बुभुक्षुरिह संसारे मुमुक्षुरपि दृश्यते। भोगमोक्षनिराकांक्षी विरलो हि महाशयः
In this world, there are those who desire enjoyment and those who desire liberation; but rare is the great soul who is free from longing for both.
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षेषु जीविते मरणे तथा। कस्याप्युदारचित्तस्य हेयोपादेयता न हि
For one of noble mind, there is no notion of accepting or rejecting in righteousness, wealth, pleasure, liberation, life, or death.
वांछा न विश्वविलये न द्वेषस्तस्य च स्थितौ। यथा जीविकया तस्माद् धन्य आस्ते यथा सुखम्
He has no desire at the dissolution of the universe, nor aversion at its existence; just as he lives, so he remains blessed, content as he is.
कृतार्थोऽनेन ज्ञानेनेत्येवं गलितधीः कृती। पश्यन् शृण्वन् स्पृशन् जिघ्रन्न् अश्नन्नस्ते यथा सुखम्
Fulfilled by this knowledge, with all thoughts dissolved, the accomplished one, seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, abides content as he is.
शून्या दृष्टिर्वृथा चेष्टा विकलानीन्द्रियाणि च। न स्पृहा न विरक्तिर्वा क्षीणसंसारसागरे
His vision is empty, his actions are futile, his senses are impaired; there is neither longing nor detachment in one whose ocean of worldly existence has dried up.
न जगर्ति न निद्राति नोन्मीलति न मीलति। अहो परदशा क्वापि वर्तते मुक्तचेतसः
He neither wakes nor sleeps, neither opens nor closes his eyes; ah, what a state—somewhere abides the one whose mind is liberated.
सर्वत्र दृश्यते स्वस्थः सर्वत्र विमलाशयः। समस्तवासना मुक्तो मुक्तः सर्वत्र राजते
Everywhere he is seen as self-possessed, everywhere with pure intention; freed from all desires, liberated, he shines everywhere.
पश्यन् शृण्वन् स्पृशन् जिघ्रन्न् अश्नन् गृण्हन् वदन् व्रजन्। ईहितानीहितैर्मुक्तो मुक्त एव महाशयः
Seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, taking, speaking, walking—freed from both action and inaction, the great-souled one is liberated indeed.
न निन्दति न च स्तौति न हृष्यति न कुप्यति। न ददाति न गृण्हाति मुक्तः सर्वत्र नीरसः
He neither criticizes nor praises, neither rejoices nor gets angry; he neither gives nor takes—liberated, he is indifferent everywhere.
सानुरागां स्त्रियं दृष्ट्वा मृत्युं वा समुपस्थितं। अविह्वलमनाः स्वस्थो मुक्त एव महाशयः
Seeing a woman with affection or death approaching, his mind remains undisturbed, self-possessed—such is the liberated great-souled one.
सुखे दुःखे नरे नार्यां संपत्सु विपत्सु च। विशेषो नैव धीरस्य सर्वत्र समदर्शिनः
In pleasure and pain, in man or woman, in fortune or misfortune, there is no distinction for the wise one who sees equally everywhere.
न हिंसा नैव कारुण्यं नौद्धत्यं न च दीनता। नाश्चर्यं नैव च क्षोभः क्षीणसंसरणे नरे
No violence, no compassion, no arrogance, nor dejection; no wonder, nor agitation—such is the person whose wandering has ended.
न मुक्तो विषयद्वेष्टा न वा विषयलोलुपः। असंसक्तमना नित्यं प्राप्ताप्राप्तमुपाश्नुते
The liberated one is neither an enemy of sense objects nor attached to them; with a mind always unattached, he enjoys what comes and what does not.
समाधानसमाधानहिताहितविकल्पनाः। शून्यचित्तो न जानाति कैवल्यमिव संस्थितः
Thoughts of concentration, non-concentration, good and bad—his mind is empty, he knows nothing, established as if in absolute aloneness.
निर्ममो निरहंकारो न किंचिदिति निश्चितः। अन्तर्गलितसर्वाशः कुर्वन्नपि करोति न
Without possessiveness, without ego, firmly convinced that nothing is his, with all hopes dissolved within, even acting, he does nothing.
मनःप्रकाशसंमोहस्वप्नजाड्यविवर्जितः। दशां कामपि संप्राप्तो भवेद् गलितमानसः
Free from the illumination and confusion of mind, from the dullness of dream, whatever state he attains, he is one whose mind has dissolved.
अष्टावक्र उवाच॥ यस्य बोधोदये तावत्स्वप्नवद् भवति भ्रमः। तस्मै सुखैकरूपाय नमः शान्ताय तेजसे
Ashtavakra said: Until awakening arises, delusion is like a dream; to that one, whose nature is pure bliss, peaceful and radiant, I bow.
अर्जयित्वाखिलान् अर्थान् भोगानाप्नोति पुष्कलान्। न हि सर्वपरित्याजमन्तरेण सुखी भवेत्
Having acquired all wealth, one enjoys abundant pleasures; but without complete renunciation, one cannot be truly happy.
कर्तव्यदुःखमार्तण्डज्वालादग्धान्तरात्मनः। कुतः प्रशमपीयूषधारासारमृते सुखम्
For one whose inner self is burned by the sun of duty's suffering, how can there be happiness without the nectar-stream of peace?
भवोऽयं भावनामात्रो न किंचित् परमर्थतः। नास्त्यभावः स्वभावनां भावाभावविभाविनाम्
This existence is merely imagination, nothing in reality; for those who discern the distinction between being and non-being, there is no absence of their own nature.
न दूरं न च संकोचाल्लब्धमेवात्मनः पदं। निर्विकल्पं निरायासं निर्विकारं निरंजनम्
The state of the Self is neither distant nor contracted; it is attained, free of distinctions, effortless, unchanging, and pure.
व्यामोहमात्रविरतौ स्वरूपादानमात्रतः। वीतशोका विराजन्ते निरावरणदृष्टयः
When confusion ceases and one's true nature is simply accepted, those whose vision is unobstructed shine, free from sorrow.
समस्तं कल्पनामात्रमात्मा मुक्तः सनातनः। इति विज्ञाय धीरो हि किमभ्यस्यति बालवत्
The entire world is mere imagination; the Self is liberated and eternal. Knowing this, why would the wise practice like a child?
आत्मा ब्रह्मेति निश्चित्य भावाभावौ च कल्पितौ। निष्कामः किं विजानाति किं ब्रूते च करोति किम्
Having determined that the Self is Brahman, and that existence and non-existence are imagined, what does the desireless one know, say, or do?
अयं सोऽहमयं नाहं इति क्षीणा विकल्पना। सर्वमात्मेति निश्चित्य तूष्णींभूतस्य योगिनः
When the thought 'I am this, I am not this' has faded, and all is known as the Self, the yogi becomes silent.
न विक्षेपो न चैकाग्र्यं नातिबोधो न मूढता। न सुखं न च वा दुःखं उपशान्तस्य योगिनः
For the peaceful yogi, there is neither distraction nor concentration, neither excessive understanding nor ignorance, neither pleasure nor pain.
स्वाराज्ये भैक्षवृत्तौ च लाभालाभे जने वने। निर्विकल्पस्वभावस्य न विशेषोऽस्ति योगिनः
In sovereignty or in the life of a mendicant, in gain or loss, among people or in the forest, for the yogi whose nature is free of distinctions, there is no difference.
क्व धर्मः क्व च वा कामः क्व चार्थः क्व विवेकिता। इदं कृतमिदं नेति द्वन्द्वैर्मुक्तस्य योगिनः
Where is righteousness, where is desire, where is wealth, where is discrimination? For the yogi freed from dualities, there is no sense of 'this is done, this is not.'
कृत्यं किमपि नैवास्ति न कापि हृदि रंजना। यथा जीवनमेवेह जीवन्मुक्तस्य योगिनः
There is nothing to be done, nor any delight in the heart; for the yogi liberated while living, life here is simply as it is.
क्व मोहः क्व च वा विश्वं क्व तद् ध्यानं क्व मुक्तता। सर्वसंकल्पसीमायां विश्रान्तस्य महात्मनः
Where is delusion, where is the world, where is meditation, where is liberation? For the great soul resting at the limit of all thought, none of these remain.