THE FIFTEENTH CHAPTER
Shri Bhagwan Uvaach: "Lord Krishna said, 'O Arjuna! This world is like a tree that cannot be trusted even for a moment. Its roots are above, representing the Karan Prapancha (creation made of 5 elements), and its branches are below, encompassing all creatures from those enjoying happiness in the realms of the Devas to those suffering in hell; these are all branches, and the Vedas are its leaves. Just as a tree appears lush and beautiful when it has leaves, so too do the Triguna Dharma-Karmas of the Vedas in this world; they are like the leaves of this worldly tree. These dharma-karmas make the tree of this world appear beautiful, and the Karan Prapancha of the world is imperishable. The one who knows this knowledge of the tree-like world is called Nirguna Gyani.
O Arjuna! Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas—the three Gunas—are the branches of this worldly tree spread above and below. Through these three qualities, living entities experience good and bad fruits based on their deeds; they enjoy heavenly pleasures through noble deeds and suffer through hell in eighty-four lakh species by committing lowly acts such as violence. The objects of the senses are like tender leaves of this tree, and its roots are bound by various kinds of Triguna actions in Mrityuloka. Just as a tree grows by watering its roots, so too does the tree of this world flourish when watered by Karmas.
O Partha! No one knows the true nature of this sorrowful worldly tree except my Gyani, nor its origin. Therefore, destroy this deeply rooted growing tree completely with the sword of dispassion. By surrendering yourself to imperishable Brahma, seek that state which, once attained, there is no more birth or death.
O Arjuna! Those who have renounced honor, who have destroyed attachment and pride, who always meditate on Brahmvidya, who have severed the bonds of desire, and who view cold and heat, pleasure and pain alike—these are the men who attain that imperishable state.
O Arjuna! Now listen to the glory of my imperishable abode where even the light of the moon, sun, and fire cannot reach. The great souls who reach there do not return to face this sorrowful world again; that place is my true form of bliss, my supreme abode.
O Partha! A part of my great illusion (Mahamaya) is connected with all living beings. It draws the five senses and the sixth—the mind—towards enjoyment, subjugating these beings to pleasure. O Arjuna! When the mind, master of the senses, leaves one body, it takes these senses with it like an army. Just as wind carries away fragrance from flowers and fruits, so does this Jeevatma leave one body to take another and enjoys these three qualities—differences that are not known to ignorant beings but only to my Gyanis.
Those men who worship me according to my Nirguna Gyan recognize this Jeevatma within their bodies; those who are foolish do not understand even after hearing my knowledge.
The light from the sun that illuminates the entire world, from the moon and fire—that light comes from me. The power with which Earth holds everything is also given by me. The nectar with which the moon nourishes plants is mine as well.
O Arjuna! There are four kinds of food in this world for all types of human
bodies: foods like sugarcane and mangoes that are eaten by sucking; substances like milk and ghee that are drinkable; foods like bread and puris that are eaten by chewing; and foods like rabri and chutney that are licked. These four types of food are digested by jarathagni in the stomach; I am also the power that enables jarathagni to digest food.'"
"O Arjuna! I reside in everyone’s heart. Through my grace, one acquires knowledge, and through my grace, one remembers. I am both the creator and the knower of Brahmvidya. O son of Kunti! In this world, there are two entities: Kshar and Akshar. The visible, perishable world is termed Kshar, while the imperishable soul within the body is called Akshar. Beyond both lies the Supreme, who is imperishable, eternal, omnipresent, God, and the sustainer of the entire world. I am that Supreme Personality, transcending this perishable world and superior to the Jeev. Therefore, my Nirguna Gyani
call me Purushottama, or the Supreme Lord.
O Arjuna! He who knows me as Purushottama understands the hidden secrets of all creation and sees me as the mother, the father, wealth, material things, and more. O Partha! I have imparted to you this knowledge—more secret than the most secret—my Brahma-Vidya-Shastra: those who follow this path of knowledge attain my self-bliss, the imperishable form."
ITI SHRIMADBHAGWADGEETASUPANISHATSHU BRAHMAVIDYAYAM YOGSHASTRE SHRIKRISHNAARJUN SAMVADE PURUSHOTTAM YOGONAM PANCHADASHOADHYAYAH ॥15॥
|| SHRIKRISHAN ARPAN MASTU ||
