Supreme Person - 15 - 02

The Shloka

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अधश्चोर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखा

गुणप्रवृद्धा विषयप्रवालाः ।

अधश्च मूलान्यनुसन्ततानि

कर्मानुबन्धीनि मनुष्यलोके ॥

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adhaścordhvaṁ prasṛtāstasya śākhā guṇapravṛddhā viṣayapravālāḥ।

adhaśca mūlānyanusantatāni karmānubandhīni manuṣyaloke ॥

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Meaning / Summary

This shloka is significant because it highlights the nature of worldly existence as a constantly expanding and entangling tree. It emphasizes the role of the Gunas in shaping our experiences and the power of sense objects to bind us to this world. The verse also points out that our actions (karma) are the roots that keep us tied to the cycle of birth and death. Understanding this is the first step towards liberation, as it allows us to identify the source of our suffering and strive to cut the roots of attachment.

Its branches extend both upwards and downwards, nourished by the qualities of nature (the three Gunas), with sense objects as their sprouts. And its roots extend downwards, binding living beings to actions in the human world.

The tree of Samsara has branches that spread upwards and downwards, nourished by the three Gunas, with sense objects as sprouts. Its roots extend downwards, binding beings to actions in the human world due to their karma.

This verse describes the metaphorical tree of worldly existence (Samsara). It explains that this tree has branches that spread both upwards (towards the realms of the gods or higher states of consciousness) and downwards (towards lower realms of existence). These branches are nourished by the three Gunas (Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas), which are the fundamental qualities of nature. The sense objects (sound, touch, sight, taste, and smell) act as sprouts, further extending the tree and enticing beings. The roots of this tree extend downwards, signifying the attachments and desires that bind beings to the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth in the human world. These roots are karmic in nature, meaning they are the result of past actions and lead to future actions, perpetuating the cycle.

Sentence - 1

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अधश्चोर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखा

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Meaning

Its branches extend both downwards and upwards.

Meaning of Words

अधः	adhaḥ	Downwards Below, in the lower regions.
ऊर्ध्वं	ūrdhvaṁ	And upwards Above, in the higher regions.
प्रसृताः	prasṛtāḥ	Spread out Extended, expanded, grown.
तस्य	tasya
Its Belonging to it, referring to the tree of Samsara.
शाखाः	śākhāḥ	Branches Limbs extending from the trunk.

Sentence - 2

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गुणप्रवृद्धा विषयप्रवालाः ।

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Meaning

Nourished by the qualities (Gunas) and having sense objects as sprouts.

Meaning of Words

गुणप्रवृद्धाः	guṇapravṛddhāḥ
Nourished by qualities Increased or strengthened by the Gunas (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas).
विषयप्रवालाः	viṣayapravālāḥ
Sense objects as sprouts Having sense objects (sound, touch, sight, taste, smell) as new shoots or buds.

Sentence - 3

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अधश्च मूलान्यनुसन्ततानि

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Meaning

And its roots extend downwards.

Meaning of Words

अधश्च	adhaśca	And downwards Also below, in the lower regions.
मूलानि	mūlāni
Roots Underground parts of a plant that anchor it and absorb nutrients.
अनुसन्ततानि	anusantatāni
Well-extended Continuously spreading, far reaching.

Sentence - 4

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कर्मानुबन्धीनि मनुष्यलोके ॥

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Meaning

Binding to actions in the human world.

Meaning of Words

कर्मानुबन्धीनि	karmānubandhīni
Binding to actions Connected or tied to karma (actions and their consequences).
मनुष्यलोके	manuṣyaloke	In the human world In the realm of humans.

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