Verse 15.1

श्री भगवानुवाचऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम्।छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित्।।15.1।।

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

Meaning

The OG Lord said: Yo, the wise ones are all about this indestructible peepul tree, roots up top, branches down low. The leaves? Those are the verses, the hymns. If you know this tree, you're a total Veda master.

Commentary

Okay, so like, this whole universe thing? It's totally a metaphor, a low-key sick peepul tree. It's, like, indestructible, you can't even chop it down unless you're, like, *really* woke and have the knowledge axe. Everyone's vibing off the Lord for their karma, 'cause only He knows the tea on cause and effect. He's the ultimate karma dispenser. Even the wisest peeps need the Lord's help to get that knowledge glow-up. It's all about the Lord's grace, unlocking that Advaita Vedanta vibe. The desire for oneness? That's straight-up Lord-given, the ultimate fear-buster. If you're all in on the Lord, no cap, you're transcending the three gunas, getting that self-knowledge, and escaping the endless cycle of rebirth. If you're all about that Brahman life, you're good to go. The Lord's dropping truth bombs on Arjuna about Brahman and the path to union. He's using the peepul tree to, like, *totally* drop the need for attachment. Only those with zero attachment can get that self-knowledge. Samsara is a tree, and you gotta chop it down. All other trees have roots down low, but this one? Its roots are up high, in Brahman. Brahman is the ultimate chill spot, eternal, supreme, the source of everything. That's the 'above' root. The Puranas are all about this tree springing from Brahman. Buddhi is the trunk, senses are the hollows, elements are the branches, sense objects are the leaves, dharma and adharma are the flowers, pleasure and pain are the fruits. Chop it down with the knowledge sword, and you're chilling in eternal Brahman bliss, no return trip. Brahman is the root, the top, the whole shebang. There's no up, down, or middle in the One. Asvattha? Means 'not lasting,' totally fitting for this ever-changing world tree. The Katha Upanishad is all about this tree too. The Gita is, like, the ultimate Upanishad summary. Samsara is usually about family and daily life, but it's way bigger than that. It's the whole cosmic shebang, ever-changing. Hiranyagarbha, individual souls, cosmic intelligence, ego, elements...all branches extending downwards, getting grosser and grosser. Ego is the sprout, then mind, then elements, senses, and all that. Actions with expectations create new branches, leading to rebirth. Mineral, plant, animal, human kingdoms...all branches. The human body is the water for this tree. The body itself is the peepul tree, the spine is the root, nerves are the branches. Avyaya? Eternal, because it's an endless cycle of births. Chop it down with Brahman knowledge. The Vedas protect this tree, talking about virtue, vice, causes, and effects. Knowing this tree and its roots? That's knowing the Vedas, knowing everything. The Lord's dropping this knowledge to help you level up.