Ashtavakra Gita · Verse 2.21 · Janaka speaks
O, I do not find any duality. Even the multitude of human beings has therefore become like a wilderness. What should I attach myself to?
Word by word
अहो
aho
O!
interjection
जनसमूहे
janasamūhe
in the multitude of people
compound noun, masculine, locative singular
अपि
api
even
particle
न
na
not
negative particle
द्वैतम्
dvaitam
duality
noun, neuter, accusative singular
Dvaita = duality; the perception of 'other' that disappears when the Self is seen as the only reality in all forms.
पश्यतः
paśyataḥ
of one who sees
present participle, genitive singular
मम
mama
my
pronoun, genitive singular
अरण्यम्
araṇyam
forest, wilderness
noun, neuter, nominative singular
Araṇya = wilderness; a metaphor for the feeling of absolute aloneness in the non-dual state — there is no 'other' to relate to.
इव
iva
like, as if
indeclinable
संवृत्तम्
saṃvṛttam
become
past passive participle, neuter, nominative singular
क्व
kva
where, to what
indeclinable interrogative
रतिम्
ratim
attachment, delight
noun, feminine, accusative singular
करवाणि
karavāṇi
should I do, can I attach
verb, optative, 1st person singular
अहम्
aham
I
pronoun, nominative singular