Aṣṭāvakra Saṃhitā
A Dialogue on Self-realization
Chapter 18, Verse 12
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Ashtavakra Gita 18.12 -
क्व धर्म: क्व च वा काम: क्व चार्थ: क्व विवेकिता ।
इदं कृतमिदं नेति द्वन्द्वैर्मुक्तस्य योगिन:
kva dharmaḥ kva ca vā kāmaḥ kva cārthaḥ kva vivekitā .
idaṃ kṛtamidaṃ neti dvandvairmuktasya yoginaḥ .. 18-12..
For the yogi liberated from the dual notions of ‘this is done’ and ‘this is not done’, where is anything like dutifulness (dharma), where comes any need for prosperity (artha), where is any enjoyment (kāma)? And where is any place for discrimination (viveka) either?
Commentary by Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
Spirituality is the science and pursuit of oneness, the supreme Truth, the homogenous Self. This is persuaded by the transitory nature of the entire world as well as the myriad objects in it, which equally come under dvandvas, pairs of opposites. Yes, the world is no more than dvandvas, their conglomeration.
To rise above transitoriness, thus means to transcend dvandvas as a whole. Oneness, by its very nature, means non-dualness. It does not allow any second factor or presence. What is then the relevance for all dual notions like right and wrong, to be done and not to be done, to be gained and not to be gained? Only when you have something to be striven for, the question of abiding by some disciplines and norms arises. If your quest is to know and realize the supreme Truth of oneness, why get tied down to do and don’t, prohibition and injunction, preference and prejudice? All become equally irrelevant.
Saying thus, the seeker is not going to be lavish, exuberant or licentious. He needs no wealth, has no desires to fulfil. His only yearning is for his own Self within. In what way can he transgress anything or harm anyone? It is excellence of purity and desirelessness that guides him in all he thinks, speaks and does. It irresistibly displays freedom, purity, innocence and benevolence.
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