Ashtavakra Gita

अहं स शुक्तिसङ्काशो रूप्यवद् विश्वकल्पना। इति ज्ञानं तथैतस्य न त्यागो न ग्रहो लयः

I am like the mother-of-pearl; the world-appearance is like silver. For one with this knowledge, there is neither renunciation nor acceptance—only dissolution.

अहं वा सर्वभूतेषु सर्वभूतान्यथो मयि। इति ज्ञानं तथैतस्य न त्यागो न ग्रहो लयः

Whether I am in all beings, or all beings are in me—such is the knowledge of this one; for him, there is neither renunciation, nor acceptance, nor dissolution.

जनक उवाच॥ मय्यनंतमहांभोधौ विश्वपोत इतस्ततः। भ्रमति स्वांतवातेन न ममास्त्यसहिष्णुता

Janaka said: In the infinite ocean that is myself, the ship of the world drifts here and there, moved by the wind of its own mind; I have no impatience with this.

मय्यनंतमहांभोधौ जगद्वीचिः स्वभावतः। उदेतु वास्तमायातु न मे वृद्धिर्न च क्षतिः

In the infinite ocean that is myself, the wave of the world arises and subsides by its own nature; whether it rises or falls, there is for me neither gain nor loss.

मय्यनंतमहांभोधौ विश्वं नाम विकल्पना। अतिशांतो निराकार एतदेवाहमास्थितः

In the infinite ocean that is myself, the world is merely a notion; utterly peaceful, formless—this alone I abide in.

नात्मा भावेषु नो भावस्तत्रानन्ते निरंजने। इत्यसक्तोऽस्पृहः शान्त एतदेवाहमास्तितः

The Self is not in states, nor are states in That infinite, stainless One; thus, unattached, desireless, and at peace—this alone I abide in.

अहो चिन्मात्रमेवाहं इन्द्रजालोपमं जगत्। इति मम कथं कुत्र हेयोपादेयकल्पना

Ah! I am pure consciousness alone; the world is like a magic show. So for me, how, where, could there be any thought of rejection or acceptance?

अष्टावक्र उवाच॥ तदा बन्धो यदा चित्तं किन्चिद् वांछति शोचति। किंचिन् मुंचति गृण्हाति किंचिद् दृष्यति कुप्यति

Ashtavakra said: Bondage is when the mind desires something, grieves, lets go of something, takes hold, sees distinctions, or becomes angry.

तदा मुक्तिर्यदा चित्तं न वांछति न शोचति। न मुंचति न गृण्हाति न हृष्यति न कुप्यति

Liberation is when the mind neither desires nor grieves, neither lets go nor takes hold, neither rejoices nor becomes angry.

तदा बन्धो यदा चित्तं सक्तं काश्वपि दृष्टिषु। तदा मोक्षो यदा चित्तमसक्तं सर्वदृष्टिषु

Bondage is when the mind is attached to any perception; liberation is when the mind is unattached to all perceptions.

यदा नाहं तदा मोक्षो यदाहं बन्धनं तदा। मत्वेति हेलया किंचिन्मा गृहाण विमुंच मा

Liberation is when there is no 'I'; bondage is when there is 'I'. Knowing this, do not grasp or abandon anything, even carelessly.

अष्टावक्र उवाच॥ कृताकृते च द्वन्द्वानि कदा शान्तानि कस्य वा। एवं ज्ञात्वेह निर्वेदाद् भव त्यागपरोऽव्रती

Ashtavakra said: When are the pairs of opposites, action and inaction, ever at peace, and for whom? Knowing this, become indifferent here, devoted to renunciation, free from all vows.

कस्यापि तात धन्यस्य लोकचेष्टावलोकनात्। जीवितेच्छा बुभुक्षा च बुभुत्सोपशमः गताः

For some rare blessed one, merely by observing the ways of the world, the desire for life, for food, and for knowledge, along with all agitation, have vanished.

अनित्यं सर्वमेवेदं तापत्रयदूषितं। असरं निन्दितं हेयमिति निश्चित्य शाम्यति

All this is impermanent, tainted by the threefold suffering, unsubstantial, blameworthy, to be abandoned—knowing this, one becomes calm.

कोऽसौ कालो वयः किं वा यत्र द्वन्द्वानि नो नृणां। तान्युपेक्ष्य यथाप्राप्तवर्ती सिद्धिमवाप्नुयात्

What time, what age, or what circumstance is there where the pairs of opposites do not exist for people? Ignoring them, acting as is fitting, one attains perfection.

ना मतं महर्षीणां साधूनां योगिनां तथा। दृष्ट्वा निर्वेदमापन्नः को न शाम्यति मानवः

Not by the doctrines of sages, saints, or yogis—seeing this, who, having become dispassionate, does not become calm?

कृत्वा मूर्तिपरिज्ञानं चैतन्यस्य न किं गुरुः। निर्वेदसमतायुक्त्या यस्तारयति संसृतेः

Having realized the true nature of consciousness, who is not a teacher? By the method of dispassion and equanimity, one leads others beyond the cycle of birth and death.

पश्य भूतविकारांस्त्वं भूतमात्रान् यथार्थतः। तत्क्षणाद् बन्धनिर्मुक्तः स्वरूपस्थो भविष्यसि

See the transformations of the elements as merely the elements themselves, as they truly are; in that very instant, freed from bondage, you will abide in your own nature.

वासना एव संसार इति सर्वा विमुंच ताः। तत्त्यागो वासनात्यागात्स्थितिरद्य यथा तथा

Desires alone are the world—therefore, abandon them all. Renouncing desires, you will remain established today, in whatever way it may be.

अष्टावक्र उवाच॥ विहाय वैरिणं काममर्थं चानर्थसंकुलं। धर्ममप्येतयोर्हेतुं सर्वत्रादरं कुरु

Ashtavakra said: Renounce desire, the enemy, and wealth, which is filled with misfortune; even righteousness, which arises from these two, regard with detachment everywhere.

स्वप्नेन्द्रजालवत् पश्य दिनानि त्रीणि पंच वा। मित्रक्षेत्रधनागारदारदायादिसंपदः

See the days—three or five—as like a dream or illusion: friends, lands, wealth, houses, wives, heirs, and possessions.

यत्र यत्र भवेत्तृष्णा संसारं विद्धि तत्र वै। प्रौढवैराग्यमाश्रित्य वीततृष्णः सुखी भव

Wherever there is craving, know that there is worldly existence; relying on mature dispassion, become happy, free from craving.

तृष्णामात्रात्मको बन्धस्तन्नाशो मोक्ष उच्यते। भवासंसक्तिमात्रेण प्राप्तितुष्टिर्मुहुर्मुहुः

Bondage consists only of craving; its destruction is called liberation. By mere non-attachment to existence, satisfaction is attained again and again.

त्वमेकश्चेतनः शुद्धो जडं विश्वमसत्तथा। अविद्यापि न किंचित्सा का बुभुत्सा तथापि ते

You alone are conscious, pure; the world is inert and unreal. Even ignorance is nothing; so why this curiosity of yours?

राज्यं सुताः कलत्राणि शरीराणि सुखानि च। संसक्तस्यापि नष्टानि तव जन्मनि जन्मनि

Kingdoms, sons, wives, bodies, and pleasures—even for one attached, these are lost in every birth of yours.

अलमर्थेन कामेन सुकृतेनापि कर्मणा। एभ्यः संसारकान्तारे न विश्रान्तमभून् मनः

Enough of wealth, desire, and even virtuous deeds; among these, in the desert of worldly existence, the mind has never found rest.

कृतं न कति जन्मानि कायेन मनसा गिरा। दुःखमायासदं कर्म तदद्याप्युपरम्यताम्

How many births have passed in body, mind, and speech, performing actions that bring suffering and toil? Let that cease today.

अष्टावक्र उवाच॥ भावाभावविकारश्च स्वभावादिति निश्चयी। निर्विकारो गतक्लेशः सुखेनैवोपशाम्यति

Ashtavakra said: Knowing that arising, non-arising, and change are all natural, one who is changeless and free from distress attains peace effortlessly.

ईश्वरः सर्वनिर्माता नेहान्य इति निश्चयी। अन्तर्गलितसर्वाशः शान्तः क्वापि न सज्जते

Knowing that the Lord is the creator of all and there is no other, one whose hopes have dissolved within is peaceful and does not become attached anywhere.