Quiz · 15.1–15.6
The tree
Cover the answer. Read the Devanagari of the verse before you open it.
1
In 15.3, what form is chittvā (छित्त्वा), and what is asaṅga-śastreṇa dṛḍhena (असङ्ग-शस्त्रेण दृढेन) doing?
Answer
chittvā (छित्त्वा) is the gerund of chid (छिद्), "having cut." The ending is --tvā (त्वा) because the verb has no prefix. asaṅga-śastreṇa dṛḍhena (असङ्ग-शस्त्रेण दृढेन) is the instrument: the firm weapon of non-attachment. The gerund does not finish the sentence. The place to be sought is 15.4.
2
In 15.2, adhaḥ (अधः) stands before ca (च), and that ca (च) stands before ūrdhvam (ऊर्ध्वम्). What is recited, and which sandhi makes it?
Answer
adhaś cordhvam (अधश्चोर्ध्वम्). Visarga before the voiceless c (च्) becomes ś (श्), so अधः + च adhaḥ + ca is adhaś ca (अधश् च). Then अ + ऊ a + ū becomes o (ओ), so च + ऊर्ध्वम् ca + ūrdhvam is cordhvam (चोर्ध्वम्). Later in the same verse अधः + च adhaḥ + ca is only adhaś ca (अधश्च), because mūlāni (मूलानि) does not begin with ū (ऊ).
3
What does 15.1 say, in one sentence?
Answer
They speak of an imperishable aśvattha (अश्वत्थ), roots above and branches below, whose leaves are the meters, and who knows that tree is a knower of the Veda.
4
Where do 15.1–15.6 sit in the talk between Arjuna (अर्जुन) and Kṛṣṇa (कृष्ण)?
Answer
Kṛṣṇa (कृष्ण) is speaking the whole stretch. He sets an imperishable aśvattha (अश्वत्थ) in front of Arjuna (अर्जुन), roots above and branches below, leaves the meters. The branches then spread both ways, grown by the guṇa (गुण), and further roots go down into the world of men, tied to action. The form is not found here. It is cut with the firm weapon of non-attachment, and then that place is sought where those who have gone do not return. The undeluded go there. He names it his supreme abode, which sun, moon, and fire do not light.
5
Say the tree of 15.1 and the cut of 15.3. Which word fails the sitting if the roots are put at the bottom?
Answer
ऊर्ध्व-मूलम् अधः-शाखम् ūrdhva-mūlam adhaḥ-śākham, cut by asaṅga-śastreṇa (असङ्ग-शस्त्रेण). If ūrdhva (ऊर्ध्व) and adhaḥ (अधः) change places, stay here. The roots of 15.2 do stretch downward, into action in the world of men. The root named in 15.1 is above.