Ashtavakra Gita 3.12Chapter 3, Verse 12
Ashtavakra Gita 3.12 is a verse from chapter 3 (The test). The sage Ashtavakra speaks it to King Janaka. In plain English it says: "The great one's mind wants nothing, even when nothing is left to hope for. Content in knowing the Self, with whom can he be compared?"
निःस्पृहं मानसं यस्य नैराश्येऽपि महात्मनः ।तस्यात्मज्ञानतृप्तस्य तुलना केन जायते ॥
niḥspṛhaṃ mānasaṃ yasya nairāśye'pi mahātmanaḥ |tasyātmajñānatṛptasya tulanā kena jāyate ||
The great one's mind wants nothing, even when nothing is left to hope for. Content in knowing the Self, with whom can he be compared?
Ashtavakra, to King Janaka
Word meanings and a note for this verse are still being written. Read it in context on the chapter 3 page, or start with the verses in where to begin.
Chapter 3, The test: Ashtavakra tests the king: if you know the Self, why do greed, desire and fear of freedom still move you?
Read all 14 verses in this chapter →Seven mornings of short readings from the Bhagavad Gita, chosen for what you're going through, by email.
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