śhrī-bhagavān uvācha
ūrdhva-mūlam adhaḥ-śhākham aśhvatthaṁ prāhur avyayam
chhandānsi yasya parṇāni yas taṁ veda sa veda-vit
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha — the Supreme Divine Personality said;
ūrdhva-mūlam — with roots above;
adhaḥ — downward;
śhākham — branches;
aśhvattham — the sacred fig tree;
prāhuḥ — they speak;
avyayam — eternal;
chhandānsi — Vedic mantras;
yasya — of which;
parṇāni — leaves;
yaḥ — who;
tam — that;
veda — knows;
saḥ — he;
veda-vit — the knower of the Vedas
In this verse, Lord Krishna is using a unique image of a banyan tree to explain something important about knowledge and the Vedas, which are ancient Indian scriptures. He describes this tree as having its roots pointing upward and its branches spreading downward. This unusual arrangement suggests that the tree is not like a regular tree you might see every day. Instead, it symbolizes something deeper: the nature of existence and knowledge.
When we think of a tree, we usually think of the roots being in the ground and the branches reaching toward the sky. However, here Lord Krishna speaks about a tree with roots above. This idea shows that this tree represents divine or ultimate knowledge and that it connects to something higher than our ordinary experiences.
The branches that go down symbolize the material world and the various distractions that keep us occupied – like our worries, desires, and everyday challenges. The leaves of this tree, which Krishna calls Vedic hymns, represent the teachings and wisdom found in the Vedas. These hymns are meant to guide us and help us understand not just the world around us but also our place within it.
Lord Krishna highlights that to truly 'know' this tree means to understand the teachings of the Vedas in the context of realizing Krishna himself. It suggests that when we engage in pure devotion and strive to connect with Krishna, we are already on the path of understanding these ancient texts. It’s not just about reading or memorizing the Vedas; it’s about experiencing their wisdom through devotion and service.
In simple terms, when someone is deeply engaged in spiritual practice or devotion to God, they are, in a sense, already understanding the essence of what the Vedas teach. This means that anyone who practices devotion to Krishna holds significant knowledge about life and the universe, even if they may not realize it fully.
Overall, this verse emphasizes that spiritual knowledge is not just academic; it’s about inner connection and experience, and through devotion, anyone can become wise in the truest sense.