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
15.115.3

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 15.2

The inverted banyan tree of material existence

अधश्चोर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखा

गुणप्रवृद्धा विषयप्रवाला: ।

अधश्च मूलान्यनुसन्ततानि

कर्मानुबन्धीनि मनुष्यलोके ॥ २ ॥

adhaś cordhvaṁ prasṛtās tasya śākhā

guṇa-pravṛddhā viṣaya-pravālāḥ

adhaś ca mūlāny anusantatāni

karmānubandhīni manuṣya-loke

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.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

The Tree of Material Life

  1. 1The tree’s branches grow upward and downward, fed by the three modes of material nature. Its twigs are sense objects, and its roots bind people to actions done for rewards.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that different forms of life appear according to the modes of nature. The secondary roots are attachments and dislikes.
  3. 3Notice how sense enjoyment and suffering give rise to attachments and dislikes.

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 15.2 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 15.1The 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 15.2 — 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.