Ashtavakra Gita

यथा प्रकाशयाम्येको देहमेनं तथा जगत्। अतो मम जगत्सर्वमथवा न च किंचन

Just as I alone illuminate this body, so too do I illuminate the world; therefore, all this world is mine, or else, nothing at all is mine.

स शरीरमहो विश्वं परित्यज्य मयाधुना। कुतश्चित् कौशलाद् एव परमात्मा विलोक्यते

Having now abandoned the body and the universe, by some skill alone, I perceive the Supreme Self.

यथा न तोयतो भिन्नास्तरंगाः फेनबुद्बुदाः। आत्मनो न तथा भिन्नं विश्वमात्मविनिर्गतम्

Just as waves, foam, and bubbles are not separate from water, so too, the universe arising from the Self is not distinct from the Self.

तन्तुमात्रो भवेद् एव पटो यद्वद् विचारितः। आत्मतन्मात्रमेवेदं तद्वद् विश्वं विचारितम्

Just as, upon examination, a cloth is found to be nothing but threads, so too, upon inquiry, this universe is found to be nothing but the essence of the Self.

यथैवेक्षुरसे क्लृप्ता तेन व्याप्तैव शर्करा। तथा विश्वं मयि क्लृप्तं मया व्याप्तं निरन्तरम्

Just as sugar is made from cane juice and is pervaded by it, so too, the universe is made from me and is pervaded by me without interruption.

आत्मज्ञानाज्जगद् भाति आत्मज्ञानान्न भासते। रज्ज्वज्ञानादहिर्भाति तज्ज्ञानाद् भासते न हि

The world shines forth through self-knowledge; without self-knowledge, it does not shine. A rope appears as a snake through ignorance; with knowledge, it appears as itself.

प्रकाशो मे निजं रूपं नातिरिक्तोऽस्म्यहं ततः। यदा प्रकाशते विश्वं तदाहं भास एव हि

My own nature is illumination; I am not different from that. Whenever the universe shines, it is I alone who shine.

अहो विकल्पितं विश्वमज्ञानान्मयि भासते। रूप्यं शुक्तौ फणी रज्जौ वारि सूर्यकरे यथा

Ah! The imagined universe appears in me due to ignorance, just as silver appears in a shell, a snake in a rope, or water in a sunbeam.

मत्तो विनिर्गतं विश्वं मय्येव लयमेष्यति। मृदि कुंभो जले वीचिः कनके कटकं यथा

The universe, having arisen from me, will dissolve back into me, just as a pot returns to clay, a wave to water, or a bracelet to gold.

अहो अहं नमो मह्यं विनाशो यस्य नास्ति मे। ब्रह्मादिस्तंबपर्यन्तं जगन्नाशोऽपि तिष्ठतः

Ah! I salute myself, for I am without destruction; even as the universe, from Brahma down to a blade of grass, perishes, I remain.

अहो अहं नमो मह्यं एकोऽहं देहवानपि। क्वचिन्न गन्ता नागन्ता व्याप्य विश्वमवस्थितः

Ah! I salute myself, for though I possess a body, I am one alone, never coming or going, pervading the universe and abiding everywhere.

अहो अहं नमो मह्यं दक्षो नास्तीह मत्समः। असंस्पृश्य शरीरेण येन विश्वं चिरं धृतम्

Ah! I salute myself, for there is no one as skillful as I; without touching the body, I have sustained the universe for so long.

अहो अहं नमो मह्यं यस्य मे नास्ति किंचन। अथवा यस्य मे सर्वं यद् वाङ्मनसगोचरम्

Ah! I salute myself, for nothing belongs to me; or else, everything that is within the range of speech and mind belongs to me.

ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं तथा ज्ञाता त्रितयं नास्ति वास्तवं। अज्ञानाद् भाति यत्रेदं सोऽहमस्मि निरंजनः

Knowledge, the object of knowledge, and the knower—this triad does not truly exist; whatever appears here due to ignorance, I am that, stainless.

द्वैतमूलमहो दुःखं नान्यत्तस्याऽस्ति भेषजं। दृश्यमेतन् मृषा सर्वं एकोऽहं चिद्रसोमलः

Ah! Duality is the root of suffering; there is no other remedy for it. All that is seen is false; I alone am the pure essence of consciousness.

बोधमात्रोऽहमज्ञानाद् उपाधिः कल्पितो मया। एवं विमृशतो नित्यं निर्विकल्पे स्थितिर्मम

I am pure awareness; out of ignorance, I have imagined a limitation. Reflecting thus constantly, my state is ever free from distinctions.

न मे बन्धोऽस्ति मोक्षो वा भ्रान्तिः शान्तो निराश्रया। अहो मयि स्थितं विश्वं वस्तुतो न मयि स्थितम्

There is neither bondage nor liberation for me, nor confusion; peace is without support. Ah, the universe appears to abide in me, yet in truth, it does not abide in me.

सशरीरमिदं विश्वं न किंचिदिति निश्चितं। शुद्धचिन्मात्र आत्मा च तत्कस्मिन् कल्पनाधुना

It is certain that this universe, along with the body, is nothing. The Self is pure consciousness alone; so upon what can imagination now arise?

शरीरं स्वर्गनरकौ बन्धमोक्षौ भयं तथा। कल्पनामात्रमेवैतत् किं मे कार्यं चिदात्मनः

Body, heaven and hell, bondage and liberation, and fear—these are all mere imagination. What concern have I, who am consciousness itself?

अहो जनसमूहेऽपि न द्वैतं पश्यतो मम। अरण्यमिव संवृत्तं क्व रतिं करवाण्यहम्

Ah, even amidst crowds of people, I perceive no duality. It has become like a wilderness to me; where then shall I find delight?

नाहं देहो न मे देहो जीवो नाहमहं हि चित्। अयमेव हि मे बन्ध आसीद्या जीविते स्पृहा

I am not the body, nor does the body belong to me; I am not the individual soul—I am consciousness. My only bondage was the desire for life.

अहो भुवनकल्लोलैर्विचित्रैर्द्राक् समुत्थितं। मय्यनंतमहांभोधौ चित्तवाते समुद्यते

Ah, the waves of the world, diverse and swiftly arising, have emerged in me, the infinite ocean, stirred by the wind of mind.

मय्यनंतमहांभोधौ चित्तवाते प्रशाम्यति। अभाग्याज्जीववणिजो जगत्पोतो विनश्वरः

In me, the infinite ocean, when the wind of mind subsides, the world-boat, unfortunate merchant of life, perishes.

मय्यनन्तमहांभोधावाश्चर्यं जीववीचयः। उद्यन्ति घ्नन्ति खेलन्ति प्रविशन्ति स्वभावतः

In me, the infinite ocean, the waves of living beings are wondrous; they rise, fall, play, and merge, all by their own nature.

अष्टावक्र उवाच॥ अविनाशिनमात्मानं एकं विज्ञाय तत्त्वतः। तवात्मज्ञानस्य धीरस्य कथमर्थार्जने रतिः

Ashtavakra said: Knowing the Self to be one and imperishable in truth, how can a wise person, established in self-knowledge, be attached to the pursuit of worldly gain?

आत्माज्ञानादहो प्रीतिर्विषयभ्रमगोचरे। शुक्तेरज्ञानतो लोभो यथा रजतविभ्रमे

Ah, delight in the realm of sense objects arises from ignorance of the Self, just as greed arises from mistaking mother-of-pearl for silver.

विश्वं स्फुरति यत्रेदं तरङ्गा इव सागरे। सोऽहमस्मीति विज्ञाय किं दीन इव धावसि

The universe shines forth in that in which these waves arise, as in the ocean. Knowing 'I am That,' why do you run about as if distressed?

श्रुत्वापि शुद्धचैतन्य आत्मानमतिसुन्दरं। उपस्थेऽत्यन्तसंसक्तो मालिन्यमधिगच्छति

Even after hearing that the Self is pure, beautiful consciousness, one who is deeply attached to sensual pleasure acquires impurity.

सर्वभूतेषु चात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि। मुनेर्जानत आश्चर्यं ममत्वमनुवर्तते

For the sage who knows the Self in all beings and all beings in the Self, it is astonishing that the sense of 'mine' persists.