Ashtavakra Gita · Verse 1.19 · Ashtavakra speaks
Just as a mirror exists within and all around the image reflected in it, so the Supreme Lord exists inside and outside this body.
यथैवादर्शमध्यस्थे रूपेऽन्तः परितस्तु सः ।तथैवाऽस्मिन् शरीरेऽन्तः परितः परमेश्वरः ॥ १-१९॥
yathaivādarśamadhyasthe rūpe'ntaḥ paritas tu saḥ |tathāivā'smin śarīre'ntaḥ parataḥ parameśvaraḥ ||1-19||
Word by word
यथैव
yathaiva
just as, even as
indeclinable comparative particle
आदर्श
ādarśa
mirror
noun, masculine (compound member)
रूपे
rūpe
in the image, in the form
noun, neuter, locative singular
अन्तः
antaḥ
inside, within
indeclinable adverb
परितः
paritaḥ
all around, outside
indeclinable adverb
परमेश्वरः
parameśvaraḥ
the Supreme Lord, the ultimate Reality
compound noun (parama + īśvara), masculine, nominative singular
The image in a mirror has no real existence — only the mirror exists. Body, mind etc. are similarly superimposed on the Self and cannot affect it, as a reflection cannot affect the mirror.
शरीरे
śarīre
in this body
noun, neuter, locative singular