Let us follow the unfolding wisdom of the sage, as revealed in these verses. When a person of dull mind abandons actions such as restraint, he quickly falls prey to fantasies and idle talk. Even if such a person hears the truth, he clings to his delusion, and though he may appear outwardly undivided, inwardly he still craves the objects of the senses. In contrast, one whose actions have fallen away through knowledge, though he may seem to act in the eyes of the world, does not truly engage in action, nor does he have any reason to speak of action. For the steadfast, unchanging one who is always free from fear, darkness and light, rejection and acceptance, and all such distinctions have no meaning. What need is there for courage, discernment, or even fearlessness for the yogi whose nature cannot be expressed, who is without any inherent nature? From the perspective of yoga, there is no heaven, no hell, not even liberation while living; what more needs to be said? There is nothing at all. The mind of the steadfast one is cool and filled only with nectar; he neither seeks gain nor grieves over lack. The desireless one does not praise the peaceful nor blame the wicked; content in both pleasure and pain, he sees nothing to be done. He does not hate the world, nor does he seek to see himself; free from delight and resentment, he is neither dead nor alive. Without attachment to children or spouse, without desire for sense objects, unconcerned even for his own body, the wise one shines, free of hope. Content everywhere, moving as circumstances arise, wandering freely through lands, sleeping wherever night falls—such is the steadfast one. Whether the body falls or stands, the great soul has no concern; resting in his own nature, he has forgotten all cycles of becoming. Having nothing, moving as he wishes, free from duality and with all doubts cut off, unattached to all things, the wise one delights in his own being. The steadfast one shines, free from possessiveness, regarding clod, stone, and gold alike, with the knots of the heart completely broken and all passion and darkness dispelled. For the one who is unattentive everywhere, no impressions remain in the heart; who can be compared to the liberated, contented self? Though knowing, he does not know; though seeing, he does not see; though speaking, he does not speak—who else is like this, except one free from all impressions? Whether a beggar or a king, the desireless one shines, whose mind has let go of judgments of good and bad in all things. Where is freedom, where is restraint, or certainty of truth, for the yogi who is fulfilled, whose nature is pure, straightforward, and without pretense? For one satisfied in the self, without hope and free from suffering, whatever is experienced within—how can that be described, and to whom? Even when asleep, he is not in deep sleep; even in dream, he does not lie there; even when awake, he does not awaken—the steadfast one is fulfilled at every step. The wise one, though appearing thoughtful, is free of thought; though possessing senses, is as if without senses; though endowed with understanding, is as if without intellect; though having ego, is without egotism. He is neither happy nor unhappy, neither detached nor attached; neither seeking liberation nor liberated; he is nothing, and not even nothing. Even amidst distraction, he is not distracted; in absorption, he is not absorbed; in dullness, he is not dull; in learning, he is not learned. Liberated, established in his own nature, content with what is done and undone, equal everywhere due to freedom from craving, he does not recall what has or has not been done. He is not pleased when praised, nor angered when blamed; he is not disturbed by death, nor does he rejoice in life. His mind at peace, he does not run toward crowds nor to the forest; however things are, wherever he is, he remains the same. At this point, King Janaka speaks: “Taking up the pincers of true knowledge from the cave of my heart, I have removed the thorn of mistaken notions. Where is duty, where is desire, where is wealth, where is discrimination? Where is duality, where is nonduality, for me who abides in my own glory? Where is the past, where the future, or even the present? Where is place, where is eternity, for me who abides in my own glory? Where is self, where is non-self, where is auspiciousness, where is inauspiciousness? Where is thought, where is absence of thought, for me who abides in my own glory? Where is dream, where is deep sleep, where is waking, and where the fourth state or even fear, for me who abides in my own glory? Where is far, where is near, where is outside, where is inside? Where is gross, where is subtle, for me who abides in my own glory? Where is death, where is life, where are worlds, where is worldly existence? Where is dissolution, where is absorption, for me who abides in my own glory? Enough of talk about the three aims of life, enough of talk about yoga; enough of talk about knowledge, for I rest in my Self. Janaka continues: Where are the elements, where is the body, where are the senses, where is the mind? Where is emptiness, where is despair, in my stainless true nature? Where is scripture, where is self-knowledge, where is the desireless mind? Where is satisfaction, where is freedom from craving, for me who is always beyond duality? Where is knowledge, where is ignorance, where am I, where is this ‘mine’? Where is bondage, where is liberation, for the true nature that is beyond all forms? Where are actions already begun, where is even liberation while living? Where is that final disembodied freedom, for the one who is ever without distinction? Where is the doer, and where the enjoyer? Where is actionless radiance, and where anything else? Where is direct experience or its fruit, for me who am always without inherent nature? Where is the world, where one seeking liberation, where the yogi, or where the knower? Where is the bound, and where the liberated, in my own nondual nature?” Thus, the sage’s wisdom shines forth, dissolving all distinctions, revealing the glory of the Self—ever free, ever fulfilled, beyond all dualities and concepts.