In Bhagavad Gita 15.3, Krishna says the tree’s real form, end, beginning and foundation are not perceived here; cutting this deep-rooted tree with the strong axe of detachment,
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
न रूपमस्येह तथोपलभ्यते
नान्तो न चादिर्न च सम्प्रतिष्ठा
अश्वत्थमेनं सुविरूढमूलं
असङ्गशस्त्रेण दृढेन छित्त्वा ॥ १५-३ ॥
na rūpamasyeha tathopalabhyate
nānto na cādirna ca sampratiṣṭhā
aśvatthamenaṃ suvirūḍhamūlaṃ
asaṅgaśastreṇa dṛḍhena chittvā
English transliteration na roopamasyeha tathopalabhyate
naanto na chaadirna cha sampratishthaa
ashvatthamenam suviroodhamoolam
asangashastrena dridhena chhittvaa ॥ 15.3 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Its true form is not perceived here, nor its end, nor its beginning, nor its foundation. Having cut down this firmly rooted ashvattha tree with the strong axe of detachment,
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| रूपम् rūpam | form |
| अस्य asya | its |
| इह iha | here |
| तथा tathā | thus |
| उपलभ्यते upalabhyate | is perceived |
| न na | not |
| अन्तः antaḥ | end |
| न na | not |
| च ca | and |
| आदिः ādiḥ | beginning |
| न na | not |
| च ca | and |
| सम्प्रतिष्ठा sampratiṣṭhā | foundation |
| अश्वत्थम् aśvattham | aśvattha tree |
| एनम् enam | this |
| सुविरूढमूलम् suvirūḍhamūlam | firmly rooted suvirūḍha (firmly grown) + mūlam (roots) |
| असङ्गशस्त्रेण asaṅgaśastreṇa | with the axe of detachment asaṅga (detachment) + śastreṇa (weapon) |
| दृढेन dṛḍhena | strong |
| छित्त्वा chittvā | having cut down |
Word-wise Chanting
- na rū–pa–mas–ye–ha ta–tho–pa–labh–ya–te 12 syllables na roo-pa-mas-ye-ha ta-tho-pa-labh-ya-te
- nān–to na cā–dir–na ca sam–pra–tiṣ–ṭhā | 11 syllables naan-to na chaa-dir-na cha sam-pra-tish-thaa
- aś–vat–tha–me–naṃ su–vi–rū–ḍha–mū–laṃ 11 syllables ash-vat-tha-me-nam su-vi-roo-dha-moo-lam
- a–saṅ–ga–śas–tre–ṇa dṛ–ḍhe–na chit–tvā || 15-3 11 syllables a-san-ga-shas-tre-na dri-dhe-na chhit-tvaa
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 15 Verse 3
Context
Krishna describes how to free oneself from the tree; the sentence continues into 15.4.
Meaning
Living within the tree, we cannot see its full shape, where it begins, ends or stands. It is deeply rooted. The only tool that can cut it is asaṅga-śastra, the strong axe of non-attachment.
We cannot escape saṃsāra by understanding it intellectually alone. We must cut our attachments decisively. Non-attachment is the axe.
In Practice
Identify one attachment that keeps you bound, and take one clear step today to loosen it.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 15: Purushottama Yoga (The Supreme Person). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.