Aṣṭāvakra Saṃhitā
A Dialogue on Self-realization
Chapter 13, Verse 1
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Ashtavakra Gita 13.1 -
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.
Commentary by Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
Mind constantly produces ideas, which, in turn, brings emotions. Emotions are various, and ideas are multiple. Even the world we perceive and interact with, is nothing but ideas and imaginations mind produces and intelligence processes!
Like the computer working on 0 and 1, everything mind does revolves around sukha and duḥkha. The outcome of all our interactions also is only two – sukha or duḥkha. Happiness as well as unhappiness is not outside our body. Our own senses on contacting the objects generate the five sensations of sound, touch, taste, colour and smell. If this is all we can have, then why the craze for possessing or non-possessing anything additional? Is it not unnecessary?
Is physical non-possession possible even for an ascetic, wearing but a loin cloth? Therefore, the wise course will be to abandon ideas of both renouncing and accepting. When the mind becomes free and one rises above will or wish, he attains real composure.
It is a wonder that the mind agitated ceaselessly by assorted world objects, can cultivate such discretion and dispassion comfortably to be restful in its own spiritual depth and majesty.
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