Ashtavakra Gita 18.39Chapter 18, Verse 39
Ashtavakra Gita 18.39 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 one does not find peace because he is trying to make himself peaceful. The steady one, sure of the truth, is always calm."
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.
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