Aṣṭāvakra Saṃhitā
A Dialogue on Self-realization
Chapter 13
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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.
त्रयोदशोऽध्याय: –
जनक उवाच ।
अकिञ्चनभवं स्वास्थ्यं कौपीनत्वेऽपि दुर्लभम् ।
त्यागादाने विहायास्मादहमासे यथासुखम्
trayodaśo’dhyāyaḥ –
janaka uvāca ..
akiñcana-bhavaṃ svāsthyaṃ kaupīnatve’pi durlabham .
tyāgādāne vihāyāsmād-aham-āse yathā-sukham .. 13-1..
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.
कुत्रापि खेद: कायस्य जिह्वा कुत्रापि खिद्यते ।
मन: कुत्रापि तत्त्यक्त्वा पुरुषार्थे स्थित: सुखम्
kutrāpi khedaḥ kāyasya jihvā kutrāpi khidyate .
manaḥ kutrāpi tat-tyaktvā puruṣārthe sthitaḥ sukham .. 13-2..
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.
कृतं किमपि नैव स्यादिति सञ्चिन्त्य तत्त्वत: ।
यदा यत्कर्तुमायाति तत्कृत्वासे यथासुखम्
kṛtaṃ kimapi naiva syād-iti sañcintya tattvataḥ .
yadā yat-kartumāyāti tat-kṛtvāse yathā-sukham .. 13-3..
Thinking that in truth nothing at all is done, and doing physically whatever comes to be done whenever, I live happily.
कर्मनैष्कर्म्यनिर्बन्धभावा देहस्थयोगिन: ।
संयोगायोगविरहादहमासे यथासुखम्
karma-naiṣkarmya-nirbandha-bhāvā dehastha-yoginaḥ .
saṃyogāyoga-virahād-aham-āse yathā-sukham .. 13-4..
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.
अर्थानर्थौ न मे स्थित्या गत्या न शयनेन वा ।
तिष्ठन्गच्छन्स्वपन्तस्मादहमासे यथासुखम्
arthānarthau na me sthityā gatyā na śayanena vā .
tiṣṭhan-gacchan-svapan-tasmād-aham-āse yathā-sukham .. 13-5..
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.
स्वपतो नास्ति मे हानि: सिद्धिर्यत्नवतो न वा ।
नाशोल्लासौ विहायास्मादहमासे यथासुखम्
svapato nāsti me hāniḥ siddhir-yatnavato na vā .
nāśollāsau vihāyāsmād-aham-āse yathāsukham .. 13-6..
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.
सुखादिरूपा नियमं भावेष्वालोक्य भूरिश: ।
शुभाशुभे विहायास्मादहमासे यथासुखम्
sukhādirūpā niyamaṃ bhāveṣvālokya bhūriśaḥ .
śubhāśubhe vihāyāsmād-aham-āse yathā-sukham .. 13-7..
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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