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. Hover 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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It shifts attention from isolated choices to the hidden system of craving and consequence that keeps experience looping.
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 on the battlefield. 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
Why this verse still matters
You keep checking one message, then another, then another. Each small craving feeds the whole pattern until it feels like the pattern is running you.
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?
You keep checking one message, then another, then another. Each small craving feeds the whole pattern until it feels like the pattern is running you.
It shifts attention from isolated choices to the hidden system of craving and consequence that keeps experience looping.
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 on the battlefield. 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.
Why this verse still matters
You keep checking one message, then another, then another. Each small craving feeds the whole pattern until it feels like the pattern is running you.
“You can feel how deeply life is entangled when desire and action keep feeding the same tree.”
Explore related themes: gunas (47 verses)