Ashtavakra Gita

क्व संसारः क्व चाभासः क्व साध्यं क्व च साधनं। आकाशस्येव धीरस्य निर्विकल्पस्य सर्वदा

Where is the world, where is illusion, where is attainment, and where is practice—for the steadfast one who is always without distinctions, like the sky?

स जयत्यर्थसंन्यासी पूर्णस्वरसविग्रहः। अकृत्रिमोऽनवच्छिन्ने समाधिर्यस्य वर्तते

He is victorious, the renouncer of possessions, whose nature is full and spontaneous, whose uncontrived and unbroken absorption abides.

बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन ज्ञाततत्त्वो महाशयः। भोगमोक्षनिराकांक्षी सदा सर्वत्र नीरसः

What more needs to be said? The great one who knows the truth, desiring neither enjoyment nor liberation, is always indifferent everywhere.

महदादि जगद्द्वैतं नाममात्रविजृंभितं। विहाय शुद्धबोधस्य किं कृत्यमवशिष्यते

Having abandoned the dualistic world, which arises only as names from the great principle downwards, what duty remains for the one of pure awareness?

भ्रमभृतमिदं सर्वं किंचिन्नास्तीति निश्चयी। अलक्ष्यस्फुरणः शुद्धः स्वभावेनैव शाम्यति

For the one convinced that all this, up to the mind's wanderings, is only illusion and nothing truly exists, the pure, ungraspable radiance settles by its own nature.

शुद्धस्फुरणरूपस्य दृश्यभावमपश्यतः। क्व विधिः क्व वैराग्यं क्व त्यागः क्व शमोऽपि वा

For the one whose nature is pure radiance and who does not see objects as real, where is rule, where is renunciation, where is abandonment, or even tranquility?

स्फुरतोऽनन्तरूपेण प्रकृतिं च न पश्यतः। क्व बन्धः क्व च वा मोक्षः क्व हर्षः क्व विषादिता

For the one who shines in infinite forms and does not see nature as real, where is bondage, where is liberation, where is joy, and where is sorrow?

बुद्धिपर्यन्तसंसारे मायामात्रं विवर्तते। निर्ममो निरहंकारो निष्कामः शोभते बुधः

In the world of mind, which is limited by intellect, only illusion appears; the wise one, free from possessiveness, ego, and desire, shines.

अक्षयं गतसन्तापमात्मानं पश्यतो मुनेः। क्व विद्या च क्व वा विश्वं क्व देहोऽहं ममेति वा

For the sage who sees the Self as imperishable and free from suffering, where is knowledge, where is the universe, where is the body, or the notions 'I' and 'mine'?

निरोधादीनि कर्माणि जहाति जडधीर्यदि। मनोरथान् प्रलापांश्च कर्तुमाप्नोत्यतत्क्षणात्

If a dull-minded person abandons actions like restraint, he immediately begins to indulge in fantasies and idle talk.

मन्दः श्रुत्वापि तद्वस्तु न जहाति विमूढतां। निर्विकल्पो बहिर्यत्नादन्तर्विषयलालसः

The dull one, even after hearing the truth, does not give up his delusion; though outwardly undivided, he inwardly craves sense objects.

ज्ञानाद् गलितकर्मा यो लोकदृष्ट्यापि कर्मकृत्। नाप्नोत्यवसरं कर्मं वक्तुमेव न किंचन

One whose actions have fallen away through knowledge, though appearing to act in the eyes of the world, does not truly engage in action, nor does he have any occasion to speak of action.

क्व तमः क्व प्रकाशो वा हानं क्व च न किंचन। निर्विकारस्य धीरस्य निरातंकस्य सर्वदा

Where is darkness, where is light, where is rejection, or anything at all, for the unchanging, steadfast one who is always free from fear?

क्व धैर्यं क्व विवेकित्वं क्व निरातंकतापि वा। अनिर्वाच्यस्वभावस्य निःस्वभावस्य योगिनः

Where is courage, where is discernment, or even fearlessness, for the yogi whose nature is inexpressible and who is without any inherent nature?

न स्वर्गो नैव नरको जीवन्मुक्तिर्न चैव हि। बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन योगदृष्ट्या न किंचन

There is no heaven, nor hell, nor even liberation while living; what more needs to be said? From the perspective of yoga, there is nothing at all.

नैव प्रार्थयते लाभं नालाभेनानुशोचति। धीरस्य शीतलं चित्तममृतेनैव पूरितम्

He does not seek gain, nor does he grieve over lack; the mind of the steadfast one is cool and filled only with nectar.

न शान्तं स्तौति निष्कामो न दुष्टमपि निन्दति। समदुःखसुखस्तृप्तः किंचित् कृत्यं न पश्यति

The desireless one does not praise the peaceful, nor does he blame the wicked; content in pleasure and pain alike, he sees nothing to be done.

धीरो न द्वेष्टि संसारमात्मानं न दिदृक्षति। हर्षामर्षविनिर्मुक्तो न मृतो न च जीवति

The steadfast one does not hate the world, nor does he seek to see himself; free from delight and resentment, he is neither dead nor alive.

निःस्नेहः पुत्रदारादौ निष्कामो विषयेषु च। निश्चिन्तः स्वशरीरेऽपि निराशः शोभते बुधः

Without attachment to children or spouse, without desire for sense objects, unconcerned even for his own body, the wise one shines, free of hope.

तुष्टिः सर्वत्र धीरस्य यथापतितवर्तिनः। स्वच्छन्दं चरतो देशान् यत्रस्तमितशायिनः

Content everywhere, moving as circumstances arise, wandering freely through lands, sleeping wherever night falls—such is the steadfast one.

पततूदेतु वा देहो नास्य चिन्ता महात्मनः। स्वभावभूमिविश्रान्तिविस्मृताशेषसंसृतेः

Whether the body falls or stands, the great soul has no concern; resting in his own nature, he has forgotten all cycles of becoming.

अकिंचनः कामचारो निर्द्वन्द्वश्छिन्नसंशयः। असक्तः सर्वभावेषु केवलो रमते बुधः

Having nothing, moving as he wishes, free from duality and all doubts cut off, unattached to all things, the wise one delights in his own being.

निर्ममः शोभते धीरः समलोष्टाश्मकांचनः। सुभिन्नहृदयग्रन्थिर्विनिर्धूतरजस्तमः

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.

सर्वत्रानवधानस्य न किंचिद् वासना हृदि। मुक्तात्मनो वितृप्तस्य तुलना केन जायते

For the one who is unattentive everywhere, no impressions remain in the heart; who can be compared to the liberated, contented self?

जानन्नपि न जानाति पश्यन्नपि न पश्यति। ब्रुवन्न् अपि न च ब्रूते कोऽन्यो निर्वासनादृते

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?

भिक्षुर्वा भूपतिर्वापि यो निष्कामः स शोभते। भावेषु गलिता यस्य शोभनाशोभना मतिः

Whether a beggar or a king, the desireless one shines, whose mind has let go of judgments of good and bad in all things.

क्व स्वाच्छन्द्यं क्व संकोचः क्व वा तत्त्वविनिश्चयः। निर्व्याजार्जवभूतस्य चरितार्थस्य योगिनः

Where is freedom, where is restraint, or certainty of truth, for the yogi who is fulfilled, whose nature is pure, straightforward, and without pretense?

आत्मविश्रान्तितृप्तेन निराशेन गतार्तिना। अन्तर्यदनुभूयेत तत् कथं कस्य कथ्यते

For one satisfied in the self, without hope and free from suffering, whatever is experienced within—how can that be described, and to whom?

सुप्तोऽपि न सुषुप्तौ च स्वप्नेऽपि शयितो न च। जागरेऽपि न जागर्ति धीरस्तृप्तः पदे पदे

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.