Chapter 3 · Test of Disciple's Self-Realization

Verse 3.1 · Ashtavakra

“Having known yourself as truly indestructible and one, how is it that you, serene and knower of Self, feel attached to the acquisition of…”

avināśinam ātmānam ekaṃ vijñāya tattvataḥ…

Verse 3.2 · Ashtavakra

“Alas, as greed arises from the illusion of silver caused by the ignorance of mother-of-pearl, even so arises the attachment to the objects…”

ātmājñānād aho prītir viṣayabhramagocаre…

Verse 3.3 · Ashtavakra

“Having known yourself to be That in which the universe appears like waves on the sea, why do you run about like a miserable being?”

viśvaṃ sphurati yatreidaṃ taraṅgā iva sāgare…

Verse 3.4 · Ashtavakra

“Even after hearing oneself to be Pure Consciousness and surpassingly beautiful, how can one be attached to lust and thus become unclean?”

śrutvāpi śuddhacaitanya ātmānam atisundaram…

Verse 3.5 · Ashtavakra

“It is strange that the sense of ownership should continue even in the sage who has realized the Self in all beings and all beings in the…”

sarvabhūteṣu cātmānaṃ sarvabhūtāni cātmani…

Verse 3.6 · Ashtavakra

“Strange that, abiding in supreme non-duality and intent on liberation, one should yet be subject to lust and be unsettled by the practice…”

āsthitaḥ paramādvaitaṃ mokṣārthe'pi vyavasthitaḥ…

Verse 3.7 · Ashtavakra

“It is strange that knowing lust to be an enemy of Knowledge, one who has grown extremely weak and reached one's last days, should yet be…”

udbhūtaṃ jñānadurmitram avadhāryātidurbalaḥ…

Verse 3.8 · Ashtavakra

“It is strange that one who is unattached to the objects of this world and the next, who discriminates the eternal from the transient and…”

ihāmutra viraktasya nityānityavivekinaḥ…

Verse 3.9 · Ashtavakra

“But feted and feasted or tormented, the serene person ever sees the absolute Self and is thus neither gratified nor angry.”

dhīrastu bhojyamāno'pi pīḍyamāno'pi sarvadā…

Verse 3.10 · Ashtavakra

“The high-souled person witnesses his own body acting as if it were another's. As such, how can he be disturbed by praise or blame?”

ceṣṭamānaṃ śarīraṃ svaṃ paśyaty anyaśarīravat…

Verse 3.11 · Ashtavakra

“Realizing this universe as mere illusion and losing all interest therein, how can one of steady mind fear even the approach of death?”

māyāmātram idaṃ viśvaṃ paśyan vigatakatukaḥ…

Verse 3.12 · Ashtavakra

“With whom can we compare that great-souled one, contented with the knowledge of Self, whose mind is desireless even in disappointment?”

niḥspṛhaṃ mānasaṃ yasya nairāśye'pi mahātmanaḥ…

Verse 3.13 · Ashtavakra

“Why should that steady-minded one who knows, by one's own nature, the object of perception to be nothing in an absolute sense, consider…”

svabhāvād eva jānāno dṛśyam etan na kiñcana…

Verse 3.14 · Ashtavakra

“He who has given up worldly attachment from his mind, who is beyond the pairs of opposites, and who is free from desire — to him any…”

antastyaktakaṣāyasya nirdvandvasya nirāśiṣaḥ…