Aṣṭāvakra Saṃhitā
A Dialogue on Self-realization
Chapter 19, Verse 1
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Ashtavakra Gita 19.1 -
एकोनविंशोऽध्याय:
जनक उवाच ।
तत्त्वविज्ञानसन्दंशमादाय हृदयोदरात् ।
नानाविधपरामर्शशल्योद्धार: कृतो मया
ekonaviṃśo’dhyāyaḥ –
janaka uvāca ..
tattva-vijñāna-sandaṃśam-ādāya hṛdayodarāt .
nānā-vidha-parāmarśa-śalyoddhāraḥ kṛto mayā .. 19-1..
Taking the tongs of the knowledge of supreme Truth, I have extracted from the heart’s cavity the thorn of plural views and assessments.
Commentary by Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
Unlike our body and all the gross world objects our senses perceive, the Self is totally invisible. It is subtle, inner, hence incomparable. We can only hear about it from the scriptures and Teachers. With the help of their words of description, we have to reflect assiduously upon the presence, nature and expressions of the Self and comprehend their essence. In this process, clarity and definiteness may remain elusive. It is arduous in a way.
As already mentioned (9.5 ), the views of Seers, Yogins and Siddhas in this regard are very diverse. The diversity invariably leads to doubts and vacillations. Overcoming all these, the seeker has to arrive at clarity, as king Janaka mentions here.
The divergent views and propositions will be pricking the seeker’s heart like a thorn. Till by gaining clarity, he is able to overcome and eliminate doubts, questions and indecisions completely, the agony of the heart will continue. To extract the thorn, what we have is again knowledge and the process of knowing. With sharpness and discernment, the seeker has to employ viveka alone as a pair of tongs, enter into the heart’s cavity and extract the thorn carefully. In the ultimate analysis, the mind has to be grief-free, and the intelligence doubt-free.
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