Aṣṭāvakra Saṃhitā
A Dialogue on Self-realization
Chapter 1, Verse 15
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Ashtavakra Gita 1.15 - Teachings on Self-Realization and Liberation
नि:सङ्गो निष्क्रियोऽसि त्वं स्वप्रकाशो निरञ्जन: ।
अयमेव हि ते बन्ध: समाधिमनुतिष्ठसि
niḥsaṅgo niṣkriyo’si tvaṃ svaprakāśo nirañjanaḥ .
ayam-eva hi te bandhaḥ samādhim-anutiṣṭhasi .. 1-15..
You are free of clinging, free of activity, self-revealing, devoid of any blemish. This alone is your bondage, that you pursue samadhi, inner soul-absorption.
Commentary by Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
Seekers have a craving for gaining samadhi, not knowing clearly what samadhi is. They generally know that samadhi is an inner state wherein one gets absorbed into himself, to the exclusion of all contact and touch.
Sage Ashtavakra questions this. If you are the Self, already, what samadhi can you conceive of? Does Self need any samadhi? Why seek it then? If samadhi is for the mind and intelligence, both you are not. They are like the body, which you are not. Even if mind attains samadhi, what of it to you? It is like the neighbour becoming rich, not you.
And about you? Do you need samadhi at all? Maharshi again reminds Janaka what the king verily is! “You are”, says he, “free of all clinging, saṅga. To what will you foster saṅga? Is there anything besides you? So clinging becomes a misnomer, myth. Do not think of it at all.
“You have no activity of any kind. Activity is for the body and the rest, which you are not. Neither are you acting, nor does any action touch you, because of your transparent fulfilled nature. So there is no bondage at all for you. Why then seek samadhi to make you free, liberated? No stain or blemish for you, because you are so subtle, spiritual and all-pervading. No object can touch or involve you at all.
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