By Nirooshitha Sethuram, Yogaratna
Graphics by Sheralee (Shambhavi) Hancherow
Chapter 15: Purushottama Yoga (The Yoga of the Supreme Spirit)
Krishna unveils the cosmic vision of existence through the metaphor of the eternal Ashvattha tree, the tree of samsara, showing the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
He describes this upside-down tree, with its roots above and branches below, representing the material world, ever-changing and impermanent.
The journey towards liberation, he explains, begins with detaching yourself from the entanglements of worldly desires, then seeking the Supreme One (Purushottama) who transcends both the perishable and imperishable aspects of creation.
Within this chapter, Krishna reveals that all things are parts of the Divine. True wisdom lies in understanding the distinction between changeable material nature, the individual soul and the Supreme Soul.
By realizing the Supreme One as the ultimate source and support of all existence, you attain the highest knowledge and freedom from bondage. Thus you reach the supreme state of immortality and bliss.
The Dialog
Krishna says, “The wise speak of an indestructible Ashvattha (peepul or fig) tree with its roots above and branches below. Its leaves are the Vedic hymns.
“Its branches spread below and above, nourished by the gunas (three qualities). The twigs are the objects of the senses. Its clustering roots spread downward, giving rise to action. The real form of this tree cannot be perceived in this world. No one can understand where it ends, where it begins, or where its foundation is.
“With determination, you must cut down this tree with the strong axe of non-attachment. By doing this, you seek the place from which you never return, surrendering to the Supreme One from whom everything has come and in whom everything abides.
“Free from vanity and delusion, free from clinging, dwelling constantly in the Self, free from desires, liberated from the duality of pleasure and pain, the undeluded reach it. The illumination of sun, the moon and the fire cannot reach this abode of Mine. Those who go there will not be reborn.
“A portion of My Supreme Self has become a Soul, which takes on five senses, with mind as the sixth. When the Supreme One acquires a body, and when leaving a body, He takes these with them.
“Most people do not see who departs from the body or dwells in it, experiencing objects and enjoying the modes of nature. Those who have the eye of wisdom see all this. Seekers striving for liberation behold the Supreme One dwelling in the body, but those with impure minds don’t see Him.
“That brilliance which illumines the whole universe, residing in the sun, the moon and the fire, is Me. Permeating the earth, I sustain all beings by My energy. Having become the moon, I supply the juice of life to all plants.
“It is I who has become the fire of digestion and the outgoing and incoming breaths, I am seated in the hearts of all. Memory, knowledge and forgetfulness are all Me. I am that which is known by all the Vedas. I am indeed the author of Vedanta and the knower of the meaning of the Vedas.
“There are two types of beings in this world, perishable and imperishable. The perishable are all the beings in the material realm. The imperishable are the liberated ones. Besides these two, there is the Supreme One, pervading the three worlds and sustaining them.
“I transcend the perishable and the imperishable, thus I am celebrated in the world and in the Vedas as the Supreme One. The wise ones know Me as the Supreme One. Knowing everything, they worship Me with their whole heart. I have given this most secret teaching. Knowing this, you become wise and fulfill all that is to be accomplished.”
Chapter 16: Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga (The Yoga of the Divine and the Demoniacal)
There are two fundamental forces at play within every individual: divine and demoniacal. Here, Krishna provides a clear roadmap to discern the qualities that lead to liberation and those that result in bondage.
Divine nature exhibits virtues that illuminate the path toward spiritual progress and ultimate freedom. In contrast, demoniacal nature is marked by traits that entangle souls in ignorance and suffering.
Krishna urges Arjuna to cultivate the divine virtues and avoid the snares of the demoniacal ones. He emphasizes that every individual has shaped their destiny through conscious choice and effort. A central teaching of this chapter is the power of discernment — the ability to distinguish right from wrong, truth from untruth. By nurturing divine traits, purifying your mind, and surrendering to the Supreme, you can overcome inner obstacles and realize your own immortality.
This teaching is a practical guide for self-examination in regards to spiritual growth, inviting each person to reflect on the qualities they embody and to consciously choose the path of light. Krishna’s reminder: those who disregard scriptural guidance and act solely according to their own impulses miss the higher purpose of life. Those who live in harmony with divine wisdom attain peace, fulfillment, and ultimate freedom.
The Dialog
Krishna says, “These are the virtues of those with a divine nature: fearlessness, purity, steadfastness in spiritual knowledge, alms-giving, control of the senses, performing your sacred duties, study of scriptures, austerity and straightforwardness.
“Also non-violence, truthfulness, absence of anger, renunciation, peacefulness, absence of fault-finding, compassion towards all beings, freedom from covetousness, gentleness, modesty, freedom from greed, vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness, absence of hatred, absence of vanity.
“Those in a demoniacal state exhibit hypocrisy, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness and ignorance of spiritual principles.
“The divine qualities lead toward liberation. The demoniacal qualities cause continuing bondage.
“Those who are demoniac do not know what is proper and improper actions. Thus they possess neither purity nor right conduct, not even truthfulness. They say the world is devoid of truth, without a moral basis and without a God. It is brought about by sexual union of male and female, with lust as its cause. Holding firm to such views, these lost souls have little intelligence, engage in cruel actions, becoming enemies of the world, threatening its destruction.
“Filled with insatiable desires, full of hypocrisy and arrogance, they cling to their ideas. They are attracted to the impermanent and work with impure motives. Obsessed with endless anxieties that end only with death, they pursue sense gratification and wealth as the highest purpose of life. Bound by hundreds of desires, driven by lust and anger, they seek wealth by unrighteous means, all to gratify their senses.
“The demoniac think, ‘I have gained so much wealth today, and will gain more in the future. I have destroyed that enemy and will destroy the others too. I am the lord of all, the enjoyer, the perfect, the powerful and I am happy. I am wealthy and have influential relatives. No one else is equal to me. I shall perform ceremonies and give some donations, and thus I shall rejoice.’ In this way, they are deluded by ignorance.
“Obsessed in their imaginings, addicted to sensory gratification, they fall into the foulest hell. Conceited, stubborn, arrogant and prideful due to their wealth, they perform ceremonies in name only, without following any rules or regulations. Blinded by egoism, power, haughtiness, lust and anger, these malicious people abuse Me, who am present in their own body and those of others.
“I send these cruel people into the wombs of the demons. Deluded in birth after birth, they sink into even a lower condition. Lust, anger and greed are the three gates leading to the hell of self-destruction. Abandon these three. Perform actions for the welfare of your soul to attain the supreme goal.
“Those who act under the impulse of desire, discarding the guidelines of the scriptures, attain neither perfection, nor happiness nor the supreme goal. Use the scriptures as the authority in determining what should be done and what should not be done. Know such rules and regulations, so you may act in this way.”
- Entanglement of worldly desires. https://swaminarayanchintan.org/articles/how-to-overcome-worldly-desires-vasana-and-attain-spiritual-liberation/
- Krishna & Ashvattha tree https://www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org/chapter/15/verse/12/en/
- Krishna as the Supreme One https://www.radhakrishnatemple.net/blog/bhagavad-gita-chapter-15-purushottam-yog/
- Divine and demoniacal natures http://www.prabhupadaconnect.com/The-Divine-and-Demoniac-Natures.html
- Divine qualities, leading to union with Krishna (liberation). https://www.sawanonlinebookstore.com/chapter-16-devasursampadvibhag-yoga-shrimad-bhagwad-gita/
- Krishna showing demonical qualities lead to “the foulest hell” (bondage). https://www.sawanonlinebookstore.com/chapter-16-devasursampadvibhag-yoga-shrimad-bhagwad-gita/