Chapter-XVI
The Yoga of the Supreme Person
This chapter describes Universe as a tree and the means of God realisation. It also discusses Jivatma (individual soul) and describes God and His glory, the description of the perishable ( bodies of all beings), the imperishable ( Jivatma) and the Supreme Creator. Shri Bhagwan tells Arjuna that he who knows the Pipal tree( in the form of creation) which is said to be imperishable with its roots in the Primeval Being ( God), whose stem is represented by Brahma, and whose leaves are the Vedas, is a knower of the intention of Vedas. Fed by three Gunas and having sense objects for their tender leaves, the branches of the aforesaid tree ( in the shape of the different orders of creation) extend both downwards and upwards and its roots which bind the soul according to its actions in the human body are spread in all regions, higher as well as lower. The nature of this tree of creation dose not on mature thought turn out what it is represented it to be for it has neither beginning nor an end, nor even stability. Therefore cut this tree, which is most firmly rooted with a formidable axe of dispassion. Therefore a man should didligently seek for that supreme state that is God, having attained which they return no more to this world; and that Primeval Being( God Himself) from whom the flow of this beginningless creation has progressed, he should dwell and meditate on Him. Those wise men who are free from pride and delusion, who have conquered the evil of attachment, who are in the eternal contact with God, whose cravings have altogether ceased and who are completely immune from all pairs of opposites going by the names of pleasure and pain reach that Supreme Immortal State. Neither the Sun, nor the Moon nor even fire can illumine that supreme self effulgent state, attaining to which they never return to this world. That is God’s supreme abode. The eternal Jivatma in this body is a particle of God’s existence, and it is that alone which draws round itself the mind and the five senses that rest in Prakriti. Even as the wind wafts scents from their seat , so too Jivatma, which is the controller of body taking the mind and the senses from the body which it leaves behind forthwith migrates to the body which it acquires. It is while dwelling in the senses of hearing, sight, touch taste and smell as well as in mind that this Jivatma enjoys the objects of senses. The ignorant know not the soul departing from or dwelling in the body or enjoying the objects of senses that is even when it is connected with three Gunas. Only those endowed with eye of wisdom are able to realise it. Striving Yogis too are able to realise this self enshrined in their heart. The ignorant, however, whose heart has not been purified know not this self in spite of their best endeavours. The light in the Sun that illumines the entire solar world, and that when shines in the moon and that too which shines in the fire know that light to be God’s light. And permeating the soil, it is God who supports all creatures by His Vital powers and becoming the nectarine moon, He nourish all plants. Taking the form of fire lodged in the body of all creatures and united with Prana (inhalation) and Apana ( exhalation) breaths, it is Almighty who consumes four types of food. It is God who remains seated in the heart of all creatures as the inner controller of all, and it is Lord who is the source of memory, knowledge and ratiocinative faculty. Again Creator is the only object worth knowing through the vedas. He alone is the father of Vedanta and the knower of Vedas also. There are two Purushas in this world- perishable and imperishable. Of these bodies of all beings are spoken of as the perishable, while the Jivatma or the embodied soul is imperishable. The Supreme Person is yet other from these,who having entered all the three worlds upholds and maintains all,and has been spoken of as imperishable Lord and the Supreme Spirit. Since God is wholly beyond the perishable world or matter or Kshetra, and is superior even to the imperishable soul, hence He is known as the Purushottam in the world as well as in Vedas. The wise men who realise God as the Supreme Person knowing all he constantly worships Him with the whole being. Thus the most esoteric teaching has been imparted; grasping it in essence that man becomes wise and his mission in life is accomplished.
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