Aṣṭāvakra Saṃhitā
A Dialogue on Self-realization
Chapter 18, Verse 51
Order Now 
Ashtavakra Gita 18.51 -
अकर्तृत्वमभोक्तृत्वं स्वात्मनो मन्यते यदा ।
तदा क्षीणा भवन्त्येव समस्ताश्चित्तवृत्तय:
akartṛtvam-abhoktṛtvaṃ svātmano manyate yadā .
tadā kṣīṇā bhavanty-eva samastāś-citta-vṛttayaḥ .. 18-51..
When one considers the non-doer-ship and non-experiencer-hood of the Self, all modifications of the mind become weak and fall.
Commentary by Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
The entire spiritual science as well as pursuit rests upon the fundamental concept of the Soul, which is totally different from the body. This means that Soul is immortal, while the body is mortal. When body is born, the Soul is not, as it is distinct from the body.
Body is incessantly active. The Soul is not acting at all, hence not subject to any kind of result brought by actions of the body, mind, intelligence or ego.
Get into a boat. When the boatman drives it, the boat starts moving. The shore with the trees standing on it are seen to move. But are they moving or the boat is? Similarly, the sun rises on the east and gradually moves towards the west and sets. Is the sun moving or the earth? Is not the earth’s movement attributed to the sun? We are not able to see the earth’s motion.
As long as oneself is different from his body, whatever the body does will not apply to him, the Self. In the same manner, whatever the mind and intelligence do also do not fall on the Self, which is distinct from them.
Judge matters on the basis of this non-acting Self, which you are. When this knowledge and identification with the Self become deep and wholesome, all mento-intellectual modifications get orphaned and fall.
Always and everywhere the unaffected Self alone is. It is a wonderful state of freedom, fullness and abundance!
Select Chapter and Verse
