mamaivānśho jīva-loke jīva-bhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ
manaḥ-ṣhaṣhṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛiti-sthāni karṣhati || 7 ||

My Understanding : The soul is something we cannot see, yet it experiences all the sensations that the material body feels through the six senses.

na tad bhāsayate sūryo na śhaśhāṅko na pāvakaḥ
yad gatvā na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṁ mama || 6||

My Understanding : Aagna and Vishnu represent the twin Vedas, which are the source of the creation of the five elements (panchabhutas). Surya, symbolizing Agni, represents the Jeevapragna swaroopa (life force), while Chandra symbolizes the mind, and Paavaku (fire) is associated with pranashakti (the vital energy).These elements are deeply connected to our existence. The extent of Jeevapragna is defined by the dual experiences of joy (Sukha) and sorrow (dhuka).

nirmāna-mohā jita-saṅga-doṣhā
adhyātma-nityā vinivṛitta-kāmāḥ
dvandvair vimuktāḥ sukha-duḥkha-sanjñair
gachchhanty amūḍhāḥ padam avyayaṁ tat|| 5||

My Understanding : Once a person awakens in this way, they will develop a true passion for life. All of this happens with the help of the axe of detachment. A person must realize that life is like a puppet show orchestrated by Lord Krishna. The outcomes, whether good or bad, will not stay with us. Happiness and sadness travel together—they are twin feelings. Just like a river, where one side of the water represents happiness and the other side represents sadness, they always move together. One must understand that these feelings are temporary and simply bring changes to your everyday life.

tataḥ padaṁ tat parimārgitavyaṁ
yasmin gatā na nivartanti bhūyaḥ
tam eva chādyaṁ puruṣhaṁ prapadye
yataḥ pravṛittiḥ prasṛitā purāṇī  || 4||

My Understanding : A person must intensely struggle against their own opinions and karma. Though the process may feel suffocating, they must continue to fight with determination. Eventually, they will gain clarity and see the world as it truly is. Once they break free, they will never fall back into the same cycle.

na rūpam asyeha tathopalabhyate
nānto na chādir na cha sampratiṣhṭhā
aśhvattham enaṁ su-virūḍha-mūlam
asaṅga-śhastreṇa dṛiḍhena chhittvā  || 3||

My Understanding : Curiosity leads us to seek the origin of the tree, and this curiosity grows like the roots of the Ashvatha tree. Humans are eager to understand the roots, but the truth is, there is no beginning or end, just like the ocean, which has no true end.Human nature—thoughts, will, and commands—drives karma, which continues endlessly. There is no true beginning or end to this cycle, and it keeps going, leading life to feel like a waste. The tree represents the karmic bondage that keeps us trapped.If you try to remove yourself from this cycle, it seems impossible because everything is deeply rooted in your conscience. Changing your mind is not easy, as this behavior is yours. This is not the way to break free from it.One must realize that needs are different from desires. Detachment is the key. Use the axe of detachment to cut through your likes, dislikes, pride, sorrow, envy, ego, and jealousy. Only you can control your mind.For example, when a building is under construction, the slab needs support until it hardens. Once solidified, it stands on its own without assistance. Likewise, a person must detach from desires like lust, anger, and greed. A person must build themselves. Once you begin thinking in this way, you will start seeing everything from a new perspective.Good things should first be used for the people around us, and then for ourselves.Good and bad deeds are determined by how you choose to act and the decisions you make. Your behavior is powerful and must be stabilized. Situations will try to push you into old habits, but you must remain strong. Karma will try to pull you back, but you should suppress all such urges.You must work hard to break free from these cycles. If you hold onto them loosely, you will inevitably fall back into desires.

adhaśh chordhvaṁ prasṛitās tasya śhākhā
guṇa-pravṛiddhā viṣhaya-pravālāḥ
adhaśh cha mūlāny anusantatāni
karmānubandhīni manuṣhya-loke || 2||

My Understanding : One should be able to see the Ashvatha tree in the conscience, as it represents the underlying reason for all our actions. With the help of intelligence, the mind works, and the senses guide our decisions. For example, we go to the temple for the darshan of God. After the darshan, we take prasadam, and slowly, our mind shifts from God to the food. The taste of prasadam draws us in, and the sense of taste craves more. Gradually, karma pushes us to consume more. The taste of prasadam becomes registered in the mind and heart through this process of karma.Based on the qualities of a person, karma influences the mind and creates a space in the conscience. If one realizes that excessive eating caused this craving, it reflects Sattva guna. If the desire to eat strongly persists, it points to Rajas guna. If one feels regret over the consequences of overindulgence, it signals Tamas guna.When something bad happens to us, it stays in the conscience and triggers a thought. This thought may lead us to insult someone, causing further conflict. Such situations lead to sorrow and a desire for revenge, which only creates more karma. This cycle of actions and reactions increases the burden of karma, ultimately leading to suffocation.The reasons behind our behavior are shaped by the mixture of the three gunas—Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas—within us.

śhrī-bhagavān uvācha
ūrdhva-mūlam adhaḥ-śhākham aśhvatthaṁ prāhur avyayam
chhandānsi yasya parṇāni yas taṁ veda sa veda-vit|| 1||

My Understanding : Everything happens for a reason; every event holds a purpose behind it. Detach your mind from worldly distractions and attach it to God. By recognizing the divine leelas of Sri Krishna, we can truly feel His presence. Worship God by surrendering yourself completely to Him. Bhagavan Sri Krishna compares human life to the Ashvatha tree. The roots of this tree are not only beneath the earth but also visible above. The leaves of the Ashvatha tree symbolize the Vedas. The relationship between a guru and a disciple is such that the disciple should live according to the teachings of the guru. It is not enough to simply listen to the guru’s words when in their presence; true discipleship is reflected in applying those teachings in everyday life. The Gayatri mantra, with its eight syllables, represents the eight Adidevatas that govern the creation of your body, much like how Rudram and other prayers are the leaves of the Ashvatha tree.