Chapter
3
Ashtavakra
Knowing
yourself as truly one and indestructible,
how could a wise man possessing
self-knowledge like you feel any pleasure
in acquiring wealth? 3.1
Truly,
when one does not know oneself, one takes
pleasure in the objects of mistaken
perception, just as greed arises for the
mistaken silver in one who does not know
mother of pearl for what it is. 3.2
All
this wells up like waves in the sea.
Recognising, þI am Thatþ, why run around
like someone in need? 3.3
After
hearing of oneself as pure consciousness
and the supremely beautiful, is one to go
on lusting after sordid sexual objects?
3.4
When
the sage has realised that he himself is
in all beings, and all beings are in him,
it is astonishing that the sense of
individuality should be able to continue.
3.5
It
is astonishing that a man who has reached
the supreme non-dual state and is intent
on the benefits of liberation should still
be subject to lust and held back by sexual
activity. 3.6
It
is astonishing that one already very
debilitated, and knowing very well that
its arousal is the enemy of knowledge
should still hanker after sensuality, even
when approaching his last days. 3.7
It
is astonishing that one who is unattached
to the things of this world or the next,
who discriminates between the permanent
and the impermanent, and who longs for
liberation, should still feel fear for
liberation. 3.8
Whether
feted or tormented, the wise man is always
aware of his supreme self-nature and is
neither pleased nor disappointed. 3.9
The
great souled person sees even his own body
in action as if it were some-one else's,
so how should he be disturbed by praise or
blame? 3.10
Seeing
this world as pure illusion, and devoid of
any interest in it, how should the
strong-minded person, feel fear, even at
the approach of death? 3.11
Who
is to be compared to the great souled
person whose mind is free of desire even
in disappointment, and who has found
satisfaction in self-knowledge? 3.12
How
should a strong-minded person, who knows
that what he sees is by its very nature
nothing, consider one thing to be grasped
and another to be rejected? 3.13
For
someone who has eliminated attachment, and
who is free from dualism and from desire,
an object of enjoyment that comes of
itself is neither painful nor pleasurable.
3.14
Swami Veet Chintan T'Zorba-Krsna
Jyotish
Shastracharya
& Vedic Astrologer of India
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