aṣṭāvakra gītā is a direct advaita dialogue that aims to remove the most persistent human confusion: taking the changing body-mind to be the whole of "I". It does not deny the world of experience; it denies the claim that the world can define, improve, or threaten the Self.
In the previous chapters, this recognition has been prepared in multiple ways. Chapter 1 points janaka to the witness while warning against attachment to viṣayas. Chapters 2-4 express recognition and then mature it into lived freedom. Chapters 5-9 emphasize laya (dissolution of false identification), the irrelevance of grasping and renouncing for the Self, a psychological definition of bondage, and the dropping of vāsanās through nirvēda.
Seen as a whole, Chapter 11 is a chapter of "settled mind." It shows how clarity becomes peace: seeing change as natural, seeing the divine order behind events, and seeing the Self as awareness rather than as body. As conviction deepens, hopes and cravings drop, worry is recognized as self-made, and the mind becomes galita-spṛhā - free of hungry grasping.
aṣṭāvakra uvācha ॥
bhāvābhāvavikāraścha svabhāvāditi niśchayī ।
nirvikārō gataklēśaḥ sukhēnaivōpaśāmyati ॥ 11-1॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Ashtavakra said: One who is firmly convinced that appearing, disappearing, and change are simply nature becomes inwardly undisturbed; sorrow drops away, and the mind settles easily.
īśvaraḥ sarvanirmātā nēhānya iti niśchayī ।
antargalitasarvāśaḥ śāntaḥ kvāpi na sajjatē ॥ 11-2॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
One who is firmly convinced that the Lord is the creator of all and that there is nothing else here becomes peaceful; all expectations dissolve within, and such a person clings to nothing anywhere.
āpadaḥ sampadaḥ kālē daivādēvēti niśchayī ।
tṛptaḥ svasthēndriyō nityaṃ na vāñChati na śōchati ॥ 11-3॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
One who is firmly convinced that hardships and successes arrive in time by destiny becomes content and steady; such a person neither craves nor grieves.
sukhaduḥkhē janmamṛtyū daivādēvēti niśchayī ।
sādhyādarśī nirāyāsaḥ kurvannapi na lipyatē ॥ 11-4॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
One who is firmly convinced that pleasure and pain, birth and death unfold by destiny, and who clearly sees what can be done, acts without inner strain and is not bound even while acting.
chintayā jāyatē duḥkhaṃ nānyathēhēti niśchayī ।
tayā hīnaḥ sukhī śāntaḥ sarvatra galitaspṛhaḥ ॥ 11-5॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
One who is firmly convinced that suffering arises here because of worry (and not otherwise), and who is free of that worry, becomes happy and peaceful, with craving dissolved everywhere.
nāhaṃ dēhō na mē dēhō bōdhō'hamiti niśchayī ।
kaivalyamiva samprāptō na smaratyakṛtaṃ kṛtam ॥ 11-6॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
One who is firmly convinced "I am not the body, nor is the body mine; I am awareness" lives as if having attained liberation, and does not dwell on what was done or not done.
ābrahmastambaparyantamahamēvēti niśchayī ।
nirvikalpaḥ śuchiḥ śāntaḥ prāptāprāptavinirvṛtaḥ ॥ 11-7॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
One who is firmly convinced "I alone am all, from Brahma down to a blade of grass" becomes free of division, pure and peaceful, at rest whether something is attained or not.
nānāścharyamidaṃ viśvaṃ na kiñchiditi niśchayī ।
nirvāsanaḥ sphūrtimātrō na kiñchidiva śāmyati ॥ 11-8॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
One who is firmly convinced, "This universe is full of wonders, yet it is nothing as a separate reality," becomes free of tendencies; resting as pure awareness, the mind settles as if nothing.
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