The fifteenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, called đĒđđ°đđˇđđ¤đđ¤đŽđ¯đđđ or Purushottama đ¯đđ, opens in the heart of the đđđ°đđđđˇđđ¤đđ° battlefield. Here, the ancient dialogue between đļđđ°đđđđˇđđŖ and đ
đ°đđđđ¨ continues, surrounded by the tension of war between the đĒđžđđĄđĩđžđ and đđđ°đĩđžđ. In this moment, the chaos of battle fades into the background as đļđđ°đđđđˇđđŖ reveals profound truths about the nature of existence, the soul, and the ultimate reality.
In the previous chapter, đļđđ°đđđđˇđđŖ described the three đđđŖs-đ¸đ¤đđ¤đđĩ, đ°đđ¸đ, and đ¤đŽđ¸đ-and how they bind or free the soul. Now, in Chapter 15, the Gita shifts from analyzing the forces of nature to painting a cosmic picture of the world, the soul, and the Supreme Person.
As the chapter concludes, đļđđ°đđđđˇđđŖ prepares đ
đ°đđđđ¨ for the next step: the path of unwavering devotion. The sixteenth chapter will return to the contrast between divine and demonic qualities, but now with a deeper understanding of the soul's journey. In this way, Chapter 15 stands as a bridge-connecting the analysis of human nature with the promise of liberation through knowledge and devotion.
đđ đļđđ°đ đĒđ°đŽđžđ¤đđŽđ¨đ đ¨đŽđ
đ
đĨ đĒđđđĻđļđđŊđ§đđ¯đžđ¯đ āĨ¤
đĒđđ°đđˇđđ¤đđ¤đŽđĒđđ°đžđĒđđ¤đŋđ¯đđđ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
Om. Salutations to the Supreme Self. Now begins the fifteenth chapter, called 'The Yoga of Attaining the Supreme Person.'
đļđđ°đđđđĩđžđ¨đđĩđžđ
đđ°đđ§đđĩđŽđđ˛đŽđ§đđļđžđđŽđļđđĩđ¤đđĨđ đĒđđ°đžđšđđ°đĩđđ¯đ¯đŽđ āĨ¤
đđđĻđžđđ¸đŋ đ¯đ¸đđ¯ đĒđ°đđŖđžđ¨đŋ đ¯đ¸đđ¤đ đĩđđĻ đ¸ đĩđđĻđĩđŋđ¤đ āĨĨ 1 āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
The Blessed Lord said: They speak of an eternal peepul tree with its roots above and branches below, whose leaves are the Vedic hymns. Whoever truly understands this tree is considered a knower of the Vedas.
đ
đ§đļđđđđ°đđ§đđĩđ đĒđđ°đ¸đđ¤đžđ¸đđ¤đ¸đđ¯ đļđžđđž đđđŖđĒđđ°đĩđđĻđđ§đž đĩđŋđˇđ¯đĒđđ°đĩđžđ˛đžđāĨ¤
đ
đ§đļđđ đŽđđ˛đžđ¨đđ¯đ¨đđ¸đđ¤đ¤đžđ¨đŋ đđ°đđŽđžđ¨đđŦđđ§đđ¨đŋ đŽđ¨đđˇđđ¯đ˛đđđ āĨĨ 2 āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
Its branches stretch both upward and downward, strengthened by the three qualities of nature, with sense-objects appearing like fresh shoots. The roots also extend downward into the human realm, binding people through actions.
đ¨ đ°đđĒđŽđ¸đđ¯đđš đ¤đĨđđĒđ˛đđđ¯đ¤đ đ¨đžđđ¤đ đ¨ đđžđĻđŋđ°đđ¨ đ đ¸đđĒđđ°đ¤đŋđˇđđ đžāĨ¤
đ
đļđđĩđ¤đđĨđŽđđ¨đ đ¸đđĩđŋđ°đđĸđŽđđ˛đŽđ¸đđđļđ¸đđ¤đđ°đđŖ đĻđđĸđđ¨ đđŋđ¤đđ¤đđĩđž āĨĨ 3 āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
Its true form cannot be perceived here, nor can its end, beginning, or foundation be found. After cutting down this deeply rooted peepul tree with the strong weapon of detachment, one should proceed further.
đ¤đ¤đ đĒđĻđ đ¤đ¤đđĒđ°đŋđŽđžđ°đđđŋđ¤đĩđđ¯đ đ¯đ¸đđŽđŋđ¨đđđ¤đž đ¨ đ¨đŋđĩđ°đđ¤đđ¤đŋ đđđ¯đāĨ¤
đ¤đŽđđĩ đđžđĻđđ¯đ đĒđđ°đđˇđ đĒđđ°đĒđĻđđ¯đ đ¯đ¤đ đĒđđ°đĩđđ¤đđ¤đŋđ đĒđđ°đ¸đđ¤đž đĒđđ°đžđŖđ āĨĨ 4 āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
After cutting the roots of worldly attachment, one should seek that ultimate state from which no one returns. I take refuge in that original Supreme Person, from whom the ancient flow of creation has arisen.
đ¨đŋđ°đđŽđžđ¨đŽđđšđž đđŋđ¤đ¸đđđĻđđˇđž đ
đ§đđ¯đžđ¤đđŽđ¨đŋđ¤đđ¯đž đĩđŋđ¨đŋđĩđđ¤đđ¤đđžđŽđžđāĨ¤
đĻđđĩđđĻđđĩđđ°đđĩđŋđŽđđđđ¤đžđ đ¸đđđĻđđđđ¸đđđđđđ°đđđđđđđ¤đđ¯đŽđđĸđžđ đĒđĻđŽđĩđđ¯đ¯đ đ¤đ¤đ āĨĨ 5 āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
Those who are free from pride and confusion, who have overcome the faults of attachment, who are always centered on the inner Self, whose desires have faded away, and who are liberated from the dualities of pleasure and pain, these wise ones reach that eternal, unchanging state.
đ¨ đ¤đĻđđđžđ¸đ¯đ¤đ đ¸đđ°đđ¯đ đ¨ đļđļđžđđđ đ¨ đĒđžđĩđđ āĨ¤
đ¯đĻđđđ¤đđĩđž đ¨ đ¨đŋđĩđ°đđ¤đđ¤đ đ¤đĻđđ§đžđŽ đĒđ°đŽđ đŽđŽ āĨĨ 6 āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
Neither the sun, nor the moon, nor fire can illuminate that; reaching which, people do not return. That is My supreme abode.
đŽđŽđđĩđžđđļđ đđđĩđ˛đđđ đđđĩđđđ¤đ đ¸đ¨đžđ¤đ¨đ āĨ¤
đŽđ¨đđˇđˇđđ đžđ¨đđđĻđđ°đŋđ¯đžđŖđŋ đĒđđ°đđđ¤đŋđ¸đđĨđžđ¨đŋ đđ°đđˇđ¤đŋ āĨĨ đ āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
A part of My own being, eternal in nature, becomes the individual soul in the realm of living creatures. This soul draws to itself the senses, with the mind as the sixth, all of which are rooted in material nature.
đļđ°đđ°đ đ¯đĻđĩđžđĒđđ¨đđ¤đŋ đ¯đđđđžđĒđđ¯đđ¤đđđđ°đžđŽđ¤đđļđđĩđ°đ āĨ¤
đđđšđđ¤đđĩđđ¤đžđ¨đŋ đ¸đđ¯đžđ¤đŋ đĩđžđ¯đđ°đđđđ§đžđ¨đŋđĩđžđļđ¯đžđ¤đ āĨĨ đŽ āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
Just as the wind carries scents away from their sources, the soul, when it acquires a new body or leaves an old one, takes the senses and mind along as it moves from one body to another.
đļđđ°đđ¤đđ°đ đđđđˇđđ đ¸đđĒđ°đđļđ¨đ đ đ°đ¸đ¨đ đđđ°đžđŖđŽđđĩ đ āĨ¤
đ
đ§đŋđˇđđ đžđ¯ đŽđ¨đļđđđžđ¯đ đĩđŋđˇđ¯đžđ¨đđĒđ¸đđĩđ¤đ āĨĨ đ¯ āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
By residing in the ear, eye, skin, tongue, nose, and also the mind, the embodied self experiences the various objects of the senses.
đđ¤đđđđ°đžđŽđđ¤đ đ¸đđĨđŋđ¤đ đĩđžđĒđŋ đđđđđžđ¨đ đĩđž đđđŖđžđ¨đđĩđŋđ¤đŽđ āĨ¤
đĩđŋđŽđđĸđž đ¨đžđ¨đđĒđļđđ¯đđ¤đŋ đĒđļđđ¯đđ¤đŋ đđđđžđ¨đđđđˇđđˇđ āĨĨ 10 āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
Those who are deluded do not perceive the self as it departs, remains, or enjoys experiences in connection with the qualities of nature. But those who possess the eye of wisdom are able to see it clearly.
đ¯đ¤đđ¤đ đ¯đđđŋđ¨đļđđđđ¨đ đĒđļđđ¯đđ¤đđ¯đžđ¤đđŽđ¨đđ¯đĩđ¸đđĨđŋđ¤đŽđ āĨ¤
đ¯đ¤đđ¤đđŊđĒđđ¯đđđ¤đžđ¤đđŽđžđ¨đ đ¨đđ¨đ đĒđļđđ¯đđ¤đđ¯đđđ¤đ¸đ āĨĨ 11 āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
Yogis who strive with discipline are able to perceive the self established within themselves. However, even if others make efforts, if their minds are not purified or focused, and they lack discernment, they are unable to perceive this self.
đ¯đĻđžđĻđŋđ¤đđ¯đđ¤đ đ¤đđđ đđđĻđđđžđ¸đ¯đ¤đđŊđđŋđ˛đŽđ āĨ¤
đ¯đđđđđĻđđ°đŽđ¸đŋ đ¯đđđđžđđđ¨đ đ¤đ¤đđ¤đđđ đĩđŋđĻđđ§đŋ đŽđžđŽđđŽđ āĨĨ 12 āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
The light that shines in the sun and illuminates the entire world, the radiance present in the moon, and the brilliance found in fire-understand that all these forms of light originate from Me.
đđžđŽđžđĩđŋđļđđ¯ đ đđđ¤đžđ¨đŋ đ§đžđ°đ¯đžđŽđđ¯đšđŽđđđ¸đž āĨ¤
đĒđđˇđđŖđžđŽđŋ đđđˇđ§đđ đ¸đ°đđĩđžđ đ¸đđŽđ đđđ¤đđĩđž đ°đ¸đžđ¤đđŽđđ āĨĨ 13 āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
By entering the earth, I support all living beings with My energy. Becoming the nourishing Soma, I sustain all plants by infusing them with sap.
đ
đšđ đĩđđļđđĩđžđ¨đ°đ đđđ¤đđĩđž đĒđđ°đžđŖđŋđ¨đžđ đĻđđšđŽđžđļđđ°đŋđ¤đ āĨ¤
đĒđđ°đžđŖđžđĒđžđ¨đ¸đŽđžđ¯đđđđ¤đ đĒđđžđŽđđ¯đ¨đđ¨đ đđ¤đđ°đđĩđŋđ§đŽđ āĨĨ 14 āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
I am the digestive fire present in the bodies of all living beings. Working together with the upward and downward life-energies, I digest the four types of food that all creatures consume.
đ¸đ°đđĩđ¸đđ¯ đđžđšđ đšđđĻđŋ đ¸đ¨đđ¨đŋđĩđŋđˇđđđ đŽđ¤đđ¤đ đ¸đđŽđđ¤đŋđ°đđđđđžđ¨đŽđĒđđšđ¨đ đāĨ¤
đĩđđĻđđļđđ đ¸đ°đđĩđđ°đšđŽđđĩ đĩđđĻđđ¯đ đĩđđĻđžđđ¤đđđĻđđĩđđĻđĩđŋđĻđđĩ đđžđšđŽđ āĨĨ 15 āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
I dwell in the hearts of every being, and it is from Me that memory, understanding, and even forgetfulness arise. I am the one to be realized through all the Vedas; I am the source of Vedanta, and I alone truly know the Vedas.
đĻđđĩđžđĩđŋđŽđ đĒđđ°đđˇđ đ˛đđđ đđđˇđ°đļđđđžđđđˇđ° đđĩ đ āĨ¤
đđđˇđ°đ đ¸đ°đđĩđžđŖđŋ đđđ¤đžđ¨đŋ đđđđ¸đđĨđđŊđđđˇđ° đđđđ¯đ¤đ āĨĨ 16 āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
There are two kinds of beings in this world: the perishable and the imperishable. All living entities are perishable, while the unchanging, stable one is called imperishable.
đđ¤đđ¤đŽđ đĒđđ°đđˇđ¸đđ¤đđĩđ¨đđ¯đ đĒđ°đŽđžđ¤đđŽđđ¤đđ¯đđ§đžđšđđ¤đ āĨ¤
đ¯đ đ˛đđđ¤đđ°đ¯đŽđžđĩđŋđļđđ¯ đŦđŋđđ°đđ¤đđ¯đĩđđ¯đ¯ đđļđđĩđ°đ āĨĨ 1đ āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
But there is another, the Supreme Person, who is called the highest Self. This imperishable Lord, having entered and pervaded the three worlds, sustains and governs them.
đ¯đ¸đđŽđžđ¤đđđđˇđ°đŽđ¤đđ¤đđŊđšđŽđđđˇđ°đžđĻđĒđŋ đđđ¤đđ¤đŽđ āĨ¤
đ
đ¤đđŊđ¸đđŽđŋ đ˛đđđ đĩđđĻđ đ đĒđđ°đĨđŋđ¤đ đĒđđ°đđˇđđ¤đđ¤đŽđ āĨĨ 1đŽ āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
Because I surpass both the changing and the unchanging, I am recognized as the Supreme Person, both in the world and in the Vedas.
đ¯đ đŽđžđŽđđĩđŽđ¸đđŽđđĸđ đđžđ¨đžđ¤đŋ đĒđđ°đđˇđđ¤đđ¤đŽđŽđ āĨ¤
đ¸ đ¸đ°đđĩđĩđŋđĻđđđđ¤đŋ đŽđžđ đ¸đ°đđĩđđžđĩđđ¨ đđžđ°đ¤ āĨĨ 1đ¯ āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
O Arjuna, whoever knows Me as the Supreme Person in this way, free from all confusion, truly understands everything and worships Me wholeheartedly, in every possible way.
đđ¤đŋ đđđšđđ¯đ¤đŽđ đļđžđ¸đđ¤đđ°đŽđŋđĻđŽđđđđ¤đ đŽđ¯đžđ¨đ āĨ¤
đđ¤đĻđđŦđđĻđđ§đđĩđž đŦđđĻđđ§đŋđŽđžđ¨đđ¸đđ¯đžđ¤đđđđ¤đđđ¤đđ¯đļđđ đđžđ°đ¤ āĨĨ 20 āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
So, O sinless Arjuna, I have revealed to you this most confidential teaching. By truly understanding it, a person becomes wise and finds all their duties fulfilled.
đđ đ¤đ¤đđ¸đĻđŋđ¤đŋ đļđđ°đđŽđĻđđđđĩđĻđđđđ¤đžđ¸đđĒđ¨đŋđˇđ¤đđ¸đ đŦđđ°đšđđŽđĩđŋđĻđđ¯đžđ¯đžđ đ¯đđđļđžđ¸đđ¤đđ°đ
đļđđ°đđđđˇđđŖđžđ°đđđđ¨đ¸đđĩđžđĻđ đĒđđ°đđˇđđ¤đđ¤đŽđ¯đđđ đ¨đžđŽ đĒđđđĻđļđđŊđ§đđ¯đžđ¯đ āĨĨ15 āĨĨ
Translation (đđžđĩđžđ°đđĨ):
Thus ends the fifteenth chapter, called the Yoga of the Supreme Person, from the revered Bhagavad Gita, which is both a scripture of yoga and a teaching on the knowledge of Brahman, presented as a dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna.
Browse Related Categories: