Aṣṭāvakra Saṃhitā
A Dialogue on Self-realization
Chapter 6
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This chapter presents King Janaka responding to Sage Ashtavakra’s instruction to dissolve everything arising in the mind and intelligence. Janaka reveals his deep realization that he is infinite and indivisible like space, and vast like the ocean in which the world appears as waves. Because of this understanding, he finds nothing to accept, reject or dissolve.
Janaka recognizes the fictitious nature of the world and affirms that pure Consciousness alone truly exists. All else is its illusory display. Seeing the Self as present everywhere, he understands that no acceptance, rejection or dissolution is called for.
The world itself is only a perception arising through Consciousness. Through its inscrutable power, Consciousness displays the manifold universe without real physicality or independent causation. All objects arise in Consciousness, exist within it and are pervaded by it.
Just as dream objects are in the dreamer, and the dreamer is present in the dream objects, so too objects are in the Self as much as the Self is in the objects displayed. Everything inheres in Consciousness alone.
षष्ठोऽध्याय: –
जनक उवाच ।
आकाशवदनन्तोऽहं घटवत् प्राकृतं जगत् ।
इति ज्ञानं तथैतस्य न त्यागो न ग्रहो लय:
ṣaṣṭho’dhyāyaḥ –
janaka uvāca ..
ākāśavad-ananto’haṃ ghaṭavat prākṛtaṃ jagat .
iti jñānaṃ tathaitasya na tyāgo na graho layaḥ .. 6-1..
Janaka said: I am infinite like space. The world is like a jar. This indeed is true knowledge. Therefore, there is no question of accepting, renouncing or dissolving anything at all.
महोदधिरिवाहं स प्रपञ्चो वीचिसन्निभ: ।
इति ज्ञानं तथैतस्य न त्यागो न ग्रहो लय:
mahodadhir-ivāhaṃ sa prapañco vīci-sannibhaḥ .
iti jñānaṃ tathaitasya na tyāgo na graho layaḥ .. 6-2..
I am like the huge ocean. And the world is like waves in its expanse. This being my knowledge, neither is abandonment nor acceptance nor dissolution called for.
अहं स शुक्तिसङ्काशो रूप्यवद्विश्वकल्पना ।
इति ज्ञानं तथैतस्य न त्यागो न ग्रहो लय:
ahaṃ sa śukti-saṅkāśo rūpyavad-viśva-kalpanā .
iti jñānaṃ tathaitasya na tyāgo na graho layaḥ .. 6-3..
I am the mother of pearl, reflecting the universe in me. The world is but the imagined silver in me. This is my knowledge. Where does leaving, accepting or dissolving arise? Can one do anything about an unreal presence, a mere superimposition?
अहं वा सर्वभूतेषु सर्वभूतान्यथो मयि ।
इति ज्ञानं तथैतस्य न त्यागो न ग्रहो लय:
ahaṃ vā sarva-bhūteṣu sarva-bhūtāny-atho mayi .
iti jñānaṃ tathaitasya na tyāgo na graho layaḥ .. 6-4..
I am present in all beings, and all beings are in me. This indeed is true knowledge. Therefore, there is no relevance for abandonment, acceptance or destruction or dissolution.
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