Ashtavakra Gita · Verse 16.3 · Ashtavakra speaks
All are unhappy because they exert themselves. But none knows this. The blessed one attains emancipation through this very instruction.
Word by word
आयासात्
āyāsāt
from exertion, effort
noun, masculine, ablative singular
All exertion presupposes desire, the desire to attain what is not yet possessed; desire, whether satisfied or unsatisfied, is the cause of misery.
सकलः
sakalaḥ
everyone, all
adjective, nominative singular
दुःखी
duḥkhī
miserable
adjective, nominative singular
न
na
not
particle
एनं
enaṃ
this
pronoun, accusative singular
जानाति
jānāti
knows
verb, present 3rd singular
कश्चन
kaścana
anyone
pronoun, nominative singular
अनेन
anena
by this
pronoun, instrumental singular
एव
eva
alone, very
particle
उपदेशेन
upadeśena
instruction
noun, masculine, instrumental singular
This instruction alone is enough: one who eradicates the desires that are the spring of action becomes inwardly inactive and attains Self-knowledge.
धन्यः
dhanyaḥ
the blessed one
adjective, nominative singular
प्राप्नोति
prāpnoti
attains
verb, present 3rd singular
निर्वृतिम्
nirvṛtim
emancipation, bliss
noun, feminine, accusative singular