Its form is not perceived here as it truly is: it has no beginning, no end, and no fixed base. Cut down this deeply rooted ashvattha tree with the strong sword of detachment.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 15.3
Hindi · हिन्दी
इस संसारवृक्षका जैसा रूप देखनेमें आता है, वैसा यहाँ विचार करनेपर मिलता नहीं क्योंकि इसका न तो आदि है, न अन्त है और न स्थिति ही है । इसलिये इस दृढ़ मूलोंवाले संसाररूप अश्वत्थवृक्षको दृढ़ असङ्गतारूप शस्त्रके द्वारा काटकर ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
नnotरूपम्formअस्यof thisइहhereतथाthusउपलभ्यतेis perceivedनnotअन्तःendनnotचandआदिःbeginningनnotचandसंप्रतिष्ठाfixed baseअश्वत्थम्ashvattha treeएनम्thisसु-विरूढ-मूलम्deeply rootedअसङ्ग-शस्त्रेणwith the weapon of detachmentदृढेनstrongछित्त्वाhaving cut
Read literallynot · form · of this · here · thus · is perceived · not · end · not · and · beginning · not · and · fixed base · ashvattha tree · this · deeply rooted · with the weapon of detachment · strong · having cut
Understanding the verse
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It shifts the mind from trying to map life perfectly to severing attachment to appearances.
The world-tree cannot be grasped as a normal thing, because it has no clear beginning, end, or stable base. Cut through it with firm detachment.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, with Arjuna frozen between duty and fear, Krishna explains the world as a vast tree of changing appearances. This verse gives the method: do not try to master it by grasping it; cut through attachment itself.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You keep replaying the breakup, the job offer, the family argument, trying to find the exact point where everything became real. The mind wants a fixed story; this verse says the story itself must be cut loose.
The takeaway
“What looks solid loses its grip when you stop clinging to it.”
The world-tree cannot be grasped as a normal thing, because it has no clear beginning, end, or stable base. Cut through it with firm detachment.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 15.3?
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 15.3?
Verse 3 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 15.3 matter today?
You keep replaying the breakup, the job offer, the family argument, trying to find the exact point where everything became real. The mind wants a fixed story; this verse says the story itself must be cut loose.
It shifts the mind from trying to map life perfectly to severing attachment to appearances.
What this verse means
The world-tree cannot be grasped as a normal thing, because it has no clear beginning, end, or stable base. Cut through it with firm detachment.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, with Arjuna frozen between duty and fear, Krishna explains the world as a vast tree of changing appearances. This verse gives the method: do not try to master it by grasping it; cut through attachment itself.
Why this verse still matters
You keep replaying the breakup, the job offer, the family argument, trying to find the exact point where everything became real. The mind wants a fixed story; this verse says the story itself must be cut loose.
“What looks solid loses its grip when you stop clinging to it.”
Explore related themes: vairagya (51 verses)