Bhagavad Gita BG 15.3
Chapter 15, Verse 3 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
न रूपमस्येह तथोपलभ्यते नान्तो न चादिर्न च सम्प्रतिष्ठा । अश्वत्थमेनं सुविरूढमूलमसङ्गशस्त्रेण दृढेन छित्त्वा ॥
na rupam asyeha tathopalabhyate nanto na cadir na ca sampratishtha ashvattham enam suvirAdha-mulam asanga-shastrena drdhena chitta
Meaning
Its form is not perceived here as it truly is — no end, no beginning, no foundation can be found. This Ashvattha with its deeply-rooted base must be cut down with the strong sword of non-attachment.
Understanding
The Ashvattha of samsara: na rupam tathopalabhyate (its form is not perceived as it truly is — the world does not reveal its own nature). Na anta na adi na sampratishtA (no end, no beginning, no resting place can be found in it). The world has no intrinsic foundation. Then the prescription: asanga-shastrena drdhena chitvA (having cut it down with the firm sword of non-attachment — asanga). This is the Gita's most powerful renunciation image: the world must be 'cut' not with violence but with asanga (non-attachment, non-clinging) as the weapon.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| उपलभ्यते | upalabhyate | is perceived, is found, is obtained |
| सम्प्रतिष्ठा | sampratishtha | firm foundation, resting ground |
| सुविरूढमूलम् | suvirAdha-mulam | deeply rooted, with firm-grown roots |
| असङ्गशस्त्रेण | asanga-shastrena | with the sword/weapon of non-attachment |
| दृढेन | drdhena | firm, strong, powerful |
| छित्त्वा | chitta | having cut, cutting down |
| न | na | not |
| रूपम् | rūpam | the form |
| अस्य | asya iha | of this here |
| तथा | tathā | as such, in that way |
| न | nānto | nor end |
| न | na | nor |
| च | ca ādiḥ | nor beginning |
| न | na ca | nor |
| सम्प्रतिष्ठा | sampratisṭhā | foundation, establishment |
| अश्वत्थम् | aśvattham | this Ashvattha |
| एनम् | enam | this |
| सुवि-रूढ-मूलम् | suvirūḍha-mūlam | with firmly developed roots |
| असङ्ग-शस्त्रेण | asaṅga-śastreṇa | with the weapon of detachment |
| दृढेन | dṛḍhena | strong, firm |
| छित्त्वा | chittvā | having cut down |