SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 15 Text 3-4
na rupam asyeha tathopalabhyate
nanto na cadir na ca sampratistha
asvattham enam su-virudha-mulam
asanga-sastrena drdhena chittva

tatah padam tat parimargitavyam
yasmin gata na nivartanti bhuyah
tam eva cadyam purusam prapadye
yatah pravrttih prasrta purani

na--not; rupam--the form; asya--of this tree; iha--in this world; tatha--also; upalabhyate--can be perceived; na--never; antah--end; na--never; ca--also; adih--beginning; na--never; ca--also; sampratistha--the foundation; asvattham--banyan tree; enam--this; su-virudha--strongly; mulam--rooted; asanga-sastrena--by the weapon of detachment; drdhena--strong; chittva--cutting; tatah--thereafter; padam--situation; tat--that; parimargitavyam--has to be searched out; yasmin--where; gatah--going; na--never; nivartanti--they come back; bhuyah--again; tam--to Him; eva--certainly; ca--also; adyam--original; purusam--the Personality of Godhead; prapadye--surrender; yatah--from whom; pravrttih--the beginning; prasrta--extended; purani--very old.

TRANSLATION

The real form of this tree cannot be perceived in this world. No one can understand where it ends, where it begins, or where its foundation is. But with determination one must cut down this strongly rooted tree with the weapon of detachment. Thereafter, one must seek that place from which, having gone, one never returns, and there surrender to that Supreme Personality of Godhead from whom everything began and from whom everything has extended since time immemorial.

JOURNAL:

When I first read this verse I wondered what was meant by "that place from which, having gone, one never returns". Srila Prabhupada explains this in his purport thus; The word asanga is very important in this connection because the attachment for sense enjoyment and lording it over the material nature is very strong. Therefore one must learn detachment by discussion of spiritual science based on authoritative scriptures, and one must hear from persons who are actually in knowledge. As a result of such discussion in the association of devotees, one comes to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then the first thing one must do is surrender to Him. The description of that place whence having gone one never returns to this false reflected tree is given here.