Verse 1

श्रीभगवानुवाच |

The Blessed Lord said They say that the peepul Tree, which has its roots upward and the branches downward, and of which the Vedas are the leaves, is imperishable. He who realizes it is knower of the Vedas.

Verse 2

अधश्चोर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखा

The branches of that (Tree), extending down-wards and upwards, are strengthened by the alities and have sense-objects as their shoots. And the roots, which are followed by actions, spread down-wards in the human world [According to A.G. and M.S. manusya-loke means a body distinguished by Brahminhood etc.].

Verse 3

न रूपमस्येह तथोपलभ्यते

Its form is not perceived here in that way; nor its end, nor beginning, nor continuance, After felling this Peepul whose roots are well developed, with the strong sword of detachment-;

Verse 4

ततः पदं तत्परिमार्गितव्यं

Thereafter, that State has to be sought for, going where they do not return again: I take refuge in that Primeval Person Himself, from whom has ensued the eternal Manifestation.

Verse 5

निर्मानमोहा जितसङ्गदोषा

The wise ones who are free from pride and non-discrimination, who have conered the evil of association, [Hatred and love arising from association with foes and friends.] who are ever devoted to spirituality, completely free from desires, free from the dualities called happiness and sorrow, reach that undecaying State.

Verse 6

न तद्भासयते सूर्यो न शशाङ्को न पावकः |

Neither the sun nor the moon nor fire illumines That. That is My supreme Abode, reaching which they do not return.

Verse 7

ममैवांशो जीवलोके जीवभूतः सनातनः |

It is verily a part of Mine which, becoming the eternal individual soul in the region of living beings, draws (to itself) the organs which have the mind as their sixth, and which abide in Nature.

Verse 8

शरीरं यदवाप्नोति यच्चाप्युत्क्रामतीश्वरः |

When the master leaves it and even when he assumes a body, he departs taking these, as wind (carries away) odours from their receptacles.

Verse 9

श्रोत्रं चक्षुः स्पर्शनं च रसनं घ्राणमेव च |

This one enjoys the objects by presiding over the ear, eyes, skin and tongue as also the nose and the mind.

Verse 10

उत्क्रामन्तं स्थितं वापि भुञ्जानं वा गुणान्वितम् |

Persons who are diversely deluded do not see it even when it is leaving or residing (in this body), or experiencing, or in association with the alities. Those with the eye of knowledge see.

Verse 11

यतन्तो योगिनश्चैनं पश्यन्त्यात्मन्यवस्थितम् |

And the yogis who are diligent see this one as existing in themselves. The non-discriminating ones who lack self-control do not see this one-though (they be) diligent.

Verse 12

यदादित्यगतं तेजो जगद्भासयतेऽखिलम् |

That light in the sun which illumines the whole world, that which is in the moon, and that which is in fire,-know that light to be Mine.

Verse 13

गामाविश्य च भूतानि धारयाम्यहमोजसा |

And entering the earth I sustain the beings through (My) power; and nourish all the plants by becoming Soma [According to S. and most other translators, Soma means the moon.-Tr.] which is of the nature of sap.

Verse 14

अहं वैश्वानरो भूत्वा प्राणिनां देहमाश्रितः |

Taking the form of Vaisvanara and residing in the bodies of creatures, I, in association with Prana and Apana, digest the four kinds of food.

Verse 15

सर्वस्य चाहं हृदि सन्निविष्टो

I am seated in the hearts of all beings. From Me come memory, knowledge, and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas, I alone am to be known. Indeed, I am the author of Vedanta and the knower of the Vedas.

Verse 16

द्वाविमौ पुरुषौ लोके क्षरश्चाक्षर एव च |

There are these two persons in the world-the mutable and the immutable. The mutable consists of all things; the one existing as Maya is called the immutable.

Verse 17

उत्तमः पुरुषस्त्वन्यः परमात्मेत्युधाहृतः |

But different is th supreme Person who is spoken of as the transcendental Self, who, permeating the three worlds, upholds (them), and is the imperisahble God.

Verse 18

यस्मात्क्षरमतीतोऽहमक्षरादपि चोत्तमः |

Since I am transcendental to the mutable and above even the immutable, hence I am well known in the world and in the Vedas as the supreme Person.

Verse 19

यो मामेवमसम्मूढो जानाति पुरुषोत्तमम् |

O scion of the Bharata dynasty, he who, being free from delusion, knows Me the supreme Person thus, he is all-knowing and adores Me with his whole being.

Verse 20

इति गुह्यतमं शास्त्रमिदमुक्तं मयानघ |

O sinless one, this most secret scripture has thus been uttered by Me. Understanding this, one becomes wise and has his duties fulfilled, O scion of the Bharata dynasty.