It is said that there is an imperishable banyan tree that has its roots upward and its branches down and whose leaves are the Vedic hymns. One who knows this tree is the knower of the Vedas.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

The Upside-Down Banyan Tree

  1. 1The Lord describes an imperishable banyan tree with roots upward, branches downward, and Vedic hymns as leaves. Whoever knows this tree knows the Vedas.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that this tree represents material entanglement, a reflection of the spiritual world. The purpose of studying the Vedas is to understand Kṛṣṇa.
  3. 3Reduce attachment to material activities and grow attached to serving Kṛṣṇa. Devotional service is the best way to become free from material entanglement.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 15, The Yoga of the Supreme Person: the inverted banyan tree of material existence.

What it teaches

Theme summary

The modes of nature condition behavior.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: prakṛti, guṇa.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 15.1 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to nature & guṇas?

Practice

Observe which mode shaped your last decision.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 15 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 15.2The inverted banyan tree of material existenceBG 15.3The inverted banyan tree of material existenceBG 7.14Crossing beyond māyā

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

Ask the study guide

Ask about BG 15.1 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.