Chapter 15
Purushottama Yoga
Last updated: 14 June 2026
पुरुषोत्तम योग
Total Shlokas: 20~5 min readSanskrit + Multi-language Meanings
Script:
Shloka 1
श्री भगवानुवाच। ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम्। छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित्।।15.1।।
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Krishna describes the material world as an inverted Ashvattha (banyan) tree with roots above and branches below, whose leaves are the Vedic hymns. One who knows this tree truly knows the Vedas.
Shloka 2
अधश्चोर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखा गुणप्रवृद्धा विषयप्रवालाः। अधश्च मूलान्यनुसन्ततानि कर्मानुबन्धीनि मनुष्यलोके।।15.2।।
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Its branches spread below and above, nourished by the three modes of nature. Its twigs are the sense objects. Its roots stretch below into the human world in the form of binding actions.
Shloka 3
न रूपमस्येह तथोपलभ्यते नान्तो न चादिर्न च सम्प्रतिष्ठा। अश्वत्थमेनं सुविरूढमूल मसङ्गशस्त्रेण दृढेन छित्त्वा।।15.3।।
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The real form of this tree cannot be perceived in this world. It has no beginning, no end, and no firm foundation. One must cut down this deep-rooted tree with the strong axe of detachment.
Shloka 4
ततः पदं तत्परिमार्गितव्यं यस्मिन्गता न निवर्तन्ति भूयः। तमेव चाद्यं पुरुषं प्रपद्ये यतः प्रवृत्तिः प्रसृता पुराणी।।15.4।।
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Then one must seek that supreme abode from which, once reached, there is no return. Surrendering to that primeval Person from whom everything originally emanated is the way.
Shloka 5
निर्मानमोहा जितसङ्गदोषा अध्यात्मनित्या विनिवृत्तकामाः। द्वन्द्वैर्विमुक्ताः सुखदुःखसंज्ञै र्गच्छन्त्यमूढाः पदमव्ययं तत्।।15.5।।
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Those who are free from pride and delusion, who have overcome the evil of attachment, who are ever devoted to the Self, who have turned away from desires, and who are liberated from the pairs of opposites — they reach that eternal abode.
Shloka 6
न तद्भासयते सूर्यो न शशाङ्को न पावकः। यद्गत्वा न निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम।।15.6।।
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Neither the sun, nor the moon, nor fire illuminates that supreme abode. Having reached it, one never returns. That is Krishna's supreme dwelling place.
Shloka 7
ममैवांशो जीवलोके जीवभूतः सनातनः। मनःषष्ठानीन्द्रियाणि प्रकृतिस्थानि कर्षति।।15.7।।
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An eternal fragment of Krishna becomes the individual soul in the world of living beings. It draws to itself the five senses and the mind, which rest in Prakriti (nature).
Shloka 8
शरीरं यदवाप्नोति यच्चाप्युत्क्रामतीश्वरः। गृहीत्वैतानि संयाति वायुर्गन्धानिवाशयात्।।15.8।।
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When the soul acquires a body and when it leaves it, it takes these senses and mind along, just as the wind carries fragrances from their source. The soul carries its mental impressions from life to life.
Shloka 9
श्रोत्रं चक्षुः स्पर्शनं च रसनं घ्राणमेव च। अधिष्ठाय मनश्चायं विषयानुपसेवते।।15.9।।
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Presiding over the ear, the eye, touch, taste, and smell, as well as the mind, the soul enjoys the objects of the senses.
Shloka 10
उत्क्रामन्तं स्थितं वापि भुञ्जानं वा गुणान्वितम्। विमूढा नानुपश्यन्ति पश्यन्ति ज्ञानचक्षुषः।।15.10।।
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The deluded do not perceive the soul departing from the body, staying in the body, or enjoying sense objects in connection with the modes of nature. But those with the eyes of knowledge can see.
Shloka 11
यतन्तो योगिनश्चैनं पश्यन्त्यात्मन्यवस्थितम्। यतन्तोऽप्यकृतात्मानो नैनं पश्यन्त्यचेतसः।।15.11।।
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Striving yogis can perceive the Self established in their own being. But the unrefined, whose minds are not purified, cannot perceive the Self even though they try.
Shloka 12
यदादित्यगतं तेजो जगद्भासयतेऽखिलम्। यच्चन्द्रमसि यच्चाग्नौ तत्तेजो विद्धि मामकम्।।15.12।।
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The light of the sun that illuminates the entire world, the light in the moon and in fire — know that radiance to be from Krishna. All light originates from the Divine.
Shloka 13
गामाविश्य च भूतानि धारयाम्यहमोजसा। पुष्णामि चौषधीः सर्वाः सोमो भूत्वा रसात्मकः।।15.13।।
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Entering the earth, Krishna sustains all beings by His energy. Becoming the watery moon (Soma), He nourishes all vegetation.
Shloka 14
अहं वैश्वानरो भूत्वा प्राणिनां देहमाश्रितः। प्राणापानसमायुक्तः पचाम्यन्नं चतुर्विधम्।।15.14।।
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As the fire of digestion (Vaishvanara) in the bodies of all living beings, joined with the vital breaths, Krishna digests the four kinds of food. God operates the biological processes of life.
Shloka 15
सर्वस्य चाहं हृदि संनिविष्टो मत्तः स्मृतिर्ज्ञानमपोहनं च। वेदैश्च सर्वैरहमेव वेद्यो वेदान्तकृद्वेदविदेव चाहम्।।15.15।।
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Krishna is seated in the hearts of all beings. From Him come memory, knowledge, and their removal. He alone is to be known through all the Vedas. He is the author of the Vedanta and the knower of the Vedas.
Shloka 16
द्वाविमौ पुरुषौ लोके क्षरश्चाक्षर एव च। क्षरः सर्वाणि भूतानि कूटस्थोऽक्षर उच्यते।।15.16।।
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There are two types of beings in the world — the perishable and the imperishable. All material beings are perishable; the unchanging witness-self (kūṭastha) is called the imperishable.
Shloka 17
उत्तमः पुरुषस्त्वन्यः परमात्मेत्युदाहृतः। यो लोकत्रयमाविश्य बिभर्त्यव्यय ईश्वरः।।15.17।।
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But distinct from these two is the Supreme Person (Purushottama), called the Supreme Self, who, as the imperishable Lord, pervades and sustains the three worlds.
Shloka 18
यस्मात्क्षरमतीतोऽहमक्षरादपि चोत्तमः। अतोऽस्मि लोके वेदे च प्रथितः पुरुषोत्तमः।।15.18।।
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Because Krishna transcends the perishable and is even higher than the imperishable, He is celebrated in the world and in the Vedas as the Supreme Person (Purushottama).
Shloka 19
यो मामेवमसम्मूढो जानाति पुरुषोत्तमम्। स सर्वविद्भजति मां सर्वभावेन भारत।।15.19।।
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One who, without delusion, knows Krishna as the Supreme Person knows everything and worships Him with their entire being.
Shloka 20
इति गुह्यतमं शास्त्रमिदमुक्तं मयानघ। एतद्बुद्ध्वा बुद्धिमान्स्यात्कृतकृत्यश्च भारत।।15.20।।
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Thus this most secret teaching has been imparted by Krishna. Understanding this, one becomes truly wise and has accomplished all duties, O sinless one (Anagha).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15 (Purushottama Yoga) about?
Chapter 15, Purushottama Yoga, deals with the Supreme Person (Purushottama) beyond the perishable and imperishable. It contains 20 verses and is part of the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna at Kurukshetra.
How many verses are in Chapter 15 of the Bhagavad Gita?
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15 (Purushottama Yoga) has 20 shlokas (verses). On VedKosh each one is available with the original Sanskrit, transliteration, and meaning in Hindi and English.
What is the key teaching of Chapter 15?
The central teaching of Purushottama Yoga is the Supreme Person (Purushottama) beyond the perishable and imperishable. Read it as part of the unfolding wisdom Krishna gives Arjuna to resolve his moral crisis and act with clarity.