The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 6.37: saptatriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

6.37.1

śrībhagavānuvāca |
ūrdhvamūlamadhaḥśākhamaśvatthaṃ prāhuravyayam |
chandāṃsi yasya parṇāni yastaṃ veda sa vedavit || 1 ||

The Blessed Lord said:
They speak of an eternal Ashvattha rooted above and branching below, whose leaves are the Vedas; he who knows it, is a Veda-knower.

6.37.2

adhaścordhvaṃ prasṛtāstasya śākhā guṇapravṛddhā viṣayapravālāḥ |
adhaśca mūlānyanusaṃtatāni karmānubandhīni manuṣyaloke || 2 ||

Below and above spread its branches, nourished by the Gunas; sense-objects are its buds; and below in the world of man stretch forth the roots, originating action.

6.37.3

na rūpamasyeha tathopalabhyate nānto na cādirna ca saṃpratiṣṭhā |
aśvatthamenaṃ suvirūḍhamūlamasaṅgaśastreṇa dṛḍhena chittvā || 3 ||

Its form is not here perceived as such, neither its end, nor its origin, nor its existence. Having cut asunder this firm-rooted Ashvattha with the strong axe of non-attachment,—then that Goal is to be sought for, going whither they (the wise) do not return again. I seek refuge in that Primeval Purusha whence streamed forth the Eternal Activity.

6.37.4

tataḥ padaṃ tatparimārgitavyaṃ yasmingatā na nivartanti bhūyaḥ |
tameva cādyaṃ puruṣaṃ prapadye yataḥ pravṛttiḥ prasṛtā purāṇī || 4 ||

6.37.5

nirmānamohā jitasaṅgadoṣā adhyātmanityā vinivṛttakāmāḥ |
dvaṃdvairvimuktāḥ sukhaduḥkhasaṃjñairgacchantyamūḍhāḥ padamavyayaṃ tat || 5 ||

Free from pride and delusion, with the evil of attachment conquered, ever dwelling in the Self, with desires completely receded, liberated from the pairs of opposites known as pleasure and pain, the undeluded reach that Goal Eternal.

6.37.6

na tadbhāsayate sūryo na śaśāṅko na pāvakaḥ |
yadgatvā na nivartante taddhāma paramaṃ mama || 6 ||

That the sun illumines not, nor the moon, nor fire; that is My Supreme Abode, going whither they return not.

6.37.7

mamaivāṃśo jīvaloke jīvabhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ |
manaḥṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛtisthāni karṣati || 7 ||

An eternal portion of Myself having become a living soul in the world of life, draws (to itself) the (five) senses with mind for the sixth, abiding in Prakriti.

6.37.8

śarīraṃ yadavāpnoti yaccāpyutkrāmatīśvaraḥ |
gṛhītvaitāni saṃyāti vāyurgandhānivāśayāt || 8 ||

When the Lord obtains a body and when He leaves it, He takes these and goes, as the wind takes the scents from their seats (the flowers).

6.37.9

śrotraṃ cakṣuḥ sparśanaṃ ca rasanaṃ ghrāṇameva ca |
adhiṣṭhāya manaścāyaṃ viṣayānupasevate || 9 ||

Presiding over the ear, the eye, the touch, the taste and the smell, as also the mind, He experiences objects.

6.37.10

utkrāmantaṃ sthitaṃ vāpi bhuñjānaṃ vā guṇānvitam |
vimūḍhā nānupaśyanti paśyanti jñānacakṣuṣaḥ || 10 ||

Him while transmigrating from one body to another, or residing (in the same) or experiencing, or when united with the Gunas,—the deluded do not see; but those who have the eye of wisdom behold Him.

6.37.11

yatanto yoginaścainaṃ paśyantyātmanyavasthitam |
yatanto'pyakṛtātmāno nainaṃ paśyantyacetasaḥ || 11 ||

The Yogis striving (for perfection) behold Him dwelling in themselves; but the unrefined and unintelligent, even though striving, see Him not.

6.37.12

yadādityagataṃ tejo jagadbhāsayate'khilam |
yaccandramasi yaccāgnau tattejo viddhi māmakam || 12 ||

The light which, residing in the sun illumines the whole world, that which is in the moon and in the fire—know that light to be Mine.

6.37.13

gāmāviśya ca bhūtāni dhārayāmyahamojasā |
puṣṇāmi cauṣadhīḥ sarvāḥ somo bhūtvā rasātmakaḥ || 13 ||

Entering the earth with My energy, I support all beings, and I nourish all the herbs, becoming the watery moon.

6.37.14

ahaṃ vaiśvānaro bhūtvā prāṇināṃ dehamāśritaḥ |
prāṇāpānasamāyuktaḥ pacāmyannaṃ caturvidham || 14 ||

Abiding in the body of living beings as (the fire) Vaishvânara, I, associated with Prâna and Apâna, digest the fourfold food.

6.37.15

sarvasya cāhaṃ hṛdi saṃniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtirjñānamapohanaṃ ca |
vedaiśca sarvairahameva vedyo vedāntakṛdvedavideva cāham || 15 ||

I am centred in the hearts of all; memory and perception as well as their loss come from Me. I am verily that which has to be known by all the Vedas, I indeed am the Author of the Vedânta, and the Knower of the Veda am I.

6.37.16

dvāvimau puruṣau loke kṣaraścākṣara eva ca |
kṣaraḥ sarvāṇi bhūtāni kūṭastho'kṣara ucyate || 16 ||

There are two Purushas in the world,—the Perishable and the Imperishable. All beings are the Perishable; and the Kutastha is called Imperishable.

6.37.17

uttamaḥ puruṣastvanyaḥ paramātmetyudāhṛtaḥ |
yo lokatrayamāviśya bibhartyavyaya īśvaraḥ || 17 ||

But (there is) another, the Supreme Purusha, called the Highest Self, the immutable Lord, who pervading the three worlds, sustains them.

6.37.18

yasmātkṣaramatīto'hamakṣarādapi cottamaḥ |
ato'smi loke vede ca prathitaḥ puruṣottamaḥ || 18 ||

As I transcend the Perishable and am above even the Imperishable, therefore am I in the world and in the Veda celebrated as the Purushottama, (the Highest Purusha).

6.37.19

yo māmevamasaṃmūḍho jānāti puruṣottamam |
sa sarvavidbhajati māṃ sarvabhāvena bhārata || 19 ||

He who free from delusion thus knows Me, the Highest Spirit, he knowing all, worships Me with all his heart, O descendant of Bharata.

6.37.20

iti guhyatamaṃ śāstramidamuktaṃ mayānagha |
etadbuddhvā buddhimānsyātkṛtakṛtyaśca bhārata || 20 ||

Thus, O sinless one, has this most profound teaching been imparted by Me. Knowing this one attains the highest intelligence and will have accomplished all one's duties, O descendant of Bharata.
The end of the fifteenth chapter designated: The Way to the Supreme Spirit.