Ashtavakra Gita 18.38Chapter 18, Verse 38
Ashtavakra Gita 18.38 is a verse from chapter 18 (Peace in a hundred verses). The sage Ashtavakra speaks it to King Janaka. In plain English it says: "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."
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.
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.
Send my week