Aṣṭāvakra Saṃhitā
A Dialogue on Self-realization
Chapter 18, Verse 89
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Ashtavakra Gita 18.89 -
सर्वत्रानवधानस्य न किञ्चिद्वासना हृदि ।
मुक्तात्मनो वितृप्तस्य तुलना केन जायते
sarvatrānavadhānasya na kiñcid-vāsanā hṛdi .
muktātmano vitṛptasya tulanā kena jāyate .. 18-89..
No desire sprouts in the heart of one, who cares for nothing everywhere. With whom can such a liberated soul, contented in full, be compared?
Commentary by Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
When will people think that the way for contentment is not to turn to the perishable objects of the world that surround them?
Contentment is a quality of the pure mind. For mind to become pure and serene, association with objects is a clear hindrance. Every object is inert and hence incapable of generating an emotion like contentment or joy. The senses too, made up of the pañca-bhūtas, which are inert, are equally ineffective for the purpose. Where is the scope then for the mind to be contented from the external world and objects?
Krishna warns in his Gita dialogue that if one dwells upon any object consistently, he will soon generate a delusional clinging towards it. Clinging is sure to evoke a strong desire, passion, to possess the object. When object is denied, it unleashes hatred. Hatred injects delusion, resulting in forgetfulness, which robs discretion and consequently follows total destruction (Gita 2.62,63 ).
As against this, shine the incomparable stability and poise of the Knower. He fosters no care for anything anywhere, not to speak of his desire-freeness at all.
For him liberation or redemption is not a goal or attainment. The Self is non-dual and by its very nature unconditioned and unassailable in every way. This makes him contented in full.
With whom can such an enlightened one be compared?
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