श्रीभगवानुवाच । ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम् । छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित् ॥ १५-१॥ śrībhagavānuvāca ūrdhvamūlamadhaḥśākhamaśvatthaṃ prāhuravyayam chandāṃsi yasya parṇāni yastaṃ veda sa vedavit The Blessed Lord said: They (wise people) speak of the indestructible ASHWATTHA tree as having its roots above and branches below, whose leaves are the VEDAS ; he who knows it, is alone a Veda-knower. śrībhagavānuvāca = the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; ūrdhvamūlaṃ = with roots above; adhaḥ = downwards; śākhaṃ = branches; aśvatthaṃ = a banyan tree; prāhuḥ = is said; avyayaṃ = eternal; chandāṃsi = the Vedic hymns; yasya = of which; parṇāni = the leaves; yaḥ = anyone who; taṃ = that; veda = knows; saḥ = he; vedavit = the knower of the Vedas.;