Bhagavad Gita – class notes – Chapter 16 – Daivasura sampad vibhaga Yoga

Introduction

Chapter 15 of the Bhagavad Gītā is called Purushottama Yoga, which translates to the Yoga of the Supreme Person. In this chapter, Krishna presents a powerful metaphor: the material world is an inverted Ashvattha (fig) tree, whose roots are in the spiritual realm (above) and whose branches spread downward into the material world. Through this image, Krishna teaches about the nature of existence, how beings are entangled in the world, and how detachment (vairāgya) acts like an “axe” to sever worldly bonds.  He then explains three kinds of Purusha (being/soul): the perishable (kṣara), the imperishable (akṣara), and Purushottama, the Supreme Person who transcends both. By realizing Purushottama and cutting one’s attachments, one can attain liberation and union with the Divine. Click Here To Access more other text.

Benefits of Studying Chapter 15

Studying this chapter gives you:

1. A Clear Vision of Reality: The inverted tree metaphor helps you see how the material world is rooted in the spiritual, and why worldly attachments are ultimately binding.

2. Detachment & Liberation: Krishna gives a practical “tool” — the axe of non-attachment — for freeing oneself from the cycle of birth and death.

3. Deeper Self-Knowledge: You understand your identity as a jīva (individual soul) and how you relate to the Supreme.

4. Recognition of the Divine Within: Krishna explains His immanence — He pervades all beings, is present in their hearts, and is the source of memory and knowledge.

5. Philosophical & Devotional Integration: The chapter beautifully combines jnāna (knowledge) and bhakti (devotion) — knowing the Supreme and surrendering to Him is the path. Click view PDF.

Meaning & Translation: Verses 1–10

Here’s a detailed meaning / paraphrase + spiritual insight for verses 1–10 (based on Vedanta Students & other sources):

Verse 1

• • Translation / Meaning: Krishna says: “They speak of an eternal Ashvattha tree, whose roots are above and branches below; its leaves are the Vedic hymns.”

  • Spiritual Insight: This tree is a symbol of the entire material universe. The “leaves” being the Vedas suggests that Vedic knowledge nourishes the world, but true understanding comes when one “knows” the tree deeply.

Verse 2

• • Meaning: Its branches spread both downward and upward, nourished by the three guṇas (sattva, rajas, tamas). The “buds” are sense-objects, and its roots go down into mankind, binding them through their actions.

  • Spiritual Insight: Our desires and sense-objects feed and grow this tree of samsāra. The guṇas are what sustain this material existence and tie beings to action. Click view PDF.

Verse 3

• • Meaning: The true shape of this tree can’t be perceived in this world — neither its origin, foundation, nor its end. One must cut it with the strong “axe” of detachment.

  • Spiritual Insight: The world’s deeper structure is subtle and hidden. Liberation requires dispassion — a strong detachment from worldly attachments, not just intellectual understanding.

Verse 4

• • Meaning: After cutting it down, one should seek the place (goal) from which no one returns. One should surrender to the Supreme Person from whom everything has originated.

  • Spiritual Insight: The goal is the Supreme Abode — not a place of return, but an eternal, unchanging reality (Purushottama). Surrender to the Supreme is the path to that goal. Click view PDF.

Verse 5

• • Meaning: Those who are free from delusion, have conquered sorrow, abide in the Self, have turned away from desires, and are free from the pairs of opposites (pleasure and pain), reach the eternal goal.

  • Spiritual Insight: True seekers cultivate purity of mind, equanimity, and self-mastery. These qualities are marks of someone who is on the path to liberation.

Verse 6

• • Meaning: In that supreme abode, neither the sun nor the moon nor fire gives light. Having gone there, one does not return.

  • Spiritual Insight: The supreme realm is not illuminated by physical sources — it’s self-luminous, beyond material light. It’s a permanent, non-returning abode. Click view PDF.

Verse 7

• • Meaning: A part of Me (Krishna) becomes a living soul (jīva) in the world; this soul draws to itself the five senses, with the mind as the sixth, and resides in material nature.

  • Spiritual Insight: Our individual selves are essentially parts of Krishna. But when embodied, they operate via senses + mind, getting caught in nature.

Verse 8

• • Meaning: When that soul leaves the body at death, He (Krishna) takes with Him the senses and the mind, just like the wind carries fragrance from flowers.

  • Spiritual Insight: Death is not total annihilation of consciousness. The subtle mind and senses continue; the soul carries them beyond physical life. Click view PDF.

Verse 9

• • Meaning: The soul, which presides over the ears, eyes, touch, taste, smell, and mind, enjoys the objects of the senses

  • Spiritual Insight: The soul is the experiencer — through its faculties, it engages with material objects. But this engagement is not the ultimate truth; there’s something higher (Purushottama).

Verse 10

• • Meaning: The ignorant do not perceive Him (Krishna) when He departs, remains, or enjoys; but those endowed with the “eye of knowledge” (spiritual vision) behold Him.

  • Spiritual Insight: Ordinary people, stuck in illusion, fail to see Krishna’s true presence. Only the wise, with spiritual insight, recognize Him as the witness, the doer, and the enjoyer. Click view PDF.

How to Study This Chapter

Here are some suggestions for studying Chapter 15 effectively:

1. Read with Commentary

   • Use the Vedanta Students versewise PDF. Read one verse at a time, along with its detailed explanation.

2. Reflect & Journal

   • After each verse, pause and ask: Which part of the inverted tree am I most caught in? Which attachments should I “cut” in my life?

3. Meditate / Visualize

   • Use the imagery of the Ashvattha tree in meditation: imagine its roots above, branches below, and see how your desires connect to it.

4. Practice Detachment

   • Actively practice vairāgya: in daily life, notice attachments (to things, people, status) and mentally “axe” them by remembering verse 3.

5. Read Devotionally

   • Recognize Krishna not just as a teacher, but as the Supreme Person (Purushottama). Let that awareness shape your attitude. Click view PDF.

6. Revisit Periodically

   • After the first reading, revisit the chapter after a few weeks / months. With time, your understanding of Purushottama and detachment might deepen.

Why Study This Chapter

• To Understand the Nature of Samsāra: The inverted tree metaphor helps you grasp how worldly life is structured and why it’s binding.

• To Cultivate Detachment: Krishna gives a very practical way (the “axe” of non-attachment) to free yourself from identification with the world.

• To Realize the Supreme: The chapter reveals who Krishna is: not just a guru or friend, but Purushottama, the highest Person.

• To Align Knowledge & Devotion: This chapter is a bridge: it links jñāna (knowledge) and bhakti (devotion) in a way that is accessible and powerful.

• For Liberation: By internalizing these teachings, one can transcend the transient and reach the eternal, self-luminous abode. Click view PDF.

How Many Times to Study

• First Read: Read all 20 verses (or at least the first 10) carefully with the Vedanta Students commentary.

• Weekly Study: Over 4–6 weeks, revisit 2–3 verses per week, reflect deeply, and journal.

• Daily Reflection / Practice: Use the tree metaphor as a mental reminder during your daily life; practice detachment consciously.

• Long-Term Review: After a few months (or during a retreat), re-read the chapter to deepen your insight as your spiritual understanding matures. Click view PDF.

Conclusion

Chapter 15, Purushottama Yoga, is one of the most philosophically rich and spiritually powerful chapters of the Bhagavad Gītā. Through the metaphor of the inverted Ashvattha tree, Krishna shows how the material world is deeply rooted in the spiritual, yet entangles souls through desire and action. He teaches that detachment is essential: one must “cut” worldly bonds with the strong axe of dispassion. Beyond the perishable (kṣara) and the imperishable (akṣara), there is Purushottama — the Supreme Person, Krishna Himself — who pervades all beings and transcends all. By awakening to this truth and cultivating the “eye of knowledge,” one can see the Divine in everything, transcend the cycle of birth and death, and attain the eternal, self-luminous abode. For a spiritual seeker, this chapter provides both a roadmap and the inspiration to move from illusion to liberation.