Aṣṭāvakra Saṃhitā
A Dialogue on Self-realization
Chapter 17, Verse 9
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Ashtavakra Gita 17.9 -
शून्या दृष्टिर्वृथा चेष्टा विकलानीन्द्रियाणि च ।
न स्पृहा न विरक्तिर्वा क्षीणसंसारसागरे
śūnyā dṛṣṭir-vṛthā ceṣṭā vikalānīndriyāṇi ca .
na spṛhā na viraktir-vā kṣīṇa-saṃsāra-sāgare .. 17-9..
One in whom the sea of worldliness is dried up, has a care-free look, objective-less action, un-functional senses. He has neither desire nor dispassion.
Commentary by Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
The Sage continues to describe the inner fullness and contentment of the Knower, who naturally becomes free of all concerns and cares. Ocean of worldliness has dried up for the Knower. Nothing outside can cause any emotional urge or any resulting activity in him. Contentment he carries is full, incessant, unconditional on all accounts. Can anything take away the brilliance and heat from fire? He finds nothing around which can cause any desire, dislike or delusion in him. Entire objectude has become virtually extinct.
An object becomes so only when it is able to create in you its influence in the form of attraction, repulsion and the like. In the absence of these, objects cease to be objects. Interactions with them having no effect in the Knower at all, his senses virtually become unfunctional.
There is for him neither desire nor dependence on anything outside. He has no dislike or dispassion either. Only in the background of liking and passion, disliking and dispassion can be relevant. Inner contentment and fulfilment are so abundant for the Knower that he finds nothing to add to them.
Self and the ceaseless bliss emanating from it are so profuse that he is filled to the full. If he delights, it is in his own mind and intelligence, which reflect the ecstasy and abundance of the Self. When one’s mind is freed from all links to the world and its objects, experience of Self-bliss is irresistible!
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