Ashtavakra Gita · Verse 2.22 · Janaka speaks
Neither am I this body, nor am I embodied. I am not Jīva; I am Chit. This indeed was my bondage — that I had thirst for life.
Word by word
न
na
not
negative particle
अहम्
aham
I
pronoun, nominative singular
देहः
dehaḥ
the body
noun, masculine, nominative singular
न
na
not
negative particle
मे
me
my
pronoun, genitive singular
देहः
dehaḥ
body
noun, masculine, nominative singular
जीवः
jīvaḥ
the individual self
noun, masculine, nominative singular
Jīva = the finite individual self, the ātman as apparently limited by upādhis (body, mind, ego); not to be confused with the pure Self.
न
na
not
negative particle
अहम्
aham
I
pronoun, nominative singular
अहम्
aham
I
pronoun, nominative singular
हि
hi
indeed
particle
चित्
cit
pure consciousness
noun, neuter, nominative singular (also used as indeclinable)
Cit = pure consciousness; the second element of the Brahman formula sat-cit-ānanda (existence-consciousness-bliss).
अयम्
ayam
this
pronoun, masculine, nominative singular
एव
eva
indeed
particle
हि
hi
indeed, truly
particle
मे
me
my
pronoun, genitive singular
बन्धः
bandhaḥ
bondage
noun, masculine, nominative singular
आसीत्
āsīt
was
verb, 3rd person singular, imperfect
या
yā
which (desire)
pronoun, feminine, nominative singular
जीविते
jīvite
in life
noun, neuter, locative singular
स्पृहा
spṛhā
thirst, craving
noun, feminine, nominative singular
Spṛhā = craving or longing; the desire to live (jīvita-spṛhā) is itself bondage because it implies identifying with the perishable body-mind rather than the deathless Self.