Ashtavakra Gita · Verse 5.4 · Ashtavakra speaks

समदुःखसुखः

samaduḥkhasukhaḥ

equal in pain and pleasure

compound adjective, masculine, nominative singular (bahuvrīhi: sama + duḥkha + sukha)

Samaduḥkhasukha — equanimous to both duḥkha (suffering) and sukha (happiness). This equanimity is not suppression but arises naturally from recognizing oneself as the Ātman, which lies beyond all pairs of opposites (dvandvātīta). The three compounds in this verse enumerate the full spectrum of inner and outer opposites that the realized one transcends.

पूर्णः

pūrṇaḥ

perfect, complete, full

adjective, masculine, nominative singular

Pūrṇa — absolute fullness or completeness. The Self is pūrṇa, needing nothing and lacking nothing. The commentary explains that equanimity in opposites arises from knowing oneself as the pūrṇa Ātman. This is the ground from which all four methods of this chapter arise.

समः

samaḥ

equal, equanimous, same

adjective, masculine, nominative singular

Sama — equanimity, the hallmark of the jīvanmukta (one liberated while living). The Bhagavad Gītā also repeats sama as the defining quality of the sthitaprajña (one of steady wisdom). Here it appears twice, framing the verse and reinforcing that inner equality is the condition for laya.

समजीवितमृत्युः

samajīvitamṛtyuḥ

equal in life and death

compound adjective, masculine, nominative singular (bahuvrīhi: sama + jīvita + mṛtyu)

Samajīvitamṛtyu — equanimous toward both jīvita (life) and mṛtyu (death). This is the final pair, the most existential duality. The commentary notes that we are affected by life and death only so long as we consider ourselves other than the Self. Knowing the Ātman as undying, one transcends the fear of death and the attachment to life.

लयम्

layam

dissolution, absorption

noun, masculine, accusative singular