Ashtavakra Gita · Verse 1.3 · Ashtavakra speaks
You are neither earth, nor water, nor fire, nor air, nor ether. In order to attain liberation, know the Self as the witness of all these and as Consciousness itself.
Word by word
पृथ्वी
pṛthvī
earth (one of the five elements)
noun, feminine, nominative singular
जलम्
jalam
water
noun, neuter, nominative singular
अग्निः
agniḥ
fire
noun, masculine, nominative singular
वायुः
vāyuḥ
air
noun, masculine, nominative singular
द्यौः
dyauḥ
ether, sky (the fifth element, ākāśa)
noun, masculine, nominative singular
साक्षिणम्
sākṣiṇam
witness, the pure witness-consciousness
noun, masculine, accusative singular
The Self is eternally distinct from body and mind as their Witness. It is never an object but always the subject — pure Consciousness itself.
आत्मानम्
ātmānam
the Self
noun, masculine, accusative singular
चिद्रूपम्
cidrūpam
whose nature is pure Consciousness
compound noun (cit + rūpa), neuter, accusative singular
Cit: pure self-luminous Consciousness, the essential nature of the ātman, as opposed to the reflected consciousness of the mind.
विद्धि
viddhi
know, realize
verb, imperative 2nd person singular, vid
मुक्तये
muktaye
for liberation, for the purpose of liberation
noun, feminine, dative singular