Ashtavakra Gita

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.

तवैवाज्ञानतो विश्वं त्वमेकः परमार्थतः। त्वत्तोऽन्यो नास्ति संसारी नासंसारी च कश्चन

Through ignorance, the world appears; in reality, you are one. There is no other who is bound or liberated apart from you.

भ्रान्तिमात्रमिदं विश्वं न किंचिदिति निश्चयी। निर्वासनः स्फूर्तिमात्रो न किंचिदिव शाम्यति

Be certain that this world is mere illusion and nothing else. Free of desires, consisting only of awareness, you become as if nothing, and are at peace.

एक एव भवांभोधावासीदस्ति भविष्यति। न ते बन्धोऽस्ति मोक्षो वा कृत्यकृत्यः सुखं चर

In the one ocean of existence, there is only one—past, present, and future. For you, there is no bondage or liberation, nothing to do or not do—move about happily.

मा सङ्कल्पविकल्पाभ्यां चित्तं क्षोभय चिन्मय। उपशाम्य सुखं तिष्ठ स्वात्मन्यानन्दविग्रहे

Do not disturb your mind with thoughts and doubts, O embodiment of consciousness. Be calm, remain happily in your own Self, the very form of bliss.

त्यजैव ध्यानं सर्वत्र मा किंचिद् हृदि धारय। आत्मा त्वं मुक्त एवासि किं विमृश्य करिष्यसि

Abandon meditation entirely; do not hold anything in your heart. You are the Self, already free—what will you accomplish by deliberation?

अष्टावक्र उवाच॥ आचक्ष्व शृणु वा तात नानाशास्त्राण्यनेकशः। तथापि न तव स्वास्थ्यं सर्वविस्मरणाद् ऋते

Ashtavakra said: You may explain or listen to countless scriptures, my dear, yet you will not find your own ease except by forgetting everything.

भोगं कर्म समाधिं वा कुरु विज्ञ तथापि ते। चित्तं निरस्तसर्वाशमत्यर्थं रोचयिष्यति

Enjoyment, action, or meditation—do as you wish, wise one, yet your mind, freed from all desires, will delight exceedingly.

आयासात्सकलो दुःखी नैनं जानाति कश्चन। अनेनैवोपदेशेन धन्यः प्राप्नोति निर्वृतिम्

Everyone suffers from effort; no one knows this truth. By this very teaching, the fortunate attain peace.

व्यापारे खिद्यते यस्तु निमेषोन्मेषयोरपि। तस्यालस्य धुरीणस्य सुखं नन्यस्य कस्यचित्

He who is troubled even by activity in the blink of an eye is the foremost among the lazy; happiness belongs to him, not to anyone else.

इदं कृतमिदं नेति द्वंद्वैर्मुक्तं यदा मनः। धर्मार्थकाममोक्षेषु निरपेक्षं तदा भवेत्

When the mind is freed from the dualities of 'this is done, this is not,' it becomes indifferent to righteousness, wealth, pleasure, and liberation.

विरक्तो विषयद्वेष्टा रागी विषयलोलुपः। ग्रहमोक्षविहीनस्तु न विरक्तो न रागवान्

The detached one rejects sense objects; the passionate one craves them. But one who is free from grasping and releasing is neither detached nor passionate.

हेयोपादेयता तावत्संसारविटपांकुरः। स्पृहा जीवति यावद् वै निर्विचारदशास्पदम्

The notion of accepting and rejecting remains as long as desire lives—the sprout of worldly existence—until the state of pure inquiry is attained.

प्रवृत्तौ जायते रागो निर्वृत्तौ द्वेष एव हि। निर्द्वन्द्वो बालवद् धीमान् एवमेव व्यवस्थितः

Attachment arises in activity, aversion in inactivity; but the wise, free from duality, remain established like a child.

हातुमिच्छति संसारं रागी दुःखजिहासया। वीतरागो हि निर्दुःखस्तस्मिन्नपि न खिद्यति

The passionate seeks to abandon the world out of a desire to escape suffering; but the dispassionate, being free from sorrow, is not troubled even in it.

यस्याभिमानो मोक्षेऽपि देहेऽपि ममता तथा। न च ज्ञानी न वा योगी केवलं दुःखभागसौ

One who has pride even in liberation, and attachment to the body as 'mine,' is neither a knower nor a yogi, but merely shares in suffering.

हरो यद्युपदेष्टा ते हरिः कमलजोऽपि वा। तथापि न तव स्वाथ्यं सर्वविस्मरणादृते

Even if Shiva, Vishnu, or Brahma teaches you, you will not find your own ease except by forgetting everything.

अष्टावक्र उवाच॥ तेन ज्ञानफलं प्राप्तं योगाभ्यासफलं तथा। तृप्तः स्वच्छेन्द्रियो नित्यं एकाकी रमते तु यः

Ashtavakra said: He who has attained the fruit of knowledge and the fruit of yoga practice, whose senses are always pure and satisfied, delights alone.

न कदाचिज्जगत्यस्मिन् तत्त्वज्ञा हन्त खिद्यति। यत एकेन तेनेदं पूर्णं ब्रह्माण्डमण्डलम्

Never does the knower of truth grieve in this world, for by him alone this entire sphere of the universe is fulfilled.

न जातु विषयाः केऽपि स्वारामं हर्षयन्त्यमी। सल्लकीपल्लवप्रीतमिवेभं निंबपल्लवाः

No sense objects ever please one who delights in himself, just as neem leaves do not please an elephant fond of sallaki shoots.

यस्तु भोगेषु भुक्तेषु न भवत्यधिवासिता। अभुक्तेषु निराकांक्षी तदृशो भवदुर्लभः

Rare is the one who, when enjoying pleasures, is not affected, and when not enjoying, has no longing.