Ashtavakra Gita · Verse 3.4 · Ashtavakra speaks
Even after hearing oneself to be Pure Consciousness and surpassingly beautiful, how can one be attached to lust and thus become unclean?
Word by word
श्रुत्वा
śrutvā
having heard
verb, gerund
अपि
api
even, although
particle
शुद्धचैतन्य
śuddhacaitanya
Pure Consciousness
compound noun, neuter, accusative singular (also used as vocative address implied)
Śuddha-caitanya — pure, spotless consciousness, the essential nature of the ātman. Self-knowledge and lust cannot coexist: he who has known the Self as pure and beautiful cannot find any other thing attractive.
आत्मानम्
ātmānam
the Self
noun, masculine, accusative singular
अतिसुन्दरम्
atisundaram
surpassingly beautiful
adjective, accusative singular
उपस्थे
upasthe
in lust, in the generative instinct
noun, masculine/neuter, locative singular
अत्यन्तसंसक्तः
atyantasaṃsaktaḥ
deeply, utterly attached
compound adjective, masculine, nominative singular
मालिन्यम्
mālinym
impurity, uncleanliness
noun, neuter, accusative singular
Lust creates and increases body-consciousness and is an unclean condition of mind. It clouds spiritual consciousness.
अधिगच्छति
adhigacchati
attains, reaches
verb, third person singular, present