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Shloka & Transliteration

अधः, च, ऊध्र्वम्, प्रसृृताः, तस्य, शाखाः, गुणप्रवृृद्धाः, विषयप्रवालाः, अधः, च, मूलानि, अनुसन्ततानि, कर्मानुबन्धीनि, मनुष्यलोके

Standard Word-for-Word Meaning

The branches of this cosmic tree—representing Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva—extend both above and below. Fed by the three universal energies (gunas), they sprout shoots of human vices like lust, anger, attachment, greed, and arrogance. These forces are the root cause that binds the soul to its actions (karma). They form a cycle arranged across the human worlds: extending downward into Hell through 8.4 million cycles of rebirth, and upward into Heaven and Earth.

Hindi Translation

अनुवाद: (तस्य) उस वृक्षकी (अधः) नीचे (च) और (ऊध्र्वम्) ऊपर (गुणप्रवृद्धाः) तीनों गुणों ब्रह्मा-रजगुण, विष्णु-सतगुण, शिव-तमगुण रूपी (प्रसृता) फैली हुई (विषयप्रवालाः) विकार- काम क्रोध, मोह, लोभ अहंकार रूपी कोपल (शाखाः) डाली ब्रह्मा, विष्णु, शिव (कर्मानुबन्धीनि) जीवको कर्मोंमें बाँधने की (मूलानि) जड़ें मुख्य कारण हैं (च) तथा (मनुष्यलोके) मनुष्यलोक – स्वर्ग,-नरक लोक पृथ्वी लोक में (अधः) नीचे - नरक, चैरासी लाख जूनियों में ऊपर स्वर्ग लोक आदि में (अनुसन्ततानि) व्यवस्थित किए हुए हैं।

Hidden Mysteries & Secrets

In the first verse, we learned that the three Gunas form the branches. Here, the text specifies that Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are the literal extensions of these branches, stretching both "above and below." 

The Spiritual Trap: Most seekers mistake these major branches for the absolute root of the tree. This commentary clarifies that they are merely administrative extensions. Worshipping the branches instead of watering the root (Purna Parmatma) keeps the soul trapped within the confines of the material universe.

The verse explains that these branches are "nourished by the three Gunas" and sprout "shoots in the form of sense objects and vices" (lust, anger, attachment, greed, and arrogance).

A crucial detail in Verse 2 is the mention of roots extending downward. While the primary root (Aadi Purush) is at the top, the tree develops secondary aerial roots that grow down into the soil of the human world.

The Binding Chain: These secondary roots represent Karma (actions and reactions). Every desire, lustful thought, or angry action creates a new aerial root that anchors itself firmly into the ground. This is the exact mechanism that binds the soul, making it impossible to escape the tree without cutting these roots.

This deep dive reveals that both Heaven and Hell are traps within the same tree. Whether a soul goes up to heaven or down to hell, it remains bound by the secondary roots of karma. To achieve true liberation (Moksha), the soul must look past the branches (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva) and use the "sword of detachment" to cut these karmic roots entirely, allowing it to return to the ultimate source at the very top—the Supreme Abode (Satlok).

Hindi Verse 15.2

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15, Verse 2 by Gita Press Gorakhpur in Hindi

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