Ashtavakra Gita/Ashtavakreeyam – Chapter - 8 & 9

 

Ashtavakra Gita/Ashtavakreeyam – Chapter - 8

Chapter -8 –  Bandham and Moksham

Sage Ashtavakra speaks “ Oh! Rajan, I shall describe the nature of ‘Bandham’/bondage, if the mind desires for something or grieve over something or abandoning something or wedged on something, or feeling happy about something or feeling angry about something. Oh! Rajan, the nature of Moksha is the mind is free from desires, and grief or free from abandoning something or wedge on something,  feeling extremely happy about something or feeling angry about something. Oh! Rajan, when the mind is get wedged with the Indhriya is Bandham, the mind free from the attachment towards any of the sense organ is Moksham. Oh! Rajan, the absence of ‘I’ consciousness is Moksha, and the sense of ‘I’ consciousness/mine, me, and myself/ in the Jeeva is Bandham. Oh! Rajan,  you have profound knowledge of Bandha and Moksha, therefore do not get attached or abandon anything.

 

Ashtavakra Gita/Ashtavakreeyam – Chapter - 9

Chapter -9 –  Nirvedhashtakam

 

Sage Ashtavakra speaks “Oh! Rajan, Karththavya/duties and responsibilities, Akarththavya/deeds which are unwarranted, and the sense of duality have no end in the life of the Jeeva. Therefore, after achieving thorough knowledge in it, remain yourself Viraktha/ free from happiness and sorrow, respect and disrespect, gain and loss, etc. and free yourself from the performance of Vratha and austerities to achieve the fruit of it, and remain self-sacrificing. Oh! Thatha, after witnessing the diversified matters in the Universe, who has lost interest in taking pleasure in it and wanted to know more about it, who is free from a curiosity?, it is not possible for all the Jeeva to refrain from worldly matters and bondage, only a few could achieve success in it.  Oh! Rajan, whatever you are seeing is a mere illusion, full of impurities with the Thrividha Thapa/Adhideivika, Adhibhauthika and Adhyathmika.  The Prakrithi is not permanent; it has no value and should be abandoned for good of the Jeeva. The interest in worldly matters and bondage causes Thrividhathapa, attachments to people, fame, money, wealth, status, possession, have fleeting nature,  these have no permanent life, it has to undergo constant transformation and ruin. The Prakrithi is destructible and the Purusha/Paramathma who resides as a soul in us is indestructible. Oh! Rajan, I shall describe the Thrividhathapa in detail, 1) Adhibhauthika is the grief caused by the attachment to people, 2) Adhyathmika is the impurities within the Jeeva, Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Madha, Moha, and Masthcharya, and 3) Adhideivika is the afflictions caused by natural calamities, epidemic, earthquake, famine, hurricane, thunderstorms, etc. Oh! Rajan, Jeeva is not free from the sense of Dhvandha/duality, Jeeva takes pleasure in the material matters without the knowledge of the ‘self’/Paramathma in it, swollen with ‘I ‘consciousness/me, myself and mine, chases after the worldly pleasure, eventually forgets to experience that supreme consciousness which is absolute bliss. The Jeeva who abandon interest in worldly matters and bondage realizes the presence of ‘Paramathma’ within it, and remain free from afflictions.  Oh! Rajan, the Sajjanas, Yogis and Maharishis have different opinions about it; the one who has achieved the knowledge of the all-pervasive supreme Bhramam would remain serene.  The Jeeva who understands the nature of Prakrithi as destructible and the supreme soul as Purusha/Paramathma is supreme bliss and indestructible, achieves Virakthi, sense of Oneness in All, and Yukthi, and they easily cross the unfathomable ocean of worldly existence.  The ignorant Jeeva who is attached to worldly matters, possessions, people, wealth, fame, richness, etc. that has impermanent nature would lead a miserable life, finally hurl themselves into the cycles of repeated births. Oh! Rajan, the Universe, and its living beings are made of essential five elements, which are Earth, Ether, Air, Water, and Fire that has fleeting nature. The knowledge of the impermanent nature of Prakrithi is enough to keep you free from all the Bandha/bondage. It would keep you attach to the supreme Bhramam resides as a soul in you, in this way you could achieve Mukthi instantly. Oh! Rajan, the collections of attributes is the Samsara, abandon all those Vasana/attributes/Trigunas/Swathik, Rajasik and Tamasik nature, with the abandonment of Vasana/impurities, you will achieve the abandonment of Samsara as well.

 

Ashtavakra Uvacha –

Thadha Bandho Yadha Chiththam Kimchith Vanchathi Shochathi | Kimchin Munjjathi Grihnathi Kimchith Dhrishyathi Kupyathi ||

 

Thadha  Mukthir Yadha  Chiththam Na  Vanchathi Na Shochathi | Na Munchathi Na Grihnathi Na Hrishyathi  Na Kupyathi ||

 

Thadha Bandho Yadha Chiththam Saktham Kasvapi Dhrishtishu | Thadha  Moksho Yadha  Chiththamasaktham Sarva Dhrishtishu ||

 

Yadha Naham Thadha Moksho Yadhaham Bandhanam Thadha | Mathvethi Helaya Kinchinma Grihana Vimuncha  Ma ||

 

Ashtavakra Gita/Ashtavakreeyam – Chapter - 9

Chapter -9 –  Nirvedhashtakam

Ashtavakra Uvacha –

Krithakrithe  Cha Dhvandhani Kadha Shanthani Kasya Va | Yevam Jjathveha Nirvedhadh Bhava  Thyagaparoavrathi ||

 

Kasyapi Thatha Dhanasya  Lokacheshta Avalokanath | Jeevitheshcha  Bubhuksha  Cha  Bubhuthsopashama:  Gatha: ||

 

Anithyam Sarvamevedam ThapathrithaYadhooshitham | Asaram Nindhitham Heyamithi Nishchithya Shamyathi ||

 

Koasau Kalo Vaya: Kim Va  Yathra Dhvandhavani No Nrinam | Thanyupekshya Yadha Prathavarthi Sidhdhimavapnuyath ||

 

Nana Matham Maharsheenam Sadhoonam Yoginam  Thadha | Dhrishtva  Nirvedamapanna: Ko Na  Shamyathi Manava: ||

 

Krithva Moorthi Parijjanam Chaithanyasya Na Kim Guru: | Nirvedha Samathayukthya  Yastharayathi Samsrithe: ||

 

Pashya Bhootha  Vikaramsthvam Bhootha Mathran Yadharthatha: | Thath Kshanath Bandha Nirmuktha: Swaroopastho Bhavishyasi ||

 

Vasana Yeva Samsara  Ithi  Sarva  Vimuncha  Tha: | Thaththyago Vasana Thyagath Sthithiradhya Yadha Thadha ||