Ashtavakra says: He has
attained the fruits of Knowledge and Yoga both, who is content, is of purified
senses, and always enjoys his solitude. 1
The knower of truth is never
troubled by anything in this world, for the whole world is completely pervaded
by that Brahma (Lord) alone. 2
None of the senses can please
a man, who is established in Self, just as Neem leaves do not please the
elephant that likes Sallaki leaves. 3
Such man is rare who is not
attached to the pleasures enjoyed, and does not desire pleasures which are
unattained. 4
People desirous of worldly
pleasures are seen and people desirous of liberation are also seen in this
world. But one who is indifferent to both of these desires is really rare. 5
Only few great souls are
free from attachment and repulsion to righteousness, wealth, desires, liberation,
life and death. 6
He neither desires end of
this world, nor despise its continued existence. He lives the life as it is,
feeling content and grateful. 7
Blessed by this knowledge,
subsiding intelligence in Self, they stay content even in seeing, hearing,
touching and eating. 8
Keeping their gaze
unoccupied, having stilled the tendency of their senses, they have no
attachment or aversion for this feeble world. 9
Aha! in that supreme state,
where there is no wakening, no sleep, no opening or closing of eyes, rarely
someone with liberated consciousness stays. 10
Always established in self,
with stainless intent everywhere, free from all the desires, such a liberated
man always shines. 11
Even in, seeing, hearing,
feeling, smelling, eating, taking, speaking, walking, desiring and not desiring
such a great soul basically does nothing. 12
He neither blames nor
praises, he neither gives nor takes. Indifferent from all these he is free in
every way. 13
One who remains unperturbed
on seeing women with desire or death, established in self, that noble man is
liberated. 14
For such a man with
patience, pleasure and pain, men and women, success and failure are alike. For
him everything is equivalent. 15
In a person free from
attachment for this world, there is neither aggression nor submissiveness,
neither pride nor lowliness, neither surprise nor agitation. 16
Liberated man neither
dislikes sense gratification nor likes them, hence he remains unperturbed in
their achievement and non-achievement. 17
Beyond doubts and solutions,
good and bad, a person with still mind, remains established in self. 18
A man who is free from
attachment, free of ego, with a definitive view of non-existence of this
visible world, even while doing does not do anything. 19
Having attained a state of
mind which is devoid of delusion, dream and inertia and full of light, one
should discard all mental desires. 20