Ashtavakra Gita · Verse 4.5 · Janaka speaks
Of the four kinds of created beings from Brahma down to the clump of grass, it is the wise one alone who is truly capable of renouncing desire and aversion.
Word by word
आब्रह्मस्तम्बपर्यन्ते
ābrahmastambaparyante
from Brahmā to the clump of grass
compound noun (ā + brahma + stamba + paryanta), masculine, locative singular
भूतग्रामे
bhūtagrāme
in the aggregate of created beings
compound noun (bhūta + grāma), masculine, locative singular
चतुर्विधे
caturvidhe
of four kinds
compound adjective (catur + vidha), masculine, locative singular
The four kinds (caturvidha) of created beings are: Jarayuja (womb-born), Aṇḍaja (egg-born), Svedaja (sweat/moisture-born), and Udbhijja (sprout/earth-born). These four categories encompass the entire span of sentient and insentient life.
विज्ञस्य
vijñasya
of the truly wise one
adjective used as noun, masculine, genitive singular
vijña (fully knowing, having direct discrimination) goes beyond prajña (intellectual wisdom) to denote the one whose knowledge is liberating and experiential — jñāna that has dissolved the sense of separate selfhood. This is the reason why only the jñānī can truly and completely relinquish icchā and anicchā, since for all others the root of desire (avidyā) remains.
एव
eva
alone, only
emphatic indeclinable particle
हि
hi
indeed, surely
emphatic particle
सामर्थ्यम्
sāmarthyam
capability, power, capacity
abstract noun, neuter, nominative singular
इच्छानिच्छाविवर्जने
icchānicchāvivarjane
in the relinquishing of desire and aversion
compound noun (icchā + anicchā + vivarjana), neuter, locative singular
icchā (desire/attraction) and anicchā (its opposite, aversion/repulsion) are the fundamental dvandva (pair of opposites) that constitutes bondage. They arise from avidyā (ignorance of the true Self). Only the vijña, having dissolved this ignorance at its root, can truly transcend both — not merely suppress them through will-power.