Its branches spread below, above, and across. They are nourished by the three qualities, with sense-pleasures as their shoots. In the human world, action-bound roots extend everywhere, tying beings to results.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 15.2
Hindi · हिन्दी
उस संसारवृक्षकी गुणोंसत्त्व, रज और तम के द्वारा बढ़ी हुई तथा विषयरूप कोंपलोंवाली शाखाएँ नीचे, मध्यमें और ऊपर सब जगह फैली हुई हैं । मनुष्यलोकमें कर्मोंके अनुसार बाँधनेवाले मूल भी नीचे और ऊपर सभी लोकोंमें व्याप्त हो रहे हैं ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
अधःbelowचandऊर्ध्वंaboveप्रसृताःspread outतस्यof thatशाखाःbranchesगुणप्रवृद्धाःgrown by the qualitiesविषयप्रवालाःwith sense-objects as shootsअधःbelowचandमूलानिrootsअनुसन्ततानिextended everywhereकर्मानुबन्धीनिbound by actionमनुष्यलोकेin the human world
Read literallybelow · and · above · spread out · of that · branches · grown by the qualities · with sense-objects as shoots · below · and · roots · extended everywhere · bound by action · in the human world
Understanding the verse
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The world-tree's branches feed on the three gunas, sprout sense-pleasures, and send action-bound roots into human life.
The world-tree spreads everywhere, fed by the three qualities and by desire for sense-pleasures. Its roots reach through human life through action and its consequences.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna has just described the upside-down world-tree of existence to Arjuna. Now he shows how it grows: the three qualities feed its branches, sense-pleasures keep them alive, and action binds the roots through human life.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A small loan for a festival leads to another for a wedding, then a third to repay the first. Krishna's tree grows the same way: each desire puts down a root that ties you to results.
The takeaway
“You can feel how deeply life is entangled when desire and action keep feeding the same tree.”
The world-tree spreads everywhere, fed by the three qualities and by desire for sense-pleasures. Its roots reach through human life through action and its consequences.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 15.2?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Purushottama Yoga" (The Yoga of the Supreme Person).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 15.2?
Verse 2 sits in Chapter 15 of the Bhagavad Gita — Purushottama Yoga, "The Yoga of the Supreme Person". The chapter has 20 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 15.2 matter today?
A small loan for a festival leads to another for a wedding, then a third to repay the first. Krishna's tree grows the same way: each desire puts down a root that ties you to results.
The world-tree's branches feed on the three gunas, sprout sense-pleasures, and send action-bound roots into human life.
What this verse means
The world-tree spreads everywhere, fed by the three qualities and by desire for sense-pleasures. Its roots reach through human life through action and its consequences.
Context & commentary
Krishna has just described the upside-down world-tree of existence to Arjuna. Now he shows how it grows: the three qualities feed its branches, sense-pleasures keep them alive, and action binds the roots through human life.
What it looks like today
A small loan for a festival leads to another for a wedding, then a third to repay the first. Krishna's tree grows the same way: each desire puts down a root that ties you to results.
“You can feel how deeply life is entangled when desire and action keep feeding the same tree.”
Explore related themes: gunas (47 verses)