Ashtavakra Gita/Ashtavakreeyam – Chapter -3
Chapter -3 – Shishya Gnanapareeksha 1 - 14
Ashtavakra speaks “ Oh! Rajan, you are
extremely valorous and have profound knowledge of the supreme Bhramam which is indestructible
and has no duality, after all these how did you get interested in achieving the
wealth? Oh! Rajan, it is surprising to note that the Jeeva chasing after the seashell
yearning for silver, in the same manner, without the knowledge of supreme
Bhramam which resides as a soul in living beings, the ignorant Jeeva chasing
after material pleasure and well-being. The Jeeva does not know about the
splendor supreme Bhramam like a vast ocean, and its wave causes to begin the
Universe out of it, without the knowledge of the presence of that supreme Bhramam
as a soul in it, the Jeeva miserably chases after the pleasures. The Jeeva does
not have the knowledge of the presence of supreme soul/Paramathma in it, which
has pure nature; it is the essence of wisdom, and bliss, and still chases after
lustful desires and gets tarnished, eventually the Jeeva who find excessive
interest in physical pleasures gets impure. Alas! The ascetic who has profound
knowledge of that all-pervasive Bhramam is source of the function of Karma,
Gnana Indhriyas, mind, intellect, and
Ahamkara, also get hurled into an interest
in worldly matters and ‘I’ consciousness. Alas! Intellectuals who have profound knowledge
of Adhvaitha strives for Moksha, and Purusharththa also gets pushed to lustful
desires and engages in the amorous sports. Alas! The weak and elderly person who
has a thorough understanding of the Kama which is the enemy of the Jeeva, still
yearn for that physical pleasures. Alas! The Jeeva who has no interest in the
pleasures of Ihaloka and Paraloka, Jeeva who has a thorough understanding of
destructible Prakrithi and indestructible Purusha, the Jeeva who yearn for
Moksha all these days gets scared of Moksha. The Sadhaka who did not achieve
profound Gnana, Vairagya, and Mumukshthvam, often fall for lustful desires and
Moksha becomes fearful to them. The Sadhaka who has achieved profound
knowledge in Paramarththa Thaththva, Vairagya, and Bhakti, will not react to
the situations of happiness or sorrow, grace or disgrace, gain or loss. They
experience themselves as the supreme Bhramam which is free from afflictions;
therefore they neither get happy nor unhappy. The Jeeva who have Vivekam,
Vairgraya and Mumukshthvam, will not have the ‘body consciousness’, therefore
they do not react to respect or disrespect. The Jeevanmuktha who considers the
Universe as the Maya of the supreme Purusha, will not have any interest in
worldly matters and bondage while leaving the mortal coil will not have the
fear of death. There is no comparison for Jeeva who does not yearn for Moksha,
self-satisfied with the knowledge of Paramarththa and contented, they remain
incomparable always. The Jeeva who has a thorough knowledge of destructible
Prakrithi and indestructible Purusha/supreme soul/Paramathma/Parambhramam/, will
not have any reservations, or they will not have specific things to achieve or
abandon. The Jeeva who has abandoned the Bhogavishaya/interest in worldly
matters and bondage, the Jeeva who has grown beyond grief and happiness, Jeeva
who has no desires, will not dramatize to the situations of happiness or grief.”
Ashtavakra Uvacha -
Avinashinamathmanam Yekam Vijjaya
Thaththvatha: | Thavathmajjyanasya Dheerasya
Kathamarththarjane Rathi: ||
Athmagnanadhaho Preethir Vishaya Bhrama Gochare | Shuktherajjanatho
Lobho Yadha Rajatha Vibhrame ||
Vishwam Spurathi Yathredham Tharanga Iva Sagare | Soahamasmeethi Vijjaya Kim
Dheena Iva Dhavasi ||
Shruthvapi Shudhdha Chaithanya Athmanam
Athisundaram | Upasthe Athyantha Samsaktho Malinyam Adhigacchathi ||
Sarvabhootheshu Chathmanam Sarvabhoothani
Chathmani | Munerjanatha Ashcharyam Mamathvam Anuvarththathe ||
Asthitha: Paramadhvaitham Mokshartheapi
Vyavasthitha: | Ashcharyam Kamavashago Vikala: Kelishikshaya ||
Udhbhootham Gnana Dhurmithramavadharya
Athidhurbala : | Ashcharyam Kamamakamksheth
Kalamanthamanushritha: ||
Ihamuthra Virakthasya Nithyanithya Vivekina: | Ashcharyam Moksha
Kamasya Mokshadh Yeva
Vibheeshika ||
Dheerasthu Bhojyamanoapi Peedyamanoapi
Sarvadha | Athmanam Kevalam Pashyan Na Thushyathi Na Kupyathi ||
Cheshtamanam Shareeram Swam Pashyathyanya
Shareeravath | Samsthave Chapi Nindhayam Kadham Kshubhyeth Mahashaya: ||
Mayamathramidham Vishwam Pashyan Vigatha
Kauthuka: | Api Sannihithe Mrithyau
Kadham Thrasyathi Dheeradhi: ||
Ni:spruham Manasam Yasya Nairashyeapi Mahathmana: | Thasyathma Gnana
Thripthasya Thulana Kena Jayathe ||
Swabhavadh Yeva Janano Dhrishyamethan Kimchana | Idham
Grahyamidham Thyajyam Sa Kim Pashyathi Dheeradhi: ||
Amthasthyaktha Kashayasya Nirdhvandhasya Nirashisha : | Yadhrishchayagatho Bhogo Na
Dhukhaya Na Thushtaye ||
