Chapter 15 Shloka 3, 4

न रूपमस्येह तथोपलभ्यते नान्तो न चादिर्न च सम्प्रतिष्ठा।

अश्वत्थमेनं सुविरूढमूलमसंगशस्त्रेण दृढेन छित्त्वा।।३।।

ततः पदं तत्परिमार्गितव्यं यस्मिन्गता न निवर्तन्ति भूयः।

तमेव चाद्यं पुरूषं प्रपद्ये यतः प्रवृत्तिः प्रसृता पुराणी।।४।।

This form (of the tree) is not visible, for it has no beginning, nor end, nor is its mainstay here. Cutting asunder its firmly entrenched roots with the formidable weapon of dispassion, one should earnestly seek that elevated state of dharma, reaching which one never returns. I seek the refuge of That Primal Purusha, from whom this ancient flow of creation has emanated.

Chapter 15 Shloka 3, 4

न रूपमस्येह तथोपलभ्यते नान्तो न चादिर्न च सम्प्रतिष्ठा।

अश्वत्थमेनं सुविरूढमूलमसंगशस्त्रेण दृढेन छित्त्वा।।३।।

ततः पदं तत्परिमार्गितव्यं यस्मिन्गता न निवर्तन्ति भूयः।

तमेव चाद्यं पुरूषं प्रपद्ये यतः प्रवृत्तिः प्रसृता पुराणी।।४।।

Elucidating on the tree of the universe, the Lord says:

This form (of the tree) is not visible, for it has no beginning, nor end, nor is its mainstay here. Cutting asunder its firmly entrenched roots with the formidable weapon of dispassion, one should earnestly seek that elevated state of dharma, reaching which one never returns. I seek the refuge of That Primal Purusha, from whom this ancient flow of creation has emanated.

Listen my dear one! Hear what the Lord has to say.

Eradication of attachment

He urges us, “Renounce attachment!” It is only the indomitable weapon of detachment that can cut asunder these fetters of the world.

a) It is attachment that distances us from our true essence.

b) It is attachment that is the root of ignorance.

c) After ridding oneself of attachment one must search for That Supreme One who is the source and origin of this entire creation.

Listen to what the Lord says! He says, “I too, seek the refuge of that Eternal Essence.”

Further, the Lord says that the sadhak must make every effort to know the Atma Self:

1. Endeavour to know that Supreme Essence.

2. Endeavour to travel on that path alone.

3. Only That One is worthy of attainment.

4. Only That One is worthy of being known.

5. Knowing Him, one no longer has to return to this worldly sphere.

6. Knowing Him, the bondage of the cycle of birth and death ceases to exist.

One cannot know the beginning of this creation nor its end.

a) Who can know what happened where and why?

b) Who is to know when which quality will attract one to whom and where?

c) Why did we meet? Why did we have to part? Who can answer all these questions?

d) What came before us – what lies ahead, who is to know?

It is so difficult to understand even a single individual – then how could one ever understand the cause of this entire worldly phenomenon? When it is so difficult to even know oneself, how could one ever understand the millions of other human beings in this world?

Thus the Lord explains:

1. It is qualities that interact with other qualities.

2. You must simply renounce attachment.

3. Perceive the world as an objective witness.

4. Travel through the world unattached and uninfluenced.

5. Do what Brahm Himself would have done and thus imbibe the qualities of divinity.

6. Brahm’s nature is Adhyatam. Adopt His divine nature as your own.

7. Seek only That One.

8. You must follow only His path.

Adhyatam is the nature of Brahm. To adopt His nature in one’s life is the practice of Adhyatam.

Look Kamla, the Lord advises us to forget all else. It is only the Supreme One who is worthy of attainment – make every effort to attain Him.

Little one, listen to what the Lord says next. He says that He too, seeks the refuge of that Ancient Purusha – the Supreme Essence; knowing this, the sadhak too must seek to attain that Supreme Essence. One must seek only That divine Essence, for only That One is worthy of being sought.

My little aspirant of the Atma, Abha! First understand the connotation of the Lord’s words “I Myself seek the refuge of that Ancient Purusha!”

That Ancient Purusha is:

1. The Kshetragya – the knower of the Kshetra.

2. The indestructible Atma.

3. The essence of that immutable Brahm.

4. The ever uninfluenced epitome of silence.

All else is inanimate.

a) Identifying Himself with that Divine Essence, the Lord has claimed all beings to be the Atma embodied.

b) He has thus dubbed this entire creation as Atma manifested.

The Lord is saying to Arjuna, “You too must do the same.” Little one, you too are the Atma in essence. You too are essentially blemishless. It is attachment which gives rise to ignorance. Renounce attachment.