Ashtavakra Gita

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.

ज्ञः सचिन्तोऽपि निश्चिन्तः सेन्द्रियोऽपि निरिन्द्रियः। सुबुद्धिरपि निर्बुद्धिः साहंकारोऽनहङ्कृतिः

The wise one, though appearing thoughtful, is free of thought; though possessing senses, is as if without senses; though endowed with understanding, is as if without intellect; though having ego, is without egotism.

न सुखी न च वा दुःखी न विरक्तो न संगवान्। न मुमुक्षुर्न वा मुक्ता न किंचिन्न्न च किंचन

He is neither happy nor unhappy, neither detached nor attached; neither seeking liberation nor liberated; he is nothing, and not even nothing.

विक्षेपेऽपि न विक्षिप्तः समाधौ न समाधिमान्। जाड्येऽपि न जडो धन्यः पाण्डित्येऽपि न पण्डितः

Even amidst distraction, he is not distracted; in absorption, he is not absorbed; in dullness, he is not dull; in learning, he is not learned.

मुक्तो यथास्थितिस्वस्थः कृतकर्तव्यनिर्वृतः। समः सर्वत्र वैतृष्ण्यान्न स्मरत्यकृतं कृतम्

Liberated, established in his own nature, content with what is done and undone, equal everywhere due to freedom from craving, he does not recall what has or has not been done.

न प्रीयते वन्द्यमानो निन्द्यमानो न कुप्यति। नैवोद्विजति मरणे जीवने नाभिनन्दति

He is not pleased when praised, nor angered when blamed; he is not disturbed by death, nor does he rejoice in life.

न धावति जनाकीर्णं नारण्यं उपशान्तधीः। यथातथा यत्रतत्र सम एवावतिष्ठते

His mind at peace, he does not run toward crowds nor to the forest; however things are, wherever he is, he remains the same.

जनक उवाच॥ तत्त्वविज्ञानसन्दंशमादाय हृदयोदरात्। नाविधपरामर्शशल्योद्धारः कृतो मया

Janaka said: Taking up the pincers of true knowledge from the cave of my heart, I have removed the thorn of mistaken notions.

क्व धर्मः क्व च वा कामः क्व चार्थः क्व विवेकिता। क्व द्वैतं क्व च वाऽद्वैतं स्वमहिम्नि स्थितस्य मे

Where is duty, where is desire, where is wealth, where is discrimination? Where is duality, where is nonduality, for me who abides in my own glory?

क्व भूतं क्व भविष्यद् वा वर्तमानमपि क्व वा। क्व देशः क्व च वा नित्यं स्वमहिम्नि स्थितस्य मे

Where is the past, where the future, or even the present? Where is place, where is eternity, for me who abides in my own glory?

क्व चात्मा क्व च वानात्मा क्व शुभं क्वाशुभं यथा। क्व चिन्ता क्व च वाचिन्ता स्वमहिम्नि स्थितस्य मे

Where is self, where is non-self, where is auspiciousness, where is inauspiciousness? Where is thought, where is absence of thought, for me who abides in my own glory?