Urdhvamulam Adhashakham - The Eternal Ashvattha Tree
ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम्। छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित्॥
ūrdhvamūlam adhaḥśākham aśvatthaṃ prāhur avyayam । chandāṃsi yasya parṇāni yas taṃ veda sa vedavit ॥
PM's MessageThe lamp of knowledge not only removes the darkness of ignorance but also illuminates the entire world. Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati ji's divine personality is a living example of this.
Meaning of Ūrdhvamūlam Adhaḥśākham Aśvatthaṃ Prāhur
The wise say that this world is like an eternal Peepal tree, with roots above and branches below. Its leaves are the Vedas. One who understands this tree of worldly existence is said to be a knower of the Vedas.
Word by word
- ऊर्ध्वमूलम्ūrdhvamūlam
with roots above
ऊर्ध्व + मूल
- अधःशाखम्adhaḥśākham
with branches below
अधस् + शाखा
- अश्वत्थम्aśvattham
the ashvattha tree
अश्वत्थ
- प्राहुःprāhuḥ
they call
प्र + √अह्
- अव्ययम्avyayam
imperishable
अ + वि + √इ
- छन्दांसिchandāṁsi
the Vedic metres
√छन्द्
- यस्य पर्णानिyasya parṇāni
whose leaves are
पर्ण
- यः तम् वेदyas taṁ veda
who knows it
√विद्
- सः वेदवित्sa vedavit
he is a knower of the Veda
वेद + √विद्
Commentary
This pivotal verse from the 15th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita uses the metaphor of an inverted Ashvattha (Peepal) tree to explain the nature of manifest existence (Samsara). The 'roots above' symbolize the Supreme Conscious source, while the 'branches below' represent the diversity of the material world. The leaves being 'Chandamsi' (Vedas) suggests that the rituals and knowledge of the world provide the nourishment and outward structure of this existence. To be a 'Vedavit' (knower of the Vedas) is not just to know the scriptures, but to understand the underlying spiritual source and the transient nature of the world, leading one to seek the root above rather than getting lost in the branches.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
More from Bhagavad Gita
View source pageनित्यं परिचरेच्चैव तद्वै सुकृतमुत्तमम्। कीर्तिं पुण्यं यशो लोकान् प्राप्स्यसे राजसत्तम॥
nityaṃ paricareccaiva tadvai sukṛtamuttamam । kīrtiṃ puṇyaṃ yaśo lokān prāpsyase rājasattama ॥
Daily service is praised as an excellent deed that brings merit, renown and higher realms.
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च। निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी॥
adveṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṃ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca । nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ samaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī ॥
The Bhagavad Gita describes a character free from hatred and ego, friendly to all beings and steady in joy and sorrow.
स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः। स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु॥
sve sve karmaṇyabhirataḥ saṁsiddhiṁ labhate naraḥ । svakarmanirataḥ siddhiṁ yathā vindati tacchṛṇu ॥
The Bhagavad Gita teaches that devotion to one's own work is a path to perfection.
More subhashitams on Spirituality
View topic pageज्ञानवांश्च तथा वाग्मी कर्मस्वपि च निष्ठितः। एवं युक्तोऽपि न श्रेयान् यदि शीलविवर्जितः॥
jñānavāṃśca tathā vāgmī karmasvapi ca niṣṭhitaḥ । evaṃ yukto'pi na śreyān yadi śīlavivarjitaḥ ॥
Knowledge, eloquence, and skill in work do not make a person worthy of esteem if good character is absent.
उद्यमः साहसं धैर्यं बुद्धिः शक्तिः पराक्रमः। षडेते यत्र वर्तन्ते तत्र दैवं सहायकृत्॥
udyamaḥ sāhasaṃ dhairyaṃ buddhiḥ śaktiḥ parākramaḥ । ṣaḍete yatra vartante tatra daivaṃ sahāyakṛt ॥
Effort, courage, patience, intelligence, strength, and valor prepare a person to receive the help of providence.
सुखोपविष्टास्ते तत्र पुण्यां चक्रुः कथामिमाम्। धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणामारोग्यं मूलमुत्तमम्॥
sukhopaviṣṭās te tatra puṇyāṃ cakruḥ kathām imām । dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇām ārogyaṃ mūlam uttamam ॥
Charaka Samhita presents good health as the foremost foundation for pursuing dharma, prosperity, desire and liberation.