Ashtavakra Gita Chapter 18

aṣṭāvakra uvācha ॥
yasya bōdhōdayē tāvatsvapnavad bhavati bhramaḥ ।
tasmai sukhaikarūpāya namaḥ śāntāya tējasē ॥ 18-1॥

arjayitvākhilān arthān bhōgānāpnōti puṣkalān ।
na hi sarvaparityāgamantarēṇa sukhī bhavēt ॥ 18-2॥

kartavyaduḥkhamārtaṇḍajvālādagdhāntarātmanaḥ ।
kutaḥ praśamapīyūṣadhārāsāramṛtē sukham ॥ 18-3॥

bhavō’yaṃ bhāvanāmātrō na kiñchit paramārthataḥ ।
nāstyabhāvaḥ svabhāvānāṃ bhāvābhāvavibhāvinām ॥ 18-4॥

na dūraṃ na cha saṅkōchāllabdhamēvātmanaḥ padam ।
nirvikalpaṃ nirāyāsaṃ nirvikāraṃ nirañjanam ॥ 18-5॥

vyāmōhamātraviratau svarūpādānamātrataḥ ।
vītaśōkā virājantē nirāvaraṇadṛṣṭayaḥ ॥ 18-6॥

samastaṃ kalpanāmātramātmā muktaḥ sanātanaḥ ।
iti vijñāya dhīrō hi kimabhyasyati bālavat ॥ 18-7॥

ātmā brahmēti niśchitya bhāvābhāvau cha kalpitau ।
niṣkāmaḥ kiṃ vijānāti kiṃ brūtē cha karōti kim ॥ 18-8॥

ayaṃ sō’hamayaṃ nāhamiti kṣīṇā vikalpanā ।
sarvamātmēti niśchitya tūṣṇīmbhūtasya yōginaḥ ॥ 18-9॥

na vikṣēpō na chaikāgryaṃ nātibōdhō na mūḍhatā ।
na sukhaṃ na cha vā duḥkhamupaśāntasya yōginaḥ ॥ 18-10॥

svārājyē bhaikṣavṛttau cha lābhālābhē janē vanē ।
nirvikalpasvabhāvasya na viśēṣō’sti yōginaḥ ॥ 18-11॥

kva dharmaḥ kva cha vā kāmaḥ kva chārthaḥ kva vivēkitā ।
idaṃ kṛtamidaṃ nēti dvandvairmuktasya yōginaḥ ॥ 18-12॥

kṛtyaṃ kimapi naivāsti na kāpi hṛdi rañjanā ।
yathā jīvanamēvēha jīvanmuktasya yōginaḥ ॥ 18-13॥

kva mōhaḥ kva cha vā viśvaṃ kva tad dhyānaṃ kva muktatā ।
sarvasaṅkalpasīmāyāṃ viśrāntasya mahātmanaḥ ॥ 18-14॥

yēna viśvamidaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ sa nāstīti karōtu vai ।
nirvāsanaḥ kiṃ kurutē paśyannapi na paśyati ॥ 18-15॥

yēna dṛṣṭaṃ paraṃ brahma sō’haṃ brahmēti chintayēt ।
kiṃ chintayati niśchintō dvitīyaṃ yō na paśyati ॥ 18-16॥

dṛṣṭō yēnātmavikṣēpō nirōdhaṃ kurutē tvasau ।
udārastu na vikṣiptaḥ sādhyābhāvātkarōti kim ॥ 18-17॥

dhīrō lōkaviparyastō vartamānō’pi lōkavat ।
na samādhiṃ na vikṣēpaṃ na lōpaṃ svasya paśyati ॥ 18-18॥

bhāvābhāvavihīnō yastṛptō nirvāsanō budhaḥ ।
naiva kiñchitkṛtaṃ tēna lōkadṛṣṭyā vikurvatā ॥ 18-19॥

pravṛttau vā nivṛttau vā naiva dhīrasya durgrahaḥ ।
yadā yatkartumāyāti tatkṛtvā tiṣṭhataḥ sukham ॥ 18-20॥

nirvāsanō nirālambaḥ svachChandō muktabandhanaḥ ।
kṣiptaḥ saṃskāravātēna chēṣṭatē śuṣkaparṇavat ॥ 18-21॥

asaṃsārasya tu kvāpi na harṣō na viṣādatā ।
sa śītalamanā nityaṃ vidēha iva rājatē ॥ 18-22॥

kutrāpi na jihāsāsti nāśō vāpi na kutrachit ।
ātmārāmasya dhīrasya śītalāchChatarātmanaḥ ॥ 18-23॥

prakṛtyā śūnyachittasya kurvatō’sya yadṛchChayā ।
prākṛtasyēva dhīrasya na mānō nāvamānatā ॥ 18-24॥

kṛtaṃ dēhēna karmēdaṃ na mayā śuddharūpiṇā ।
iti chintānurōdhī yaḥ kurvannapi karōti na ॥ 18-25॥

atadvādīva kurutē na bhavēdapi bāliśaḥ ।
jīvanmuktaḥ sukhī śrīmān saṃsarannapi śōbhatē ॥ 18-26॥

nānāvichārasuśrāntō dhīrō viśrāntimāgataḥ ।
na kalpatē na jānāti na śṛṇōti na paśyati ॥ 18-27॥

asamādhēravikṣēpān na mumukṣurna chētaraḥ ।
niśchitya kalpitaṃ paśyan brahmaivāstē mahāśayaḥ ॥ 18-28॥

yasyāntaḥ syādahaṅkārō na karōti karōti saḥ ।
nirahaṅkāradhīrēṇa na kiñchidakṛtaṃ kṛtam ॥ 18-29॥

nōdvignaṃ na cha santuṣṭamakartṛ spandavarjitam ।
nirāśaṃ gatasandēhaṃ chittaṃ muktasya rājatē ॥ 18-30॥

nirdhyātuṃ chēṣṭituṃ vāpi yachchittaṃ na pravartatē ।
nirnimittamidaṃ kintu nirdhyāyati vichēṣṭatē ॥ 18-31॥

tattvaṃ yathārthamākarṇya mandaḥ prāpnōti mūḍhatām ।
athavā yāti saṅkōchamamūḍhaḥ kō’pi mūḍhavat ॥ 18-32॥

ēkāgratā nirōdhō vā mūḍhairabhyasyatē bhṛśam ।
dhīrāḥ kṛtyaṃ na paśyanti suptavatsvapadē sthitāḥ ॥ 18-33॥

aprayatnāt prayatnād vā mūḍhō nāpnōti nirvṛtim ।
tattvaniśchayamātrēṇa prājñō bhavati nirvṛtaḥ ॥ 18-34॥

śuddhaṃ buddhaṃ priyaṃ pūrṇaṃ niṣprapañchaṃ nirāmayam ।
ātmānaṃ taṃ na jānanti tatrābhyāsaparā janāḥ ॥ 18-35॥

nāpnōti karmaṇā mōkṣaṃ vimūḍhō’bhyāsarūpiṇā ।
dhanyō vijñānamātrēṇa muktastiṣṭhatyavikriyaḥ ॥ 18-36॥

mūḍhō nāpnōti tad brahma yatō bhavitumichChati ।
anichChannapi dhīrō hi parabrahmasvarūpabhāk ॥ 18-37॥

nirādhārā grahavyagrā mūḍhāḥ saṃsārapōṣakāḥ ।
ētasyānarthamūlasya mūlachChēdaḥ kṛtō budhaiḥ ॥ 18-38॥

na śāntiṃ labhatē mūḍhō yataḥ śamitumichChati ।
dhīrastattvaṃ viniśchitya sarvadā śāntamānasaḥ ॥ 18-39॥

kvātmanō darśanaṃ tasya yad dṛṣṭamavalambatē ।
dhīrāstaṃ taṃ na paśyanti paśyantyātmānamavyayam ॥ 18-40॥

kva nirōdhō vimūḍhasya yō nirbandhaṃ karōti vai ।
svārāmasyaiva dhīrasya sarvadāsāvakṛtrimaḥ ॥ 18-41॥

bhāvasya bhāvakaḥ kaśchin na kiñchid bhāvakōparaḥ ।
ubhayābhāvakaḥ kaśchid ēvamēva nirākulaḥ ॥ 18-42॥

śuddhamadvayamātmānaṃ bhāvayanti kubuddhayaḥ ।
na tu jānanti sammōhādyāvajjīvamanirvṛtāḥ ॥ 18-43॥

mumukṣōrbuddhirālambamantarēṇa na vidyatē ।
nirālambaiva niṣkāmā buddhirmuktasya sarvadā ॥ 18-44॥

viṣayadvīpinō vīkṣya chakitāḥ śaraṇārthinaḥ ।
viśanti jhaṭiti krōḍaṃ nirōdhaikāgrasiddhayē ॥ 18-45॥

nirvāsanaṃ hariṃ dṛṣṭvā tūṣṇīṃ viṣayadantinaḥ ।
palāyantē na śaktāstē sēvantē kṛtachāṭavaḥ ॥ 18-46॥

na muktikārikāṃ dhattē niḥśaṅkō yuktamānasaḥ ।
paśyan śṛṇvan spṛśan jighrannaśnannāstē yathāsukham ॥ 18-47॥

vastuśravaṇamātrēṇa śuddhabuddhirnirākulaḥ ।
naivāchāramanāchāramaudāsyaṃ vā prapaśyati ॥ 18-48॥

yadā yatkartumāyāti tadā tatkurutē ṛjuḥ ।
śubhaṃ vāpyaśubhaṃ vāpi tasya chēṣṭā hi bālavat ॥ 18-49॥

svātantryātsukhamāpnōti svātantryāllabhatē param ।
svātantryānnirvṛtiṃ gachChētsvātantryāt paramaṃ padam ॥ 18-50॥

akartṛtvamabhōktṛtvaṃ svātmanō manyatē yadā ।
tadā kṣīṇā bhavantyēva samastāśchittavṛttayaḥ ॥ 18-51॥

uchChṛṅkhalāpyakṛtikā sthitirdhīrasya rājatē ।
na tu saspṛhachittasya śāntirmūḍhasya kṛtrimā ॥ 18-52॥

vilasanti mahābhōgairviśanti girigahvarān ।
nirastakalpanā dhīrā abaddhā muktabuddhayaḥ ॥ 18-53॥

śrōtriyaṃ dēvatāṃ tīrthamaṅganāṃ bhūpatiṃ priyam ।
dṛṣṭvā sampūjya dhīrasya na kāpi hṛdi vāsanā ॥ 18-54॥

bhṛtyaiḥ putraiḥ kalatraiścha dauhitraiśchāpi gōtrajaiḥ ।
vihasya dhikkṛtō yōgī na yāti vikṛtiṃ manāk ॥ 18-55॥

santuṣṭō’pi na santuṣṭaḥ khinnō’pi na cha khidyatē ।
tasyāścharyadaśāṃ tāṃ tāṃ tādṛśā ēva jānatē ॥ 18-56॥

kartavyataiva saṃsārō na tāṃ paśyanti sūrayaḥ ।
śūnyākārā nirākārā nirvikārā nirāmayāḥ ॥ 18-57॥

akurvannapi saṅkṣōbhād vyagraḥ sarvatra mūḍhadhīḥ ।
kurvannapi tu kṛtyāni kuśalō hi nirākulaḥ ॥ 18-58॥

sukhamāstē sukhaṃ śētē sukhamāyāti yāti cha ।
sukhaṃ vakti sukhaṃ bhuṅktē vyavahārē’pi śāntadhīḥ ॥ 18-59॥

svabhāvādyasya naivārtirlōkavad vyavahāriṇaḥ ।
mahāhrada ivākṣōbhyō gataklēśaḥ suśōbhatē ॥ 18-60॥

nivṛttirapi mūḍhasya pravṛtti-rupajāyatē ।
pravṛttirapi dhīrasya nivṛttiphalabhāginī ॥ 18-61॥

parigrahēṣu vairāgyaṃ prāyō mūḍhasya dṛśyatē ।
dēhē vigalitāśasya kva rāgaḥ kva virāgatā ॥ 18-62॥

bhāvanābhāvanāsaktā dṛṣṭirmūḍhasya sarvadā ।
bhāvyabhāvanayā sā tu svasthasyādṛṣṭirūpiṇī ॥ 18-63॥

sarvārambhēṣu niṣkāmō yaścharēd bālavan muniḥ ।
na lēpastasya śuddhasya kriyamāṇē’pi karmaṇi ॥ 18-64॥

sa ēva dhanya ātmajñaḥ sarvabhāvēṣu yaḥ samaḥ ।
paśyan śṛṇvan spṛśan jighrann aśnannistarṣamānasaḥ ॥ 18-65॥

kva saṃsāraḥ kva chābhāsaḥ kva sādhyaṃ kva cha sādhanam ।
ākāśasyēva dhīrasya nirvikalpasya sarvadā ॥ 18-66॥

sa jayatyarthasannyāsī pūrṇasvarasavigrahaḥ ।
akṛtrimō’navachChinnē samādhiryasya vartatē ॥ 18-67॥

bahunātra kimuktēna jñātatattvō mahāśayaḥ ।
bhōgamōkṣanirākāṅkṣī sadā sarvatra nīrasaḥ ॥ 18-68॥

mahadādi jagaddvaitaṃ nāmamātravijṛmbhitam ।
vihāya śuddhabōdhasya kiṃ kṛtyamavaśiṣyatē ॥ 18-69॥

bhramabhūtamidaṃ sarvaṃ kiñchinnāstīti niśchayī ।
alakṣyasphuraṇaḥ śuddhaḥ svabhāvēnaiva śāmyati ॥ 18-70॥

śuddhasphuraṇarūpasya dṛśyabhāvamapaśyataḥ ।
kva vidhiḥ kva cha vairāgyaṃ kva tyāgaḥ kva śamō’pi vā ॥ 18-71॥

sphuratō’nantarūpēṇa prakṛtiṃ cha na paśyataḥ ।
kva bandhaḥ kva cha vā mōkṣaḥ kva harṣaḥ kva viṣāditā ॥ 18-72॥

buddhiparyantasaṃsārē māyāmātraṃ vivartatē ।
nirmamō nirahaṅkārō niṣkāmaḥ śōbhatē budhaḥ ॥ 18-73॥

akṣayaṃ gatasantāpamātmānaṃ paśyatō munēḥ ।
kva vidyā cha kva vā viśvaṃ kva dēhō’haṃ mamēti vā ॥ 18-74॥

nirōdhādīni karmāṇi jahāti jaḍadhīryadi ।
manōrathān pralāpāṃścha kartumāpnōtyatatkṣaṇāt ॥ 18-75॥

mandaḥ śrutvāpi tadvastu na jahāti vimūḍhatām ।
nirvikalpō bahiryatnādantarviṣayalālasaḥ ॥ 18-76॥

jñānād galitakarmā yō lōkadṛṣṭyāpi karmakṛt ।
nāpnōtyavasaraṃ kartuṃ vaktumēva na kiñchana ॥ 18-77॥

kva tamaḥ kva prakāśō vā hānaṃ kva cha na kiñchana ।
nirvikārasya dhīrasya nirātaṅkasya sarvadā ॥ 18-78॥

kva dhairyaṃ kva vivēkitvaṃ kva nirātaṅkatāpi vā ।
anirvāchyasvabhāvasya niḥsvabhāvasya yōginaḥ ॥ 18-79॥

na svargō naiva narakō jīvanmuktirna chaiva hi ।
bahunātra kimuktēna yōgadṛṣṭyā na kiñchana ॥ 18-80॥

naiva prārthayatē lābhaṃ nālābhēnānuśōchati ।
dhīrasya śītalaṃ chittamamṛtēnaiva pūritam ॥ 18-81॥

na śāntaṃ stauti niṣkāmō na duṣṭamapi nindati ।
samaduḥkhasukhastṛptaḥ kiñchit kṛtyaṃ na paśyati ॥ 18-82॥

dhīrō na dvēṣṭi saṃsāramātmānaṃ na didṛkṣati ।
harṣāmarṣavinirmuktō na mṛtō na cha jīvati ॥ 18-83॥

niḥsnēhaḥ putradārādau niṣkāmō viṣayēṣu cha ।
niśchintaḥ svaśarīrē’pi nirāśaḥ śōbhatē budhaḥ ॥ 18-84॥

tuṣṭiḥ sarvatra dhīrasya yathāpatitavartinaḥ ।
svachChandaṃ charatō dēśān yatrastamitaśāyinaḥ ॥ 18-85॥

patatūdētu vā dēhō nāsya chintā mahātmanaḥ ।
svabhāvabhūmiviśrāntivismṛtāśēṣasaṃsṛtēḥ ॥ 18-86॥

akiñchanaḥ kāmachārō nirdvandvaśChinnasaṃśayaḥ ।
asaktaḥ sarvabhāvēṣu kēvalō ramatē budhaḥ ॥ 18-87॥

nirmamaḥ śōbhatē dhīraḥ samalōṣṭāśmakāñchanaḥ ।
subhinnahṛdayagranthirvinirdhūtarajastamaḥ ॥ 18-88॥

sarvatrānavadhānasya na kiñchid vāsanā hṛdi ।
muktātmanō vitṛptasya tulanā kēna jāyatē ॥ 18-89॥

jānannapi na jānāti paśyannapi na paśyati ।
bruvann api na cha brūtē kō’nyō nirvāsanādṛtē ॥ 18-90॥

bhikṣurvā bhūpatirvāpi yō niṣkāmaḥ sa śōbhatē ।
bhāvēṣu galitā yasya śōbhanāśōbhanā matiḥ ॥ 18-91॥

kva svāchChandyaṃ kva saṅkōchaḥ kva vā tattvaviniśchayaḥ ।
nirvyājārjavabhūtasya charitārthasya yōginaḥ ॥ 18-92॥

ātmaviśrāntitṛptēna nirāśēna gatārtinā ।
antaryadanubhūyēta tat kathaṃ kasya kathyatē ॥ 18-93॥

suptō’pi na suṣuptau cha svapnē’pi śayitō na cha ।
jāgarē’pi na jāgarti dhīrastṛptaḥ padē padē ॥ 18-94॥

jñaḥ sachintō’pi niśchintaḥ sēndriyō’pi nirindriyaḥ ।
subuddhirapi nirbuddhiḥ sāhaṅkārō’nahaṅkṛtiḥ ॥ 18-95॥

na sukhī na cha vā duḥkhī na viraktō na saṅgavān ।
na mumukṣurna vā muktō na kiñchinna cha kiñchana ॥ 18-96॥

vikṣēpē’pi na vikṣiptaḥ samādhau na samādhimān ।
jāḍyē’pi na jaḍō dhanyaḥ pāṇḍityē’pi na paṇḍitaḥ ॥ 18-97॥

muktō yathāsthitisvasthaḥ kṛtakartavyanirvṛtaḥ ।
samaḥ sarvatra vaitṛṣṇyānna smaratyakṛtaṃ kṛtam ॥ 18-98॥

na prīyatē vandyamānō nindyamānō na kupyati ।
naivōdvijati maraṇē jīvanē nābhinandati ॥ 18-99॥

na dhāvati janākīrṇaṃ nāraṇyamupaśāntadhīḥ ।
yathātathā yatratatra sama ēvāvatiṣṭhatē ॥ 18-100॥