Ashtavakra Gita 18.36Chapter 18, Verse 36
Ashtavakra Gita 18.36 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 confused person does not gain freedom by repeated action, which is all practice is. The fortunate one, by knowing alone, stands free and unchanging."
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.
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.
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