Illustration for Bhagavad Gita chapter 15 verse 1
Chapter 15 · Purushottama Yoga

The Upside-Down Tree · Seeing Life From a New Angle

श्रीभगवानुवाच । ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम् । छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित् ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca ūrdhva-mūlam adhaḥ-śākham aśvatthaṁ prāhur avyayam chandāṁsi yasya parṇāni yas taṁ veda sa veda-vit

Meaning

"The Supreme Lord said: They speak of an eternal fig tree with roots above and branches below, whose leaves are the Vedic hymns; one who knows this tree knows the Vedas."

Explanation

This upside-down tree is a striking image asking us to question our usual assumptions — what if the source of everything is above, not below, what we can see? It's an invitation to look at ordinary life from a completely different angle.

Today's Life Lesson

Try looking at one ordinary situation today from a completely different angle — it might reveal something you were missing.

More verses to reflect on