Bhagavad Gita 15.2
The branches of the tree are fed by the gunas and its lower roots bind people through action.
अधश्चोर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखा गुणप्रवृद्धा विषयप्रवालाः।
अधश्च मूलान्यनुसन्ततानि कर्मानुबन्धीनि मनुष्यलोके॥
adhaścordhvaṃ prasṛtāstasya śākhā guṇapravṛddhā viṣayapravālāḥ
adhaśca mūlānyanusantatāni karmānubandhīni manuṣyaloke
Translation
Its branches spread downward and upward, fed by the gunas, with sense objects as their fresh buds. Its secondary roots reach down into the human world, binding a person through action.
Hindi
इसकी शाखाएँ नीचे और ऊपर फैली हैं, गुणों से पोषित होती हैं, और विषय इसकी कोंपलें हैं। इसकी सहायक जड़ें मनुष्यलोक में नीचे तक फैली हैं और कर्म के द्वारा बाँधती हैं।
Commentary
The tree is fed by the gunas, and its tender shoots are the objects of the senses, which keep drawing the mind outward. The lower roots are the habits and results of karma, which tie a person to the human world and bring them back again. The verse explains why the tree keeps growing, and 15.3 says how to cut it.
