BhG 15.1

syntax

śrī-bhagavān (the glorious Lord) uvāca (he spoke):
ūrdhva-mūlam (whose roots are above) adhaḥ-śākham (whose branches are below) avyayam (imperishable) aśvattham (the holy fig tree) prāhuḥ (they call).
chandāṁsi (Vedic hymns) yasya (whose) parṇāni (leaves) [santi] (they are).
yaḥ (he who) tam (that) veda (he knows),
saḥ (he) veda-vit (knower of the Vedas).

grammar

śrī-bhagavān	–	śrī-bhagavant 1n.1 m.; TP: śriyā yukto bhagavān iti – the Lord united with majesty (from: śrī – lustre, majesty, fortune; √bhaj – to share, to love, to rejoice, to worship, bhaga – a share, good fortune, opulence; -mant / -vant – suffix denoting one who possesses, bhagavant – who possesses opulence);
uvāca	–	√vac (to speak) Perf. P 1v.1 – he spoke;
ūrdhva-mūlam	–	ūrdhva-mūla 2n.1 m.; BV: yasya mūlam ūrdhvam asti saḥ – whose root is above (from: √vṛdh – to grow, ūrdhva – upper, high, av. ūrdhvam – above; mūla – root, source, basis, foundation);
adhaḥ-śākham	–	adhaḥ-śākha 2n.1 m.; BV: yasya śākhā adhaḥ santi saḥ – whose branches are below (from: adhas av. – down, below; śākhā – branch, part, division);
aśvattham	–	aśvattha 2n.1 m. – under which a horse stands; holy fig tree / [Ficus Religiosa] (from: aśva – horse; √sthā – to stand; other names of this tree: pippala, bodhi-druma; according to tradition: śvaḥ āgāmi-divasa-paryantaṁ sthāsyatīti śvattham, na śvattham iti aśvattham vinaśvaram – śvas [tomorrow] – lasting till the end of the coming day – this is śvattha, not lasting till the end of the coming day – this is aśvattha, or perishable);
prāhuḥ	–	pra-√ah (to declare) Perf. P 1v.3 – they declared (inflected only in Perf., other forms from: √brū);
avyayam	–	a-vyaya 2n.1 n. – unchangeable (from: vi-√i – to go away, to disappear, vyaya – going away, changeable, expense);
chandāṁsi	–	chandas 1n.3 n. – Vedic hymns (from: chandas – desire, will);
yasya	–	yat sn. 6n.1 m. – whose;
parṇāni	–	parṇa 1n.3 n. – leaves, feathers (from: √parṇ – to be green);
yaḥ	–	yat sn. 1n.1 m. – he who;
tam	–	tat sn. 2n.1 m. – that;
veda	–	√vid (to know, to understand) Perf. P 1v.1 (meaning Praes.) – he knows;
saḥ	–	tat sn. 1n.1 m. – he;
vedavit	–	veda-vit 1n.1 m.; yo vedān vetti saḥ – who knows the Vedas (from: √vid – to know, to understand, veda – the Vedas; -vit – suffix: who knows);

textual variants

adhaḥ-śākham → adhaḥ-śākhām / adhaḥ-śākhāḥ (whose branches are below / branches are below);
yasya → tasya (of this);

Similar verses: Kaṭhopaniṣad 2.3.1 (the first and second padas); Maitry-upaniṣad 6.15;

Śāṃkara

ūrdhva-mūlaṃ kālataḥ sūkṣmatvāt kāraṇatvān nityatvāt mahattvāc cordhvam | ucyate brahmāvyaktaṃ māyā śaktimat, tan mūlam asyeti so’yaṃ saṃsāra-vṛkṣaḥ ūrdhva-mūlaḥ | śruteś ca—ūrdhva-mūlo’vāk-śākha eṣo’śvatthaḥ sanātanaḥ [kṛtaṭhuttaṃ 2.3.1] iti | purāṇe ca—
avyakta-mūla-prabhavas tasyaivānugrahotthitaḥ |
buddhi-skandha-mayaś caiva indriyāntara-koṭaraḥ ||
mahā-bhūta-viśākhaś ca viṣayaiḥ patravāṃs tathā |
dharmādharma-supuṣpaś ca sukha-duḥkha-phalodayaḥ ||
ājīvyaḥ sarva-bhūtānāṃ brahma-vṛkṣaḥ sanātanaḥ |
etad brahma-vanaṃ cāsya brahmācarati sākṣivat ||
etac chittvā ca bhittvā ca jñānena paramāsinā |
tataś cātma-gatiṃ prāpya tasmān nāvartate punaḥ || [mātrbh 14.35.20-22] ity ādi |
taṃ ūrdhva-mūlaṃ saṃsāraṃ māyā-mayaṃ vṛkṣam āhuḥ | adhaḥ-śākhaṃ mahad-ahaṃkāra-tanmātrādayaḥ śākhā ivāsyādho bhavantīti so’yam adhaḥ-śākhaḥ, tam adhaḥ-śākham | na śvo’pi sthātety aśvatthas taṃ kṣaṇa-pradhvaṃsinam aśvatthaṃ prāhuḥ kathayanty avyayaṃ saṃsāra-māyāyā anādi-kāla-pravṛttatvāt so’yaṃ saṃsāra-vṛkṣo’vyayaḥ, anādy-anta-dehādi-saṃtānāśrayo hi suprasiddhaḥ, tam avyayam | tasyaiva saṃsāra-vṛkṣasya idam anyat viśeṣaṇaṃ—chandāṃsi yasya parṇāni, chandāṃsi cchādanād ṛg-yajuḥ-sāma-lakṣaṇāni yasya saṃsāra-vṛkṣasya parṇānīva parṇāni | yathā vṛkṣasya parirakṣaṇārthāni parṇāni, tathā vedāḥ saṃsāra-vṛkṣa-parirakṣaṇārthā dharmādharma-tad-dhetu-phala-prakāśanārthatvāt | yathā-vyākhyātaṃ saṃsāra-vṛkṣaṃ sa-mūlaṃ yas taṃ veda sa veda-vit, vedārtha-vid ity arthaḥ | na hi sa-mūlāt saṃsāra-vṛkṣād asmāj jñeyo’nyo’ṇu-mātro’py avaśiṣṭo’stīty ataḥ sarvajñaḥ sarva-vedārtha-vid iti sa-mūla-saṃsāra-vṛkṣa-jñānaṃ stauti

Rāmānuja

yaṃ saṃsārākhyam aśvatham ūrdhvamūlam adhaś śākham avyayaṃ prāhuḥ śrutayaḥ, „ūrdhvamūlo ‚vākchākha eṣo ‚śvatthas sanātanaḥ”, „ūrdhvamūlam avākchākhaṃ vṛkṣaṃ yo veda saṃprti” ityādyāḥ / saptalokopariniviṣṭacaturmukhāditvena tasyordhvamūlatvam / pṛthivīnivāsisakalanarapaśumṛgakrimikīṭapataṅgasthāvarāntatayā adhaś śākhatvam / asaṅgahetubhūtād a samyagjñanodayāt pravāharūpeṇācchedyatvenāvyayatvam / yasya cāśvatthasya chandāṃsi parṇāny āhuḥ / chandāṃsi śrutayaḥ, „vāyavyaṃ śvetam ālabheta bhūtikāmaḥ”, „aindrāgnam ekādaśa kapālaṃ nirvapet prajākāmaḥ” ityādiśrutipratipāditaiḥ kāmyakarmabhir vardhate ‚yaṃ saṃsāravṛkṣa iti chandāṃsy evāsya parṇāni / parṇair hi vṛkṣo vardhate / yas tam evaṃbhūtam aśvatthaṃ veda, sa vedavit / vedo hi saṃsāravṛkṣacchedopāyaṃ vadati; chedyavṛkṣasvarūpajñānaṃ chedanopāyajñanopayogīti vedavid ity ucyate

Śrīdhara

pūrvādhyānte māṃ ca yo ‚vyabhicāreṇa bhakti-yogena sevate [Gītā 14.26] ity ādinā parameśvaram ekānta-bhaktyā bhajatas tat-prasāda-labdha-jñānena brahma-bhāvo bhavatīty uktam | na caikānta-bhaktiḥ jñānaṃ cāviraktasya sambhavatīti vairāgya-pūrvakaṃ jñānam upadeṣṭu-kāmaḥ prathamaṃ tāvat sārdha-ślokābhyāṃ saṃsāra-svarūpaṃ vṛkṣa-rūpakālaṅkāreṇa varṇayan bhagavān uvāca ūrdhva-mūlam iti | ūrdhvam uttamaḥ kṣarākṣarābhyām utkṛṣṭaḥ puruṣottamo mūlaṃ yasya tam | adha iti tato ‚rvācīnāṃ kāryopādhayo hiraṇyagarbhādayo gṛhyante | te tu śākhā iva śākhā yasya tam | vinaśvaratvena śvaḥ prabhāta-paryantam api na sthāsyatīti viśvāsānarhatvād aśvatthaṃ prāhuḥ | pravāha-rūpeṇāvicchedād avyayaṃ ca prāhuḥ | ūrdhva-mūlo ‚vāk-śākha eṣo ‚śvatthaḥ sanātana [KaṭhU 2.3.1] ity ādyāḥ śrutayaḥ | chandāṃsi vedā yasya parṇāni dharmādharma-pratipādana-dvāreṇa cchāyā-sthānīyaiḥ karma-phalaiḥ saṃsāra-vṛkṣasya sarva-jīvāśrayaṇīyatva-pratipādanāt parṇa-sthānīyā vedāḥ | yas tam evambhūtam aśvatthaṃ veda sa eva vedārtha-vit | saṃsāra-prapañca-vṛkṣasya mūlam īśvaraḥ | brahmādayas tad-aṃśāḥ śākhā-sthānīyāḥ | sa ca saṃsāra-vṛkso vinaśvaraḥ | pravāha-rūpeṇa nityaś ca | vedoktaiḥ karmabhiḥ sevyatām āpāditaś ca ity etāvān eva hi vedārthaḥ | ata evaṃ vidvān vedavid iti stūyate

Madhusūdana

tatra viraktasyaiva saṃsārād bhagavat-tattva-jñāne ‚dhikāro nānyatheti pūrvādhyāyoktaṃ parameśvarādhīna-prakṛti-puruṣa-saṃyoga-kāryaṃ saṃsāraṃ vṛkṣa-rūpa-kalpanayā varṇayati vairāgyāya prastuta-guṇātītatvopāyatvāt tasya | ūrdhvam utkṛṣṭaṃ mūlaṃ kāraṇaṃ sva-prakāśa-paramānanda-rūpatvena nityatvena ca brahma | atahvordhvaṃ sarva-saṃsāra-bādhe ‚py abādhitaṃ sarva-saṃsāra-bhramādhiṣṭhānaṃ brahma tad eva māyayā mūlam asyety ūrdhva-mūlam | adha ity arvācīnāḥ kāryopādhayo hiraṇyagrabhādyā gṛhyante | te nānā-dik-prasṛtatvāc chākhā iva śākhā asyety adhaḥ-śākham | āśu-vināśitvena na śvo ‚pi sthāteti viśvāsānarham aśvattham māyā-mayaṃ saṃsāra-vṛkṣam avyayam anādy-ananta-dehādi-santānāśrayam ātma-jñānam antareṇānucchedyam anantam avyayam āhuḥ śrutayaḥ smṛtayaś ca | śrutayas tāvat — ūrdhva-mūlo ‚vāk-śākha eṣo ‚śvatthaḥ sanātanaḥ [KaṭhU 2.3.1] ity ādyaḥ kaṭha-vallīṣu paṭhitāḥ | arvāñco nikṛṣṭāḥ kāryopādhayo mahad-ahaṅkāra-tanmātrādayo vā śākhā asyety arvāk-śākha ity adhaḥ-śākha-pada-samānārthaḥ | sanātana tiy avyaya-pada-samānārtham |
smṛtayaś ca-
avyakta-mūla-prabhavas tasyaivānugrahotthitaḥ |
buddhi-skandha-mayaś caiva indriyāntara-koṭaraḥ ||
mahā-bhūta-viśākhaś ca viṣayaiḥ patravāṃs tathā |
dharmādharma-supuṣpaś ca sukha-duḥkha-phalodayaḥ ||
ājīvyaḥ sarva-bhūtānāṃ brahma-vṛkṣaḥ sanātanaḥ |
etad brahma-vanaṃ cāsya brahmācarati sākṣivat ||
etac chittvā ca bhittvā ca jñānena paramāsinā |
tataś cātma-gatiṃ prāpya tasmān nāvartate punaḥ || [Mbh 14.35.20-22] ity ādayaḥ |
avyaktam avyākṛtaṃ māyopādhikaṃ brahma tad eva mūlaṃ kāraṇaṃ tasmāt prabhavo yasya sa tathā | tasyaiva mūlasyāvyaktasyānugrahād atidṛḍhatvād utthitaḥ saṃvardhitaḥ | vṛkṣasya hi śākhāḥ skandhād udbhavanti | saṃsārasya ca buddheḥ sakāśān nānā-vidhāḥ pariṇāmā bhavanti | tena sādharmyeṇa buddhir eva skandhas tan-mayas tat-pracuro ‚yam | indriyāṇām antarāṇi cchidrāṇy eva koṭarāṇi yasya sa tathā | mahānti bhūtāny ākāśādīni pṛthivy-antāni vividhāḥ śākhā yasya viśākhaḥ stambho yasyeti vā | ājīvya upajīvyaḥ | brahmaṇā paramātmanādhiṣṭhito vṛkṣo brahma-vṛkṣaḥ | ātma-jñānaṃ vinā chettum aśakyatayā sanātanaḥ | etad brahma-vanam asya brahmaṇo jīva-rūpasya bhogyaṃ vananīyaṃ sambhajanīyam iti vanaṃ brahma sākṣivad ācarati na tv etat kṛtena lipyata ity arthaḥ | etad brahma-vanaṃ saṃsāra-vṛkṣātmakaṃ chittvā ca bhittvā cāhaṃ, brahmāsmīty atidṛḍha-jñāna-khaḍgena sa-mūlaṃ nikṛtyety arthaḥ ātma-rūpāṃ gatiṃ prāpya tasmād ātma-rūpān mokṣān nāvartata ity arthaḥ | spaṣṭam itarat |
atra ca gaṅgā-taraṅga-nudyamānottuṅga-tat-tīra-tiryaṅ-nipatitam ardhonmūlitaṃ mārutena mahāntam aśvattham upamānīkṛtya jīvantam iyaṃ rūpaka-kalpaneti draṣṭavyam | tena nordhva-mūlatvādhaḥ-śākhatvādy-anupapattiḥ | yasya māyā-mayasyāśvatthasya cchandāṃsi cchādanāt tattva-vastu-prāvaraṇāt saṃsāra-vṛkṣa-rakṣaṇād vā karma-kāṇḍāni ṛg-yajuḥ-sāma-lakṣaṇāni parṇānīva parṇāni | yathā vṛkṣasya parirakṣaṇāthāni parṇāni bhavanti tathā saṃsāra-vṛkṣasya parirakṣaṇāthāni karma-kāṇḍāni dharmādharmaa-tad-dhetu-phala-prakāśanārthatvāt teṣām | yas taṃ yathā-vyākhyātaṃ sa-mūlaṃ saṃsāra-vṛkṣaṃ māyā-mayam aśvatthaṃ veda jānāti sa veda-vit karma-brahmākhya-vedārtha-vit sa evety arthaḥ | saṃsāra-vṛkṣasya hi mūlaṃ brahma hiraṇyagarbhādayaś ca jīvāḥ śākhā-sthānīyāḥ | sa ca saṃsāra-vṛkṣaḥ svarūpeṇa vinaśvaraḥ pravāha-rūpeṇa cānantaḥ | sa ca vedoktaiḥ karmabhiḥ sicyate brahma-jñānena ca cchidyata ity etāvān eva hi vedārthaḥ | yaś ca vedārthavit sa eva sarva-vid iti sa-mūla-vṛkṣa-jñānaṃ stauti sa vedavid iti

Viśvanātha

pūrvādhyāye —
māṃ ca yo ‚vyabhicāreṇa bhakti-yogena sevate |
sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate || [Gītā 14.26] ity uktam |
tatra tava manuṣyasya bhakti-yogena kathaṃ brahma-bhāva iti cet, satyam ahaṃ manuṣya eva kintu brahmaṇo ‚pi tasya pratiṣṭhā paramāśraya ity asya sūtra-rūpasya vṛtti-sthānīyo ‚yaṃ pañcadaśādhyāya ārabhyate | tatra sa guṇān samatītya ity uktam iti guṇamyo ‚yaṃ saṃsāraḥ kaḥ, kuto vāyaṃ pravṛttas tad-bhaktyā saṃsāram atikrāmyan jīvo vā kaḥ | brahma-bhūyāya kalpate ity uktaṃ brahma vā kiṃ | brahmaṇaḥ pratiṣṭhā tvaṃ vā ka ity-ādy-apekṣāyāṃ prathamam atiśayokty-alaṅkāreṇa saṃsāro ‚yam adbhuto ‚śvattha-vṛkṣa iti varṇayati | ūrdhve sarva-lokopari-tale satya-loke prakṛti-bījottha-prathama-praroha-rūpa-mahat-tattvātmakaś caturmukha eka eva mūlaṃ yasya tam | adhaḥ svar-bhuvor-bhūlokeṣu anantā deva-gandharva-kinnarāsura-rākṣasa-preta-bhūta-manuṣya-gavāśvādi-paśu-pakṣi-kṛmi-kīṭa-pataṅga-sthāvarās tāḥ śākhā yasya tam aśvatthaṃ dharmādi-caturvarga-sādhakatvād aśvattham uttamaṃ vṛkṣam | śleṣeṇa bhaktimatāṃ na śvaḥ sthāsyatīty aśvatthaṃ naṣṭa-prāyam ity arthaḥ | abhaktānāṃ tv avyayam anaśvaram | chandāṃsi vāyavyaṃ śvetam ālabheta bhūmikām aindram ekādaśaka-pālaṃ nirvapet prajākāmaḥ ity ādyāḥ karma-pratipādakā vedāḥ saṃsāra-vardhakatvāt parṇāni | vṛkṣo hi parṇaiḥ śobhate | yas taṃ jānāti sa vedajñaḥ | tathā ca ūrdhva-mūlo ‚vāk-śākha eṣo ‚śvatthaḥ sanātanaḥ [KaṭhU 2.3.1] iti kaṭha-vallī-śrutiḥ

Baladeva

pūrvatra vijñānānandasyautpattika-guṇāṣṭakasyāpi jīvasya karma-rūpānādi-vāsanānuguṇena bhagavat-saṅkalpena prakṛti-guṇa-saṅgaḥ | sa ca bahuvidhas tad-atyayaś ca bhagavad-bhakti-śiraskena viveka-jñānena bhavet tasmiṃś ca sati samprāpta-nija-svarūpo jīvo bhagavantam āśritya prmodo sarvadā tasmiṃs tiṣṭhatīty uktam | atha tad-viveka-jñāna-sthairya-karaṃ vairāgyaṃ jīvasya bhajanīya-bhagavad-aṃśatvaṃ bhagavataḥ svetara-sarvottamatvaṃ cokteṣv artheṣūpayogāya pañcadaśe ‚smin varṇyate | tatra tāvad guṇa-viracitasya saṃsārasya vairāgya-vaiccedyatvāt saṃsāraṃ vṛkṣatvena vairāgyaṃ ca śastratvena rūpayan varṇayati bhagavān — ūrdhvamūlam ity ādibhis tribhiḥ |
saṃsāra-rūpam aśvattham ūrdhva-mūlam adhaḥ-śākhaṃ prāhuḥ | ūrdhvaṃ sarvopari-satya-loke pradhāna-bījottha-prathama-praroha-rūpa-mahat-tattvātmaka-caturmukha-rūpaṃ mūlaṃ yasya saḥ | adhaḥ satya-lokād arvācīneṣu svar-bhuvar-bhūr-lokeṣu deva-gandharva-kinnarāsura-yakṣa-rākṣasa-manuṣya-paśu-pakṣi-kīṭa-pataṅga-sthāvarāntā nānādik-prasṛtatvāc chākhā yasya tam | caturvarga-phalāśrayatvād aśvattham uttama-vṛkṣam | tādṛśena viveka-jñānena vinā nivṛtter abhāvād avyayaṃ pravāha-rūpeṇa nityaṃ ca | tam āhuḥ śrutayaś cātra —
ūrdhva-mūlo ‚vāk-śākha
eṣo ‚śvatthaḥ sanātanaḥ |
ūrdhva-mūlam arvāk-śākhaṃ
vṛkṣaṃ yo veda samprati || [KaṭhU 2.3.1] ity ādikāḥ |
yasya saṃsārāśvatthasya chandāṃsi karmākarma-pratipādakāni śruti-vākyāni vāsanāā-rūpa-tan-nidāna-vardhakatvāt parṇāni prāhus tāni cchandāṃsi vāyavyaṃ śvetam ālabheta bhūti-kāma aindram ekādaśaka-pālaṃ nirvapet prajā-kāmaḥ ity ādīni bodhyāni | patrais tarur vardhate śobhate ca tam aśvatthaṃ yo veda yathoktaṃ jānāti sa eva veda-vit | vedaḥ khalu saṃsārasya vṛkṣatvaṃ chedyatvābhiprāyeṇāha tad-chedanopāyajño vedārthavid iti bhāvaḥ |