Ashtavakra Gita · Verse 3.8 · Ashtavakra speaks
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 who longs for emancipation, should fear emancipation itself.
Word by word
इह
iha
here, in this world
adverb
अमुत्र
amutra
there, in the next world
adverb
विरक्तस्य
viraktasya
of one who is unattached, detached
adjective, masculine, genitive singular
Virakta — one who has achieved vairāgya, dispassion. The suffix -tasya (genitive) marks this as characterizing the subject throughout the verse.
नित्यानित्यविवेकिनः
nityānityavivekinaḥ
of one who discriminates the eternal from the transient
compound noun, masculine, genitive singular
Nityānityaviveka — discriminating the eternal (nitya) from the transient (anitya). This viveka is the first of the four qualifications (sādhanacatuṣṭaya) for Vedantic inquiry.
आश्चर्यम्
āścaryam
strange, how wonderful
noun, neuter, nominative singular
मोक्षकामस्य
mokṣakāmasya
of one who longs for liberation
compound noun, masculine, genitive singular
Mokṣa-kāma — one who desires liberation. The irony: craving liberation while fearing it reveals subtle attachment to individuality. Cf. Māṇḍūkya Kārikā.
मोक्षात्
mokṣāt
from liberation
noun, masculine, ablative singular
Mokṣa — liberation, freedom. The fear of mokṣa arises from clinging to one's illusory individuality; liberation would mean the dissolution of the separate ego.
एव
eva
indeed, very
particle (emphatic)
विभीषिका
vibhīṣikā
fear, terror
noun, feminine, nominative singular