Ashtavakra Gita 18.31Chapter 18, Verse 31
Ashtavakra Gita 18.31 is a verse from chapter 18 (Peace in a hundred verses). The sage Ashtavakra speaks it to King Janaka. In plain English it says: "The free one's mind does not set out to meditate or to act. It meditates and acts without a reason."
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.
Ashtavakra, to King Janaka
Word meanings and a note for this verse are still being written. Read it in context on the chapter 18 page, or start with the verses in where to begin.
Chapter 18, Peace in a hundred verses: The longest chapter, a third of the text, contrasting the confused who strive with the steady who are already at rest.
Read all 100 verses in this chapter →Seven mornings of short readings from the Bhagavad Gita, chosen for what you're going through, by email.
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