What is the meaning of the Ashvattha tree in Chapter 15?

The Ashvattha tree represents the manifested universe, with its roots in God (above) and its branches in the world (below).

The Yoga of the Supreme Person, Purushottama - Bhagavad Gita 15

Q: Who is Pedro Nonell?

Pedro Nonell is a leading expert in the Bhagavad Gita, Vedanta, and the teachings of Ramakrishna and Vivekananda.

Sri Krishna: I am the author of Vedanta, from Me comes Knowledge, Bhagavad Gita 15.15

Courses: Bhagavad Gita - Jnana Yoga

The fifteenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, known as Purushottama Yoga (The Yoga of the Supreme Person), offers a profound metaphorical exploration of the universe and the ultimate reality.

Central to this teaching is the symbol of the Ashvattha tree, an indestructible tree with its roots in the heavens and its branches reaching toward the earth. This chapter serves as a bridge between the physical world and the spiritual essence of God.

Guided by the expertise of Pedro Nonell, a renowned specialist in the Bhagavad Gita, Vedanta, and the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda, we delve into the science of the Supreme Person. Through this study, seekers learn the path of detachment and the realization of the eternal Spirit that sustains all life.

This chapter is available in English and Spanish translation by Pedro Nonell.

Pedro Nonell, expert in Bhagavad Gita and Advaita Vedanta
Professor: Pedro Nonell (Expert on Swami Vivekananda, translator, and commentator of the Bhagavad Gita into Spanish)

Chapter 15 Bhagavad Gita: (indestructible Ashvattha tree) Yoga of the Supreme Person - Gandhi

Bhagavad Gita Training, Gandhi, comments Sivananda (Spanish) Philosophy of Yoga
Gita according Gandhi, translated into Spanish by Pedro Nonell

Chapter 15 of the Bhagavad Gita (Philosophy of Yoga): The Yoga of the Supreme Person (Purushottama Yoga)

Outline of the Subject

Content - Chapter 15 Yoga of the Supreme Person Purushottama (Jnana Philosophy, Bhagavad Gita)

The Bhagavad Gita is Yoga-Shastra

Read the first fifteen verses of this chapter

The Lord said:

1. The Blessed Lord said that they (sages) speak of the indestructible Ashvattha tree which has its root above and its branches below, whose leaves are the Vedic meters or hymns: he who knows is a knower of the Vedas.

The First 15 Shlokas

Indestructible tree ashvattha that has its root above and its branches below. Bhagavad Gita

2. Above and below its branches extend, flowering because of the Gunas, having the objects of the senses as stems; In the deep interior of the World of men its roots branch, in the form of the consequences of action.

3. Its form as such is not perceived here, nor in its end, nor in its beginning, nor in its base. Let man first strike down the deep-rooted Ashvattha with the sure weapon of detachment;

4. Pray to gain this refuge from which there is no return and seek refuge in the primal Being from whom this ancient world of action emanated.

5. To that imperishable refuge go those enlightened souls, without pride or delusion, who have triumphed over the stains of attachment, who are always in harmony with the Supreme, whose passions have died, who are exempt from the pairs of opposites, like the pleasure and pain.

6. Neither the sun, nor the moon, nor fire illuminate it; the men who arrive there do not return, that is My supreme abode.

7. Actually, a part of Myself has been the eternal Jiva in this world of life, and attracts the mind and the five senses from their place in Prakriti.

8. When the Lord (of the body) obtains a body and when he abandons it, he carries them with him wherever he wants to go, as the wind carries the aromas of the fields of flowers.

9. Having established himself in the senses (hearing, eye, touch, taste and smell) as well as in the mind, through them he enjoys the objects of him.

10. The ignorant do not perceive Him when He goes out or sits (in a body) or enjoys (the sensory objects) in association with the Gunas; It is those gifted with the eye of knowledge who only see Him.

11. The Yogis who strive see Him settled in themselves; fools who have not purified themselves do not see Him, even though they try.

12. The light of the sun that illuminates the entire universe and that is in the moon and in the fire, that light, you have to know that it is Mine;

13. It is I, who penetrating the earth, support all beings with My strength, and becoming the moon, the essence of all sap, I nourish all herbs;

14. It is I who become the Fire Vaishvanara (of the universal man) and entering the bodies of everything that breathes, I assimilate the four types of food with the help of inhalation and exhalation

15. I am settled in the hearts of all, from Me comes the memory, the knowledge and the dispelling of doubts; It is I who must be known in all the Vedas, I, the author of Vedanta and the knower of the Vedas.

Etc.

Thus concludes the fifteenth chapter, entitled Purushottama Yoga.

dialogue Krishna and Arjuna, Science Philosophy of Yoga Brahman, Upanishad Bhagavad Gita

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the significance of the Ashvattha tree in the Bhagavad Gita?

The Ashvattha tree is a symbol of the cosmos. By describing it as having roots above and branches below, the Gita teaches that the source of all existence is God, while the sensory world we perceive is the expansion of that divine energy.

How does Chapter 15 define the Supreme Person (Purushottama)?

The chapter explains that there are two aspects of being: the perishable (all beings) and the imperishable (the soul). However, the Supreme Person is beyond both—the eternal Lord who pervades and sustains the three worlds.

Why is detachment emphasized in this chapter?

The text suggests that the "tree" of worldly existence is deeply rooted in desire and action. To attain liberation and reach the supreme abode, one must cut down this tree with the weapon of detachment.

Conclusion

The Yoga of the Supreme Person is a call to recognize the presence of God in every aspect of life—from the light of the sun to the fire of digestion. It teaches us that while the world is complex and rooted in our actions, the path to peace lies in understanding our connection to the ultimate Spirit.

By following the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita and the insights of masters like Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda, as interpreted by Pedro Nonell, we can learn to navigate the world with detachment and devotion, eventually finding refuge in the supreme abode from which there is no return.

The Bhagavad Gita according to Swami Vivekananda