Chapter XV · Śloka 1
Śrī Kṛṣṇa uvāca
ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखम्
अश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम् ।
छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि
यस्तं वेद स वेदवित् ॥
अश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम् ।
छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि
यस्तं वेद स वेदवित् ॥
ūrdhva-mūlam adhaḥ-śākham
aśvatthaṃ prāhur avyayam |
chandāṃsi yasya parṇāni
yas taṃ veda sa veda-vit ||
aśvatthaṃ prāhur avyayam |
chandāṃsi yasya parṇāni
yas taṃ veda sa veda-vit ||
They speak of the eternal Aśvattha tree with roots above and branches below, whose leaves are the Vedic hymns. One who knows it is a knower of the Vedas.
The cosmic tree of saṃsāra is described with its roots in Brahman above and its branches spread downward into manifest creation. Its leaves are the Vedas — sustaining and nourishing the whole structure.