Ashtavakra Gita 18.69Chapter 18, Verse 69
Ashtavakra Gita 18.69 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 duality of the world, beginning with the great principle of nature, is only names spreading out. Having dropped it, what is left to do for one who is pure awareness?"
महदादि जगद्द्वैतं नाममात्रविजृम्भितम् ।विहाय शुद्धबोधस्य किं कृत्यमवशिष्यते ॥
mahadādi jagaddvaitaṃ nāmamātravijṛmbhitam |vihāya śuddhabodhasya kiṃ kṛtyamavaśiṣyate ||
The duality of the world, beginning with the great principle of nature, is only names spreading out. Having dropped it, what is left to do for one who is pure awareness?
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