Ashtavakra Gita 18.46Chapter 18, Verse 46
Ashtavakra Gita 18.46 is a verse from chapter 18 (Peace in a hundred verses). The sage Ashtavakra speaks it to King Janaka. In plain English it says: "Seeing the lion without tendencies, the elephants of the senses' objects run off without a sound, or, if they cannot, stay and serve him like flatterers."
निर्वासनं हरिं दृष्ट्वा तूष्णीं विषयदन्तिनः ।पलायन्ते न शक्तास्ते सेवन्ते कृतचाटवः ॥
nirvāsanaṃ hariṃ dṛṣṭvā tūṣṇīṃ viṣayadantinaḥ |palāyante na śaktāste sevante kṛtacāṭavaḥ ||
Seeing the lion without tendencies, the elephants of the senses' objects run off without a sound, or, if they cannot, stay and serve him like flatterers.
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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