Muni's PlaySelected Verses: Ashtavakra Gita
A personal selection of favorite verses from the Ashtavakra Gita.
1. Saksi
Verse 2
Sanskrit
अष्टावक्र उवाच मुक्तिमिच्छसि चेत्तात विषयान विषवत्त्यज। क्षमार्जवदयातोषं सत्यं पीयूषवद् भज॥ २ ॥
aṣṭāvakra uvāca muktimicchasi cettāta viṣayāni viṣavattyaja | kṣamārjavadayātoṣaṁ satyaṁ pīyūṣavad bhaja || 2 ||
Translation
Ashtavakra said: If you desire liberation, my dear, shun objects of the senses like poison. Seek forgiveness, sincerity, kindness, contentment, and truth like nectar.
Verse 9
Sanskrit
एको विशुद्धबोधोऽहं इति निश्चयवह्निना। प्रज्वाल्याज्ञानगहनं वीतशोकः सुखी भव॥ ९ ॥
eko viśuddhabodho’ham iti niścayavahninā | prajvālāyājñānagahanaṁ vītaśokaḥ sukhī bhava || 9 ||
Translation
Burn down the thicket of ignorance with the fire of the conviction “I am the one pure consciousness,” and be free from sorrow and happy.
Verse 10
Sanskrit
यत्र विश्वमिदं भाति कल्पितं रज्जुसर्पवत्। आनंदपरमानन्दः स बोधस्त्वं सुखं चर॥ १० ॥
yatra viśvamidaṁ bhāti kalpitaṁ rajjusarpavat | ānandaparamānandaḥ sa bodhastvaṁ sukhaṁ cara || 10 ||
Translation
That in which this world appears, imagined like a snake in a rope, that is the supreme bliss-consciousness. You are that; live happily.
Verse 11
Sanskrit
मुक्ताभिमानी मुक्तो हि बद्धो बद्धाभिमान्यपि। किंवदन्तीह सत्येयं या मतिः सा गतिर्भवेत्॥ ११ ॥
muktābhimānī mukto hi baddho baddhābhimānyapi | kiṁvadantīha satyeyaṁ yā matiḥ sā gatirbhavet || 11 ||
Translation
One who considers themselves free is indeed free, and one who considers themselves bound is bound. The saying “As one’s mind is, so is one’s destiny” is true here.
Verse 16
Sanskrit
त्वया व्याप्तमिदं विश्वं त्वयि प्रोतं यथार्थतः। शुद्धबुद्धस्वरुपस्त्वं मा गमः क्षुद्रचित्तताम्॥ १६ ॥
tvayā vyāptamidaṁ viśvaṁ tvayi protaṁ yathārthataḥ | śuddhabuddhasvarūpastvaṁ mā gamaḥ kṣudracittatām || 16 ||
Translation
This entire world is pervaded by you and sewn into you. You are of the nature of pure consciousness; do not become small-minded.
Verse 17
Sanskrit
निरपेक्षो निर्विकारो निर्भरः शीतलाशयः। अगाधबुद्धिरक्षुब्धो भव चिन्मात्रवासन:॥ १७ ॥
nirapekṣo nirvikāro nirbharaḥ śītalāśayaḥ | agādhabuddhirakṣubdho bhava cinmātravāsanaḥ || 17 ||
Translation
Be impartial, changeless, full, cool-headed, deep-witted, and unperturbed. Exist only in the fragrance of consciousness.
Verse 18
Sanskrit
साकारमनृतं विद्धि निराकारं तु निश्चलं। एतत्तत्त्वोपदेशेन न पुनर्भवसंभव:॥ 18 ॥
sākāramanṛtaṁ viddhi nirākāraṁ tu niścalam | etattattvopadeśena na punarbhavasaṁbhavaḥ || 18 ||
Translation
Know that which has form to be false, and the formless to be unchanging. Through this teaching of truth, one is not born again.
2. Ascaryam
Verse 23
Sanskrit
अहो भुवनकल्लोलै- र्विचित्रैर्द्राक् समुत्थितं। मय्यनंतमहांभोधौ चित्तवाते समुद्यते॥ 23 ॥
aho bhuvanakallolairvicitrairdrāk samutthitaṁ | mayyanantamahāṁbhodhau cittavāte samudyate || 23 ||
Translation
Oh, the multi-colored waves of the universe suddenly arise in me, the infinite ocean, when the wind of the mind starts to blow!
Verse 25
Sanskrit
मय्यनन्तमहांभोधा- वाश्चर्यं जीववीचयः। उद्यन्ति घ्नन्ति खेलन्ति प्रविशन्ति स्वभावतः॥ 25 ॥
mayyanantamahāṁbodhāvāścaryaṁ jīvavīcayaḥ | udyanti ghnanti khelanti praviśanti svabhāvataḥ || 25 ||
Translation
Oh, how wonderful! In me, the infinite ocean, the waves of individual souls arise, strike each other, play, and disappear according to [their] nature.
4. Sarvamatma
Verse 1
Sanskrit
अष्टावक्र उवाच हन्तात्मज्ञस्य धीरस्य खेलतो भोगलीलया। न हि संसारवाहीकैर्मूढैः सह समानता॥ 1 ॥
aṣṭāvakra uvāca hantātmajñasya dhīrasya khelato bhogalīlayā | na hi saṁsāravāhīkairmūḍhaiḥ saha samānatā || 1 ||
Translation
Ashtavakra said: Truly, there is no comparison between the wise person who knows the Self and plays at the game of life, and the deluded ones who carry the burden of the world.
Verse 4
Sanskrit
आत्मैवेदं जगत्सर्वं ज्ञातं येन महात्मना। यदृच्छया वर्तमानं तं निषेद्धुं क्षमेत कः॥ 4 ॥
ātmaivedaṁ jagatsarvaṁ jñātaṁ yena mahātmanā | yadṛcchayā vartamānaṁ taṁ niṣeddhuṁ kṣameta kaḥ || 4 ||
Translation
Who can restrain the great-souled one who has realized that this entire world is but the Self, and who lives as they please?
5. Laya
Verse 1
Sanskrit
अष्टावक्र उवाच न ते संगोऽस्ति केनापि किं शुद्धस्त्यक्तुमिच्छसि। संघातविलयं कुर्वन्नेवमेव लयं व्रज॥ 1 ॥
aṣṭāvakra uvāca na te saṅgo’sti kenāpi kiṁ śuddhastyaktumicchasi | saṅghātavilayaṁ kurvannevameva layaṁ vraja || 1 ||
Translation
Ashtavakra said: You have no connection with anything. Pure as you are, what do you wish to renounce? Dissolve the complex [of body and mind] and thus enter into dissolution.
Verse 2
Sanskrit
उदेति भवतो विश्वं वारिधेरिव बुद्बुदः। इति ज्ञात्वैकमात्मानं एवमेव लयं व्रज॥ 2 ॥
udeti bhavato viśvaṁ vāridheriva budbudaḥ | iti jñātvaikamātmānaṁ evameva layaṁ vraja || 2 ||
Translation
The universe emerges from you like bubbles from the ocean. Knowing the Self to be one, thus enter into dissolution.
6. Prakrteh Parah
Verse 2
Sanskrit
महोदधिरिवाहं स प्रपंचो वीचिसऽन्निभः। इति ज्ञानं तथैतस्य न त्यागो न ग्रहो लयः॥ 2 ॥
mahodadhirivāhaṁ sa prapañco vīcisannibhaḥ | iti jñānaṁ tathaitasya na tyāgo na graho layaḥ || 2 ||
Translation
I am like the vast ocean, and the universe is like a wave. This is knowledge; therefore there is nothing to renounce, nothing to accept, and nothing to dissolve.
7. Santa
Verse 1
Sanskrit
मय्यनंतमहांभोधौ विश्वपोत इतस्ततः। भ्रमति स्वांतवातेन न ममास्त्यसहिष्णुता॥ 1 ॥
mayyanantamahāṁbhodhau viśvapota itastataḥ | bhramati svāntavātena na mamāstyasahiṣṇutā || 1 ||
Translation
In me, the infinite ocean, the boat of the universe wanders here and there, driven by its own inner wind (of the mind). I have no lack of patience for it.
Verse 2
Sanskrit
मय्यनंतमहांभोधौ जगद्वीचिः स्वभावतः। उदेतु वास्तमायातु न मे वृद्धिर्न च क्षतिः॥ 2 ॥
mayyanantamahāṁbhodhau jagadvīciḥ svabhāvataḥ | udetu vāstamāyātu na me vṛddhirna ca kṣatiḥ || 2 ||
Translation
In me, the infinite ocean, the wave of the world arises or subsides by its own nature. I neither gain nor lose anything.
8. Moksa
Verse 1
Sanskrit
अष्टावक्र उवाच तदा बन्धो यदा चित्तं किन्चिद् वांछति शोचति। किंचिन् मुंचति गृण्हाति किंचिद् हृष्यति कुप्यति॥ 1 ॥
aṣṭāvakra uvāca tadā bandho yadā cittaṁ kiñcid vāñchati śocati | kiñcin muñcati gṛṇhāti kiñcid hṛṣyati kupyati || 1 ||
Translation
Ashtavakra said: It is bondage when the mind desires or grieves for anything, rejects or accepts anything, feels happy or angry at anything.
Verse 2
Sanskrit
तदा मुक्तिर्यदा चित्तं न वांछति न शोचति। न मुंचति न गृण्हाति न हृष्यति न कुप्यति॥ 2 ॥
tadā muktiryadā cittaṁ na vāñchati na śocati | na muñcati na gṛṇhāti na hṛṣyati na kupyati || 2 ||
Translation
It is liberation when the mind neither desires nor grieves, neither rejects nor accepts, neither feels happy nor angry.
Verse 3
Sanskrit
तदा बन्धो यदा चित्तं सक्तं काश्वपि दृष्टिषु। तदा मोक्षो यदा चित्तमसक्तं सर्वदृष्टिषु॥ 3 ॥
tadā bandho yadā cittaṁ saktaṁ kāsvapi dṛṣṭiṣu | tadā mokṣo yadā cittamasaktaṁ sarvadṛṣṭiṣu || 3 ||
Translation
It is bondage when the mind is attached to any perspective. It is liberation when the mind is unattached to all perspectives.
Verse 4
Sanskrit
यदा नाहं तदा मोक्षो यदाहं बन्धनं तदा। मत्वेति हेलया किंचिन्मा गृहाण विमुंच मा॥ 4 ॥
yadā nāhaṁ tadā mokṣo yadāhaṁ bandanaṁ tadā | matveti helayā kiñcinmā gṛhāṇa vimuñca mā || 4 ||
Translation
When there is no “I,” there is liberation. When there is “I,” there is bondage. Considering this, easily neither accept nor reject anything.
9. Nirveda
Verse 3
Sanskrit
अनित्यं सर्वमेवेदं तापत्रयदूषितं। असारं निन्दितं हेयमिति निश्चित्य शाम्यति॥ 3 ॥
anityaṁ sarvamevedaṁ tāpatrayadūṣitaṁ | asāraṁ ninditaṁ heyamiti niścitya śāmyati || 3 ||
Translation
Realizing that everything is transient, defiled by the threefold suffering, essence-less, contemptible, and worthy of being abandoned, one attains peace.
Verse 7
Sanskrit
पश्य भूतविकारांस्त्वं भूतमात्रान् यथार्थतः। तत्क्षणाद् बन्धनिर्मुक्तः स्वरूपस्थो भविष्यसि॥ 7 ॥
paśya bhūtavikārāṁstvaṁ bhūtamātrān yathārthataḥ | tatkṣaṇād bandhanirmuktaḥ svarūpastho bhaviṣyasi || 7 ||
Translation
See the modifications of the elements as being merely the elements in reality. At that very moment, you will be freed from bondage and abide in your own nature.
Verse 8
Sanskrit
वासना एव संसार इति सर्वा विमुंच ताः। तत्त्यागो वासनात्यागात्स्थितिस्त्वमसि यत् तथा॥ 8 ॥
vāsanā eva saṁsāra iti sarvā vimuñca tāḥ | tattyāgo vāsanātyāgāt sthitiradya yathā tathā || 8 ||
Translation
Desires alone are the world; therefore, renounce them all. The renunciation of the world comes from the renunciation of desires. Now, remain as you are.
10. Vairagya
Verse 2
Sanskrit
स्वप्नेन्द्रजालवत् पश्य दिनानि त्रीणि पंच वा। मित्रक्षेत्रधनागारदारदायादिसंपदः॥ 2 ॥
svapnendrajālavat paśya dināni trīṇi pañca vā | mitrakṣetradhanāgāradāradāyādisaṁpadaḥ || 2 ||
Translation
Look upon friends, lands, wealth, houses, wives, and legacies as a dream or a magician’s trick lasting for three or five days.
Verse 3
Sanskrit
यत्र यत्र भवेत्तृष्णा संसारं विद्धि तत्र वै। प्रौढवैराग्यमाश्रित्य वीततृष्णः सुखी भव॥ 3 ॥
yatra yatra bhavettṛṣṇā saṁsāraṁ viddhi tatra vai | prauḍhavairāgyamāśritya vītatṛṣṇaḥ sukhī bhava || 3 ||
Translation
Know that the world exists wherever there is desire. Relying on mature dispassion, become free from desire and be happy.
Verse 4
Sanskrit
तृष्णामात्रात्मको बन्धस्तन्नाशो मोक्ष उच्यते। भवासंसक्तिमात्रेण प्राप्तितुष्टिर्मुहुर्मुहुः॥ 4 ॥
tṛṣṇāmātrātmako bandhastannāśo mokṣa ucyate | bhavāsaṁsaktimātreṇa prāptituṣṭirmuhurmuhuḥ || 4 ||
Translation
Bondage consists only of desire, and its destruction is called liberation. Simply by not being attached to the world, one attains the joy of realization again and again.
11. Cidrupa
Verse 3
Sanskrit
आपदः संपदः काले दैवादेवेति निश्चयी। तृप्तः स्वस्थेन्द्रियो नित्यं न वान्छति न शोचति॥ 3 ॥
āpadaḥ saṁpadaḥ kāle daivādeveti niścayī | tṛptaḥ svasthendriyo nityaṁ na vāñchati na śocati || 3 ||
Translation
One who is certain that adversity and prosperity come in their own time through destiny, is always content, has their senses at ease, and neither desires nor grieves.
Verse 5
Sanskrit
चिन्तया जायते दुःखं नान्यथेहेति निश्चयी। तया हीनः सुखी शान्तः सर्वत्र गलितस्पृहः॥ 5 ॥
cintayā jāyate duḥkhaṁ nānyatheheti niścayī | tayā hīnaḥ sukhī śāntaḥ sarvatra galitaspṛhaḥ || 5 ||
Translation
One who is certain that suffering arises from thought and nothing else here, becomes free from it, happy, peaceful, and with all desires dissolved everywhere.
12. Svabhava
Verse 7
Sanskrit
अचिंत्यं चिंत्यमानोऽपि चिन्तारूपं भजत्यसौ। त्यक्त्वा तद्भावनं तस्माद् एवमेवाहमास्थितः॥ 7 ॥
acintyaṁ cintyamāno’pi cintārūpaṁ bhajatyasau | tyaktvā tadbhāvanaṁ tasmād evamevāhamāsthitaḥ || 7 ||
Translation
Even by thinking about the unthinkable, one adopts a form of thought. Therefore, renouncing that thought, I abide as I am.
14. Isvara
Verse 4
Sanskrit
अंतर्विकल्पशून्यस्य बहिः स्वच्छन्दचारिणः। भ्रान्तस्येव दशास्तास्तास्तादृशा एव जानते॥ 4 ॥
antarvikalpaśūnyasya bahiḥ svacchandacāriṇaḥ | bhrāntasyeva daśāstāstāstādṛśā eva jānante || 4 ||
Translation
Only those like him know the state of one who is free from inner conceptualization, who wanders as he pleases, and who appears to others as if he were deluded.
15. Tattvam
Verse 2
Sanskrit
मोक्षो विषयवैरस्यं बन्धो वैषयिको रसः। एतावदेव विज्ञानं यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु॥ 2 ॥
mokṣo viṣayavairasyaṁ bandho vaiṣayiko rasaḥ | etāvadeva vijñānaṁ yathecchasi tathā kuru || 2 ||
Translation
Liberation is distaste for sense objects, and bondage is the love for them. This is the whole of knowledge; now do as you please.
Verse 6
Sanskrit
सर्वभूतेषु चात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि।
विज्ञाय निरहंकारो निर्ममस्त्वं सुखी भव॥ 6 ॥sarvabhūteṣu cātmānaṁ sarvabhūtāni cātmani | vijñāya nirahaṁkāro nirmamastvaṁ sukhī bhava || 6 ||
Translation
Knowing the Self in all beings and all beings in the Self, be free from egoism and the sense of possession, and be happy.
Verse 7
Sanskrit
विश्वं स्फुरति यत्रेदं तरंगा इव सागरे। तत्त्वमेव न सन्देहश्चिन्मूर्ते विज्वरो भव॥ 7 ॥
viśvaṁ sphurati yatredaṁ taraṅgā iva sāgare | tattvameva na sandehaścinmūrte vijvaro bhava || 7 ||
Translation
That in which this universe manifests like waves in the ocean—that you are, without a doubt. O Embodiment of Consciousness, be free from the fever (of suffering).
Verse 8
Sanskrit
श्रद्धस्व तात श्रद्धस्व नात्र मोहं कुरुष्व भोः। ज्ञानस्वरूपो भगवान् आत्मा त्वं प्रकृतेः परः॥ 8 ॥
śraddhasva tāta śraddhasva nātra mohaṁ kuruṣva bhoḥ | jñānasvarūpo bhagavān ātmā tvaṁ prakṛteḥ paraḥ || 8 ||
Translation
Have faith, my dear, have faith. Do not be deluded in this. You are the Lord, whose nature is knowledge, the Self beyond nature.
Verse 19
Sanskrit
मा सङ्कल्पविकल्पाभ्यां चित्तं क्षोभय चिन्मय। उपशाम्य सुखं तिष्ठ स्वात्मन्यानन्दविग्रहे॥ 19 ॥
mā saṅkalpavikalpābhyāṁ cittaṁ kṣobhaya cinmaya | upaśāmya sukhaṁ tiṣṭha svātmanyānandavigrahe || 19 ||
Translation
O Embodiment of Consciousness, do not agitate the mind with desires and doubts. Be at peace and abide happily in your own Self, which is the embodiment of bliss.
Verse 20
Sanskrit
त्यजैव ध्यानं सर्वत्र मा किंचिद् हृदि धारय। आत्मा त्वं मुक्त एवासि किं विमृश्य करिष्यसि॥ 20 ॥
tyajeva dhyānaṁ sarvatra mā kiñcid hṛdi dhāraya | ātmā tvaṁ mukta evāsi kiṁ vimṛśya kariṣyasi || 20 ||
Translation
Give up meditation everywhere and hold nothing in your heart. You are the Self, already free. What will you gain by thinking?
18. Jivanmukti
Verse 2
Sanskrit
अर्जयित्वाखिलान् अर्थान् भोगानाप्नोति पुष्कलान्। न हि सर्वपरित्याजमन्तरेण सुखी भवेत्॥ 2 ॥
arjayitvākhilān arthān bhogānāpnoti puṣkalān | na hi sarvaparityājamantareṇa sukhī bhavet || 2 ||
Translation
One may earn all kinds of wealth and enjoy many pleasures. But one cannot be truly happy without renouncing everything.
Verse 3
Sanskrit
कर्तव्यदुःखमार्तण्डज्वाला दग्धान्तरात्मनः। कुतः प्रशमपीयूषधारासारमृते सुखम्॥ 3 ॥
kartavyaduḥkhamārtaṇḍajvālā dagdhāntarātmanaḥ | kutaḥ praśamapiyūṣadhārāsāramṛte sukham || 3 ||
Translation
For one whose inner self is scorched by the blazing sun of the pain of duty, how can there be happiness without the downpour of the nectar of peace?
Verse 5
Sanskrit
न दूरं न च संकोचाल्लब्धमेवात्मनः पदं। निर्विकल्पं निरायासं निर्विकारं निरंजनम्॥ 5 ॥
na dūraṁ na ca saṁkocāllabdhamevātmanaḥ padaṁ | nirvikalpaṁ nirāyāsaṁ nirvikāraṁ nirañjanam || 5 ||
Translation
The state of the Self, which is free from conceptualization, effortless, changeless, and untainted, is not far away nor is it attained by restriction; it is already obtained.
Verse 6
Sanskrit
व्यामोहमात्रविरतौ स्वरूपादानमात्रतः। वीतशोका विराजन्ते निरावरणदृष्टयः॥ 6 ॥
vyāmohamātraviratau svarūpādānamātrataḥ | vītaśokā virājante nirāvaraṇadṛṣṭayaḥ || 6 ||
Translation
By the mere cessation of delusion and the mere recognition of one’s own nature, those whose vision is unveiled shine forth, free from sorrow.