Vivekachudamani: Characteristics of a Jivanmukta

A Jīvanmukta is one who has attained liberation while still residing in the physical body. These verses describe the process of achieving this state and the internal characteristics of such a realized soul.

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1. The Process of Liberation

The path to Jīvanmukti involves the systematic cessation of identification and desire.

Verse 317: The Sequence of Cessation

Sanskrit

क्रियानाशे भवेच्चिन्तानाशोऽस्माद्वासनाक्षयः ।
वासनाप्रक्षयो मोक्षः सा जीवन्मुक्तिरिष्यते ॥ ३१७ ॥

Transliteration

kriyānāśe bhaveccintānāśo’smādvāsanākṣayaḥ | vāsanāprakṣayo mokṣaḥ sā jīvanmuktiriṣyate || 317 ||

Translation

With the cessation of selfish action the brooding on the sense-objects is stopped, which is followed by the destruction of desires. The destruction of desires is Liberation, and this is considered as Liberation-in-life.

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2. The State of the Jivanmukta

The Jivanmukta remains in the world but is not of it, maintaining a unique state of awareness.

Verse 429: Alert yet Merged

Sanskrit

लीनधीरपि जागर्ति जाग्रद्धर्मविवर्जितः ।
बोधो निर्वासनो यस्य स जीवन्मुक्त इष्यते ॥ ४२९ ॥

Transliteration

līnadhīrapi jāgarti jāgraddharmavivarjitaḥ |
bodho nirvāsano yasya sa jīvanmukta iṣyate || 429 ||

Translation

He who, even having his mind merged in Brahman, is nevertheless quite alert, but free at the same time from the characteristics of the waking state, and whose realisation is free from desires, is accepted as a man liberated-in-life.

Verse 430: Free from Anxiety

Sanskrit

शान्तसंसारकलनः कलावानपि निष्कलः ।
यस्य चित्तं विनिश्चिन्तं स जीवन्मुक्त इष्यते ॥ ४३० ॥

Transliteration

śāntasaṃsārakalanaḥ kalāvānapi niṣkalaḥ |
yasya cittaṃ viniścintaṃ sa jīvanmukta iṣyate || 430 ||

Translation

He whose cares about the phenomenal state have been appeased, who, though possessed of a body consisting of parts, is yet devoid of parts, and whose mind is free from anxiety, is accepted as a man liberated-in-life.

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Index: Vivekachudamani