Chapter 15: The Yoga of the Supreme Person
Bg 15.3, Bg 15.4, Bg 15.3-4
TEXTS 3-4
na rupam asyeha tathopalabhyate
nanto na cadir na ca sampratistha
asvattham enam su-virudha-mulam
asanga-sastrena drdhena chittva
tatah padam tat parimargitavyam
yasmin gata na nivartanti bhuyah
tam eva cadyam purusam prapadye
yatah pravrttih prasrta purani
nanto na cadir na ca sampratistha
asvattham enam su-virudha-mulam
asanga-sastrena drdhena chittva
tatah padam tat parimargitavyam
yasmin gata na nivartanti bhuyah
tam eva cadyam purusam prapadye
yatah pravrttih prasrta purani
SYNONYMS
na—not; rupam—form; asya—of this tree; iha—in this; tatha—also; upalabhyate—can be perceived; na—never; antah—end; na—never; ca—also; adih—beginning; na—never; ca—also; sampratistha—the foundation; asvattham—banyan tree; enam—this; suvirudha—strongly; mulam—rooted; asanga-sastrena—by the weapon of detachment; drdhena—strong; chittva—by cutting; tatah—thereafter; padam—situation; tat—that; parimargitavyam—has to be searched out; yasmin—where; gatah—going; na—never; nivartanti—comes back; bhuyah—again; tam—to him; eva—certainly; ca—also; adyam—original; purusam—the Personality of Godhead; prapadye—surrender; yatah—from whom; pravrttih—beginning; prasrta—extension; purani—very old.
TRANSLATION
The real form of this tree cannot be perceived in this world. No one can understand where it ends, where it begins, or where its foundation is. But with determination one must cut down this tree with the weapon of detachment. So doing, one must seek that place from which, having once gone, one never returns, and there surrender to that Supreme Personality of Godhead from whom everything has begun and in whom everything is abiding since time immemorial.
PURPORT
It is now clearly stated that the real form of this banyan tree cannot be understood in this material world. Since the root is upwards, the extension of the real tree is at the other end. No one can see how far the tree extends, nor can one see the beginning of this tree. Yet one has to find out the cause. "I am the son of my father, my father is the son of such and such a person, etc." By searching in this way, one comes to Brahma, who is generated by the Garbhodakasayi Visnu. Finally, in this way, when one reaches to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that is the end of research work. One has to search out that origin of this tree, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, through the association of persons who are in the knowledge of that Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then by understanding one becomes gradually detached from this false reflection of reality, and by knowledge one can cut off the connection and actually become situated in the real tree.
The word asanga is very important in this connection because the attachment for sense enjoyment and lording it over the material nature is very strong. Therefore one must learn detachment by discussion of spiritual science based on authoritative scriptures, and one must hear from persons who are actually in knowledge. As a result of such discussion in the association of devotees, one comes to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then the first thing one must do is surrender to Him. The description of that place whence going no one returns to this false reflected tree is given here. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is the original root from whom everything has emanated. To gain favor of that Personality of Godhead, one has only to surrender, and this is a result of performing devotional service by hearing, chanting, etc. He is the cause of this extension of this material world. This is already explained by the Lord Himself: aham sarvasya prabhavah. "I am the origin of everything."
Therefore to get out of the entanglement of this strong banyan tree of material life, one must surrender to Krsna. As soon as one surrenders unto Krsna, he becomes detached automatically from this material extension.
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Copyright (c) 1972 by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada