15.2 - Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 15, Verse 2

Verse 15.2 of the Bhagavad Gita continues the profound metaphor of the upside-down banyan tree introduced in the previous verse. In this imagery, Sri Krishna describes a cosmic tree representing the material world, with branches extending both upward and downward, symbolizing the various realms of existence and the movement of souls through different forms of life.

This extraordinary tree described by Krishna has branches spreading in all directions. Those extending upward represent higher forms of consciousness and beings who have risen through virtuous actions, while the downward branches signify lower realms of existence that souls may descend into based on their karma. This movement isn't random but follows the natural law of cause and effect that governs our journey through the material world.

What nourishes this vast tree? Krishna explains that the three gunas or modes of material nature—sattva (goodness), rajas (passion), and tamas (ignorance)—act as the sustaining force. Like water feeding a physical tree, these qualities determine how the branches grow and flourish. Where goodness predominates, clarity and virtue emerge; where passion rules, desire and action multiply; and where ignorance dominates, confusion and inertia take root.

The twigs or smaller branches of this cosmic tree are described as sense objects—the sights, sounds, tastes, and other sensory experiences that attract our attention and desire. These sensory objects act as hooks that keep us entangled in the material existence. Our eyes seek beautiful forms, our ears crave pleasing sounds, our tongues desire delightful tastes—creating an endless cycle of craving and temporary satisfaction that binds us further to the tree.

Perhaps most intriguing is Krishna's description of the secondary roots that spread downward, binding us to fruitive actions. Unlike a normal tree with roots only at its base, this inverted tree has additional roots spreading from its branches. These secondary roots represent our attachments, aversions, and the consequences of our actions—all of which deepen our entanglement in the material world. Each desire, each action motivated by personal gain, becomes another root anchoring us more firmly to the illusion.

The human realm holds special significance in this cosmic tree. Krishna indicates that it's primarily in human form that we create new karma, while in other forms we mainly experience the results of past actions. This makes human life both perilous and precious—we have the freedom to choose actions that either bind us further or begin our journey toward liberation. We live in a continuous cycle of attraction to sense objects, desire, action, results, and further desire—an endless chain that keeps us bound to the tree unless we develop spiritual understanding.

This verse reveals the intricate nature of our entanglement in material existence. Everything is interconnected—our senses, desires, actions, and their consequences form a complex web that's difficult to escape. The tree's structure shows how thoroughly entwined we are in this illusion, with branches and roots spreading in all directions. Yet understanding this structure is the first step toward freedom. By recognizing how we become entangled, we can begin the process of cutting our attachment to this tree and finding liberation, which Krishna will elaborate on in subsequent verses.