Ashtavakra Gita

Translated by JOHN RICHARDS

TRANSLATOR'S INTRODUCTION
The Ashtavakra Gita, or the Ashtavakra Samhita as it is soeties !alled" is a very
an!ient Sanskrit te#t$ Nothin% sees to be kno&n abo't the a'thor" tho'%h tradition
as!ribes it to the sa%e Ashtavakra( hen!e the nae$
There is little do'bt tho'%h that it is very old" )robably datin% ba!k to the days o* the
!lassi! +edanta )eriod$ The Sanskrit style and the do!trine e#)ressed &o'ld see to
&arrant this assessent$
The &ork &as kno&n" a))re!iated" and ,'oted by Raakrishna and his dis!i)le
+ivekananda"as &ell as by Raana -aharshi" &hile Radhakrishnan al&ays re*ers to it
&ith %reat res)e!t$ A)art *ro that the &ork s)eaks *or itsel*$
It )resents the traditional tea!hin%s o* Advaita +edanta &ith a !larity and )o&er very
rarely at!hed$
The translation here is by John Ri!hards" and is )resented to the )'bli! doain &ith his
a**e!tion$ The &ork has been a !onstant ins)iration in his li*e *or any years$ -ay it be
so *or any others$
John Ri!hards
Sta!k)ole .lidor" U/

Ashtavakra Gita
Janaka said:
Ho& is one to a!,'ire kno&led%e0 Ho& is one to attain liberation0 And ho& is one to
rea!h dis)assion0 Tell e this" sir$ 1$1
Ashtavakra said:
I* yo' are seekin% liberation" y son" avoid the ob2e!ts o* the senses like )oison and
!'ltivate toleran!e" sin!erity" !o)assion" !ontentent" and tr'th*'lness as the antidote$
1$3
4o' do not !onsist o* any o* the eleents 55 earth" &ater" *ire" air" or even ether$ To be
liberated" kno& yo'rsel* as !onsistin% o* !ons!io'sness" the &itness o* these$ 1$6
I* only yo' &ill reain restin% in !ons!io'sness" seein% yo'rsel* as distin!t *ro the
body" then even no& yo' &ill be!oe ha))y" )ea!e*'l and *ree *ro bonds$ 1$7
4o' do not belon% to the brahin or any other !aste" yo' are not at any sta%e" nor are yo'
anythin% that the eye !an see$ 4o' are 'natta!hed and *orless" the &itness o* everythin%
55 so be ha))y$ 1$8
Ri%hteo'sness and 'nri%hteo'sness" )leas're and )ain are )'rely o* the ind and are no
!on!ern o* yo'rs$ 4o' are neither the doer nor the rea)er o* the !onse,'en!es" so yo' are
al&ays *ree$ 1$9
4o' are the one &itness o* everythin% and are al&ays !o)letely *ree$ The !a'se o* yo'r
bonda%e is that yo' see the &itness as soethin% other than this$ 1$:
Sin!e yo' have been bitten by the bla!k snake" the o)inion abo't yo'rsel* that ;I a the
doer"; drink the antidote o* *aith in the *a!t that ;I a not the doer"; and be ha))y$ 1$<
='rn do&n the *orest o* i%noran!e &ith the *ire o* the 'nderstandin% that ;I a the one
)'re a&areness"; and be ha))y and *ree *ro distress$ 1$>
That in &hi!h all this a))ears is ia%ined like the snake in a ro)e( that 2oy" s')ree 2oy"
and a&areness is &hat yo' are" so be ha))y$ 1$1?
I* one thinks o* onesel* as *ree" one is *ree" and i* one thinks o* onesel* as bo'nd" one is
bo'nd$ Here this sayin% is tr'e" ;Thinkin% akes it so$; 1$11
4o'r real nat're is as the one )er*e!t" *ree" and a!tionless !ons!io'sness" the all5
)ervadin% &itness 55 'natta!hed to anythin%" desireless and at )ea!e$ It is *ro ill'sion
that yo' see to be involved in sasara$ 1$13
-editate on yo'rsel* as otionless a&areness" *ree *ro any d'alis" %ivin% ') the
istaken idea that yo' are 2'st a derivative !ons!io'sness or anythin% e#ternal or internal$
1$16
4o' have lon% been tra))ed in the snare o* identi*i!ation &ith the body$ Sever it &ith the
kni*e o* kno&led%e that ;I a a&areness"; and be ha))y" y son$ 1$17
4o' are really 'nbo'nd and a!tionless" sel*5ill'inatin% and s)otless already$ The !a'se
o* yo'r bonda%e is that yo' are still resortin% to stillin% the ind$ 1$18
All o* this is really *illed by yo' and str'n% o't in yo'" *or &hat yo' !onsist o* is )'re
a&areness 55 so don't be sall5inded$ 1$19
4o' are 'n!onditioned and !han%eless" *orless and iovable" 'n*athoable
a&areness" 'n)ert'rbable@ so hold to nothin% b't !ons!io'sness$ 1$1:
Re!o%nise that the a))arent is 'nreal" &hile the 'nani*est is abidin%$ Thro'%h this
initiation into tr'th yo' &ill es!a)e *allin% into 'nreality a%ain$ 1$1<
J'st as a irror e#ists every&here both &ithin and a)art *ro its re*le!ted ia%es" so the
S')ree Lord e#ists every&here &ithin and a)art *ro this body$ 1$1>
J'st as one and the sae all5)ervadin% s)a!e e#ists &ithin and &itho't a 2ar" so the
eternal" everlastin% God e#ists in the totality o* thin%s$ 1$3?
Janaka said:
Tr'ly I a s)otless and at )ea!e" the a&areness beyond nat'ral !a'sality$ All this tie I
have been a**li!ted by del'sion$ 3$1
As I alone %ive li%ht to this body" so I do to the &orld$ As a res'lt the &hole &orld is
ine" or alternatively nothin% is$ 3$3
So no& that I have abandoned the body and everythin% else" by %ood *ort'ne y tr'e sel*
be!oes a))arent$ 3$6
Aaves" *oa" and b'bbles do not di**er *ro &ater$ In the sae &ay" all this &hi!h has
eanated *ro onesel* is no other than onesel*$ 3$7
Ahen yo' analyse it" !loth is *o'nd to be 2'st thread$ In the sae &ay" &hen all this is
analysed it is *o'nd to be no other than onesel*$ 3$8
The s'%ar )rod'!ed *ro the 2'i!e o* the s'%ar!ane is )ereated thro'%ho't &ith the
sae taste$ In the sae &ay" all this" )rod'!ed o't o* e" is !o)letely )ereated &ith
ysel*$ 3$9
Bro i%noran!e o* onesel*" the &orld a))ears" and by kno&led%e o* onesel* it a))ears no
lon%er$ Bro i%noran!e o* the ro)e it a))ears to be a snake" and by kno&led%e o* it it
does so no lon%er$ 3$:
Shinin% is y essential nat're" and I a nothin% other than that$ Ahen the &orld shines
*orth" it is only e that is shinin% *orth$ 3$<
All this a))ears in e ia%ined d'e to i%noran!e" 2'st as a snake a))ears in the ro)e" the
ira%e o* &ater in the s'nli%ht" and silver in other o* )earl$ 3$>
All this" &hi!h has ori%inated o't o* e" is resolved ba!k into e too" like a 2'% ba!k into
!lay" a &ave into &ater" and a bra!elet into %old$ 3$1?
Ho& &onder*'l I aC Glory to e" *or &ho there is no destr'!tion" reainin% even
beyond the destr'!tion o* the &orld *ro =raha do&n to the last !l') o* %rass$ 3$11
Ho& &onder*'l I aC Glory to e" solitary even tho'%h &ith a body" neither %oin% or
!oin% any&here" I &ho abide *orever" *illin% all that is$ 3$13
Ho& &onder*'l I aC Glory to eC There is no one so !lever as eC I &ho have borne all
that is *orever" &itho't even to'!hin% it &ith y bodyC 3$16
Ho& &onder*'l I aC Glory to eC I &ho )ossess nothin% at all" or alternatively )ossess
everythin% that s)ee!h and ind !an re*er to$ 3$17
/no&led%e" &hat is to be kno&n" and the kno&er 55 these three do not e#ist in reality$ I
a the s)otless reality in &hi!h they a))ear be!a'se o* i%noran!e$ 3$18
Tr'ly d'alis is the root o* s'**erin%$ There is no other reedy *or it than the realisation
that all this that &e see is 'nreal" and that I a the one stainless reality" !onsistin% o*
!ons!io'sness$ 3$19
I a )'re a&areness tho'%h thro'%h i%noran!e I have ia%ined ysel* to have additional
attrib'tes$ =y !ontin'ally re*le!tin% like this" y d&ellin% )la!e is in the Unia%ined$
3$1:
Bor e here is neither bonda%e nor liberation$ The ill'sion has lost its basis and !eased$
Tr'ly all this e#ists in e" tho'%h 'ltiately it does not even e#ist in e$ 3$1<
Re!o%nisin% that all this and y body too are nothin%" &hile y tr'e sel* is nothin% b't
)'re !ons!io'sness" &hat is there le*t *or the ia%ination to &ork on no&0 3$1>
The body" heaven and hell" bonda%e and liberation" and *ear too" all this is )'re
ia%ination$ Ahat is there le*t to do *or e &hose very nat're is !ons!io'sness0 3$3?
I do not even see d'alis in a !ro&d o* )eo)le" so &hat do I %ain i* it is re)la!ed by a
desert0 3$31
I a not the body" nor is the body ine$ I a not a livin% bein%$ I a !ons!io'sness$ It
&as y thirst *or livin% that &as y bonda%e$ 3$33
Tr'ly it is in the in*inite o!ean o* ysel*" that" sti'lated by the !olo'r*'l &aves o* the
&orld" everythin% s'ddenly arises in the &ind o* !ons!io'sness$ 3$36
In the in*inite o!ean o* ysel*" the &ind o* tho'%ht s'bsides" and the &orld boat o* the
livin%5bein% traders is &re!ked by la!k o* %oods$ 3$37
Ho& &onder*'l it is that in the in*inite o!ean o* ysel* the &aves o* livin% bein%s arise"
!ollide" )lay" and disa))ear" in a!!ordan!e &ith their nat're$ 3$38
Ashtavakra said:
/no&in% yo'rsel* as tr'ly one and indestr'!tible" ho& !o'ld a &ise an )ossessin% sel*5
kno&led%e like yo' *eel any )leas're in a!,'irin% &ealth0 6$1
Tr'ly" &hen one does not kno& onesel*" one takes )leas're in the ob2e!ts o* istaken
)er!e)tion" 2'st as %reed arises *or the istaken silver in one &ho does not kno& other
o* )earl *or &hat it is$ 6$3
All this &ells ') like &aves in the sea$ Re!o%nisin%" ;I a That"; &hy r'n aro'nd like
soeone in need0 6$6
A*ter hearin% o* onesel* as )'re !ons!io'sness and the s')reely bea'ti*'l" is one to %o
on l'stin% a*ter sordid se#'al ob2e!ts0 6$7
Ahen the sa%e has realised that he hisel* is in all bein%s" and all bein%s are in hi" it is
astonishin% that the sense o* individ'ality sho'ld be able to !ontin'e$ 6$8
It is astonishin% that a an &ho has rea!hed the s')ree nond'al state and is intent on
the bene*its o* liberation sho'ld still be s'b2e!t to l'st and in bonda%e to se#'al a!tivity$
6$9
It is astonishin% that one already very debilitated" and kno&in% very &ell that its aro'sal
is the eney o* kno&led%e" sho'ld still hanker a*ter sens'ality" even &hen a))roa!hin%
his last days$ 6$:
It is astonishin% that one &ho is 'natta!hed to the thin%s o* this &orld or the ne#t" &ho
dis!riinates bet&een the )eranent and the i)eranent" and &ho lon%s *or liberation"
sho'ld still be a*raid o* liberation$ 6$<
Ahether *eted or torented" the &ise an is al&ays a&are o* his s')ree sel*5nat're and
is neither )leased nor disa))ointed$ 6$>
The %reat5so'led )erson sees even his o&n body in a!tion as i* it &ere soeone else's" so
ho& sho'ld he be dist'rbed by )raise or blae0 6$1?
Seein% this &orld as )'re ill'sion" and devoid o* any interest in it" ho& sho'ld the stron%5
inded )erson" *eel *ear" even at the a))roa!h o* death0 6$11
Aho !an be !o)ared to the %reat5so'led )erson &hose ind is *ree *ro desire even in
disa))ointent" and &ho has *o'nd satis*a!tion in sel*5kno&led%e0 6$13
Ho& sho'ld a stron%5inded )erson &ho kno&s that &hat he sees is by its very nat're
nothin%" !onsider one thin% to be %ras)ed and another to be re2e!ted0 6$16
An ob2e!t o* en2oyent that !oes o* itsel* is neither )ain*'l nor )leas'rable *or soeone
&ho has eliinated atta!hent" and &ho is *ree *ro d'alis and *ro desire$ 6$17
Ashtavakra said:
The &ise )erson o* sel*5kno&led%e" )layin% the %ae o* &orldly en2oyent" bears no
reseblan!e &hatever to sasara's be&ildered beasts o* b'rden$ 7$1
Tr'ly the yo%i *eels no e#!iteent even at bein% established in that state &hi!h all the
Devas *ro Indra do&n yearn *or dis!onsolately$ 7$3
He &ho has kno&n That is 'nto'!hed &ithin by %ood deeds or bad" 2'st as s)a!e is not
to'!hed by soke" ho&ever '!h it ay a))ear to be$ 7$6
Aho !an )revent the %reat5so'led )erson &ho has kno&n this &hole &orld as hisel*
*ro livin% as he )leases0 7$7
O* all *o'r !ate%ories o* bein%s" *ro =raha do&n to the last !l') o* %rass" only the
an o* kno&led%e is !a)able o* eliinatin% desire and aversion$ 7$8
Rare is the an &ho kno&s hisel* as the nond'al Lord o* the &orld" and he &ho kno&s
this is not a*raid o* anythin%$ 7$9
Ashtavakra said:
4o' are not bo'nd by anythin%$ Ahat does a )'re )erson like yo' need to reno'n!e0
D'ttin% the !o)le# or%anis to rest" yo' !an *ind )ea!e$ 8$1
All this arises o't o* yo'" like a b'bble o't o* the sea$ /no&in% yo'rsel* like this to be
b't one" yo' !an *ind )ea!e$ 8$3
In s)ite o* bein% in *ront o* yo'r eyes" all this" bein% ins'bstantial" does not e#ist in yo'"
s)otless as yo' are$ It is an a))earan!e like the snake in a ro)e" so yo' !an *ind )ea!e$ 8$6
.,'al in )ain and in )leas're" e,'al in ho)e and in disa))ointent" e,'al in li*e and in
death" and !o)lete as yo' are" yo' !an *ind )ea!e$ 8$7
Ashtavakra said:
I a in*inite like s)a!e" and the nat'ral &orld is like a 2ar$ To kno& this is kno&led%e" and
then there is neither ren'n!iation" a!!e)tan!e" or !essation o* it$ 9$1
I a like the o!ean" and the 'lti)li!ity o* ob2e!ts is !o)arable to a &ave$ To kno& this
is kno&led%e" and then there is neither ren'n!iation" a!!e)tan!e or !essation o* it$ 9$3
I a like the other o* )earl" and the ia%ined &orld is like the silver$ To kno& this is
kno&led%e" and then there is neither ren'n!iation" a!!e)tan!e" or !essation o* it$ 9$6
Alternatively" I a in all bein%s" and all bein%s are in e$ To kno& this is kno&led%e" and
then there is neither ren'n!iation" a!!e)tan!e" or !essation o* it$ 9$7
Janaka said:
In the in*inite o!ean o* ysel* the &orld boat dri*ts here and there" oved by its o&n
inner &ind$ I a not )'t o't by that$ :$1
Ahether the &orld &ave o* its o&n nat're rises or disa))ears in the in*inite o!ean o*
ysel*" I neither %ain nor lose anythin% by that$ :$3
It is in the in*inite o!ean o* ysel* that the ind5!reation !alled the &orld takes )la!e$ I
a s')reely )ea!e*'l and *orless" and I reain as s'!h$ :$6
-y tr'e nat're is not !ontained in ob2e!ts" nor does any ob2e!t e#ist in it" *or it is in*inite
and s)otless$ So it is 'natta!hed" desireless and at )ea!e" and I reain as s'!h$ :$7
I a )'re !ons!io'sness" and the &orld is like a a%i!ian's sho&$ Ho& !o'ld I ia%ine
there is anythin% there to take ') or re2e!t0 :$8
Ashtavakra said:
=onda%e is &hen the ind lon%s *or soethin%" %rieves abo't soethin%" re2e!ts
soethin%" holds on to soethin%" is )leased abo't soethin% or dis)leased abo't
soethin%$ <$1
Liberation is &hen the ind does not lon% *or anythin%" %rieve abo't anythin%" re2e!t
anythin%" or hold on to anythin%" and is not )leased abo't anythin% or dis)leased abo't
anythin%$ <$3
=onda%e is &hen the ind is tan%led in one o* the senses" and liberation is &hen the ind
is not tan%led in any o* the senses$ <$6
Ahen there is no ;e"; that is liberation" and &hen there is ;e; there is bonda%e$
Consider this !are*'lly" and neither hold on to anythin% nor re2e!t anythin%$ <$7
Ashtavakra said:
/no&in% &hen the d'alis o* thin%s done and 'ndone has been )'t to rest" or the )erson
*or &ho they o!!'r has" then yo' !an here and no& %o beyond ren'n!iation and
obli%ations by indi**eren!e to s'!h thin%s$ >$1
Rare indeed" y son" is the l'!ky an &hose observation o* the &orld's behavio'r has
led to the e#tin!tion o* his thirst *or livin%" thirst *or )leas're" and thirst *or kno&led%e$
>$3
All this is transient and s)oiled by the three sorts o* )ain$ /no&in% it to be ins'bstantial"
i%noble" and *it only *or re2e!tion" one attains )ea!e$ >$6
Ahen &as that a%e or tie o* li*e &hen the d'alis o* e#trees did not e#ist *or en0
Abandonin% the" a )erson &ho is ha))y to take &hatever !oes attains )er*e!tion$ >$7
Aho does not end ') &ith indi**eren!e to s'!h thin%s and attain )ea!e &hen he has seen
the di**eren!es o* o)inions aon% the %reat sa%es" saints" and yo%is0 >$8
Is he not a %'r' &ho" endo&ed &ith dis)assion and e,'aniity" a!hieves *'ll kno&led%e
o* the nat're o* !ons!io'sness" and leads others o't o* sasara0 >$9
I* yo' &o'ld 2'st see the trans*orations o* the eleents as nothin% ore than the
eleents" then yo' &o'ld iediately be *reed *ro all bonds and established in yo'r
o&n nat're$ >$:
One's desires are sasara$ /no&in% this" abandon the$ The ren'n!iation o* the is the
ren'n!iation o* it$ No& yo' !an reain as yo' are$ >$<
Ashtavakra said:
Abandon desire" the eney" alon% &ith %ain" itsel* so *'ll o* loss" and the %ood deeds
&hi!h are the !a'se o* the other t&o 55 )ra!ti!e indi**eren!e to everythin%$ 1?$1
Look on s'!h thin%s as *riends" land" oney" )ro)erty" &i*e" and be,'ests as nothin% b't a
drea or a a%i!ian's sho& lastin% three or *ive days$ 1?$3
Aherever a desire o!!'rs" see sasara in it$ .stablishin% yo'rsel* in *ir dis)assion" be
*ree o* )assion and ha))y$ 1?$6
The essential nat're o* bonda%e is nothin% other than desire" and its eliination is kno&n
as liberation$ It is si)ly by not bein% atta!hed to !han%in% thin%s that the everlastin% 2oy
o* attainent is rea!hed$ 1?$7
4o' are one" !ons!io's and )'re" &hile all this is inert non5bein%$ I%noran!e itsel* is
nothin%" so &hat is the )oint o* &antin% to 'nderstand0 1?$8
/in%dos" !hildren" &ives" bodies" )leas'res 55 these have all been lost to yo' li*e a*ter
li*e" atta!hed to the tho'%h yo' &ere$ 1?$9
.no'%h o* &ealth" sens'ality" and %ood deeds$ In the *orest o* sasara the ind has never
*o'nd satis*a!tion in these$ 1?$:
Ho& any births have yo' not done hard and )ain*'l labo'r &ith body" ind" and
s)ee!h$ No& at last" sto)C 1?$<
Ashtavakra said:
Unoved and 'ndistressed" realisin% that bein%" non5bein% and !han%e are o* the very
nat're o* thin%s" one easily *inds )ea!e$ 11$1
At )ea!e" havin% shed all desires &ithin" and realisin% that nothin% e#ists here b't the
Lord" the Creator o* all thin%s" one is no lon%er atta!hed to anythin%$ 11$3
Realisin% that is*ort'ne and *ort'ne !oe in their o&n tie *ro *ort'ne" one is
!ontented" one's senses 'nder !ontrol" and does not like or dislike$ 11$6
Realisin% that )leas're and )ain" birth and death are *ro destiny" and that one's desires
!annot be a!hieved" one reains ina!tive" and even &hen a!tin% does not %et atta!hed$
11$7
Realisin% that s'**erin% arises *ro nothin% other than tho'%ht" dro))in% all desires one
rids onesel* o* it" and is ha))y and at )ea!e every&here$ 11$8
Realisin%" ;I a not the body" nor is the body ine$ I a a&areness"; one attains the
s')ree state and no lon%er reebers thin%s done or 'ndone$ 11$9
Realisin%" ;I alone e#ist" *ro =raha do&n to the last !l') o* %rass"; one be!oes
*ree *ro 'n!ertainty" )'re" at )ea!e" and 'n!on!erned abo't &hat has been attained or
not$ 11$:
Realisin% that all this varied and &onder*'l &orld is nothin%" one be!oes )'re
re!e)tivity" *ree *ro in!linations" and as i* nothin% e#isted" one *inds )ea!e$ 11$<
Janaka said:
Birst o* all I &as averse to )hysi!al a!tivity" then to len%thy s)ee!h" and *inally to tho'%ht
itsel*" &hi!h is &hy I a no& established$ 13$1
In the absen!e o* deli%ht in so'nd and the other senses" and by the *a!t that I a ysel*
not an ob2e!t o* the senses" y ind is *o!'sed and *ree *ro distra!tion 55 &hi!h is &hy
I a no& established$ 13$3
O&in% to the distra!tion o* s'!h thin%s as &ron% identi*i!ation" one is driven to strive *or
ental stillness$ Re!o%nisin% this )attern I a no& established$ 13$6
=y relin,'ishin% the sense o* re2e!tion and a!!e)tan!e" and &ith )leas're and
disa))ointent !easin% today" brahin 55 I a no& established$ 13$7
Li*e in a !o'nity" then %oin% beyond s'!h a state" editation and the eliination o*
ind5ade ob2e!ts 55 by eans o* these I have seen y error" and I a no& established$
13$8
J'st as the )er*oran!e o* a!tions is d'e to i%noran!e" so their abandonent is too$ =y
*'lly re!o%nisin% this tr'th" I a no& established$ 13$9
Tryin% to think the 'nthinkable" is doin% soethin% 'nnat'ral to tho'%ht$ Abandonin%
s'!h a )ra!ti!e there*ore" I a no& established$ 13$:
He &ho has a!hieved this has a!hieved the %oal o* li*e$ He &ho is o* s'!h a nat're has
done &hat has to be done$ 13$<
Janaka said:
The inner *reedo o* havin% nothin% is hard to a!hieve" even &ith 2'st a loin5!loth" b't I
live as I )lease" abandonin% both ren'n!iation and a!,'isition$ 16$1
Soeties one e#)erien!es distress be!a'se o* one's body" soeties be!a'se o* one's
s)ee!h" and soeties be!a'se o* one's ind$ Abandonin% all o* these" I live as I )lease
in the %oal o* h'an li*e$ 16$3
Re!o%nisin% that in reality no a!tion is ever !oitted" I live as I )lease" 2'st doin% &hat
)resents itsel* to be done$ 16$6
4o%is &ho identi*y theselves &ith their bodies are insistent on *'l*illin% and avoidin%
!ertain a!tions" b't I live as I )lease abandonin% atta!hent and re2e!tion$ 16$7
No bene*it or loss !oes to e by standin%" &alkin% or lyin% do&n" so !onse,'ently I
live as I )lease &hether standin%" &alkin% or slee)in%$16$8
I lose nothin% by slee)in% and %ain nothin% by e**ort" so !onse,'ently I live as I )lease"
abandonin% s'!!ess and *ail're$ 16$9
Contin'ally observin% the dra&ba!ks o* s'!h thin%s as )leasant ob2e!ts" I live as I )lease"
abandonin% the )leasant and 'n)leasant$ 16$:
Janaka said:
He &ho by nat're is e)ty5inded" and &ho thinks o* thin%s only 'nintentionally" is
*reed *ro deliberate reeberin% like one a&akened *ro a drea$ 17$1
Ahen y desire has been eliinated" I have no &ealth" *riends" robbers" senses"
s!ri)t'res or kno&led%e$ 17$3
Realisin% y s')ree sel*5nat're in the Derson o* the Aitness" the Lord"and the state o*
desirelessness in bonda%e or liberation" I *eel no in!lination *or liberation$ 17$6
The vario's states o* one &ho is *ree o* 'n!ertainty &ithin" and &ho o't&ardly &anders
abo't as he )leases like an idiot" !an only be kno&n by soeone in the sae !ondition$
17$7
Ashtavakra said:
Ahile a an o* )'re intelli%en!e ay a!hieve the %oal by the ost !as'al o* instr'!tion"
another ay seek kno&led%e all his li*e and still reain be&ildered$ 18$1
Liberation is distaste *or the ob2e!ts o* the senses$ =onda%e is love o* the senses$ This is
kno&led%e$ No& do as yo' &ish$ 18$3
This a&areness o* the tr'th akes an elo,'ent" !lever and ener%eti! an d'b" st')id
and laEy" so it is avoided by those &hose ai is en2oyent$ 18$6
4o' are not the body" nor is the body yo'rs" nor are yo' the doer o* a!tions or the rea)er
o* their !onse,'en!es$ 4o' are eternally )'re !ons!io'sness" the &itness" in need o*
nothin% 55 so live ha))ily$ 18$7
Desire and an%er are ob2e!ts o* the ind" b't the ind is not yo'rs" nor ever has been$
4o' are !hoi!eless a&areness itsel* and 'n!han%in% 55 so live ha))ily$ 18$8
Re!o%nisin% onesel* in all bein%s" and all bein%s in onesel*" be ha))y" *ree *ro the sense
o* res)onsibility and *ree *ro )reo!!')ation &ith ;e$; 18$9
4o'r nat're is the !ons!io'sness" in &hi!h the &hole &orld &ells ')" like &aves in the
sea$ That is &hat yo' are" &itho't any do'bt" so be *ree o* dist'rban!e$ 18$:
Have *aith" y son" have *aith$ Don't let yo'rsel* be del'ded in this$ 4o' are yo'rsel* the
Lord" &hose very nat're is kno&led%e" and yo' are beyond nat'ral !a'sation$ 18$<
The body invested &ith the senses stands still" and !oes and %oes$ 4o' yo'rsel* neither
!oe nor %o" so &hy bother abo't the0 18$>
Let the body last to the end o* the A%e" or let it !oe to an end ri%ht no&$ Ahat have yo'
%ained or lost" &ho !onsist o* )'re !ons!io'sness0 18$1?
Let the &orld &ave rise or s'bside a!!ordin% to its o&n nat're in yo'" the %reat o!ean$ It
is no %ain or loss to yo'$ 18$11
-y son" yo' !onsist o* )'re !ons!io'sness" and the &orld is not se)arate *ro yo'$ So
&ho is to a!!e)t or re2e!t it" and ho&" and &hy0 18$13
Ho& !an there be either birth" kara" or res)onsibility in that one 'n!han%in%" )ea!e*'l"
'nbleished" and in*inite !ons!io'sness &hi!h is yo'0 18$16
Ahatever yo' see" it is yo' alone ani*est in it$ Ho& !an bra!elets" arlets and anklets
be di**erent *ro the %old they are ade o*0 18$17
Givin% ') s'!h distin!tions as ;He is &hat I a"; and ;I a not that"; re!o%nise that
;.verythin% is ysel*"; and be &itho't distin!tion and ha))y$ 18$18
It is thro'%h yo'r i%noran!e that all this e#ists$ In reality yo' alone e#ist$ A)art *ro yo'
there is no one &ithin or beyond sasara$ 18$19
/no&in% that all this is 2'st an ill'sion" one be!oes *ree o* desire" )'re re!e)tivity" and
at )ea!e" as i* nothin% e#isted$ 18$1:
Only one thin% has e#isted" e#ists and &ill e#ist in the o!ean o* bein%$ 4o' have no
bonda%e or liberation$ Live ha))ily and *'l*illed$ 18$1<
=ein% )'re !ons!io'sness" do not dist'rb yo'r ind &ith tho'%hts o* *or and a%ainst$ =e
at )ea!e and reain ha))ily in yo'rsel*" the essen!e o*2oy$ 18$1>
Give ') editation !o)letely b't don't let the ind hold on to anythin%$ 4o' are *ree by
nat're" so &hat &ill yo' a!hieve by *or!in% the ind0 18$3?
Ashtavakra said:
-y son" yo' ay re!ite or listen to !o'ntless s!ri)t'res" b't yo' &ill not be established
&ithin 'ntil yo' !an *or%et everythin%$ 19$1
4o' ay" as a learned an" ind'l%e in &ealth" a!tivity" and editation" b't yo'r ind
&ill still lon% *or that &hi!h is the !essation o* desire" and beyond all %oals$ 19$3
.veryone is in )ain be!a'se o* their strivin% to a!hieve soethin%" b't noone realises it$
=y no ore than this instr'!tion" the *ort'nate one attains tran,'illity$ 19$6
Ha))iness belon%s to noone b't that s')reely laEy an *or &ho even o)enin% and
!losin% his eyes is a bother$ 19$7
Ahen the ind is *reed *ro s'!h )airs o* o))osites as" ;I have done this"; and ;I have
not done that"; it be!oes indi**erent to erit" &ealth" sens'ality and liberation$ 19$8
One an is absteio's and averse to the senses" another is %reedy and atta!hed to the"
b't he &ho is *ree *ro both takin% and re2e!tin% is neither absteio's nor %reedy$ 19$9
So lon% as desire" the state o* la!k o* dis!riination" reains" the sense o* rev'lsion and
attra!tion &ill reain" &hi!h is the root and bran!h o* sasara$ 19$:
Desire s)rin%s *ro 'sa%e" and aversion *ro abstension" b't the &ise an is *ree *ro
the )airs o* o))osites like a !hild" and be!oes established$ 19$<
The )assionate an &ants to eliinate sasara so as to avoid )ain" b't the dis)assionate
an is *ree *ro )ain and *eels no distress even in it$ 19$>
He &ho is )ro'd abo't even liberation or his o&n body" and *eels the his o&n" is neither
a seer nor a yo%i$ He is still 2'st a s'**erer$19$1?
I* even Shiva" +ishn'" or the lot's5born =raha &ere yo'r instr'!tor" 'ntil yo' have
*or%otten everythin% yo' !annot be established &ithin$ 19$11
Ashtavakra said:
He &ho is !ontent" &ith )'ri*ied senses" and al&ays en2oys solit'de" has %ained the *r'it
o* kno&led%e and the *r'it o* the )ra!ti!e o* yo%a too$ 1:$1
The kno&er o* tr'th is never distressed in this &orld" *or the &hole ro'nd &orld is *'ll o*
hisel* alone$ 1:$3
None o* these senses )lease a an &ho has *o'nd satis*a!tion &ithin"2'st as Niba
leaves do not )lease the ele)hant that has a!,'ired the taste *or Sallaki leaves$ 1:$6
The an is rare &ho is not atta!hed to the thin%s he has en2oyed" and does not hanker
a*ter the thin%s he has not en2oyed$ 1:$7
Those &ho desire )leas're and those &ho desire liberation are both *o'nd in sasara" b't
the %reat5so'led an &ho desires neither )leas're nor liberation is rare indeed$ 1:$8
It is only the noble5inded &ho is *ree *ro attra!tion or re)'lsion to reli%ion" &ealth"
sens'ality" and li*e and death too$ 1:$9
He *eels no desire *or the eliination o* all this" nor an%er at its !ontin'in%" so the
*ort'nate an lives ha))ily &ith &hatever s'stinen!e )resents itsel*$ 1:$:
Th's *'l*illed thro'%h this kno&led%e" !ontented" and &ith the thinkin% ind e)tied" he
lives ha))ily 2'st seein%" hearin%" *eelin%" sellin%" and tastin%$ 1:$<
In hi *or &ho the o!ean o* sasara has dried ')" there is neither atta!hent or
aversion$ His %aEe is va!ant" his behavio'r )'r)oseless"and his senses ina!tive$ 1:$>
S'rely the s')ree state is every&here *or the liberated ind$ He is neither a&ake nor
aslee)" and neither o)ens nor !loses his eyes$ 1:$1?
The liberated an is res)lendent every&here" *ree *ro all desires$ .very&here he
a))ears sel*5)ossessed and )'re o* heart$ 1:$11
Seein%" hearin%" *eelin%" sellin%" tastin%" s)eakin%" and &alkin% abo't" the %reat5so'led
an &ho is *reed *ro tryin% to a!hieve or avoid anythin% is *ree indeed$ 1:$13
The liberated an is *ree *ro desires every&here$ He neither blaes" )raises" re2oi!es" is
disa))ointed" %ives" nor takes$ 1:$16
Ahen a %reat5so'led one is 'n)ert'rbed in ind" and e,'ally sel*5)ossessed at either the
si%ht o* a &oan in*laed &ith desire or at a))roa!hin% death" he is tr'ly liberated$
1:$17
There is no distin!tion bet&een )leas're and )ain" an and &oan" s'!!ess and *ail're
*or the &ise an &ho looks on everythin% as e,'al$ 1:$18
There is no a%%ression nor !o)assion" no )ride nor h'ility" no &onder nor !on*'sion
*or the an &hose days o* sasara are over$ 1:$19
The liberated an is not averse to the senses nor is he atta!hed to the$ He en2oys hinsel*
!ontin'ally &ith an 'natta!hed ind in both s'!!ess and *ail're$ 1:$1:
One established in the Absol'te state &ith an e)ty ind does not kno& the alternatives
o* inner stillness and la!k o* inner stillness" and o* %ood and evil$ 1:$1<
A an *ree o* ;e; and ;ine; and o* a sense o* res)onsibility" a&are that ;Nothin%
e#ists"; &ith all desires e#tin%'ished &ithin" does not a!t even in a!tin%$ 1:$1>
He &hose thinkin% ind is dissolved a!hieves the indes!ribable state and is *ree *ro the
ental dis)lay o* del'sion" drea" and i%noran!e$ 1:$3?
Ashtavakra said:
Draise be to That by the a&areness o* &hi!h del'sion itsel* be!oes drea5like" to that
&hi!h is )'re ha))iness" )ea!e" and li%ht$ 1<$1
One ay %et all sorts o* )leas're by the a!,'isition o* vario's ob2e!ts o* en2oyent" b't
one !annot be ha))y e#!e)t by the ren'n!iation o* everythin%$ 1<$3
Ho& !an there be ha))iness" *or one &ho has been b'rnt inside by the blisterin% s'n o*
the )ain o* thinkin% that there are thin%s that still need doin%" &itho't the rain o* the
ne!tar o* )ea!e0 1<$6
This e#isten!e is 2'st ia%ination$ It is nothin% in reality" b't there is no non5bein% *or
nat'res that kno& ho& to distin%'ish bein% *ro nonbein%$ 1<$7
The real o* one's sel* is not *ar a&ay" nor !an it be a!hieved by the addition o*
liitations to its nat're$ It is 'nia%inable" e**ortless" 'n!han%in%" and s)otless$ 1<$8
=y the si)le eliination o* del'sion and the re!o%nition o* one's tr'e nat're" those
&hose vision is 'n!lo'ded live *ree *ro sorro&$ 1<$9
/no&in% everythin% as 2'st ia%ination" and hisel* as eternally *ree" ho& sho'ld the
&ise an behave like a *ool0 1<$:
/no&in% hisel* to be God" and bein% and non5bein% 2'st ia%ination" &hat sho'ld the
an *ree *ro desire learn" say" or do0 1<$<
Considerations like ;I a this; or ;I a not this; are *inished *or the yo%i &ho has %one
silent realisin% ;.verythin% is ysel*$; 1<$>
Bor the yo%i &ho has *o'nd )ea!e" there is no distra!tion or one5)ointedness" no hi%her
kno&led%e or i%noran!e" no )leas're and no )ain$ 1<$1?
The doinion o* heaven or be%%ary" %ain or loss" li*e aon% en or in the *orest" these
ake no di**eren!e to a yo%i &hose nat're it is to be *ree *ro distin!tions$ 1<$11
There are no reli%io's obli%ations" &ealth" sens'ality" or dis!riination *or a yo%i *ree
*ro s'!h o))osites as ;I have done this"; and ;I have not done that$; 1<$13
There is nothin% needin% to be done or any atta!hent in his heart *or the yo%i liberated
&hile still alive$ Thin%s thin%s &ill last 2'st to the end o* li*e$ 1<$16
There is no del'sion" &orld" editation on That" or liberation *or the )a!i*ied %reat so'l$
All these thin%s are 2'st the real o* ia%ination$1<$17
He by &ho all this is seen ay &ell ake o't it doesn't e#ist" b't &hat is the desireless
one to do0 .ven in seein% it he does not see it$ 1<$18
He by &ho the S')ree =raha is seen ay think ;I a =raha"; b't &hat is he to
think &ho is &itho't tho'%ht" and &ho sees no d'ality0 1<$19
He by &ho inner distra!tion is seen ay )'t an end to it" b't the noble one is not
distra!ted$ Ahen there is nothin% to a!hieve &hat is he to do0 1<$1:
The &ise an" 'nlike the &orldly an" does not see inner stillness" distra!tion" or *a'lt in
hisel*" even &hen livin% like a &orldly an$ 1<$1<
Nothin% is done by hi &ho is *ree *ro bein% and non5bein%" &ho is !ontented"
desireless" and &ise" even i* in the &orld's eyes he does a!t$ 1<$1>
The &ise an &ho 2'st %oes on doin% &hat )resents itsel* *or hi to do" en!o'nters no
di**i!'lty in either a!tivity or ina!tivity$ 1<$3?
He &ho is desireless" sel*5reliant" inde)endent" and *ree o* bonds *'n!tions like a dead
lea* blo&n abo't by the &ind o* !a'sality$ 1<$31
There is neither 2oy nor sorro& *or one &ho has trans!ended sasara$ Aith a )ea!e*'l
ind he lives as i* &itho't a body$ 1<$33
He &hose 2oy is in hisel*" and &ho is )ea!e*'l and )'re &ithin has no desire *or
ren'n!iation or sense o* loss in anythin%$ 1<$36
Bor the an &ith a nat'rally e)ty ind" doin% 2'st as he )leases" there is no s'!h thin%
as )ride or *alse h'ility" as there is *or the nat'ralan$ 1<$37
;This a!tion &as done by the body b't not by e$; The )'re5nat'red )erson thinkin% like
this"is not a!tin% even &hen a!tin%$ 1<$38
He &ho a!ts &itho't bein% able to say &hy" b't is not thereby a *ool" he is one liberated
&hile still alive" ha))y and blessed$ He is ha))y even in sasara$ 1<$39
He &ho has had eno'%h o* endless !onsiderations and has attained )ea!e" does not think"
kno&" hear" or see$ 1<$3:
He &ho is beyond ental stillness and distra!tion does not desire either liberation or its
o))osite$ Re!o%nisin% that thin%s are 2'st !onstr'!tions o* the ia%ination" that %reat so'l
lives as God here and no&$ 1<$3<
He &ho *eels res)onsibility &ithin" a!ts even &hen doin% nothin%" b't there is no sense o*
done or 'ndone *or the &ise an &ho is *ree *ro the sense o* res)onsibility$ 1<$3>
The ind o* the liberated an is not ')set or )leased$ It shines 'novin%" desireless" and
*ree *ro do'bt$ 1<$6?
He &hose ind does not set o't to editate or a!t" still editates and a!ts b't &itho't an
ob2e!t$ 1<$61
A st')id an is be&ildered &hen he hears the 'ltiate tr'th" &hile even a !lever an is
h'bled by it 2'st like the *ool$ 1<$63
The i%norant ake a %reat e**ort to )ra!tise one5)ointedness and the sto))in% o* tho'%ht"
&hile the &ise see nothin% to be done and reain in theselves like those aslee)$ 1<$66
The st')id an does not attain !essation &hether he a!ts or abandons a!tion" &hile the
&ise an *inds )ea!e &ithin si)ly by kno&in% the tr'th$ <$67
Deo)le !annot !oe to kno& theselves by )ra!ti!es 55 )'re a&areness" !lear" !o)lete"
beyond 'lti)li!ity" and *a'ltless tho'%h they are$ <$68
The st')id an does not a!hieve liberation even thro'%h re%'lar )ra!ti!e" b't the
*ort'nate reains *ree and a!tionless si)ly by 'nderstandin%$ 1<$69
The st')id does not attain Godhead be!a'se he &ants it" &hile the &ise an en2oys the
S')ree Godhead &itho't even &antin% it$ 1<$6:
.ven &hen livin% &itho't any s'))ort and ea%er *or a!hieveent" the st')id are still
no'rishin% sasara" &hile the &ise have !'t at the very root o* its 'nha))iness$ 1<$6<
The st')id an does not *ind )ea!e be!a'se he desires it" &hile the &ise an
dis!riinatin% the tr'th is al&ays )ea!e*'l inded$ 1<$6>
Ho& !an there be sel*5kno&led%e *or hi &hose kno&led%e de)ends on &hat he sees0
The &ise do not see this and that" b't see theselves as in*inite$ 1<$7?
Ho& !an there be !essation o* tho'%ht *or the is%'ided &ho is strivin% *or it$ 4et it is
there al&ays nat'rally *or the &ise an deli%htin% in hisel*$ 1<$71
Soe think that soethin% e#ists" and others that nothin% does$ Rare is the an &ho does
not think either" and is thereby *ree *ro distra!tion$ 1<$73
Those o* &eak intelli%en!e think o* theselves as )'re nond'ality" b't be!a'se o* their
del'sion do not really kno& this" and so reain 'n*'l*illed all their lives$ 1<$76
The ind o* the an seekin% liberation !an *ind no restin% )la!e &ithin" b't the ind o*
the liberated an is al&ays *ree *ro desire by the very *a!t o* bein% &itho't a restin%
)la!e$ 1<$77
Seein% the ti%ers o* the senses" the *ri%htened re*'%e5seekers at on!e enter the !ave in
sear!h o* !essation o* tho'%ht and one5)ointedness$ 1<$78
Seein% the desireless lion" the ele)hants o* the senses silently r'n a&ay" or" i* that is
i)ossible" serve hi like !o'rtiers$ 1<$79
The an &ho is *ree *ro do'bts and &hose ind is *ree does not bother abo't eans o*
liberation$ Ahether seein%" hearin%" *eelin%" sellin%" or tastin%" he lives at ease$ 1<$7:
He &hose ind is )'re and 'ndistra!ted *ro 2'st hearin% o* the Tr'th does not see
anythin% to do or anythin% to avoid or even a !a'se *or indi**eren!e$ 1<$7<
The ')ri%ht )erson does &hatever )resents itsel* to be done" %ood or bad" *or his a!tions
are like those o* a !hild$ 1<$7>
=y inner *reedo one attains ha))iness" by inner *reedo one rea!hes the S')ree" by
inner *reedo one !oes to absen!e o* tho'%ht" by inner *reedo to the Ultiate State$
1<$8?
Ahen one sees onesel* as neither the doer nor the rea)er o* the !onse,'en!es" then all
ind &aves !oe to an end$ 1<$81
The s)ontaneo's 'nass'in% behavio'r o* the &ise is note&orthy" b't not the deliberate
)'r)ose*'l stillness o* the *ool$ 1<$83
The &ise &ho are rid o* ia%ination" 'nbo'nd and &ith 'n*ettered a&areness" ay en2oy
theselves in the idst o* any %oods" or alternatively %o o** to o'ntain !aves$ 1<$86
There is no atta!hent in the heart o* a &ise an &hether he sees or )ays hoa%e to a
learned brahin" a !elestial bein%" a holy )la!e" a &oan" a kin% or a *riend$ 1<$87
A yo%i is not in the least )'t o't even &hen h'iliated by the ridi!'le o* servants" sons"
&ives" %rand!hildren" or other relatives$ 1<$88
.ven &hen )leased he is not )leased" not s'**erin% even &hen in )ain$ Only those like
hi !an kno& the &onder*'l state o* s'!h a an$ 1<$89
It is the *eelin% that there is soethin% that needs to be a!hieved &hi!h is sasara$ The
&ise &ho are o* the *or o* e)tiness" *orless" 'n!han%in%" and s)otless see nothin% o*
the sort$ 1<$8:
.ven &hen doin% nothin% the *ool is a%itated by restlessness" &hile a skill*'l an
reains 'ndist'rbed even &hen doin% &hat there is to do$ 1<$8<
Ha))y he stands" ha))y he sits" ha))y slee)s" and ha))y he !oes and %oes$ Ha))y he
s)eaks and ha))y he eats$ This is the li*e o* a an at )ea!e$ 1<$8>
He &ho o* his very nat're *eels no 'nha))iness in his daily li*e like &orldly )eo)le"
reains 'ndist'rbed like a %reat lake" !leared o* de*ileent$ 1<$9?
.ven abstention *ro a!tion has the e**e!t o* a!tion in a *ool" &hile even the a!tion o* the
&ise an brin%s the *r'its o* ina!tion$ 1<$91
A *ool o*ten sho&s aversion to&ards his belon%in%s" b't *or hi &hose atta!hent to the
body has dro))ed a&ay" there is neither atta!hent nor aversion$ 1<$93
The ind o* the *ool is al&ays !a'%ht in thinkin% or not thinkin%" b't the &ise an's is o*
the nat're o* no tho'%ht be!a'se he thinks &hat is a))ro)riate$ 1<$96
Bor the seer &ho behaves like a !hild" &itho't desire in all a!tions"there is no atta!hent
*or s'!h a )'re one even in the &ork he does$ 1<$97
=lessed is he &ho kno&s hisel* and is the sae in all states" &ith a ind *ree *ro
!ravin% &hether he is seein%" hearin%" *eelin%" sellin%" or tastin%$ 1<$98
There is no one s'b2e!t to sasara" no sense o* individ'ality" no %oal or eans to the %oal
in the eyes o* the &ise an &ho is al&ays *ree *ro ia%ination and 'n!han%in% like
s)a!e$ 1<$99
Glorio's is he &ho has abandoned all %oals and is the in!arnation o* the satis*a!tion"
&hi!h is his very nat're" and &hose inner *o!'s on the Un!onditioned is ,'ite
s)ontaneo's$ 1<$9:
In brie*" the %reat5so'led an &ho has !oe to kno& the Tr'th is &itho't desire *or
either )leas're or liberation" and is al&ays and every&here *ree *ro atta!hent$ 1<$9<
Ahat reains to be done by the an &ho is )'re a&areness and has abandoned
everythin% that !an be e#)ressed in &ords *ro the hi%hest heaven to the earth itsel*0
1<$9>
The )'re an &ho has e#)erien!ed the Indes!ribable attains )ea!e by virt'e o* his very
nat're" realisin% that all this is nothin% b't ill'sion" and that nothin% is$ 1<$:?
There are no r'les" dis)assion" ren'n!iation" or editation *or one &ho is )'re re!e)tivity
by nat're" and adits no kno&able *or o* bein%$ 1<$:1
Bor hi &ho shines &ith the radian!e o* In*inity and is not s'b2e!t to nat'ral !a'sality
there is neither bonda%e" liberation" )leas're" nor )ain$ 1<$:3
D're ill'sion rei%ns in sasara &hi!h &ill !ontin'e 'ntil sel*5realisation" b't the
enli%htened an lives in the bea'ty o* *reedo *ro e and ine" *ro the sense o*
res)onsibility and *ro any atta!hent$ 1<$:6
Bor the seer &ho kno&s hisel* as i)erishable and beyond )ain there is neither
kno&led%e" a &orld" nor the sense that I a the body or the body ine$ 1<$:7
No sooner does a an o* lo& intelli%en!e %ive ') a!tivities like the eliination o*
tho'%ht than he *alls into ind ra!in% and !hatter$ 1<$:8
A *ool does not %et rid o* his st')idity even on hearin% the tr'th$ He ay a))ear
o't&ardly *ree *ro ia%inations" b't inside he is still hankerin% a*ter the senses$ 1<$:9
Tho'%h in the eyes o* the &orld he is a!tive" the an &ho has shed a!tion thro'%h
kno&led%e *inds no eans o* doin% or s)eakin% anythin%$ 1<$::
Bor the &ise an &ho is al&ays 'n!han%in% and *earless there is neither darkness nor
li%ht nor destr'!tion nor anythin%$ 1<$:<
There is neither *ortit'de" )r'den!e" nor !o'ra%e *or the yo%i &hose nat're is beyond
des!ri)tion and *ree o* individ'ality$ 1<$:>
There is neither heaven nor hell nor even liberation d'rin% li*e$ In a n'tshell" in the si%ht
o* the seer nothin% e#ists at all$ 1<$<?
He neither lon%s *or )ossessions nor %rieves at their absen!e$ The !al ind o* the sa%e
is *'ll o* the ne!tar o* iortality$ 1<$<1
The dis)assionate an does not )raise the %ood or blae the &i!ked$ Content and e,'al
in )ain and )leas're" he sees nothin% that needs doin%$ 1<$<3
The &ise an is not averse to sasara" nor does he seek to kno& hisel*$ Bree *ro
)leas're and i)atien!e" he is not dead and he is not alive$ 1<$<6
The &ise an e#!els by bein% *ree *ro anti!i)ation" &itho't atta!hent to s'!h thin%s
as !hildren or &ives" *ree *ro desire *or the senses"and not even !on!erned abo't his
o&n body$ 1<$<7
The &ise an" &ho lives on &hatever ha))ens to !oe to hi" roas &herever he
)leases" and slee)s &herever the s'n ha))ens to set" is at )ea!e every&here$ 1<$<8
Ahether his body rises or *alls" the %reat5so'led one %ives it no tho'%ht" havin% *or%otten
all abo't sasara in !oin% to rest on the %ro'nd o* his tr'e nat're$ 1<$<9
The &ise an has the 2oy o* bein% !o)lete in hisel* and &itho't )ossessions" a!tin% as
he )leases" *ree *ro d'ality and rid o* do'bts" and &itho't atta!hent to any !reat're$
1<$<:
The &ise an e#!els in bein% &itho't the sense o* ;e;$ .arth" a stone" or %old are the
sae to hi$ The knots o* his heart have been rent as'nder" and he is *reed *ro %reed
and blindness$ 1<$<<
Aho !an !o)are &ith that !ontented" liberated so'l &ho )ays no re%ard to anythin% and
has no desire le*t in his heart0 1<$<>
Aho b't the ')ri%ht an &itho't desire kno&s &itho't kno&in%" sees &itho't seein%"
and s)eaks &itho't s)eakin%0 1<$>?
=e%%ar or kin%" he e#!els &ho is &itho't desire" and &hose o)inion o* thin%s is rid o*
;%ood; and ;bad$; 1<$>1
There is neither dissol'te behavio'r nor virt'e" nor even dis!riination o* the tr'th *or
the sa%e &ho has rea!hed the %oal and is the very ebodient o* %'ileless sin!erity$
1<$>3
That &hi!h is e#)erien!ed &ithin by one &ho is desireless and *ree *ro )ain" and
!ontent to rest in hisel* 55 ho& !o'ld it be des!ribed" and o* &ho0 1<$>6
The &ise an &ho is !ontented in all !ir!'stan!es is not aslee) even in dee) slee)" nor
slee)in% in a drea" nor &akin% &hen he is a&ake$ 1<$>7
The seer is &itho't tho'%hts even &hen thinkin%" &itho't senses aon% the senses"
&itho't 'nderstandin% even in 'nderstandin%" and &itho't a sense o* res)onsibility even
in the e%o$ 1<$>8
Neither ha))y nor 'nha))y" neither deta!hed nor atta!hed" neither seekin% liberation nor
liberated" he is neither soethin% nor nothin%$ 1<$>9
Not distra!ted in distra!tion" in ental stillness not )oised" in st')idity not st')id" that
blessed one is not even &ise in his &isdo$ 1<$>:
The liberated an is sel*5)ossessed in all !ir!'stan!es and *ree *ro the idea o* ;done;
and ;still to do$; He is the sae &herever he is and &itho't %reed$ He does not d&ell on
&hat he has done or not done$ 1<$><
He is not )leased &hen )raised nor ')set &hen blaed$ He is not a*raid o* death nor
atta!hed to li*e$ 1<$>>
A an at )ea!e does not r'n o** to )o)'lar resorts or to the *orest$ Ahatever and
&herever" he reains the sae$ 1<$1??
Janaka said:
Usin% the t&eeEers o* the kno&led%e o* the tr'th I have ana%ed to e#tra!t the )ain*'l
thorn o* endless o)inions *ro the re!esses o* y heart$ 1>$1
Bor e" established in y o&n %lory" there are no reli%io's obli%ations" sens'ality"
)ossessions" )hiloso)hy" d'ality" or even nond'ality$ 1>$3
Bor e established in y o&n %lory" there is no )ast" *'t're" or )resent$ There is no s)a!e
or even eternity$ 1>$6
Bor e established in y o&n %lory" there is no sel* or non5sel*" no %ood or evil" no
tho'%ht or even absen!e o* tho'%ht$ 1>$7
Bor e established in y o&n %lory" there is no dreain% or dee) slee)" no &akin% nor
*o'rth state beyond the" and !ertainly no *ear$ 1>$8
Bor e established in y o&n %lory" there is nothin% *ar a&ay and nothin% near" nothin%
&ithin or &itho't" nothin% lar%e and nothin% sall$ 1>$9
Bor e established in y o&n %lory" there is no li*e or death" no &orlds or thin%s o* this
&orld" no distra!tion and no stillness o* ind$ 1>$:
Bor e reainin% in ysel*" there is no need *or talk o* the three %oals o* li*e" o* yo%a or
o* kno&led%e$ 1>$<
Janaka said:
In y 'nbleished nat're there are no eleents" no body" no *a!'lties" no ind$ There is
no void and no des)air$ 3?$1
Bor e" *ree *ro the sense o* d'alis" there are no s!ri)t'res" no sel*5kno&led%e" no
ind *ree *ro an ob2e!t" no satis*a!tion and no *reedo *ro desire$ 3?$3
There is no kno&led%e or i%noran!e" no ;e"; ;this"; or ;ine"; no bonda%e" no
liberation" and no )ro)erty o* sel*5nat're$ 3?$6
Bor hi &ho is al&ays *ree *ro individ'al !hara!teristi!s there is no ante!edent !a'sal
a!tion" no liberation d'rin% li*e" and no *'l*ilent at death$ 3?$7
Bor e" *ree *ro individ'ality" there is no doer and no rea)er o* the !onse,'en!es" no
!essation o* a!tion" no arisin% o* tho'%ht" no iediate ob2e!t" and no idea o* res'lts$
3?$8
There is no &orld" no seeker *or liberation" no yo%i" no seer" no one bo'nd and no one
liberated$ I reain in y o&n nond'al nat're$ 3?$9
There is no eanation or ret'rn" no %oal" eans" seeker or a!hieveent$ I reain in y
o&n nond'al nat're$ 3?$:
Bor e &ho a *orever 'nbleished" there is no assessor" no standard" nothin% to assess"
and no assessent$ 3?$<
Bor e &ho a *orever a!tionless" there is no distra!tion or one5)ointedness o* ind" no
la!k o* 'nderstandin%" no st')idity" no 2oy and no sorro&$ 3?$>
Bor e &ho a al&ays *ree *ro deliberations there is neither !onventional tr'th nor
absol'te tr'th" no ha))iness and no s'**erin%$ 3?$1?
Bor e &ho a *orever )'re there is no ill'sion" no sasara" no atta!hent or
deta!hent" no livin% or%anis" and no God$ 3?$11
Bor e &ho a *orever 'novable and indivisible" established in ysel*" there is no
a!tivity or ina!tivity" no liberation and no bonda%e$ 3?$13
Bor e &ho a blessed and &itho't liitation" there is no initiation or s!ri)t're" no
dis!i)le or tea!her" and no %oal o* h'an li*e$ 3?$16
There is no bein% or non5bein%" no 'nity or d'alis$ Ahat ore is there to say0 There is
nothin% o'tside o* e$ 3?$17