Bg 15.3-4

Text

na rūpam asyeha tathopalabhyate
nānto na cādir na ca sampratiṣṭhā
aśvattham enaṁ su-virūḍha-mūlam
asaṅga-śastreṇa dṛḍhena chittvā

tataḥ padaṁ tat parimārgitavyaṁ

yasmin gatā na nivartanti bhūyaḥ
tam eva cādyaṁ puruṣaṁ prapadye
yataḥ pravṛttiḥ prasṛtā purāṇī

Synonyms

na-not; rūpam-form; asya-of this tree; iha-in this; tathā-also; upalabhyate-can be perceived; na-never; antaḥ-end; na-never; ca-also; ādiḥ-beginning; na-never; ca-also; sampratiṣṭhā-the foundation; aśvattham-banyan tree; enam-this; suvirūḍha-strongly; mūlam-rooted; asaṅga-śastreṇa-by the weapon of detachment; dṛḍhena-strong; chittvā-by cutting; tataḥ-thereafter; padam-situation; tat-that; parimārgitavyam-has to be searched out; yasmin-where; gatāḥ-going; na-never; nivartanti-comes back; bhūyaḥ-again; tam-to him; eva-certainly; ca-also; ādyam-original; puruṣam-the Personality of Godhead; prapadye-surrender; yataḥ-from whom; pravṛttiḥ-beginning; prasṛtā-extension; purāṇī-very old.

Translation

The real form of this tree cannot be perceived in this world. No one can understand where it ends, where it begins, or where its foundation is. But with determination one must cut down this tree with the weapon of detachment. So doing, one must seek that place from which, having once gone, one never returns, and there surrender to that Supreme Personality of Godhead from whom everything has begun and in whom everything is abiding since time immemorial.

Purport

The word asaṅga is very important in this connection because the attachment for sense enjoyment and lording it over the material nature is very strong. Therefore one must learn detachment by discussion of spiritual science based on authoritative scriptures, and one must hear from persons who are actually in knowledge. As a result of such discussion in the association of devotees, one comes to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then the first thing one must do is surrender to Him. The description of that place whence going no one returns to this false reflected tree is given here. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is the original root from whom everything has emanated. To gain favor of that Personality of Godhead, one has only to surrender, and this is a result of performing devotional service by hearing, chanting, etc. He is the cause of this extension of this material world. This is already explained by the Lord Himself: ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavaḥ. "I am the origin of everything."