Srimad Bhagavadgeeta : Chapter:-15, (Purushothamayogam) - Slokam-1.

"Urdhvamoolamadhahsakam aswatham prahurvyam

chandhamsi yasya parnnani yastam veda sa vedavit."



Urdhvamoolam = Roots above,upwards
Adhahsakam = Branches below, lowards
Avyam = non-perishable
Aswatham = About Aswatha tree (Pupil tree/ Arayal)
Prahuha = ( Jnanis) declared
Chandhmsi yasya parnnani = Vedas its leaves
Yaha tam veda = one who know it
Sa vedavit = He is Vedajnan.



Vedavyasa mahrishi draws a picture in detail from a famous slokam in Kathopanishad : {II-VI(1)} about Samsara vruksham (tree) and its relationship with the Infinite.


Swami Adi SANKARACHARYA comments this way : Naswaha api sthita iti - swaha = tomorrow, stha = sustain, A = not, Aswatha = not even sustain tomorrow; otherwise means Naswaram.Aswatha vruksham is the symbol for ever evolutionary Samsaram (life).


From only one, non-duel, Brahmam: how name and form ( Jagat)- body + mind + intelligence and their objects( vishaya) are formed? If such jagat formed then who sustains and maintains that? What is the relationship between Lord the creator and the creation jagat? These are the doubts arise in the minds of persons who always think and live seriously.


In the above slokam Aswatha vruksham (pupil tree)is selected to explore the principle (essence) of this chapter. Pupil tree is called as Aswatham in Sanskrit. This is explained in detail above.


1. The roots of the tree (Samsaram) is in Paramatma ( Infinite/ Truth/ Reality/ Brahmam/ Lord/ Eswaran/ God. and so on........) 
2. The tree draws its energy from Paramatma for its growth.
3. Jeevatma is the part of Paramatma and this Atma, is sustained by Paramatma/ Chaithanyam/Supreme power within us.
4. Any how you say "Urdhamoolam"( roots on top) - many may ask : Why? 
5. In any language great and extraordinary people and things ---we place them in higher orders
6. Example- High command, Higher officials, Top men/brass,Upper class etc....
7. We use high, top, up etc to show the importance of their seats and positions and not because they physically on top,hogh,up etc..
8. Normally we position subtle and special things in higher order, and less importance in lower order.
9. Ten Indriyas ( five sense organs and five organs of karma) , mind and intelligence know their respective fields and nature of objects connected with them and experience them in the light and energy of Paramatma.
10. That which born from Paramatma, sustain in Paramatma, depends on Paramatma thereafter returns to Paramatma----that diverse Prapancham ( Panchikaranam) ( the whole thing ) is defined and explained in Pupil tree, is right thing.
11. This pupil tree live long and offer its services to several generations. Due to long life of life pupil tree is called Samsaram ( permanent)
12. This so called samsara tree's leaves are mentioned as vedas ( Jnanam, Arivu, knowledge)
13. Knowledge makes life bright. Comparing modern world's activities, gains, expectations with our older generation's life , those were not so modern.
14. As knowledge grows, vision broadened, then see great, bright future in front, life is more and more glorified thereafter.
15. The imagination and designing of leaves of this pupil tree as knowledge ( vedas ) is clear and right .
16. Water content of the tree is let out through the leaves in the form of vapour. This produces osmotic pressure in the roots, resulting draw more and more nutrition from the earth.
17. If leaves are cut, then the growth of the tree ends. Then, when the tree has more and more leaves, its growth is astonishingly fast.
18. Hence knowledge( leaves-vedas ) when wider and wider life becomes extraordinarily brighter.
19. One who knows the "Aswatham" and its principle is known as Vedajnan / Jnani / Person of Higher knowledge.
20. Only Physical Science or only Bhakti will not help realisation of Truth. This is the point that is learnt from Bhagavadgeeta.
21. Jnanam (Supreme Knowledge) becomes Finite, when one knows the Truth.
22. NOTE: Some places the "Aswatham" is drawn an upside down picture of tree, it is a foolish understanding of this slokam, we have to clear about this from Lord Krishna.