Bhagavad-gītā 15.3
Read once with your eyes. Read again aloud.
न रूपमस्येह तथोपलभ्यते नान्तो न चादिर्न च संप्रतिष्ठा।अश्वत्थमेनं सुविरूढमूल मसङ्गशस्त्रेण दृढेन छित्त्वा।।15.3।।
na rūpam asyeha tathopalabhyate nānto na chādir na cha sampratiṣhṭhā aśhvattham enaṁ su-virūḍha-mūlam asaṅga-śhastreṇa dṛiḍhena chhittvā
In this world, its true form is not known, neither its origin nor its end, and its strength is not understood:until the tree, with its roots striking deep into the earth, is hewn down by the sharp axe of non-attachment.
English rendering by Shri Purohit Swami. Each source voice remains named.
Build the sentence from its parts
Read across once, then cover the meanings and recover them from the Sanskrit forms.
| Sanskrit form | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| 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 |
The idea is continued in the next verse. So long as one is under the sway of ignorance, he cannot understand the form of this tree, its end, origin and foundation (middle).
Attributed explanatory witness: Swami Sivananda. Chapter lens: Follow the inverted tree image, the distinction of persons, the embodied journey, divine support and Puruṣottama.
Three named reading witnesses
Śaṅkara edition witness
Swami GambiranandaIts form is not perceived here in that way; nor its end, nor beginning, nor its continuance. After felling this Peepul tree whose roots are well developed, with the strong sword of detachment.
Rāmānuja edition witness
Swami AdidevanandaIts form is not perceived here, nor its end, nor its beginning, nor its support. Having cut off this firmly-rooted Asvattha with the strong axe of detachment.
Sivananda commentary witness
Swami SivanandaThe idea is continued in the next verse. So long as one is under the sway of ignorance, he cannot understand the form of this tree, its end, origin and foundation (middle).
These are concise, attributed reading witnesses from identified editions. They are presented for comparison and are not merged into one anonymous interpretation.
Meaning map
Follow the thought
- 1
In this world, its true form is not known, neither its origin nor its end
- 2
its strength is not understood
- 3
until the tree, with its roots striking deep into the earth, is hewn down by the sharp axe of non-attachment
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