The Supreme Lord said: It is said in the scriptures that this material world is like a Peepul tree, roots up, branches down, endless, yet transient. Its leaves represent the nourishing verses of the Vedas. One who knows this tree is a knower of the Vedas.

Some of its branches extend upwards (as the planes of the demigods and celestial beings), some of the branches extend downwards (as the planes of the humans, animals, and lower species), and nourished by three modes of nature, its shoots are the objects of the senses. Some aerial roots also extend downwards, to take root in the land of karma, within the human plane.

In the human plane, this inverted form of the Peepul tree of this material world is inconceivable (without Vedic knowledge) — neither its beginning, nor its middle, nor its end can be perceived. From the association of devotees, one acquires the sharp axe of detachment from the mundane. Using this weapon to cut down that illusory tree of one’s mundane existence which is stubbornly rooted in aversion to the Supreme Lord, one attains to the plane of no return, which is the lotus feet of the Lord. With pure devotion, one should approach the holy lotus feet of the Supreme Lord Visnu for shelter, and pray, «I surrender unto the Original Person, the Supreme Lord of all, by whose illusory potency (Maya) this perpetual tree of the material world has appeared.»

Free from vanity and delusion, aloof to unholy association, dedicated to self-realisation, desireless, liberated from the duality of joy and sorrow, undeluded, those surrendered souls reach the eternal goal.

The surrendered souls reach My eternal abode, never to return to this world. Neither sun, nor moon, nor fire — nothing can illuminate that all-illuminating supreme abode.

The soul is a particle (potency) of Mine. Although it is eternal, for worldly existence it adopts the five mundane senses and the mind, which is the sixth.

The soul is the master of the body. When it departs the body, it goes to enter another, carrying these (subtle) senses, as the wind carries fragrance from its source.

Presiding over the ear, eye, skin, tongue, and nose, and also the mind, the living entity enjoys the sense objects of sound, form, touch, taste, and smell.

Those who are thus deluded cannot see the soul when it is departing the body, residing in the body, or when enjoying through the senses in the body. Those with the eyes of wisdom can see.

And the sincere seekers see the soul present within. But persons of poor understanding and lacking in self-control cannot see the soul, despite their endeavours.

The light of the sun that illuminates the entire universe, the light of the moon, and the radiance of fire — know that to be Mine.

Entering the earth, I maintain all beings by My potency; and in the form of the life-giving moon, I nourish the crops.

Entering into the bodies of the living beings as the power of digestion, I digest the four types of eatables (chewed, sucked, licked, and drunk), through the agency of the ascending and descending vital airs.

I am situated (as the Supersoul) within the heart of all souls, and from Me arises the soul’s remembrance, knowledge, and forgetfulness (according to his actions). I alone am the Sweet Absolute to be known through all the Vedas. I am the revealer of the Vedanta — Vedavyas, and I am the knower of the Vedas.

In this world, there are two types of beings: the perishable and the imperishable. All beings from Lord Brahma down to the lowest stationary life-forms are known as perishable (as they are fallen from their true nature). But those who are situated in their eternal, spiritual nature are known as imperishable (eternal associates of the Lord).

But completely distinct from both these types of beings is the Supreme Person, who is known as Paramatma, the Supersoul. He is the Supreme Lord. Entering the three worlds in His eternal form, He maintains all beings in the universe.

Because I am transcendental to the perishable beings and also superior to My imperishable eternal associates, My glories are sung in the world and in the scriptures as Purusottam, the Supreme Person.

O Bharat, one who is free from delusion and knows Me as the Supreme Person of eternal, all-conscious, ecstatic form, is the perfect knower of full-fledged theism, and he worships Me in all ways (in the spiritual relationships of tranquillity, servitorship, friendship, parenthood, and consorthood).

O pure hearted Arjuna, I have thus explained to you this most hidden treasure of all the scriptures. O Bharat, embracing this in their hearts, the persons of fine theistic intelligence attain the perfection of their endeavours.