Ashtavakra Gita

कर्मानुष्ठानमज्ञानाद् यथैवोपरमस्तथा। बुध्वा सम्यगिदं तत्त्वं एवमेवाहमास्थितः

Just as the performance of action ceases through ignorance, so too, having rightly understood this truth, I have thus settled in this way.

अचिंत्यं चिंत्यमानोऽपि चिन्तारूपं भजत्यसौ। त्यक्त्वा तद्भावनं तस्माद् एवमेवाहमास्थितः

Even when one tries to think of the unthinkable, it takes the form of thought; therefore, abandoning such contemplation, I have thus settled in this way.

एवमेव कृतं येन स कृतार्थो भवेदसौ। एवमेव स्वभावो यः स कृतार्थो भवेदसौ

Whoever acts in this way becomes fulfilled; whoever has this very nature becomes fulfilled.

जनक उवाच॥ अकिंचनभवं स्वास्थं कौपीनत्वेऽपि दुर्लभं। त्यागादाने विहायास्मादहमासे यथासुखम्

Janaka said: The state of having nothing and being established in oneself is rare, even for one with only a loincloth; having abandoned both acceptance and renunciation, I sit here at ease.

कुत्रापि खेदः कायस्य जिह्वा कुत्रापि खेद्यते। मनः कुत्रापि तत्त्यक्त्वा पुरुषार्थे स्थितः सुखम्

Fatigue comes to the body somewhere, the tongue is tired somewhere, the mind elsewhere; having abandoned these, I remain happily established in the Self.

कृतं किमपि नैव स्याद् इति संचिन्त्य तत्त्वतः। यदा यत्कर्तुमायाति तत् कृत्वासे यथासुखम्

Reflecting truly that nothing whatsoever is ever done, whenever something comes to be done, I do it and sit at ease.

कर्मनैष्कर्म्यनिर्बन्धभावा देहस्थयोगिनः। संयोगायोगविरहादहमासे यथासुखम्

For the yogi abiding in the body, the insistence on action or inaction is absent; due to the absence of union or separation, I sit here at ease.

अर्थानर्थौ न मे स्थित्या गत्या न शयनेन वा। तिष्ठन् गच्छन् स्वपन् तस्मादहमासे यथासुखम्

Gain and loss are not mine by standing, going, or lying down; whether standing, going, or sleeping, therefore I sit here at ease.

स्वपतो नास्ति मे हानिः सिद्धिर्यत्नवतो न वा। नाशोल्लासौ विहायास्मदहमासे यथासुखम्

There is no loss for me when asleep, nor accomplishment when striving; having abandoned both decline and elation, I sit here at ease.

सुखादिरूपा नियमं भावेष्वालोक्य भूरिशः। शुभाशुभे विहायास्मादहमासे यथासुखम्

Observing repeatedly the rule that states such as happiness and others are only in the mind, having abandoned both auspicious and inauspicious, I sit here at ease.

जनक उवाच॥ प्रकृत्या शून्यचित्तो यः प्रमादाद् भावभावनः। निद्रितो बोधित इव क्षीणसंस्मरणो हि सः

Janaka said: One whose mind is empty by nature, but who contemplates objects out of inadvertence, is like one asleep though awake, for his memory is exhausted.

क्व धनानि क्व मित्राणि क्व मे विषयदस्यवः। क्व शास्त्रं क्व च विज्ञानं यदा मे गलिता स्पृहा

Where are possessions, where are friends, where are sense objects for me? Where is scripture, and where is knowledge, when all desire has fallen away from me?

विज्ञाते साक्षिपुरुषे परमात्मनि चेश्वरे। नैराश्ये बंधमोक्षे च न चिंता मुक्तये मम

Having realized the witness-self, the supreme self, the Lord, and in the absence of hope, bondage, or liberation, I have no concern for liberation.

अंतर्विकल्पशून्यस्य बहिः स्वच्छन्दचारिणः। भ्रान्तस्येव दशास्तास्तास्तादृशा एव जानते

For one who is empty of inner concepts and moves freely outwardly, the states that arise are like those of a deluded person; only such a one knows them.

अष्टावक्र उवाच॥ यथातथोपदेशेन कृतार्थः सत्त्वबुद्धिमान्। आजीवमपि जिज्ञासुः परस्तत्र विमुह्यति

Ashtavakra said: By whatever means he is instructed, the wise person who has attained fulfillment is satisfied; but the seeker, even for a lifetime, remains confused about that.

मोक्षो विषयवैरस्यं बन्धो वैषयिको रसः। एतावदेव विज्ञानं यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु

Liberation is indifference to sense objects; bondage is the taste for sense objects. This alone is to be understood—act as you wish.

वाग्मिप्राज्ञानमहोद्योगं जनं मूकजडालसं। करोति तत्त्वबोधोऽयमतस्त्यक्तो बुभुक्षभिः

The realization of truth makes even the eloquent, wise, and energetic person mute, dull, and inactive; therefore, those who desire worldly enjoyment abandon it.

न त्वं देहो न ते देहो भोक्ता कर्ता न वा भवान्। चिद्रूपोऽसि सदा साक्षी निरपेक्षः सुखं चर

You are not the body, nor is the body yours; you are neither the enjoyer nor the doer. You are consciousness itself, always the witness, unattached—move about happily.

रागद्वेषौ मनोधर्मौ न मनस्ते कदाचन। निर्विकल्पोऽसि बोधात्मा निर्विकारः सुखं चर

Attachment and aversion are qualities of the mind; the mind is never yours. You are consciousness itself, without distinctions, unchanging—move about happily.

सर्वभूतेषु चात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि। विज्ञाय निरहंकारो निर्ममस्त्वं सुखी भव

Recognizing the Self in all beings and all beings in the Self, become free of ego and possessiveness, and be happy.

विश्वं स्फुरति यत्रेदं तरंगा इव सागरे। तत्त्वमेव न सन्देहश्चिन्मूर्ते विज्वरो भव

In which this universe shines forth, like waves in the ocean—that alone is the truth, without doubt. O embodiment of consciousness, be free from distress.

श्रद्धस्व तात श्रद्धस्व नात्र मोऽहं कुरुष्व भोः। ज्ञानस्वरूपो भगवानात्मा त्वं प्रकृतेः परः

Have faith, dear one, have faith—do not be deluded here. The Self, your true nature, is knowledge itself, divine, and beyond nature.

गुणैः संवेष्टितो देहस्तिष्ठत्यायाति याति च। आत्मा न गंता नागंता किमेनमनुशोचसि

The body, enveloped by qualities, stands, comes, and goes. The Self neither goes nor comes—why do you grieve for it?

देहस्तिष्ठतु कल्पान्तं गच्छत्वद्यैव वा पुनः। क्व वृद्धिः क्व च वा हानिस्तव चिन्मात्ररूपिणः

Let the body remain until the end of an age, or let it go today—where is increase or decrease for you, who are pure consciousness alone?

त्वय्यनंतमहांभोधौ विश्ववीचिः स्वभावतः। उदेतु वास्तमायातु न ते वृद्धिर्न वा क्षतिः

In you, the infinite ocean, the waves of the universe arise by their own nature; whether they rise or subside, there is neither gain nor loss for you.

तात चिन्मात्ररूपोऽसि न ते भिन्नमिदं जगत्। अतः कस्य कथं कुत्र हेयोपादेयकल्पना

Dear one, you are pure consciousness alone; this world is not separate from you. Therefore, for whom, how, and where can there be any notion of acceptance or rejection?

एकस्मिन्नव्यये शान्ते चिदाकाशेऽमले त्वयि। कुतो जन्म कुतो कर्म कुतोऽहंकार एव च

In you, the one, imperishable, peaceful, pure space of consciousness—how can there be birth, action, or even ego?

यत्त्वं पश्यसि तत्रैकस्त्वमेव प्रतिभाससे। किं पृथक् भासते स्वर्णात् कटकांगदनूपुरम्

Whatever you perceive, there you alone appear. Do bracelets, armlets, or anklets shine apart from the gold?

अयं सोऽहमयं नाहं विभागमिति संत्यज। सर्वमात्मेति निश्चित्य निःसङ्कल्पः सुखी भव

Abandon the division, 'This is me, this is not me.' Realizing that all is the Self, be free of all notions and be happy.