Srimad Bhagavad Gita -Ramanujacharya 467

Srimad Bhagavad Gita -Ramanujacharya

Chapter-15 Puruṣottama Yogaḥ

śrī bhagavan uvāca ūrdhva mūlam adhaḥ śākham aśvatthaṃ prāhur-avyayam | chandāṃsi yasya parṇāni yastaṃ veda sa vedavit || 1 || The Blessed Lord said: 1. They [the Vedas] speak of an indestructible Aśvattha tree with its roots above and branches below, the leaves of which are the injunctions; one who knows this knows the Vedas. Commentary The Vedas often depict Samsāra as the imperishable Aśvattha (banyan) tree having its roots above and branches below, in such passages as Ka. Up., 6:1 and Tait. Ar., 1.11.5 It has its 'roots above' since it arises from Brahma [the Creator or Hiranyagarbha] who is located beyond the seven realms. It has 'branches below' developing into beings like humans, animals, beasts, worms, insects, birds and plants and minerals. It is 'indestructible' because it cannot be felled except with the dawn of perfect knowledge which causes detachment — it is like a flowing current. The leaves of this Aśvattha tree are said to be the prescriptions of the Vedas because this tree of Samsāra grows by actions prompted by worldly desires as taught in specific passages. The tree indeed flourishes with the help of these ‘leaves’. One who knows the Aśvattha tree in this way 'knows the Vedas'. The Veda also describes the means of felling this tree of Samsāra. One who understands this is called the ‘knower of the Vedas’, since knowledge of the nature of the tree to be cut down is helpful in deciding the means of felling the tree.