Aṣṭāvakra Saṃhitā
A Dialogue on Self-realization
Chapter 13
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Ashtavakra Gita Chapter 13 – King Janaka’s Life Beyond Possession, Action and Dvandvas
Ashtavakra Gita Chapter 13 – Commentary by Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
Chapter 13 presents King Janaka describing the rare state of Self-seatedness. Even for an ascetic, such abidance born of non-possession is difficult to attain. Therefore, abandoning both renunciation and acceptance, he rests comfortably in his own inner Consciousness.
The body, mind, intelligence and senses are always subject to trouble and torment. Remaining indifferent to them and free from the sense of doership, the knower becomes Self-seated. Janaka declares that he is indifferent to action or inaction and rests in his own luminous Self. Knowing that the Self is untouched by activity, he remains calm in the inner expanse.
He states that nothing is lost in sleep nor gained through wakeful activity. Having disposed of all notions, he abides restfully in the Self. Rising above dualities such as sukha and duhkha, auspicious and inauspicious, he remains established in the blissful Self.
Complete List of Verses in Ashtavakra Samhita Chapter 13
Ashtavakra Samhita 13.1 Abandon the concepts of renunciation and acceptance
त्रयोदशोऽध्याय: –
जनक उवाच ।
अकिञ्चनभवं स्वास्थ्यं कौपीनत्वेऽपि दुर्लभम् ।
त्यागादाने विहायास्मादहमासे यथासुखम् ॥ १३.१ ॥
Ashtavakra Gita 13.1: English Transliteration
trayodaśo’dhyāyaḥ –
janaka uvāca ।
akiñcana-bhavaṃ svāsthyaṃ kaupīnatve’pi durlabham ।
tyāgādāne vihāyāsmād-aham-āse yathā-sukham ॥13.1॥
Ashtavakra Gita 13.1: Translation
Janaka said: Even for an ascetic wearing but a loin cloth, Self-seatedness born of non-possession is very rare. Therefore, leaving the concepts of renunciation and acceptance alike, I live comfortably in my own inner Consciousness.
Ashtavakra Samhita 13.2 Be Indifferent to bodily, sensory and mental plights
कुत्रापि खेद: कायस्य जिह्वा कुत्रापि खिद्यते ।
मन: कुत्रापि तत्त्यक्त्वा पुरुषार्थे स्थित: सुखम् ॥ १३.२ ॥
Ashtavakra Gita 13.2: English Transliteration
kutrāpi khedaḥ kāyasya jihvā kutrāpi khidyate ।
manaḥ kutrāpi tat-tyaktvā puruṣārthe sthitaḥ sukham ॥13.2॥
Ashtavakra Gita 13.2: Translation
Somewhere in the body is pain; somewhere is dissatisfaction in the tongue; somewhere the mind is in torment. So, leaving all these, I get deeply seated in the (fourth) object of human pursuit, moksha, liberation.
Ashtavakra Samhita 13.3 Do Whatever Comes Naturally and Be Established Within
कृतं किमपि नैव स्यादिति सञ्चिन्त्य तत्त्वत: ।
यदा यत्कर्तुमायाति तत्कृत्वासे यथासुखम् ॥ १३.३ ॥
Ashtavakra Gita 13.3: English Transliteration
kṛtaṃ kimapi naiva syād-iti sañcintya tattvataḥ ।
yadā yat-kartumāyāti tat-kṛtvāse yathā-sukham ॥13.3॥
Ashtavakra Gita 13.3: Translation
Thinking that in truth nothing at all is done, and doing physically whatever comes to be done whenever, I live happily.
Ashtavakra Samhita 13.4 Beyond Action and Inaction
कर्मनैष्कर्म्यनिर्बन्धभावा देहस्थयोगिन: ।
संयोगायोगविरहादहमासे यथासुखम् ॥ १३.४ ॥
Ashtavakra Gita 13.4: English Transliteration
karma-naiṣkarmya-nirbandha-bhāvā dehastha-yoginaḥ ।
saṃyogāyoga-virahād-aham-āse yathā-sukham ॥13.4॥
Ashtavakra Gita 13.4: Translation
Yogis, for whom body is the refuge, are bound by concepts of action and inaction. Being free from such thoughts of association and separation, I comfortably repose in my Self.
Ashtavakra Samhita 13.5 "I" am not affected by any activity
अर्थानर्थौ न मे स्थित्या गत्या न शयनेन वा ।
तिष्ठन्गच्छन्स्वपन्तस्मादहमासे यथासुखम् ॥ १३.५ ॥
Ashtavakra Gita 13.5: English Transliteration
arthānarthau na me sthityā gatyā na śayanena vā ।
tiṣṭhan-gacchan-svapan-tasmād-aham-āse yathā-sukham ॥13.5॥
Ashtavakra Gita 13.5: Translation
By staying, going or lying I contract no good or evil. Therefore, I comfortably sit, move and sleep, and am restful in my own inner spiritual expanse.
Ashtavakra Samhita 13.6 No Loss in Sleep, No Gain in Activity
स्वपतो नास्ति मे हानि: सिद्धिर्यत्नवतो न वा ।
नाशोल्लासौ विहायास्मादहमासे यथासुखम् ॥ १३.६ ॥
Ashtavakra Gita 13.6: English Transliteration
svapato nāsti me hāniḥ siddhir-yatnavato na vā ।
nāśollāsau vihāyāsmād-aham-āse yathāsukham ॥13.6॥
Ashtavakra Gita 13.6: Translation
By sleeping I do not have any loss or adversity, and by wakeful exertion, I have no gain either. So, discreetly relinquishing loss and excitement, I restfully abide in my own singular depth.
Ashtavakra Samhita 13.7 Trancend Duality and Rest in your Own Within
सुखादिरूपा नियमं भावेष्वालोक्य भूरिश: ।
शुभाशुभे विहायास्मादहमासे यथासुखम् ॥ १३.७ ॥
Ashtavakra Gita 13.7: English Transliteration
sukhādirūpā niyamaṃ bhāveṣvālokya bhūriśaḥ ।
śubhāśubhe vihāyāsmād-aham-āse yathā-sukham ॥13.7॥
Ashtavakra Gita 13.7: Translation
Noticing repeatedly the indefinite nature of happiness and unhappiness in different circumstances, relinquishing the ideas of auspiciousness and inauspiciousness, I am comfortably poised in unconditioned blissfulness.
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