Chapter 15 deals with the Supreme Spirit or Purushothama. It talks about the eternal tree of transmigratory life, cutting which, with detachment, one attains liberation. Describes the Supreme abode reaching which none returns. There are two types of entities, perishable & imperishable in the world. Beyond these is the Supreme Spirit.

1. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
T. K. G. NAMBOODHIRI
THIRUVALLA, KERALA
INDIA

2. BHAGAVAD GITA – THE DIVINE
SONG-An Introduction
 Bhagavad Gita-Part of the
Sanskrit Epic
Mahabhaaratha.(200 BC to 200
AD)
 700 verses in 18 chapters.
 A conversation between Lord
Krishna and his close friend
Arjuna in the middle of the
battlefield just before the start
of the Kurukshetra battle.
 Arjuna loses his heart and
refuses to fight his teachers
and relatives, and Krishna
revives him by his wise words
of wisdom.
TKG Namboodhiri

3. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
CHAPTER 15
PURUSHOTHAMA YOGA
THE YOGA OF THE SUPREME SPIRIT
TKG Namboodhiri

4. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
URDHWAMOOLAMADHAH SAAKHAMASWATHTHAM
PRAAHURAVYAYAM, CHANDAAMSI YASYA PARNAANI
YASTHAM VEDA SA VEDAVITH. (15.1)
To teach Arjuna the truth about the Supreme Soul, Sree
Krishna talks about a tree of empirical life here:
They speak of the eternal fig tree whose roots are above &
branches below. Its leaves are the Vedic hymns. He who
knows it, knows the Vedas. (Brahman, the unmanifest &
subtle, is said to be ‘’above’’. The nature, with
intellect, ego, etc. is “below”.
TKG Namboodhiri

5. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
ADHASCHORDWAM PRASRITHASTHASYA SAAKHAA
GUNAPRAVRIDHA VISHAYAPRAVAALAAH, ADHASCHA
MOOLAANYANUSANTHATHAANI KARMAANUBANDHEENI
MANUSHYALOKE’. (15.2)
Both below & above spread the branches of this tree,
flourishing because of the 3 constituents; sense-objects
are its shoots. Below in the human world extend its
intermediate roots that link up actions.(impressions left in
the mind by the fruits of actions)
TKG Namboodhiri

6. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
NA ROOPAMASYE’HA THATHOPALABHYATHE’ NAANTHO
NA CHAADIRNNA CHA SAMPRATHISHTAA,
ASWATHAME’NAM SUVIROODHAMOOLAMASANGA
SASTHRE’NA DRIDHE’NA CHCHITHWAA. (15.3)
Its form as described is not known as such. It is like a
dream. It has no beginning, no end, & no foundation.
Having split this fig tree with its well-nourished roots
with the strong weapon of detachment, man seeks
that status of Brahman.
TKG Namboodhiri

7. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
THATHAH PADAM THATH PARIMAARGITHAVYAM YASMIN
GATHAA NA NIVARTHANTHI BHOOYAH, THAME’VA
CHAADYAM PURUSHAM PRAPADYE’ YATHAH PRAVRITHIH
PRASRITHAA PURAANEE. (15.4)
Then that status has to be laboriously sought
after, reaching which, there is no return. It should be
sought contemplating “ I take refuge in the Primeval
Spirit whence has emanated this ancient process of
creation, etc.”.
TKG Namboodhiri

8. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
NIRMAANAMOHAA JITHASANGADOSHAA
ADHYAATHMANITHYAA VINIVRITHA
KAAMAH, DWANDAIR VIMUKTHAAH SUKHA DUKHA
SAMJNAIR GACHCHANTHYAMOODHAAH
PADAMAVYAYAM THATH. (15.5 )
Wise men, free from pride &
delusion, unattached, without any
cravings, immune to pleasure/pain etc. & eternally
in union with God, reach that supreme state from
which there is no return.
TKG Namboodhiri

9. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
NA THADBHAASAYATHE’ SURYO NA SASAANGKO NA
PAAVAKAH, YAD GATHWA NA NIVARTHANTHE’
THADHDHAAMA PARAMAM MAMA. (15.6)
The Lord describes that status further: The sun
does not illuminate it; nor does the moon; nor
does the fire. That is My abode supreme, after
reaching which, none falls back.
TKG Namboodhiri

10. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
MAMAIVAAMSO JEEVALOKE’ JEEVABHOOTHAH
SANAATHANAH, MANA SHATAANINDRIYAANI
PRAKRITHSTHAANI KARSHATHI. (15.7)
Why those who reach His abode do not return?
An eternal part of Myself alone has become the
embedded-soul in the world of living beings. It pulls the 5
senses & mind , which come from nature, together. ( to
enjoy this world. Like the reflection of sun in a pool of water goes
back to sun when the water dries up, the embedded soul goes back
to Brahman, when its attachment to the world is severed.)
TKG Namboodhiri

11. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
SAREERAM YADAVAAPNOTHI
YACHCHAPUTHKRAAMATHEESWARAH
GRAHEETHWAITHAANI SAMYAATHI VAAYUR
GANDHAANIVAASAYAATH. (15.8).
Then how does the soul transmigrate?
When a person dies, the soul leaves the
body, taking along with it the mind & five
senses, just like the wind taking away the scent
from flowers, & migrates to another body.
TKG Namboodhiri

12. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
SROTHRAM, CHAKSHUH SPARSANAM CHA RASANAM
GHRAANAME’VA CHA, ADHISTAAYA MANASCHAAYAM
VISHAYAANUPASE’VATHE’. (15.9 )
Jiva (the embedded Soul) experiences the
world objects through the ear, the
eyes, the skin, the tongue, & the nose as
well as the mind.
TKG Namboodhiri

13. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
UTHKRAAMANTHAM STHITHAM VAAPI
BHUNJAANAM VA GUNAANWITHAM, VIMOODHAA
NAANUPASYANTHI PASYANTHI
JNAANACHAKSHUSHAH. (15.10)
The deluded do not perceive him (Jiva), going
out of the body or staying or experiencing
through the 3 Gunas. Only those who have
wisdom’s eye perceive him.
TKG Namboodhiri

14. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
YATHANTHO YOGINASCHAINAM
PASYANTHYAATHMANYAVASTHITHAM. (15.11)
SARVASYA CHAAHAM HRIDI SANNIVISHTO
MATHAH SMRITHIRJNAANAMAPOHANAM CHA. (15.15)
Those who persevere, endued with Yoga, see
the Jive dwelling in the body. I dwell in the
heart of all; from Me spring
memory, knowledge, & forgetfulness.
TKG Namboodhiri

15. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
DWAAVIMOW PURUSHOW LOKE’ KSHARASCHAAKSHARA
EVA CHA, KSHARA SARVAANI BHOOTHAANI KOOTASTHO
AKSHARA UCHYATHE’. (15.16).
In the world are these two persons, the perishable &
the imperishable. The perishable consists of all
beings, the imperishable is the immovable, the Jiva or
embedded soul. Adi Sankara says that the
imperishable is the Maya-the delusive power of
Brahman.
TKG Namboodhiri

16. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
UTHAMAH PURUSHASTWANYAH
PARAMAATHME’THYUDAAHRITHAH. YO
LOKATHRAYAMAAVISYA BEEBHARTHRYVYAYA
EESWARAH. (15.17)
Distinct from these is the Supreme Spirit
known as the Supernal Self. Having entered
the three worlds, the mighty Lord upholds
them.
TKG Namboodhiri

17. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
YASMAATH KSHARAMATHEETHO AHAM
AKSHARAADAPI CHOTHAMAH, ATHO ASMI LOKE’
VEDE’ CHA PRATHITHAH PURUSHOTHAMAH. (15.18).
Since I surpass the perishable & am exalted
above the imperishable, both in common
speech & in the Vedas, I am celebrated as the
Supreme Spirit (Purushothama)
TKG Namboodhiri

18. Gems
of
Bhagavad Gita
YO MAAME’VAMASOMMOODHO JAANAATHI
PURUSHOTHAMAH, SA SARVAVID BHAJATHI MAAM
SARVABHAAVE’NA BHAARATHA. (15.19)
He who, undeluded, knows Me thus as
the Supreme Spirit, is all-knowing;
Arjuna, he adores Me in all possible
moods.
TKG Namboodhiri