Ashtavakra Gita chapter 18: Peace in a hundred verses
Chapter 18 of the Ashtavakra Gita, "Peace in a hundred verses", has 100 verses. Ashtavakra speaks. The longest chapter, a third of the text, contrasting the confused who strive with the steady who are already at rest. Every verse is below in Sanskrit and in Wisdom's plain English.
All 100 verses
- 18.1Word meanings and notes
यस्य बोधोदये तावत्स्वप्नवद् भवति भ्रमः ।तस्मै सुखैकरूपाय नमः शान्ताय तेजसे ॥
yasya bodhodaye tāvatsvapnavad bhavati bhramaḥ |tasmai sukhaikarūpāya namaḥ śāntāya tejase ||
I bow to that peace, that light, whose nature is joy alone, at whose dawning the error of the world becomes like a dream.
अर्जयित्वाखिलान् अर्थान् भोगानाप्नोति पुष्कलान् ।न हि सर्वपरित्यागमन्तरेण सुखी भवेत् ॥
arjayitvākhilān arthān bhogānāpnoti puṣkalān |na hi sarvaparityāgamantareṇa sukhī bhavet ||
One may gain every kind of wealth and enjoy pleasures in plenty, yet nobody is happy without letting go of everything.
कर्तव्यदुःखमार्तण्डज्वालादग्धान्तरात्मनः ।कुतः प्रशमपीयूषधारासारमृते सुखम् ॥
kartavyaduḥkhamārtaṇḍajvālādagdhāntarātmanaḥ |kutaḥ praśamapīyūṣadhārāsāramṛte sukham ||
One whose inner self is scorched by the sun of duty and its pain: how can he be happy without the steady rain of the nectar of calm?
भवोऽयं भावनामात्रो न किञ्चित् परमर्थतः ।नास्त्यभावः स्वभावानां भावाभावविभाविनाम् ॥
bhavo'yaṃ bhāvanāmātro na kiñcit paramarthataḥ |nāstyabhāvaḥ svabhāvānāṃ bhāvābhāvavibhāvinām ||
This world is only a thought. In the highest truth it is nothing. That which is real by nature, and which lights up both being and not-being, never stops being.
न दूरं न च सङ्कोचाल्लब्धमेवात्मनः पदम् ।निर्विकल्पं निरायासं निर्विकारं निरञ्जनम् ॥
na dūraṃ na ca saṅkocāllabdhamevātmanaḥ padam |nirvikalpaṃ nirāyāsaṃ nirvikāraṃ nirañjanam ||
The place of the Self is near, and narrowing down does not gain it, for it is already yours: without thought, without effort, without change, without stain.
व्यामोहमात्रविरतौ स्वरूपादानमात्रतः ।वीतशोका विराजन्ते निरावरणदृष्टयः ॥
vyāmohamātraviratau svarūpādānamātrataḥ |vītaśokā virājante nirāvaraṇadṛṣṭayaḥ ||
When confusion stops and one simply takes up one's own nature, people shine free of sorrow, their sight unveiled.
समस्तं कल्पनामात्रमात्मा मुक्तः सनातनः ।इति विज्ञाय धीरो हि किमभ्यस्यति बालवत् ॥
samastaṃ kalpanāmātramātmā muktaḥ sanātanaḥ |iti vijñāya dhīro hi kimabhyasyati bālavat ||
All this is only imagining. The Self is free and eternal. Knowing this, why would the steady one practise like a child?
आत्मा ब्रह्मेति निश्चित्य भावाभावौ च कल्पितौ ।निष्कामः किं विजानाति किं ब्रूते च करोति किम् ॥
ātmā brahmeti niścitya bhāvābhāvau ca kalpitau |niṣkāmaḥ kiṃ vijānāti kiṃ brūte ca karoti kim ||
Certain that the Self is Brahman and that being and not-being are imagined, what does the one without desire need to know, say or do?
अयं सोऽहमयं नाहमिति क्षीणा विकल्पना ।सर्वमात्मेति निश्चित्य तूष्णीम्भूतस्य योगिनः ॥
ayaṃ so'hamayaṃ nāhamiti kṣīṇā vikalpanā |sarvamātmeti niścitya tūṣṇīmbhūtasya yoginaḥ ||
'I am this, I am not that': such thoughts fade for the yogi who is certain that all is the Self and has fallen silent.
न विक्षेपो न चैकाग्र्यं नातिबोधो न मूढता ।न सुखं न च वा दुःखमुपशान्तस्य योगिनः ॥
na vikṣepo na caikāgryaṃ nātibodho na mūḍhatā |na sukhaṃ na ca vā duḥkhamupaśāntasya yoginaḥ ||
For the yogi at peace there is no distraction and no focus, no heightened knowing and no dullness, no pleasure and no pain.
स्वाराज्ये भैक्षवृत्तौ च लाभालाभे जने वने ।निर्विकल्पस्वभावस्य न विशेषोऽस्ति योगिनः ॥
svārājye bhaikṣavṛttau ca lābhālābhe jane vane |nirvikalpasvabhāvasya na viśeṣo'sti yoginaḥ ||
Ruling a kingdom or living on alms, gain or loss, among people or in the forest: it makes no difference to the yogi whose nature is free of wavering thought.
क्व धर्मः क्व च वा कामः क्व चार्थः क्व विवेकिता ।इदं कृतमिदं नेति द्वन्द्वैर्मुक्तस्य योगिनः ॥
kva dharmaḥ kva ca vā kāmaḥ kva cārthaḥ kva vivekitā |idaṃ kṛtamidaṃ neti dvandvairmuktasya yoginaḥ ||
Where is dharma, where is pleasure, where is wealth, where is discernment, for the yogi free of opposites like 'this is done, this is not done'?
कृत्यं किमपि नैवास्ति न कापि हृदि रञ्जना ।यथा जीवनमेवेह जीवन्मुक्तस्य योगिनः ॥
kṛtyaṃ kimapi naivāsti na kāpi hṛdi rañjanā |yathā jīvanameveha jīvanmuktasya yoginaḥ ||
The yogi free while living has no duty left to do and no attachment in his heart. He lives as life comes.
क्व मोहः क्व च वा विश्वं क्व तद् ध्यानं क्व मुक्तता ।सर्वसङ्कल्पसीमायां विश्रान्तस्य महात्मनः ॥
kva mohaḥ kva ca vā viśvaṃ kva tad dhyānaṃ kva muktatā |sarvasaṅkalpasīmāyāṃ viśrāntasya mahātmanaḥ ||
Where is delusion, where is the world, where is meditation on That, where is freedom, for the great soul at rest past the edge of every intention?
येन विश्वमिदं दृष्टं स नास्तीति करोतु वै ।निर्वासनः किं कुरुते पश्यन्नपि न पश्यति ॥
yena viśvamidaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ sa nāstīti karotu vai |nirvāsanaḥ kiṃ kurute paśyannapi na paśyati ||
One who has seen the world may try to deny it. But what does one without tendencies have to do? Seeing, he does not see.
येन दृष्टं परं ब्रह्म सोऽहं ब्रह्मेति चिन्तयेत् ।किं चिन्तयति निश्चिन्तो द्वितीयं यो न पश्यति ॥
yena dṛṣṭaṃ paraṃ brahma so'haṃ brahmeti cintayet |kiṃ cintayati niścinto dvitīyaṃ yo na paśyati ||
One who has seen the supreme Brahman may think 'I am Brahman'. But what is left to think for one beyond thought, who sees no second?
दृष्टो येनात्मविक्षेपो निरोधं कुरुते त्वसौ ।उदारस्तु न विक्षिप्तः साध्याभावात्करोति किम् ॥
dṛṣṭo yenātmavikṣepo nirodhaṃ kurute tvasau |udārastu na vikṣiptaḥ sādhyābhāvātkaroti kim ||
One who has seen distraction in himself may work to stop it. The noble one is not distracted. With nothing to achieve, what would he do?
धीरो लोकविपर्यस्तो वर्तमानोऽपि लोकवत् ।न समाधिं न विक्षेपं न लोपं स्वस्य पश्यति ॥
dhīro lokaviparyasto vartamāno'pi lokavat |na samādhiṃ na vikṣepaṃ na lopaṃ svasya paśyati ||
The steady one lives like other people and yet is unlike them. He sees no samadhi in himself, no distraction and no flaw.
भावाभावविहीनो यस्तृप्तो निर्वासनो बुधः ।नैव किञ्चित्कृतं तेन लोकदृष्ट्या विकुर्वता ॥
bhāvābhāvavihīno yastṛpto nirvāsano budhaḥ |naiva kiñcitkṛtaṃ tena lokadṛṣṭyā vikurvatā ||
The wise one, beyond being and not-being, content and free of tendencies, does nothing at all, though in other people's eyes he acts.
प्रवृत्तौ वा निवृत्तौ वा नैव धीरस्य दुर्ग्रहः ।यदा यत्कर्तुमायाति तत्कृत्वा तिष्ठतः सुखम् ॥
pravṛttau vā nivṛttau vā naiva dhīrasya durgrahaḥ |yadā yatkartumāyāti tatkṛtvā tiṣṭhataḥ sukham ||
The steady one does not insist on acting or on holding back. He does whatever comes to be done and stays at ease.
निर्वासनो निरालम्बः स्वच्छन्दो मुक्तबन्धनः ।क्षिप्तः संस्कारवातेन चेष्टते शुष्कपर्णवत् ॥
nirvāsano nirālambaḥ svacchando muktabandhanaḥ |kṣiptaḥ saṃskāravātena ceṣṭate śuṣkaparṇavat ||
Free of tendencies, leaning on nothing, moving freely, his ties undone, he is blown about by the wind of past impressions like a dry leaf.
असंसारस्य तु क्वापि न हर्षो न विषादता ।स शीतलमना नित्यं विदेह इव राजये ॥
asaṃsārasya tu kvāpi na harṣo na viṣādatā |sa śītalamanā nityaṃ videha iva rājaye ||
One who is out of the round of the world has no joy and no gloom anywhere. With a mind always cool, he shines like one without a body.
कुत्रापि न जिहासास्ति नाशो वापि न कुत्रचित् ।आत्मारामस्य धीरस्य शीतलाच्छतरात्मनः ॥
kutrāpi na jihāsāsti nāśo vāpi na kutracit |ātmārāmasya dhīrasya śītalācchatarātmanaḥ ||
The steady one who delights in the Self, cool and clear inside, has no wish to give anything up and feels no loss anywhere.
प्रकृत्या शून्यचित्तस्य कुर्वतोऽस्य यदृच्छया ।प्राकृतस्येव धीरस्य न मानो नावमानता ॥
prakṛtyā śūnyacittasya kurvato'sya yadṛcchayā |prākṛtasyeva dhīrasya na māno nāvamānatā ||
His mind is empty by nature and he acts as things come. Honour and dishonour do not reach the steady one the way they reach other people.
कृतं देहेन कर्मेदं न मया शुद्धरूपिणा ।इति चिन्तानुरोधी यः कुर्वन्नपि करोति न ॥
kṛtaṃ dehena karmedaṃ na mayā śuddharūpiṇā |iti cintānurodhī yaḥ kurvannapi karoti na ||
'This act was done by the body, not by me, the pure Self': one who holds to this thought does not act even while acting.
अतद्वादीव कुरुते न भवेदपि बालिशः ।जीवन्मुक्तः सुखी श्रीमान् संसरन्नपि शोभते ॥
atadvādīva kurute na bhavedapi bāliśaḥ |jīvanmuktaḥ sukhī śrīmān saṃsarannapi śobhate ||
He acts without announcing it, yet he is no fool. Free while living, happy and graced, he shines even while living a worldly life.
नानाविचारसुश्रान्तो धीरो विश्रान्तिमागतः ।न कल्पते न जाति न शृणोति न पश्यति ॥
nānāvicārasuśrānto dhīro viśrāntimāgataḥ |na kalpate na jāti na śṛṇoti na paśyati ||
Worn out by endless reasoning, the steady one has come to rest. He does not imagine, does not know, does not hear, does not see.
असमाधेरविक्षेपान् न मुमुक्षुर्न चेतरः ।निश्चित्य कल्पितं पश्यन् ब्रह्मैवास्ते महाशयः ॥
asamādheravikṣepān na mumukṣurna cetaraḥ |niścitya kalpitaṃ paśyan brahmaivāste mahāśayaḥ ||
With no samadhi and no distraction, he is neither one who wants freedom nor anything else. Having seen that all is imagined, the great soul lives as Brahman itself.
यस्यान्तः स्यादहङ्कारो न करोति करोति सः ।निरहङ्कारधीरेण न किञ्चिदकृतं कृतम् ॥
yasyāntaḥ syādahaṅkāro na karoti karoti saḥ |nirahaṅkāradhīreṇa na kiñcidakṛtaṃ kṛtam ||
One who has the sense of 'I' inside acts even when he does nothing. The steady one free of 'I' does nothing, even when things are done.
नोद्विग्नं न च सन्तुष्टमकर्तृ स्पन्दवर्जितम् ।निराशं गतसन्देहं चित्तं मुक्तस्य राजते ॥
nodvignaṃ na ca santuṣṭamakartṛ spandavarjitam |nirāśaṃ gatasandehaṃ cittaṃ muktasya rājate ||
The mind of the free one shines: not upset, not pleased, not the doer, without motion, without hope, without doubt.
निर्ध्यातुं चेष्टितुं वापि यच्चित्तं न प्रवर्तते ।निर्निमित्तमिदं किन्तु निर्ध्यायेति विचेष्टते ॥
nirdhyātuṃ ceṣṭituṃ vāpi yaccittaṃ na pravartate |nirnimittamidaṃ kintu nirdhyāyeti viceṣṭate ||
The free one's mind does not set out to meditate or to act. It meditates and acts without a reason.
तत्त्वं यथार्थमाकर्ण्य मन्दः प्राप्नोति मूढताम् ।अथवा याति सङ्कोचममूढः कोऽपि मूढवत् ॥
tattvaṃ yathārthamākarṇya mandaḥ prāpnoti mūḍhatām |athavā yāti saṅkocamamūḍhaḥ ko'pi mūḍhavat ||
Hearing the truth as it is, a dull person is bewildered. A sharp one turns inward and may look like a dull one.
एकाग्रता निरोधो वा मूढैरभ्यस्यते भृशम् ।धीराः कृत्यं न पश्यन्ति सुप्तवत्स्वपदे स्थिताः ॥
ekāgratā nirodho vā mūḍhairabhyasyate bhṛśam |dhīrāḥ kṛtyaṃ na paśyanti suptavatsvapade sthitāḥ ||
The confused work hard at concentration and control. The steady see nothing to do. They rest in their own state like people asleep.
अप्रयत्नात् प्रयत्नाद् वा मूढो नाप्नोति निर्वृतिम् ।तत्त्वनिश्चयमात्रेण प्राज्ञो भवति निर्वृतः ॥
aprayatnāt prayatnād vā mūḍho nāpnoti nirvṛtim |tattvaniścayamātreṇa prājño bhavati nirvṛtaḥ ||
With effort or without it, the confused do not find rest. The wise are at rest just by being sure of the truth.
- 18.35Word meanings and notes
शुद्धं बुद्धं प्रियं पूर्णं निष्प्रपञ्चं निरामयम् ।आत्मानं तं न जानन्ति तत्राभ्यासपरा जनाः ॥
śuddhaṃ buddhaṃ priyaṃ pūrṇaṃ niṣprapañcaṃ nirāmayam |ātmānaṃ taṃ na jānanti tatrābhyāsaparā janāḥ ||
People devoted to practice do not know the Self: pure, awake, dear, whole, beyond the spread of the world, untouched by sorrow.
नाप्नोति कर्मणा मोक्षं विमूढोऽभ्यासरूपिणा ।धन्यो विज्ञानमात्रेण मुक्तस्तिष्ठत्यविक्रियः ॥
nāpnoti karmaṇā mokṣaṃ vimūḍho'bhyāsarūpiṇā |dhanyo vijñānamātreṇa muktastiṣṭhatyavikriyaḥ ||
The confused person does not gain freedom by repeated action, which is all practice is. The fortunate one, by knowing alone, stands free and unchanging.
मूढो नाप्नोति तद् ब्रह्म यतो भवितुमिच्छति ।अनिच्छन्नपि धीरो हि परब्रह्मस्वरूपभाक् ॥
mūḍho nāpnoti tad brahma yato bhavitumicchati |anicchannapi dhīro hi parabrahmasvarūpabhāk ||
The confused do not reach Brahman because they want to become it. The steady one, without even wanting it, has the nature of the supreme Brahman.
निराधारा ग्रहव्यग्रा मूढाः संसारपोषकाः ।एतस्यानर्थमूलस्य मूलच्छेदः कृतो बुधैः ॥
nirādhārā grahavyagrā mūḍhāḥ saṃsārapoṣakāḥ |etasyānarthamūlasya mūlacchedaḥ kṛto budhaiḥ ||
With no ground to stand on and restless to grasp, the confused keep the world going. The wise cut the root of this root of trouble.
न शान्तिं लभते मूढो यतः शमितुमिच्छति ।धीरस्तत्त्वं विनिश्चित्य सर्वदा शान्तमानसः ॥
na śāntiṃ labhate mūḍho yataḥ śamitumicchati |dhīrastattvaṃ viniścitya sarvadā śāntamānasaḥ ||
The confused one does not find peace because he is trying to make himself peaceful. The steady one, sure of the truth, is always calm.
क्वात्मनो दर्शनं तस्य यद् दृष्टमवलम्बते ।धीरास्तं तं न पश्यन्ति पश्यन्त्यात्मानमव्ययम् ॥
kvātmano darśanaṃ tasya yad dṛṣṭamavalambate |dhīrāstaṃ taṃ na paśyanti paśyantyātmānamavyayam ||
How can one who leans on what is seen see the Self? The steady do not see this and that. They see the Self that does not change.
क्व निरोधो विमूढस्य यो निर्बन्धं करोति वै ।स्वारामस्यैव धीरस्य सर्वदासावकृत्रिमः ॥
kva nirodho vimūḍhasya yo nirbandhaṃ karoti vai |svārāmasyaiva dhīrasya sarvadāsāvakṛtrimaḥ ||
Where is control of the mind for the confused one who forces it? For the steady one who delights in the Self, it comes naturally, always.
भावस्य भावकः कश्चिन् न किञ्चिद् भावकोपरः ।उभयाभावकः कश्चिद् एवमेव निराकुलः ॥
bhāvasya bhāvakaḥ kaścin na kiñcid bhāvakoparaḥ |ubhayābhāvakaḥ kaścid evameva nirākulaḥ ||
One person thinks things exist. Another thinks nothing exists. Rare is the one who thinks neither, and so stays undisturbed.
शुद्धमद्वयमात्मानं भावयन्ति कुबुद्धयः ।न तु जानन्ति संमोहाद्यावज्जीवमनिर्वृताः ॥
śuddhamadvayamātmānaṃ bhāvayanti kubuddhayaḥ |na tu jānanti saṃmohādyāvajjīvamanirvṛtāḥ ||
The dull-minded meditate on the Self as pure and one, but through confusion they do not know it, and stay unsatisfied all their lives.
मुमुक्षोर्बुद्धिरालम्बमन्तरेण न विद्यते ।निरालम्बैव निष्कामा बुद्धिर्मुक्तस्य सर्वदा ॥
mumukṣorbuddhirālambamantareṇa na vidyate |nirālambaiva niṣkāmā buddhirmuktasya sarvadā ||
The mind of one who wants freedom needs something to lean on. The mind of the free one leans on nothing and wants nothing, always.
विषयद्वीपिनो वीक्ष्य चकिताः शरणार्थिनः ।विशन्ति झटिति क्रोडं निरोधैकाग्रसिद्धये ॥
viṣayadvīpino vīkṣya cakitāḥ śaraṇārthinaḥ |viśanti jhaṭiti kroḍaṃ nirodhaikāgrasiddhaye ||
Seeing the tigers of the senses' objects, frightened people looking for shelter rush into a cave to gain control and focus.
निर्वासनं हरिं दृष्ट्वा तूष्णीं विषयदन्तिनः ।पलायन्ते न शक्तास्ते सेवन्ते कृतचाटवः ॥
nirvāsanaṃ hariṃ dṛṣṭvā tūṣṇīṃ viṣayadantinaḥ |palāyante na śaktāste sevante kṛtacāṭavaḥ ||
Seeing the lion without tendencies, the elephants of the senses' objects run off without a sound, or, if they cannot, stay and serve him like flatterers.
न मुक्तिकारिकां धत्ते निःशङ्को युक्तमानसः ।पश्यन् शृण्वन् स्पृशन् जिघ्रन्नश्नन्नास्ते यथासुखम् ॥
na muktikārikāṃ dhatte niḥśaṅko yuktamānasaḥ |paśyan śṛṇvan spṛśan jighrannaśnannāste yathāsukham ||
Free of doubt, his mind joined to the Self, he does not take up practices for freedom. Seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, he lives at ease.
वस्तुश्रवणमात्रेण शुद्धबुद्धिर्निराकुलः ।नैवाचारमनाचारमौदास्यं वा प्रपश्यति ॥
vastuśravaṇamātreṇa śuddhabuddhirnirākulaḥ |naivācāramanācāramaudāsyaṃ vā prapaśyati ||
Clear-minded and settled just by hearing the truth, he does not look on right conduct, wrong conduct or indifference as his concern.
यदा यत्कर्तुमायाति तदा तत्कुरुते ऋजुः ।शुभं वाप्यशुभं वापि तस्य चेष्टा हि बालवत् ॥
yadā yatkartumāyāti tadā tatkurute ṛjuḥ |śubhaṃ vāpyaśubhaṃ vāpi tasya ceṣṭā hi bālavat ||
Whatever comes to be done, the straightforward one does it, good or bad. His actions are like a child's.
स्वातन्त्र्यात्सुखमाप्नोति स्वातन्त्र्याल्लभते परम् ।स्वातन्त्र्यान्निर्वृतिं गच्छेत्स्वातन्त्र्यात् परमं पदम् ॥
svātantryātsukhamāpnoti svātantryāllabhate param |svātantryānnirvṛtiṃ gacchetsvātantryāt paramaṃ padam ||
Through inner freedom one finds happiness. Through inner freedom one reaches the highest. Through inner freedom one comes to rest. Through inner freedom, the supreme state.
अकर्तृत्वमभोक्तृत्वं स्वात्मनो मन्यते यदा ।तदा क्षीणा भवन्त्येव समस्ताश्चित्तवृत्तयः ॥
akartṛtvamabhoktṛtvaṃ svātmano manyate yadā |tadā kṣīṇā bhavantyeva samastāścittavṛttayaḥ ||
When one sees the Self as neither doer nor enjoyer, all the movements of the mind wear away.
उच्छृङ्खलाप्यकृतिका स्थितिर्धीरस्य राजते ।न तु सस्पृहचित्तस्य शान्तिर्मूढस्य कृत्रिमा ॥
ucchṛṅkhalāpyakṛtikā sthitirdhīrasya rājate |na tu saspṛhacittasya śāntirmūḍhasya kṛtrimā ||
The steady one's way of living shines, unbound and unforced. The forced calm of the confused, whose mind still wants, does not shine.
विलसन्ति महाभोगैर्विशन्ति गिरिगह्वरान् ।निरस्तकल्पना धीरा अबद्धा मुक्तबुद्धयः ॥
vilasanti mahābhogairviśanti girigahvarān |nirastakalpanā dhīrā abaddhā muktabuddhayaḥ ||
Steady ones, free of imagining, unbound, their minds set free, sometimes enjoy great pleasures and sometimes go into mountain caves.
श्रोत्रियं देवतां तीर्थमङ्गनां भूपतिं प्रियम् ।दृष्ट्वा सम्पूज्य धीरस्य न कापि हृदि वासना ॥
śrotriyaṃ devatāṃ tīrthamaṅganāṃ bhūpatiṃ priyam |dṛṣṭvā sampūjya dhīrasya na kāpi hṛdi vāsanā ||
When the steady one sees and honours a scholar of the Vedas, a deity, a holy place, a woman, a king or a loved one, no desire stirs in his heart.
भृत्यैः पुत्रैः कलत्रैश्च दौहित्रैश्चापि गोत्रजैः ।विहस्य धिक्कृतो योगी न याति विकृतिं मनाक् ॥
bhṛtyaiḥ putraiḥ kalatraiśca dauhitraiścāpi gotrajaiḥ |vihasya dhikkṛto yogī na yāti vikṛtiṃ manāk ||
Mocked and scorned by servants, sons, wives, grandsons and kin, the yogi is not shaken even a little.
सन्तुष्टोऽपि न सन्तुष्टः खिन्नोऽपि न च खिद्यते ।तस्याश्चर्यदशां तां तां तादृशा एव जानते ॥
santuṣṭo'pi na santuṣṭaḥ khinno'pi na ca khidyate |tasyāścaryadaśāṃ tāṃ tāṃ tādṛśā eva jānate ||
Pleased, he is not pleased. Pained, he is not pained. Only those like him know such wondrous states.
कर्तव्यतैव संसारो न तां पश्यन्ति सूरयः ।शून्याकारा निराकारा निर्विकारा निरामयाः ॥
kartavyataiva saṃsāro na tāṃ paśyanti sūrayaḥ |śūnyākārā nirākārā nirvikārā nirāmayāḥ ||
Having duties is the world itself. The wise do not see it. They are empty of shape, without form, unchanging, untouched by pain.
अकुर्वन्नपि सङ्क्षोभाद् व्यग्रः सर्वत्र मूढधीः ।कुर्वन्नपि तु कृत्यानि कुशलो हि निराकुलः ॥
akurvannapi saṅkṣobhād vyagraḥ sarvatra mūḍhadhīḥ |kurvannapi tu kṛtyāni kuśalo hi nirākulaḥ ||
The confused one, even doing nothing, is agitated and restless everywhere. The able one, even doing his work, stays undisturbed.
- 18.59Word meanings and notes
सुखमास्ते सुखं शेते सुखमायाति याति च ।सुखं वक्ति सुखं भुङ्क्ते व्यवहारेऽपि शान्तधीः ॥
sukhamāste sukhaṃ śete sukhamāyāti yāti ca |sukhaṃ vakti sukhaṃ bhuṅkte vyavahāre'pi śāntadhīḥ ||
At ease he sits, at ease he sleeps, at ease he comes and goes, at ease he speaks, at ease he eats. Calm-minded, he is at ease even in daily dealings.
स्वभावाद्यस्य नैवार्तिर्लोकवद् व्यवहारिणः ।महाहृद इवाक्षोभ्यो गतक्लेशः सुशोभते ॥
svabhāvādyasya naivārtirlokavad vyavahāriṇaḥ |mahāhṛda ivākṣobhyo gatakleśaḥ suśobhate ||
One who by nature feels no distress while dealing with the world like anyone else shines free of trouble, unstirred like a great lake.
निवृत्तिरपि मूढस्य प्रवृत्ति रुपजायते ।प्रवृत्तिरपि धीरस्य निवृत्तिफलभागिनी ॥
nivṛttirapi mūḍhasya pravṛtti rupajāyate |pravṛttirapi dhīrasya nivṛttiphalabhāginī ||
Even the confused person's holding back becomes a kind of action. Even the steady one's action bears the fruit of holding back.
परिग्रहेषु वैराग्यं प्रायो मूढस्य दृश्यते ।देहे विगलिताशस्य क्व रागः क्व विरागता ॥
parigraheṣu vairāgyaṃ prāyo mūḍhasya dṛśyate |dehe vigalitāśasya kva rāgaḥ kva virāgatā ||
The confused often show dispassion toward their possessions. For one whose clinging to the body has melted, where is attachment, and where is dispassion?
भावनाभावनासक्ता दृष्टिर्मूढस्य सर्वदा ।भाव्यभावनया सा तु स्वस्थस्यादृष्टिरूपिणी ॥
bhāvanābhāvanāsaktā dṛṣṭirmūḍhasya sarvadā |bhāvyabhāvanayā sā tu svasthasyādṛṣṭirūpiṇī ||
The confused person's gaze is always caught up in thinking and not thinking. For one at rest in himself, even thinking about something is a way of not seeing it.
सर्वारम्भेषु निष्कामो यश्चरेद् बालवन् मुनिः ।न लेपस्तस्य शुद्धस्य क्रियमाणेऽपि कर्मणि ॥
sarvārambheṣu niṣkāmo yaścared bālavan muniḥ |na lepastasya śuddhasya kriyamāṇe'pi karmaṇi ||
The sage who acts like a child, without desire in anything he begins, is pure, and is not stained even by the work he does.
स एव धन्य आत्मज्ञः सर्वभावेषु यः समः ।पश्यन् शृण्वन् स्पृशन् जिघ्रन्अश्नन्निस्तर्षमानसः ॥
sa eva dhanya ātmajñaḥ sarvabhāveṣu yaḥ samaḥ |paśyan śṛṇvan spṛśan jighranaśnannistarṣamānasaḥ ||
Blessed is the one who knows the Self and stays the same in every state: seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, with a mind free of thirst.
क्व संसारः क्व चाभासः क्व साध्यं क्व च साधनम् ।आकाशस्येव धीरस्य निर्विकल्पस्य सर्वदा ॥
kva saṃsāraḥ kva cābhāsaḥ kva sādhyaṃ kva ca sādhanam |ākāśasyeva dhīrasya nirvikalpasya sarvadā ||
Where is the world, where is its appearance, where is the goal and where the means, for the steady one who is always like the sky, free of wavering thought?
स जयत्यर्थसंन्यासी पूर्णस्वरसविग्रहः ।अकृत्रिमोऽनवच्छिन्ने समाधिर्यस्य वर्तते ॥
sa jayatyarthasaṃnyāsī pūrṇasvarasavigrahaḥ |akṛtrimo'navacchinne samādhiryasya vartate ||
Victorious is the one who has left all aims, who is the form of complete joy, and whose natural samadhi goes on unbroken.
बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन ज्ञाततत्त्वो महाशयः ।भोगमोक्षनिराकाङ्क्षी सदा सर्वत्र नीरसः ॥
bahunātra kimuktena jñātatattvo mahāśayaḥ |bhogamokṣanirākāṅkṣī sadā sarvatra nīrasaḥ ||
What more is there to say? The great soul who knows the truth wants neither enjoyment nor freedom, and has no taste for anything, always, everywhere.
महदादि जगद्द्वैतं नाममात्रविजृम्भितम् ।विहाय शुद्धबोधस्य किं कृत्यमवशिष्यते ॥
mahadādi jagaddvaitaṃ nāmamātravijṛmbhitam |vihāya śuddhabodhasya kiṃ kṛtyamavaśiṣyate ||
The duality of the world, beginning with the great principle of nature, is only names spreading out. Having dropped it, what is left to do for one who is pure awareness?
भ्रमभूतमिदं सर्वं किञ्चिन्नास्तीति निश्चयी ।अलक्ष्यस्फुरणः शुद्धः स्वभावेनैव शाम्यति ॥
bhramabhūtamidaṃ sarvaṃ kiñcinnāstīti niścayī |alakṣyasphuraṇaḥ śuddhaḥ svabhāvenaiva śāmyati ||
Certain that all this is born of error and nothing is, the pure one, whose shining nobody can see, comes to rest by his own nature.
शुद्धस्फुरणरूपस्य दृश्यभावमपश्यतः ।क्व विधिः क्व च वैराग्यं क्व त्यागः क्व शमोऽपि वा ॥
śuddhasphuraṇarūpasya dṛśyabhāvamapaśyataḥ |kva vidhiḥ kva ca vairāgyaṃ kva tyāgaḥ kva śamo'pi vā ||
For one whose form is pure shining, who does not see objects as real, where is rule, where is dispassion, where is giving up, where is calm?
स्फुरतोऽनन्तरूपेण प्रकृतिं च न पश्यतः ।क्व बन्धः क्व च वा मोक्षः क्व हर्षः क्व विषादिता ॥
sphurato'nantarūpeṇa prakṛtiṃ ca na paśyataḥ |kva bandhaḥ kva ca vā mokṣaḥ kva harṣaḥ kva viṣāditā ||
For one who shines as the endless and does not see nature apart from himself, where is bondage, where is freedom, where is joy, where is grief?
बुद्धिपर्यन्तसंसारे मायामात्रं विवर्तते ।निर्ममो निरहङ्कारो निष्कामः शोभते बुधः ॥
buddhiparyantasaṃsāre māyāmātraṃ vivartate |nirmamo nirahaṅkāro niṣkāmaḥ śobhate budhaḥ ||
In this world, which lasts as long as the intellect does, only illusion turns. The wise one, without 'mine', without 'I', without desire, shines.
अक्षयं गतसन्तापमात्मानं पश्यतो मुनेः ।क्व विद्या च क्व वा विश्वं क्व देहोऽहं ममेति वा ॥
akṣayaṃ gatasantāpamātmānaṃ paśyato muneḥ |kva vidyā ca kva vā viśvaṃ kva deho'haṃ mameti vā ||
For the sage who sees the Self as imperishable and free of pain, where is knowledge, where is the world, where is 'I am the body' or 'this is mine'?
निरोधादीनि कर्माणि जहाति जडधीर्यदि ।मनोरथान् प्रलापांश्च कर्तुमाप्नोत्यतत्क्षणात् ॥
nirodhādīni karmāṇi jahāti jaḍadhīryadi |manorathān pralāpāṃśca kartumāpnotyatatkṣaṇāt ||
If a dull-minded person drops practices like control of the mind, he at once starts on daydreams and chatter.
मन्दः श्रुत्वापि तद्वस्तु न जहाति विमूढताम् ।निर्विकल्पो बहिर्यत्नादन्तर्विषयलालसः ॥
mandaḥ śrutvāpi tadvastu na jahāti vimūḍhatām |nirvikalpo bahiryatnādantarviṣayalālasaḥ ||
Even after hearing the truth, the dull one does not give up his confusion. He looks free of thought through outward effort, but inside he still longs for objects.
ज्ञानाद् गलितकर्मा यो लोकदृष्ट्यापि कर्मकृत् ।नाप्नोत्यवसरं कर्त्रुं वक्तुमेव न किञ्चन ॥
jñānād galitakarmā yo lokadṛṣṭyāpi karmakṛt |nāpnotyavasaraṃ kartruṃ vaktumeva na kiñcana ||
One whose actions have fallen away through knowledge, though others see him act, finds no occasion to do or say anything.
क्व तमः क्व प्रकाशो वा हानं क्व च न किञ्चन ।निर्विकारस्य धीरस्य निरातङ्कस्य सर्वदा ॥
kva tamaḥ kva prakāśo vā hānaṃ kva ca na kiñcana |nirvikārasya dhīrasya nirātaṅkasya sarvadā ||
Where is darkness, where is light, where is loss, for the steady one who is always unchanging and fearless? There is nothing.
क्व धैर्यं क्व विवेकित्वं क्व निरातङ्कतापि वा ।अनिर्वाच्यस्वभावस्य निःस्वभावस्य योगिनः ॥
kva dhairyaṃ kva vivekitvaṃ kva nirātaṅkatāpi vā |anirvācyasvabhāvasya niḥsvabhāvasya yoginaḥ ||
Where is patience, where is discernment, where is even fearlessness, for the yogi whose nature cannot be described and who has no separate nature?
न स्वर्गो नैव नरको जीवन्मुक्तिर्न चैव हि ।बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन योगदृष्ट्या न किञ्चन ॥
na svargo naiva narako jīvanmuktirna caiva hi |bahunātra kimuktena yogadṛṣṭyā na kiñcana ||
There is no heaven, no hell, not even freedom while living. What more is there to say? In the yogi's sight, nothing at all is.
नैव प्रार्थयते लाभं नालाभेनानुशोचति ।धीरस्य शीतलं चित्तममृतेनैव पूरितम् ॥
naiva prārthayate lābhaṃ nālābhenānuśocati |dhīrasya śītalaṃ cittamamṛtenaiva pūritam ||
He does not pray for gain or grieve over loss. The steady one's cool mind is filled with nectar.
न शान्तं स्तौति निष्कामो न दुष्टमपि निन्दति ।समदुःखसुखस्तृप्तः किञ्चित् कृत्यं न पश्यति ॥
na śāntaṃ stauti niṣkāmo na duṣṭamapi nindati |samaduḥkhasukhastṛptaḥ kiñcit kṛtyaṃ na paśyati ||
The one without desire does not praise the calm or blame the wicked. The same in sorrow and joy, content, he sees nothing he must do.
धीरो न द्वेष्टि संसारमात्मानं न दिदृक्षति ।हर्षामर्षविनिर्मुक्तो न मृतो न च जीवति ॥
dhīro na dveṣṭi saṃsāramātmānaṃ na didṛkṣati |harṣāmarṣavinirmukto na mṛto na ca jīvati ||
The steady one does not hate the world or long to see the Self. Free of joy and anger, he is not dead and he is not alive.
निःस्नेहः पुत्रदारादौ निष्कामो विषयेषु च ।निश्चिन्तः स्वशरीरेऽपि निराशः शोभते बुधः ॥
niḥsnehaḥ putradārādau niṣkāmo viṣayeṣu ca |niścintaḥ svaśarīre'pi nirāśaḥ śobhate budhaḥ ||
Without clinging fondness for children, wife and the rest, without desire for objects, without worry even about his own body, without expectations, the wise one shines.
तुष्टिः सर्वत्र धीरस्य यथापतितवर्तिनः ।स्वच्छन्दं चरतो देशान् यत्रस्तमितशायिनः ॥
tuṣṭiḥ sarvatra dhīrasya yathāpatitavartinaḥ |svacchandaṃ carato deśān yatrastamitaśāyinaḥ ||
The steady one is content everywhere, living on whatever falls his way, wandering where he likes and sleeping wherever the sun sets.
पततूदेतु वा देहो नास्य चिन्ता महात्मनः ।स्वभावभूमिविश्रान्तिविस्मृताशेषसंसृतेः ॥
patatūdetu vā deho nāsya cintā mahātmanaḥ |svabhāvabhūmiviśrāntivismṛtāśeṣasaṃsṛteḥ ||
Let the body fall or rise. The great soul does not think about it. Resting on the ground of his own nature, he has forgotten the whole round of birth.
अकिञ्चनः कामचारो निर्द्वन्द्वश्छिन्नसंशयः ।असक्तः सर्वभावेषु केवलो रमते बुधः ॥
akiñcanaḥ kāmacāro nirdvandvaśchinnasaṃśayaḥ |asaktaḥ sarvabhāveṣu kevalo ramate budhaḥ ||
Owning nothing, moving freely, free of opposites, his doubts cut, unattached to anything, the wise one delights alone.
निर्ममः शोभते धीरः समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः ।सुभिन्नहृदयग्रन्थिर्विनिर्धूतरजस्तमः ॥
nirmamaḥ śobhate dhīraḥ samaloṣṭāśmakāñcanaḥ |subhinnahṛdayagranthirvinirdhūtarajastamaḥ ||
Without 'mine', the steady one shines. To him a clod, a stone and gold are the same. The knots of his heart are cut, and restlessness and dullness are shaken off.
सर्वत्रानवधानस्य न किञ्चिद् वासना हृदि ।मुक्तात्मनो वितृप्तस्य तुलना केन जायते ॥
sarvatrānavadhānasya na kiñcid vāsanā hṛdi |muktātmano vitṛptasya tulanā kena jāyate ||
He pays no special heed to anything and no tendency is left in his heart. Free and wholly content, with whom can he be compared?
जानन्नपि न जानाति पश्यन्नपि न पश्यति ।ब्रुवन्नपि न च ब्रूते कोऽन्यो निर्वासनादृते ॥
jānannapi na jānāti paśyannapi na paśyati |bruvannapi na ca brūte ko'nyo nirvāsanādṛte ||
Knowing, he does not know. Seeing, he does not see. Speaking, he does not speak. Who can be like this except one without tendencies?
भिक्षुर्वा भूपतिर्वापि यो निष्कामः स शोभते ।भावेषु गलिता यस्य शोभनाशोभना मतिः ॥
bhikṣurvā bhūpatirvāpi yo niṣkāmaḥ sa śobhate |bhāveṣu galitā yasya śobhanāśobhanā matiḥ ||
Beggar or king, the one without desire shines, he whose ideas of good and bad in things have melted away.
क्व स्वाच्छन्द्यं क्व सङ्कोचः क्व वा तत्त्वविनिश्चयः ।निर्व्याजार्जवभूतस्य चरितार्थस्य योगिनः ॥
kva svācchandyaṃ kva saṅkocaḥ kva vā tattvaviniścayaḥ |nirvyājārjavabhūtasya caritārthasya yoginaḥ ||
Where is license, where is restraint, where is even settling the truth, for the yogi who is simplicity itself and has fulfilled his purpose?
आत्मविश्रान्तितृप्तेन निराशेन गतार्तिना ।अन्तर्यदनुभूयेत तत् कथं कस्य कथ्यते ॥
ātmaviśrāntitṛptena nirāśena gatārtinā |antaryadanubhūyeta tat kathaṃ kasya kathyate ||
What is felt inside by one who is content resting in the Self, without hope, his sorrows gone: how can it be told, and to whom?
सुप्तोऽपि न सुषुप्तौ च स्वप्नेऽपि शयितो न च ।जागरेऽपि न जागर्ति धीरस्तृप्तः पदे पदे ॥
supto'pi na suṣuptau ca svapne'pi śayito na ca |jāgare'pi na jāgarti dhīrastṛptaḥ pade pade ||
Asleep, he is not in deep sleep. Dreaming, he is not lying down. Awake, he is not awake. The steady one is content at every step.
ज्ञः सचिन्तोऽपि निश्चिन्तः सेन्द्रियोऽपि निरिन्द्रियः ।सुबुद्धिरपि निर्बुद्धिः साहङ्कारोऽनहङ्कृतिः ॥
jñaḥ sacinto'pi niścintaḥ sendriyo'pi nirindriyaḥ |subuddhirapi nirbuddhiḥ sāhaṅkāro'nahaṅkṛtiḥ ||
The knower has thoughts and is free of thought, has senses and is beyond them, has an intellect and is beyond it, has an 'I' and is free of it.
न सुखी न च वा दुःखी न विरक्तो न सङ्गवान् ।न मुमुक्षुर्न वा मुक्ता न किञ्चिन्न च किञ्चन ॥
na sukhī na ca vā duḥkhī na virakto na saṅgavān |na mumukṣurna vā muktā na kiñcinna ca kiñcana ||
He is not happy and not unhappy, not detached and not attached, not one who wants freedom and not one who is free. He is not something and not nothing.
विक्षेपेऽपि न विक्षिप्तः समाधौ न समाधिमान् ।जाड्येऽपि न जडो धन्यः पाण्डित्येऽपि न पण्डितः ॥
vikṣepe'pi na vikṣiptaḥ samādhau na samādhimān |jāḍye'pi na jaḍo dhanyaḥ pāṇḍitye'pi na paṇḍitaḥ ||
Distracted, he is not distracted. In samadhi, he is not in samadhi. In dullness, he is not dull. Learned, he is not learned. Blessed is he.
मुक्तो यथास्थितिस्वस्थः कृतकर्तव्यनिर्वृतः ।समः सर्वत्र वैतृष्ण्यान्न स्मरत्यकृतं कृतम् ॥
mukto yathāsthitisvasthaḥ kṛtakartavyanirvṛtaḥ |samaḥ sarvatra vaitṛṣṇyānna smaratyakṛtaṃ kṛtam ||
The free one rests in himself in every state, at peace with what is done and what is to be done, the same everywhere. Free of thirst, he does not recall what he did or left undone.
न प्रीयते वन्द्यमानो निन्द्यमानो न कुप्यति ।नैवोद्विजति मरणे जीवने नाभिनन्दति ॥
na prīyate vandyamāno nindyamāno na kupyati |naivodvijati maraṇe jīvane nābhinandati ||
Praised, he is not pleased. Blamed, he is not angry. He does not shrink from death or cling to life.
- 18.100Word meanings and notes
न धावति जनाकीर्णं नारण्यमुपशान्तधीः ।यथातथा यत्रतत्र सम एवावतिष्ठते ॥
na dhāvati janākīrṇaṃ nāraṇyamupaśāntadhīḥ |yathātathā yatratatra sama evāvatiṣṭhate ||
A mind at peace does not run to the crowd or to the forest. As it is, wherever it is, it stays the same.
Sources and method
Sanskrit from the common text of the Ashtavakra Gita, also called the Ashtavakra Samhita. Where our source had obvious typing errors we restored the standard reading and listed each change in our review notes. IAST is generated from the Devanagari. The English, the word meanings and the notes are Wisdom's own, written in the Advaita tradition of Shankara's school, the line followed by commentators such as Swami Nityaswarupananda and Swami Chinmayananda, with Lala Baij Nath's public-domain translation of 1907 as a reference.
Wisdom translation, edited by Ankur Shukla. Commentary AI-drafted, human review pending.