Chapter 15 · Purushottama Yoga

ಶ್ರೀ ಭಗವಾನುವಾಚಊರ್ಧ್ವಮೂಲಮಧಃಶಾಖಮಶ್ವತ್ಥಂ ಪ್ರಾಹುರವ್ಯಯಮ್। ಛನ್ದಾಂಸಿ ಯಸ್ಯ ಪರ್ಣಾನಿ ಯಸ್ತಂ ವೇದ ಸ ವೇದವಿತ್

śhrī-bhagavān uvācha ūrdhva-mūlam adhaḥ-śhākham aśhvatthaṁ prāhur avyayam chhandānsi yasya parṇāni yas taṁ veda sa veda-vit

📖 Meaning

The Blessed Lord said: They (the wise) speak of the indestructible peepul tree, with its roots above and branches below, whose leaves are the meters or hymns; he who knows it is a knower of the Vedas.

ಅಧಶ್ಚೋರ್ಧ್ವಂ ಪ್ರಸೃತಾಸ್ತಸ್ಯ ಶಾಖಾ ಗುಣಪ್ರವೃದ್ಧಾ ವಿಷಯಪ್ರವಾಲಾಃ। ಅಧಶ್ಚ ಮೂಲಾನ್ಯನುಸನ್ತತಾನಿ ಕರ್ಮಾನುಬನ್ಧೀನಿ ಮನುಷ್ಯಲೋಕೇ

adhaśh chordhvaṁ prasṛitās tasya śhākhā guṇa-pravṛiddhā viṣhaya-pravālāḥ adhaśh cha mūlāny anusantatāni karmānubandhīni manuṣhya-loke

📖 Meaning

Its branches spread below and above, nourished by the Gunas; its buds are sense-objects, and its roots stretch forth below in the world of men, originating action.

ನ ರೂಪಮಸ್ಯೇಹ ತಥೋಪಲಭ್ಯತೇ ನಾನ್ತೋ ನ ಚಾದಿರ್ನ ಚ ಸಂಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಠಾ। ಅಶ್ವತ್ಥಮೇನಂ ಸುವಿರೂಢಮೂಲ ಮಸಙ್ಗಶಸ್ತ್ರೇಣ ದೃಢೇನ ಛಿತ್ತ್ವಾ

na rūpam asyeha tathopalabhyate nānto na chādir na cha sampratiṣhṭhā aśhvattham enaṁ su-virūḍha-mūlam asaṅga-śhastreṇa dṛiḍhena chhittvā

📖 Meaning

Its form is not perceived here as such, nor its end, origin, foundation, or resting place; having cut asunder this firmly rooted peepul tree with the strong axe of non-attachment.

ತತಃ ಪದಂ ತತ್ಪರಿಮಾರ್ಗಿತವ್ಯ ಯಸ್ಮಿನ್ಗತಾ ನ ನಿವರ್ತನ್ತಿ ಭೂಯಃ। ತಮೇವ ಚಾದ್ಯಂ ಪುರುಷಂ ಪ್ರಪದ್ಯೇ ಯತಃ ಪ್ರವೃತ್ತಿಃ ಪ್ರಸೃತಾ ಪುರಾಣೀ

tataḥ padaṁ tat parimārgitavyaṁ yasmin gatā na nivartanti bhūyaḥ tam eva chādyaṁ puruṣhaṁ prapadye yataḥ pravṛittiḥ prasṛitā purāṇī

📖 Meaning

Then, that goal should be sought for, to which, having gone, none returns again. I seek refuge in that Primeval Purusha, from whence streamed forth the ancient activity or energy.

ನಿರ್ಮಾನಮೋಹಾ ಜಿತಸಙ್ಗದೋಷಾ ಅಧ್ಯಾತ್ಮನಿತ್ಯಾ ವಿನಿವೃತ್ತಕಾಮಾಃ। ದ್ವನ್ದ್ವೈರ್ವಿಮುಕ್ತಾಃ ಸುಖದುಃಖಸಂಜ್ಞೈ ರ್ಗಚ್ಛನ್ತ್ಯಮೂಢಾಃ ಪದಮವ್ಯಯಂ ತತ್

nirmāna-mohā jita-saṅga-doṣhā adhyātma-nityā vinivṛitta-kāmāḥ dvandvair vimuktāḥ sukha-duḥkha-sanjñair gachchhanty amūḍhāḥ padam avyayaṁ tat

📖 Meaning

Free from pride and delusion, victorious over the evil of attachment, dwelling constantly in the Self, their desires having completely turned away, freed from the pairs of opposites known as pleasure and pain, they, the undeluded, reach the eternal goal.

ನ ತದ್ಭಾಸಯತೇ ಸೂರ್ಯೋ ನ ಶಶಾಙ್ಕೋ ನ ಪಾವಕಃ। ಯದ್ಗತ್ವಾ ನ ನಿವರ್ತನ್ತೇ ತದ್ಧಾಮ ಪರಮಂ ಮಮ

na tad bhāsayate sūryo na śhaśhāṅko na pāvakaḥ yad gatvā na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṁ mama

📖 Meaning

Neither does the sun illuminate there, nor the moon, nor the fire; having gone there, they do not return; that is My supreme abode.

ಮಮೈವಾಂಶೋ ಜೀವಲೋಕೇ ಜೀವಭೂತಃ ಸನಾತನಃ। ಮನಃಷಷ್ಠಾನೀನ್ದ್ರಿಯಾಣಿ ಪ್ರಕೃತಿಸ್ಥಾನಿ ಕರ್ಷತಿ

mamaivānśho jīva-loke jīva-bhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ manaḥ-ṣhaṣhṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛiti-sthāni karṣhati

📖 Meaning

An eternal portion of Myself having become a living soul in the world of life, draws to itself the five senses, with the mind as the sixth, abiding in Nature.

ಶರೀರಂ ಯದವಾಪ್ನೋತಿ ಯಚ್ಚಾಪ್ಯುತ್ಕ್ರಾಮತೀಶ್ವರಃ। ಗೃಹೀತ್ವೈತಾನಿ ಸಂಯಾತಿ ವಾಯುರ್ಗನ್ಧಾನಿವಾಶಯಾತ್

śharīraṁ yad avāpnoti yach chāpy utkrāmatīśhvaraḥ gṛihītvaitāni sanyāti vāyur gandhān ivāśhayāt

📖 Meaning

When the Lord, as the individual soul, obtains a body and when He leaves it, He takes these with Him, just as the wind takes the scents from their seats (flowers, etc.).

ಶ್ರೋತ್ರಂ ಚಕ್ಷುಃ ಸ್ಪರ್ಶನಂ ಚ ರಸನಂ ಘ್ರಾಣಮೇವ ಚ। ಅಧಿಷ್ಠಾಯ ಮನಶ್ಚಾಯಂ ವಿಷಯಾನುಪಸೇವತೇ

śhrotraṁ chakṣhuḥ sparśhanaṁ cha rasanaṁ ghrāṇam eva cha adhiṣhṭhāya manaśh chāyaṁ viṣhayān upasevate

📖 Meaning

Presiding over the ears, eyes, touch, taste, smell, and mind, it enjoys the objects of the senses.

ಉತ್ಕ್ರಾಮನ್ತಂ ಸ್ಥಿತಂ ವಾಪಿ ಭುಞ್ಜಾನಂ ವಾ ಗುಣಾನ್ವಿತಮ್। ವಿಮೂಢಾ ನಾನುಪಶ್ಯನ್ತಿ ಪಶ್ಯನ್ತಿ ಜ್ಞಾನಚಕ್ಷುಷಃ

utkrāmantaṁ sthitaṁ vāpi bhuñjānaṁ vā guṇānvitam vimūḍhā nānupaśhyanti paśhyanti jñāna-chakṣhuṣhaḥ

📖 Meaning

The deluded do not see Him who departs, stays, and enjoys; but those who possess the eye of knowledge behold Him.

ಯತನ್ತೋ ಯೋಗಿನಶ್ಚೈನಂ ಪಶ್ಯನ್ತ್ಯಾತ್ಮನ್ಯವಸ್ಥಿತಮ್। ಯತನ್ತೋಽಪ್ಯಕೃತಾತ್ಮಾನೋ ನೈನಂ ಪಶ್ಯನ್ತ್ಯಚೇತಸಃ

yatanto yoginaśh chainaṁ paśhyanty ātmany avasthitam yatanto ‘py akṛitātmāno nainaṁ paśhyanty achetasaḥ

📖 Meaning

The yogis striving for perfection behold Him dwelling in the Self; but, the unrefined and unintelligent, even though striving, do not see Him.

ಯದಾದಿತ್ಯಗತಂ ತೇಜೋ ಜಗದ್ಭಾಸಯತೇಽಖಿಲಮ್। ಯಚ್ಚನ್ದ್ರಮಸಿ ಯಚ್ಚಾಗ್ನೌ ತತ್ತೇಜೋ ವಿದ್ಧಿ ಮಾಮಕಮ್

yad āditya-gataṁ tejo jagad bhāsayate ’khilam yach chandramasi yach chāgnau tat tejo viddhi māmakam

📖 Meaning

That light which resides in the sun, illuminating the whole world; that which is in the moon and in the fire—know that light to be Mine.

ಗಾಮಾವಿಶ್ಯ ಚ ಭೂತಾನಿ ಧಾರಯಾಮ್ಯಹಮೋಜಸಾ। ಪುಷ್ಣಾಮಿ ಚೌಷಧೀಃ ಸರ್ವಾಃ ಸೋಮೋ ಭೂತ್ವಾ ರಸಾತ್ಮಕಃ

gām āviśhya cha bhūtāni dhārayāmy aham ojasā puṣhṇāmi chauṣhadhīḥ sarvāḥ somo bhūtvā rasātmakaḥ

📖 Meaning

Permeating the earth, I support all beings with My energy; and having become the watery moon, I nourish all herbs.

ಅಹಂ ವೈಶ್ವಾನರೋ ಭೂತ್ವಾ ಪ್ರಾಣಿನಾಂ ದೇಹಮಾಶ್ರಿತಃ। ಪ್ರಾಣಾಪಾನಸಮಾಯುಕ್ತಃ ಪಚಾಮ್ಯನ್ನಂ ಚತುರ್ವಿಧಮ್

ahaṁ vaiśhvānaro bhūtvā prāṇināṁ deham āśhritaḥ prāṇāpāna-samāyuktaḥ pachāmy annaṁ chatur-vidham

📖 Meaning

Having become the fire Vaisvanara, I abide in the bodies of living beings and, associated with the Prana and the Apana, digest the fourfold food.

ಸರ್ವಸ್ಯ ಚಾಹಂ ಹೃದಿ ಸನ್ನಿವಿಷ್ಟೋ ಮತ್ತಃ ಸ್ಮೃತಿರ್ಜ್ಞಾನಮಪೋಹನಂ ಚ। ವೇದೈಶ್ಚ ಸರ್ವೈರಹಮೇವ ವೇದ್ಯೋ ವೇದಾನ್ತಕೃದ್ವೇದವಿದೇವ ಚಾಹಮ್

sarvasya chāhaṁ hṛidi sanniviṣhṭo mattaḥ smṛitir jñānam apohanaṁ cha vedaiśh cha sarvair aham eva vedyo vedānta-kṛid veda-vid eva chāham

📖 Meaning

And I am seated in the hearts of all; from Me come memory and knowledge, as well as their absence. I am verily That which has to be known by all the Vedas; I am indeed the author of the Vedanta and the knower of the Vedas.

ದ್ವಾವಿಮೌ ಪುರುಷೌ ಲೋಕೇ ಕ್ಷರಶ್ಚಾಕ್ಷರ ಏವ ಚ। ಕ್ಷರಃ ಸರ್ವಾಣಿ ಭೂತಾನಿ ಕೂಟಸ್ಥೋಽಕ್ಷರ ಉಚ್ಯತೇ

dvāv imau puruṣhau loke kṣharaśh chākṣhara eva cha kṣharaḥ sarvāṇi bhūtāni kūṭa-stho ’kṣhara uchyate

📖 Meaning

Two Purushas there are in this world: the perishable and the imperishable. All beings are perishable, and the Kutastha—the unchanging—is called the imperishable.

ಉತ್ತಮಃ ಪುರುಷಸ್ತ್ವನ್ಯಃ ಪರಮಾತ್ಮೇತ್ಯುದಾಹೃತಃ। ಯೋ ಲೋಕತ್ರಯಮಾವಿಶ್ಯ ಬಿಭರ್ತ್ಯವ್ಯಯ ಈಶ್ವರಃ

uttamaḥ puruṣhas tv anyaḥ paramātmety udāhṛitaḥ yo loka-trayam āviśhya bibharty avyaya īśhvaraḥ

📖 Meaning

But distinct is the Supreme Purusha, called the highest Self, indestructible and Lord, who pervades the three worlds and sustains them.

ಯಸ್ಮಾತ್ಕ್ಷರಮತೀತೋಽಹಮಕ್ಷರಾದಪಿ ಚೋತ್ತಮಃ। ಅತೋಽಸ್ಮಿ ಲೋಕೇ ವೇದೇ ಚ ಪ್ರಥಿತಃ ಪುರುಷೋತ್ತಮಃ

yasmāt kṣharam atīto ’ham akṣharād api chottamaḥ ato ’smi loke vede cha prathitaḥ puruṣhottamaḥ

📖 Meaning

As I transcend the perishable and am even higher than the imperishable, I am declared to be the highest Purusha in the world and in the Vedas.

ಯೋ ಮಾಮೇವಮಸಮ್ಮೂಢೋ ಜಾನಾತಿ ಪುರುಷೋತ್ತಮಮ್। ಸ ಸರ್ವವಿದ್ಭಜತಿ ಮಾಂ ಸರ್ವಭಾವೇನ ಭಾರತ

yo mām evam asammūḍho jānāti puruṣhottamam sa sarva-vid bhajati māṁ sarva-bhāvena bhārata

📖 Meaning

He who, undeluded, knows Me as the highest Purusha, he, knowing all, worships Me with his whole being (heart), O Arjuna.

ಇತಿ ಗುಹ್ಯತಮಂ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಮಿದಮುಕ್ತಂ ಮಯಾಽನಘ। ಏತದ್ಬುದ್ಧ್ವಾ ಬುದ್ಧಿಮಾನ್ಸ್ಯಾತ್ಕೃತಕೃತ್ಯಶ್ಚ ಭಾರತ

iti guhyatamaṁ śhāstram idam uktaṁ mayānagha etad buddhvā buddhimān syāt kṛita-kṛityaśh cha bhārata

📖 Meaning

Thus, I have imparted to you this most secret science, O sinless one; by knowing this, one becomes wise, and all their duties are accomplished, O Arjuna.