अधश्चॊर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखा गुणप्रवृद्धा विषयप्रवाला: ।
अधश्च मूलान्यनुसन्ततानि कर्मानुबन्धीनि मनुष्यलॊके ॥

tasya śākhāḥ-Its branches, representing the living beings; viṣaya-pravālāḥ-with shoots, representing the objects of the senses; guṇa-pravṛddhāḥ-nourished by the three modes of nature; adhaḥ prasṛtāḥ- extend downwards as the planes of human, animal and lower species; ūrdhvam cha- and upwards, as the planes of higher celestial beings; karma-anu-bandhīni-According to religious and irreligious actions; mūlāni-some roots,as aerial roots; anusantatāni-as a secondary causal factor, as the search to enjoy the fruits of actions, have extended; adhaḥ cha-downwards also; manuṣya-loke-in the human plane.

Some of its branches extend upwards {as the planes of the demigods and celestial beings}, some of the branches extend downwards {as the planes of the humans, animals, and lower species}, and nourished by three modes of nature, its shoots are the objects of the senses. Some aerial roots also extend downwards, to take root in the land of karma, within the human plane.

Commentary

Within the expansive manifestation of this ‘perishable yet endless’ world, some of the living beings are nourished by the mode of goodness, and they wander throughout the upper planes, in the ego of gods and celestial beings. Others, influenced by the modes of passion and ignorance, are wandering throughout the planes of the humans, animals, trees and lower species, assuming the identities of those species. The shoots of the tree of this world represent the objects of the senses—sound, smell, touch, taste, and form, as transformations of the five primary subtle elements {pāncha tanmātra} produced from the ego of the living beings. The principal roots face upwards, inverted, indicating aversion to the Supreme Lord. Further, some aerial roots face downward, entering the land of karma in the human plane. These represent the humans’ attempt to enjoy the fruits of their actions, and these aerial roots nourish the tree as a separate, secondary cause.