Purushottama Yoga

The cosmic tree of existence has its roots in the transcendent and branches in the manifest world—to truly know the Vedas is to understand this inverted tree.

The three gunas nourish this cosmic tree whose branches extend in all directions, with sense objects as sprouts, while secondary roots of karma-bondage spread especially in the human realm.

This tree cannot be perceived in its true form from within it—it has no traceable beginning, end, or foundation—therefore, cut this deeply-rooted tree with the strong weapon of non-attachment.

After cutting the tree of samsara, seek that Goal from which none return—surrender to that Primal Person from whom this ancient creation has streamed forth.

Those who are free from pride and delusion, who have conquered attachment, who dwell constantly in the Self with desires extinguished, liberated from pleasure-pain dualities—such wise ones reach that imperishable Goal.

Neither sun, moon, nor fire illumines that Supreme Abode—reaching it, beings never return. That is My highest dwelling.

The eternal living being in this world is My very fragment, drawing to itself the mind and the five senses which rest in prakriti.

When the soul takes or leaves a body, it carries the mind and senses with it, just as the wind carries fragrances from their source.

Presiding over the ear, eye, touch, taste, smell, and mind, this soul experiences the objects of the senses.

The deluded do not perceive the soul departing, dwelling, or experiencing while accompanied by the gunas—but those with the eye of knowledge see.

Striving yogis perceive this Self established within themselves; but even though striving, those whose mind is unprepared and who lack discernment do not perceive it.

The radiance in the sun that illumines the whole world, the light in the moon and in fire—know that radiance to be Mine.

Entering the earth, I sustain all beings by My vitality; becoming the watery moon (Soma), I nourish all plants with essence.

I am the digestive fire (Vaishvanara) dwelling in the bodies of all living beings; joined with prana and apana, I digest the four kinds of food.

I am seated in the hearts of all; from Me come memory, knowledge, and their loss. I alone am to be known through all the Vedas; I am the author of Vedanta and the knower of the Vedas.

Two Purushas exist in this world—the perishable and the imperishable. All beings are the perishable; the unchanging is called the imperishable.

But the Supreme Person (Uttama Purusha) is another—called the Paramatman—who, pervading the three worlds, sustains them as the imperishable Lord.

Since I transcend the perishable and am higher even than the imperishable, I am renowned in the world and in the Vedas as the Supreme Person (Purushottama).

One who knows Me thus, without delusion, as the Supreme Person, knows all and worships Me with his whole being, O Bharata.

Thus, O sinless one, I have spoken this most secret scripture. Understanding this, one becomes truly wise and fulfills all that is to be done.