Ashtavakra Gita · Verse 3.13 · Ashtavakra speaks
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 this fit to be accepted and that fit to be rejected?
Word by word
स्वभावात्
svabhāvāt
by one's own nature, naturally
compound noun, masculine, ablative singular
Svabhāva — one's own intrinsic nature. The jñānī's knowledge is not acquired from outside but arises naturally from his own being. It is spontaneous, not effortful.
एव
eva
indeed, verily
particle (emphatic)
जानानः
jānānaḥ
knowing, one who knows
present active participle, masculine, nominative singular
दृश्यम्
dṛśyam
the perceived, the visible
gerundive/verbal adjective, neuter, accusative singular
Dṛśya — the perceived object, the seen world. In Advaita, dṛśya is contrasted with draṣṭṛ (seer). The dṛśya is ultimately non-existent (na kiñcana) — the Self alone is existent.
एतत्
etat
this (object of perception)
demonstrative pronoun, neuter, accusative singular
न
na
not
negative particle
किञ्चन
kiñcana
anything (in absolute sense: nothing)
indefinite pronoun
इदम्
idam
this
demonstrative pronoun
ग्राह्यम्
grāhyam
to be accepted, fit to take
gerundive, neuter, nominative
त्याज्यम्
tyājyam
to be rejected, fit to abandon
gerundive, neuter, nominative
सः
saḥ
he
demonstrative pronoun, masculine, nominative singular
किम्
kim
what, why
interrogative pronoun
पश्यति
paśyati
sees
verb, third person singular, present
धीरधीः
dhīradhīḥ
one of steady, firm wisdom
compound noun, masculine, nominative singular