Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya authored many texts of profound logic, including Bhashyas, explaining the purport of Vedas, showering the nectar of Advaita and thus delighting the great scholars. He also wrote Stotras in praise of many popular Devatas for the benefit of the general masses. Accompanied by the lineage of disciples, he shines brilliantly in every direction.

1. Dharma is tree; Vedas are its roots; rains are its branches; the crops are the flowers; the foodgrains etc. are the fruit, liked by the world. If the roots of this tree, viz. Vedas are not protected, neither the tree of Dharma nor the fruit can be saved.
वेदोवृक्षःतस्यमूलंहिविप्रा:
शाखा: शाखा: कर्मज्ञानंसुपक्वम्।
तस्मात्मूलंयत्नतोरक्षितव्यं
छिन्नेमूलेनैववृक्षःनपक्वम्।।२।।

2. Veda is tree; its roots are the brahmanas, learned in Vedas; its branches are the Veda Shakhas (Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva); the fruits are Karma and Jnana. Hence the root must be protected with great effort; if the root is allowed to die, neither the tree nor the fruit can be saved.
विप्रोवृक्षःतस्यमूलंहिसन्ध्या
वृत्तंशाखा: पर्णकान्यत्रकर्म।
धर्म: पक्वंलोकसौख्यप्रदीयः
छिन्नेमूलेनैववृक्षःनपक्वम्।।३।।

3. The brahmana, learned in Vedas, is the tree; its root is Sandhyopasana; its branches are good conduct; the leaves are good deeds; the fruit is Dharma, which bestows comfort on the world. If the root is allowed to die, neither the tree nor the fruit can be saved.

Note: The glory of Sandhyopasana, which holds Mahamantras in the form of prayer and which are the essence of Karma, Bhakti and Jnana Margas; salutary actions; chanting of Bhagavan’s names; meditation on Atma Svarupa, which includes prayer, submission and the crux of Mahavakyas; Pranayama, the prime part of Yoga Marga; to crown it all, the most powerful Shri Gayatri Mahamantra, is brought out here. Nitya Sandhyopasana bestows spiritual progress easily on the practitioner. There is no better means than this for advancement.

लोकक्षेमंवृक्षमाहु: महान्त:
धर्मोमूलंतस्यवृक्षस्यसत्यम्।
तस्मात्रक्ष्य: धर्मएवात्रयत्नात्
लोकक्षेमंकांक्षमाणै: नरेन्द्रैः।।४।।

4. Great people call the public good as a tree, whose root is Dharma and Truth. Hence Dharma alone is to be protected with effort by kings (government), who desire public welfare.
यस्मात्वृक्षैःदीयतेलोकसौख्यं
सोढ्वादुःखंछेदनाद्यैर्हिजातम्।
तस्मात्वृक्षाःसर्वधारक्षणीया:
तन्मूलानांयत्नतोरक्षणेन।।५।।

5. Trees provide wellbeing to the whole world, bearing the misery of being hewn etc. Hence the roots of trees should be protected at all costs; that alone will enable trees to grow well and offer public good. 

Protection of Dharma is therefore of utmost importance.

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाख्यं
पुरुषार्थचतुष्टयम्।
पञ्चभिश्चउत्तमश्श्लोकैः
ऋषिभिःसमुदीरितम्॥६॥

6. The means of attaining the four Purusharthas (goals of human life), viz. Dharma, Artha (wealth), Kama (desire) and Moksha (Liberation) set out by Maharishis is explained in the above five verses.

May we put in our efforts to protect the trees and work for public welfare.

1. O Vedas, You are the very life-breath of Parameswara and the highest authority for Dharma. We have taken refuge in you; please protect our lineages.
ऋग्वेदरूपेणविनिर्गताये
प्रत्यङ्मुखाद्वैपरमेश्वरस्य।
यज्ञेषुहौत्रेविनियोक्ष्यमाणाःवेदा
वयंवःशरणंप्रपन्नाः।।२।।

2. O Vedas, You emerged from the western face of Parameswara, called ‘Sadyojata’ in the form of Rigveda, which is chanted in Yajnas by ‘Hota’ in his ‘Houtram’ stotras. We have taken refuge in you.
आध्वर्यवेकर्मणिशोभमाना: ह्यागत्य
सौम्याद्वदनात्शिवस्य।
सर्वस्यलोकस्यशिवंकरायेवेदा
वयंवःशरणंप्रपन्नाः॥३॥

3. O Vedas, You emerged from the northern face of Parameswara, called ‘Vamadeva’ in the form of Yajurveda, which shines in Yajnas, as practised by ‘Adhvaryu’ in his ‘Aadhvarya’ karma, and which fetch good to the whole world. We have taken refuge in you.
औद्गातृकेकर्मणिगीयमाना:
शम्भोस्सदामोदकराश्चयूयम्।
शिवस्यपूर्वाद्वदनात्प्रवृत्ताः
वेदावयंवःशरणंप्रपन्नाः।।४।।

4. O Vedas, You emerged from the eastern face of Parameswara, called ‘Tatpurusha’ in the form of Samaveda, which always makes Him happy and which is sung musically in Yajnas by ‘Udgata’ in ‘Oudgatrukam’ karma. We have taken refuge in you.
आथर्ववेदा: परमेश्वरस्य
ह्यघोरवक्त्रात्तुसमागताये।
ब्राह्मेतथापुष्टिकरेसुयुक्ता:
वेदावयंवशरणंप्रपन्नाः।।५।।

5. O Vedas, You emerged from the southern face of Parameswara, called ‘Aghora’ in the form of Atharvaveda, which is chanted in Yajnas by ‘Brahma’ in ‘Braahmam’ karma and other special salutary karmas. We have taken refuge in you.
वेदोक्तकर्माणिशुभानिकृत्वा
वेदोक्तसर्वाणिफलानिलब्ध्वा।
वेदान्तविज्ञानसुनिश्चितार्था:
सर्वेभवामोभवतांप्रसादात्।।६।।

6. O Vedas, may we perform all auspicious karmas stipulated in Vedas, enjoy all fruits thereof as mentioned therein and attain, by your grace, the Supreme Goal assured through the Supreme Knowledge of Vedanta.

॥वेदैकशरणावयम्॥

We have taken refuge in Veda alone.

Translated: P. R. Kannan