Ashtavakra Gita 3.8Chapter 3, Verse 8
Ashtavakra Gita 3.8 is a verse from chapter 3 (The test). The sage Ashtavakra speaks it to King Janaka. In plain English it says: "He has turned from this world and the next, he can tell the lasting from the passing, he wants freedom, and yet he is afraid of freedom itself. That is strange."
इहामुत्र विरक्तस्य नित्यानित्यविवेकिनः ।आश्चर्यं मोक्षकामस्य मोक्षाद् एव विभीषिका ॥
ihāmutra viraktasya nityānityavivekinaḥ |āścaryaṃ mokṣakāmasya mokṣād eva vibhīṣikā ||
He has turned from this world and the next, he can tell the lasting from the passing, he wants freedom, and yet he is afraid of freedom itself. That is strange.
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?
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