Ashtavakra Gita 18.42Chapter 18, Verse 42
Ashtavakra Gita 18.42 is a verse from chapter 18 (Peace in a hundred verses). The sage Ashtavakra speaks it to King Janaka. In plain English it says: "One person thinks things exist. Another thinks nothing exists. Rare is the one who thinks neither, and so stays undisturbed."
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.
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