Purushottama Yoga

ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम्। छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित्॥ 15:1॥

This universe is {like a} banyan tree with roots extending upwards and branches hanging downwards. Within this enduring tree, said to be imperishable, the Vedic hymns serve as {mere} leaves. One who comprehends the essence of this World Tree grasps the essence of the Vedas. (15:1)

अधश्चोर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखा गुणप्रवृद्धा विषयप्रवालाः। अधश्च मूलान्यनुसन्ततानि कर्मानुबन्धीनि मनुष्यलोके॥ 15:2॥

This World Tree, nurtured by the three Modes of Nature, has its branches extending up and down with sense objects for their twigs. Down there in the world of humans, the rootling spread widely, binding men {to the murky material existence} according to their deeds. (15:2)

न रूपमस्येह तथोपलभ्यते नान्तो न चादिर्न च सम्प्रतिष्ठा। अश्वत्थमेनं सुविरूढमूलं असङ्गशस्त्रेण दृढेन छित्त्वा॥ 15:3॥

The character of this World Tree is strange—it is not found the way it is said to be, its beginning and end are hard to decipher, and it is precariously perched {on the border of existence and non-existence}. Therefore, by cutting down this firmly rooted tree with the axe of non-attachment, (15:3)

ततः पदं तत्परिमार्गितव्यं यस्मिन्गता न निवर्तन्ति भूयः। तमेव चाद्यं पुरुषं प्रपद्ये यतः प्रवृत्तिः प्रसृता पुराणी॥ 15:4॥

One should try to find the Destination upon reaching which one is no longer obligated to return to the world. After that, one should resolve thus: "I seek refuge in that {Destination}—the Primeval Being (God)—from whom this olden cosmic process arose and expanded." (15:4)

निर्मानमोहा जितसङ्गदोषा अध्यात्मनित्या विनिवृत्तकामाः। द्वन्द्वैर्विमुक्ताः सुखदुःखसञ्ज्ञैर्गच्छन्त्यमूढाः पदमव्ययं तत्॥ 15:5॥

There are people whose false pride and Ignorance are gone, and they have conquered the evil of worldly attachment. Having called a halt to the ceaseless swings between happiness and sorrow, they dwell eternally in a state of spiritual bliss, having liberated themselves from all worldly cravings. Such enlightened seekers reach that Supreme Eternal Destination. (15:5)

न तद्भासयते सूर्यो न शशाङ्को न पावकः। यद्गत्वा न निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम॥ 15:6॥

My Ultimate Abode is a realm from which there is no return to this world. It remains untouched by the illumination of the sun, moon, or even fire itself; it is my Supreme Dwelling. (15:6)

ममैवांशो जीवलोके जीवभूतः सनातनः। मनःषष्ठानीन्द्रियाणि प्रकृतिस्थानि कर्षति॥ 15:7॥

In the realm of living beings, the soul—my eternal portion—draws the six senses (mind and five subtle sense organs) unto itself, all of which are portion of Nature {leading to its entrapment within a body formed by Nature}. (15:7)

शरीरं यदवाप्नोति यच्चाप्युत्क्रामतीश्वरः। गृहीत्वैतानि संयाति वायुर्गन्धानिवाशयात्॥ 15:8॥

Just as the wind carries the fragrance from its source, the embodied soul, the possessor of the body, upon discarding its physical form, carries the imprints of the mind and senses into its new embodiment. (15:8)

श्रोत्रं चक्षुः स्पर्शनं च रसनं घ्राणमेव च। अधिष्ठाय मनश्चायं विषयानुपसेवते॥ 15:9॥

This person derives pleasure from sensory experiences through the faculties of the ears, eyes, skin, tongue, olfactory senses (nose), and the mind. (15:9)

उत्क्रामन्तं स्थितं वापि भुञ्जानं वा गुणान्वितम्। विमूढा नानुपश्यन्ति पश्यन्ति ज्ञानचक्षुषः॥ 15:10॥

The one who lives in the body or leaves it, and enjoys {the objects of the senses} under the spell cast by the Modes of Nature is not observed by the ignorant. The enlightened ones, however, recognize it with the eyes of wisdom. (15:10)

यतन्तो योगिनश्चैनं पश्यन्त्यात्मन्यवस्थितम्। यतन्तोऽप्यकृतात्मानो नैनं पश्यन्त्यचेतसः॥ 15:11॥

Spiritual seekers who earnestly strive can realize the presence of this soul within themselves. But those whose conscience remains unpurified and tainted by ignorance may struggle to perceive this soul, even with dedicated effort. (15:11)

यदादित्यगतं तेजो जगद्भासयतेऽखिलम्। यच्चन्द्रमसि यच्चाग्नौ तत्तेजो विद्धि मामकम्॥ 15:12॥

The resplendence that illuminates the entire world through the sun and the resplendence found in the moon and fire—know that resplendence as Mine. (15:12)

गामाविश्य च भूतानि धारयाम्यहमोजसा। पुष्णामि चौषधीः सर्वाः सोमो भूत्वा रसात्मकः॥ 15:13॥

Similarly, I infuse the earth with My life force, sustaining all living creatures. In the form of the nurturing moon, I provide nourishment to medicinal plants. (15:13)

अहं वैश्वानरो भूत्वा प्राणिनां देहमाश्रितः। प्राणापानसमायुक्तः पचाम्यन्नं चतुर्विधम्॥ 15:14॥

I take on the form of the vital warmth within the bodies of all living beings, blending with the rhythm of their outgoing and incoming breath. In this way, I facilitate the digestion of the four types of food. (15:14)

सर्वस्य चाहं हृदि सन्निविष्टो मत्तः स्मृतिर्ज्ञानमपोहनञ्च। वेदैश्च सर्वैरहमेव वेद्यो वेदान्तकृद्वेदविदेव चाहम्॥ 15:15॥

I reside within the hearts of all beings. I am the source of memory, knowledge, and forgetfulness. I am the ultimate focus of contemplation in all the Vedas. I am the knower of the Vedas, and I am also the originator of Vedānta. (15:15)

द्वाविमौ पुरुषौ लोके क्षरश्चाक्षर एव च। क्षरः सर्वाणि भूतानि कूटस्थोऽक्षर उच्यते॥ 15:16॥

In this world, there exist two distinct selves—the perishable (Kshara) and the imperishable (Akshara). Among them, the Self residing at the very essence of our being is known as the imperishable Self {representing the true, indestructible soul, which is a fragment of God's own Self}. (15:16)

उत्तमः पुरुषस्त्वन्यः परमात्मेत्युदाहृतः। यो लोकत्रयमाविश्य बिभर्त्यव्यय ईश्वरः॥ 15:17॥

Another exists—the Transcendent Self known as the Supreme Soul (Parama ātma) and Ishvara—beyond decay, encompassing and upholding the three realms. (15:17)

यस्मात्क्षरमतीतोऽहमक्षरादपि चोत्तमः। अतोऽस्मि लोके वेदे च प्रथितः पुरुषोत्तमः॥ 15:18॥

For I transcend the pseudo-self (Kshara Purusha) and surpass even the authentic Self (Akshara Purusha). Therefore, I am renowned among both people and the Vedas as Purushottama, the Supreme Among All Souls. (15:18)

यो मामेवमसम्मूढो जानाति पुरुषोत्तमम्। स सर्वविद्भजति मां सर्वभावेन भारत ॥ 15:19॥

Oh, Bhārata! The enlightened individuals who perceive Me as the Highest Spirit worship Me in every way. (15:19)

इति गुह्यतमं शास्त्रमिदमुक्तं मयानघ। एतद्बुद्ध्वा बुद्धिमान्स्यात्कृतकृत्यश्च भारत॥ 15:20॥

O, the Sinless! Thus, knowing this highest scriptural secret revealed by Me, a person turns wise and blessed! (15:20)