Ashtavakra Gita · Verse 1.9 · Ashtavakra speaks
Burn down the forest of ignorance with the fire of the conviction 'I am the One Pure Awareness', and be free from grief and be happy.
Word by word
एकः
ekaḥ
one, the sole reality
adjective, masculine, nominative singular
One — because nothing exists except the Self. There is no second thing.
विशुद्धबोधः
viśuddhabodhaḥ
pure awareness, perfectly clear consciousness
compound noun (vi + śuddha + bodha), masculine, nominative singular
Viśuddha-bodha: Pure — self-effulgent, not contaminated by the not-Self as object. Our ordinary consciousness is impure in that it always has an object.
अहम्
aham
I
pronoun, nominative singular
निश्चय
niścaya
certainty, firm conviction, resolution
noun, masculine (compound member)
वह्निना
vahninā
with fire, by means of fire
noun, masculine, instrumental singular
प्रज्वाल्य
prajvālya
having kindled, having set ablaze
absolutive (gerund), pra + jval
अज्ञानगहनम्
ajñānagahanam
the dense forest of ignorance
compound noun (ajñāna + gahana), neuter, accusative singular
The forest metaphor: as one cannot find one's way in a dense forest, so ignorance (avidyā) obstructs the vision of Truth.
वीतशोकः
vītaśokaḥ
free from grief, beyond sorrow
compound adjective (vīta + śoka), masculine, nominative singular
सुखी
sukhī
happy
adjective, masculine, nominative singular
भव
bhava
be!
verb, imperative 2nd person singular, bhū