Brahman with Its unmanifested energy Maya, is spoken of as the One "above," for It is supreme over all things; the One above is the root of this Tree of Samsara, as such it is said to have its root above. Mahat, Ahamkara Tanmatras, etc., are its branches evolving to grosser and grosser states--hence it is said to be branching "below." As leaves protect a tree, so do the Vedas protect the Tree of Samsara, as treating of Dharma and Adharma, with their causes and fruits.

Eternal--because this Tree of Samsara rests on a continuous series of births without beginning and end, and it cannot be cut down except by the knowledge, "I am Brahman."

^324:2 Below: from man downwards.

Above: up to Brahma.

Roots: The tap-root is the Lord "above"; the secondary roots are the Samskaras, attachment and aversion etc. It is these that, being in perpetual succession the cause and consequence of good and evil deeds, bind one fast to actions--Dharma and Adharma.

^326:3 As such: it cannot be said to exist, because it appears and vanishes every other moment. See commentary on II. 16.

Tat--That--Sankara and Anandagiri read 'Tatah,' and explain it as beyond or above the Ashvattha, the Tree of Samsara.

The Eternal Activity: this ever-passing work of projection, this ever-flowing current of evolution, the world of phenomena.

^328:7 The Jiva or the individual soul is that aspect of the Supreme Self which manifests itself in every one as the doer and enjoyer, being limited by the Upadhis set up by Avidya; but in reality, both are the same. It is like the Akasha (space) in the jar, which is a portion of the infinite Akasha, and becomes one with the latter on the destruction of the jar, the cause of limitation.

^328:8 Lord: Jiva spoken of in the preceding Sloka.

When the Jiva leaves the body, then he draws round himself the senses and the Manas. When he enters another he takes these again with him, i.e., he is born with these again.

^329:10 Though Atman is nearest and comes most easily within the range of their consciousness in a variety of functions, still all do not see Him, because of their complete subservience to sense-objects.

^330:11 The unrefined: Whose mind has not been regenerated by Tapas and subjugation of the senses, whose mind is not purified.

^330:12 Light--may also be understood to mean the light of consciousness.

^331:13 Energy--Ojas: The energy of the Ishvara, whereby the vast heaven and the earth are firmly held.

Nourish--by infusing sap into them.

The watery moon: The Soma, moon, is considered as the repository or the embodiment of all fluids (Rasas.)

^331:14 See IV. 29.

Vaishvanara: The fire abiding in the stomach.

Fourfold food: Food which has to be eaten by (1) mastication, (2) sucking, (3) licking, and (4):swallowing.