Chapter 15, Verse 3 (Bhagavad Gita 15.3)
Chapter 15: Puruṣhottam Yog – The Yoga of the Supreme Divine Personality
Sanskrit Shloka
न रूपमस्येह तथोपलभ्यते नान्तो न चादिर्न च संप्रतिष्ठा।अश्वत्थमेनं सुविरूढमूल मसङ्गशस्त्रेण दृढेन छित्त्वा
Transliteration
na rūpam asyeha tathopalabhyate nānto na chādir na cha sampratiṣhṭhā aśhvattham enaṁ su-virūḍha-mūlam asaṅga-śhastreṇa dṛiḍhena chhittvā
Word Meanings
na—not; rūpam—form; asya—of this; iha—in this world; tathā—as such; upalabhyate—is perceived; na—neither; antaḥ—end; na—nor; cha—also; ādiḥ—beginning; na—never; cha—also; sampratiṣhṭhā—the basis; aśhvattham—sacred fig tree; enam—this; su-virūḍha-mūlam—deep-rooted; asaṅga-śhastreṇa—by the axe of detachment; dṛiḍhena—strong; chhittvā—having cut down;
Translation
The true nature of this worldly tree is not perceived here, neither its beginning nor its end, nor its foundation. Having cut down this firmly rooted Ashvattha tree with the powerful weapon of detachment, one must seek the supreme goal.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound revelation, Lord Krishna compares the material existence to an inverted Ashvattha tree, whose roots grow upward in the Divine realm. He instructs Arjuna that the only way to transcend the cycle of birth and death is to sever our deep-seated attachments with the sharp blade of dispassion. By realizing that this world is ephemeral and essentially a reflection of the Supreme Lord, the seeker becomes liberated from worldly bondage. Yogeshwar Krishna invites every soul to withdraw their senses from these illusory branches and surrender to His eternal form, which is the true source of all existence. This act of detachment is not a rejection of life, but a realization of one's inherent spiritual nature in the service of Lord Krishna.