श्री भगवानुवाचऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम्। छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित् ॥

ūrdhva-mūlam adhaḥ-śhākham aśhvatthaṁ prāhur avyayam chhandānsi yasya parṇāni yas taṁ veda sa veda-vit

With roots above, branches below, the Asvattha is said to be indestructible; the leaves of it are hymns; he who knoweth it is a Veda-knower.

In plain words: Krishna describes the world as an everlasting Asvattha, a sacred fig tree, growing upside down. Its roots are above and its branches below. Its leaves are the sacred hymns, and whoever understands this tree truly knows the Vedas (the holy scriptures).