ਅਸ਼੍ਟਾਵਕ੍ਰ ਗੀਤਾ is a 20-chapter dialogue of direct ਅਦ੍ਵੈਤ that repeatedly turns attention from changing experiences to the changeless witness. Its verses are short, but they aim at something practical: ending the inner compulsion to grasp, resist, and constantly defend an identity. When that compulsion drops, life is still lived - but lived with far less fear, comparison, and self-made suffering.
In the previous chapters, the dialogue has steadily refined what freedom means. Chapters 1-4 establish the witness standpoint (ਸਾਕ੍ਸ਼ੀ) and show that dispassion is not dryness but freedom from addiction to ਵਿਸ਼ਯs. Chapters 5-15 keep dissolving doership and mental fixation: the teacher warns against craving and status, and then points to a growing ease where effort, inner argument, and even spiritual ambition fall away.
Seen as a whole, Chapter 17 is a portrait of the "ordinary miracle" of freedom: a mind that is not pushed around by pleasure and fear, praise and blame, gain and loss. It does not say the wise become inactive; it says their actions are no longer fueled by craving, and their reactions no longer build a self-story.
ਅਸ਼੍ਟਾਵਕ੍ਰ ਉਵਾਚ ॥
ਤੇਨ ਜ੍ਞਾਨਫਲਂ ਪ੍ਰਾਪ੍ਤਂ ਯੋਗਾਭ੍ਯਾਸਫਲਂ ਤਥਾ ।
ਤ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਪ੍ਤਃ ਸ੍ਵਚ੍ਛੇਂਦ੍ਰਿਯੋ ਨਿਤ੍ਯਮੇਕਾਕੀ ਰਮਤੇ ਤੁ ਯਃ ॥ 17-1॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
The one who is content, with clear senses and an inward solitude, naturally delights. For such a one, the true fruits of knowledge and practice are already attained.
ਨ ਕਦਾਚਿਜ੍ਜਗਤ੍ਯਸ੍ਮਿਨ੍ ਤਤ੍ਤ੍ਵਜ੍ਞੋ ਹਂਤ ਖਿਦ੍ਯਤਿ ।
ਯਤ ਏਕੇਨ ਤੇਨੇਦਂ ਪੂਰ੍ਣਂ ਬ੍ਰਹ੍ਮਾਂਡਮਂਡਲਮ੍ ॥ 17-2॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
The knower of truth is never inwardly distressed in this world, because they see the entire universe as pervaded and completed by the One reality.
ਨ ਜਾਤੁ ਵਿਸ਼ਯਾਃ ਕੇਪਿ ਸ੍ਵਾਰਾਮਂ ਹਰ੍ਸ਼ਯਂਤ੍ਯਮੀ ।
ਸਲ੍ਲਕੀਪਲ੍ਲਵਪ੍ਰੀਤਮਿਵੇਭਂ ਨਿਂਬਪਲ੍ਲਵਾਃ ॥ 17-3॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
Sense-objects can never truly delight the one who delights in the Self. It is like offering neem leaves to an elephant that enjoys more tender shoots.
ਯਸ੍ਤੁ ਭੋਗੇਸ਼ੁ ਭੁਕ੍ਤੇਸ਼ੁ ਨ ਭਵਤ੍ਯਧਿਵਾਸਿਤਃ ।
ਅਭੁਕ੍ਤੇਸ਼ੁ ਨਿਰਾਕਾਂਕ੍ਸ਼ੀ ਤਾਦ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਸ਼ੋ ਭਵਦੁਰ੍ਲਭਃ ॥ 17-4॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
Rare is the person who is not inwardly "stained" by pleasures after enjoying them, and who does not crave the pleasures not yet enjoyed.
ਬੁਭੁਕ੍ਸ਼ੁਰਿਹ ਸਂਸਾਰੇ ਮੁਮੁਕ੍ਸ਼ੁਰਪਿ ਦ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਸ਼੍ਯਤੇ ।
ਭੋਗਮੋਕ੍ਸ਼ਨਿਰਾਕਾਂਕ੍ਸ਼ੀ ਵਿਰਲੋ ਹਿ ਮਹਾਸ਼ਯਃ ॥ 17-5॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
In this world we can see seekers of pleasure and seekers of liberation. But rare indeed is the great-souled one who craves neither enjoyment nor liberation.
ਧਰ੍ਮਾਰ੍ਥਕਾਮਮੋਕ੍ਸ਼ੇਸ਼ੁ ਜੀਵਿਤੇ ਮਰਣੇ ਤਥਾ ।
ਕਸ੍ਯਾਪ੍ਯੁਦਾਰਚਿਤ੍ਤਸ੍ਯ ਹੇਯੋਪਾਦੇਯਤਾ ਨ ਹਿ ॥ 17-6॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
For the noble-minded one, there is no compulsive "accept this / reject that" even regarding duty, gain, pleasure, liberation, life, or death.
ਵਾਂਛਾ ਨ ਵਿਸ਼੍ਵਵਿਲਯੇ ਨ ਦ੍ਵੇਸ਼ਸ੍ਤਸ੍ਯ ਚ ਸ੍ਥਿਤੌ ।
ਯਥਾ ਜੀਵਿਕਯਾ ਤਸ੍ਮਾਦ੍ ਧਨ੍ਯ ਆਸ੍ਤੇ ਯਥਾ ਸੁਖਮ੍ ॥ 17-7॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
He does not long for the world to disappear, nor does he hate it for continuing. Therefore the blessed one lives at ease, sustaining life in whatever simple way.
ਕ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਤਾਰ੍ਥੋਨੇਨ ਜ੍ਞਾਨੇਨੇਤ੍ਯੇਵਂ ਗਲਿਤਧੀਃ ਕ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਤੀ ।
ਪਸ਼੍ਯਨ੍ ਸ਼੍ਰੁਰੁਇਣ੍ਵਨ੍ ਸ੍ਪ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਸ਼ਨ੍ ਜਿਘ੍ਰਨ੍ਨ੍
ਅਸ਼੍ਨਨ੍ਨਾਸ੍ਤੇ ਯਥਾ ਸੁਖਮ੍ ॥ 17-8॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
Fulfilled by this knowledge and with the intellect's rigidity dissolved, the accomplished one lives at ease - seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating - simply as life happens.
ਸ਼ੂਨ੍ਯਾ ਦ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਸ਼੍ਟਿਰ੍ਵ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਥਾ ਚੇਸ਼੍ਟਾ ਵਿਕਲਾਨੀਂਦ੍ਰਿਯਾਣਿ ਚ ।
ਨ ਸ੍ਪ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਹਾ ਨ ਵਿਰਕ੍ਤਿਰ੍ਵਾ ਕ੍ਸ਼ੀਣਸਂਸਾਰਸਾਗਰੇ ॥ 17-9॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
For one whose ocean of bondage has dried up, the gaze becomes empty of seeking, activity loses personal agenda, the senses become quiet, and there is neither craving nor even a need to cultivate dispassion.
ਨ ਜਾਗਰ੍ਤਿ ਨ ਨਿਦ੍ਰਾਤਿ ਨੋਨ੍ਮੀਲਤਿ ਨ ਮੀਲਤਿ ।
ਅਹੋ ਪਰਦਸ਼ਾ ਕ੍ਵਾਪਿ ਵਰ੍ਤਤੇ ਮੁਕ੍ਤਚੇਤਸਃ ॥ 17-10॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
He is neither awake nor asleep, neither opening nor closing. What an extraordinary state this is of the liberated mind!
ਸਰ੍ਵਤ੍ਰ ਦ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਸ਼੍ਯਤੇ ਸ੍ਵਸ੍ਥਃ ਸਰ੍ਵਤ੍ਰ ਵਿਮਲਾਸ਼ਯਃ ।
ਸਮਸ੍ਤਵਾਸਨਾ ਮੁਕ੍ਤੋ ਮੁਕ੍ਤਃ ਸਰ੍ਵਤ੍ਰ ਰਾਜਤੇ ॥ 17-11॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
Wherever he is, he is seen as steady and clear. Freed from all latent cravings and conditioning, the liberated one shines everywhere.
ਪਸ਼੍ਯਨ੍ ਸ਼੍ਰੁਰੁਇਣ੍ਵਨ੍ ਸ੍ਪ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਸ਼ਨ੍ ਜਿਘ੍ਰਨ੍ਨ੍ ਅਸ਼੍ਨਨ੍
ਗ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਹ੍ਣਨ੍ ਵਦਨ੍ ਵ੍ਰਜਨ੍ ।
ਈਹਿਤਾਨੀਹਿਤੈਰ੍ਮੁਕ੍ਤੋ ਮੁਕ੍ਤ ਏਵ ਮਹਾਸ਼ਯਃ ॥ 17-12॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
Even while seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, receiving, speaking, and moving, the great-souled one remains free of the psychological knot of "I did this" and "I did not do that" - truly free.
ਨ ਨਿਂਦਤਿ ਨ ਚ ਸ੍ਤੌਤਿ ਨ ਹ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਸ਼੍ਯਤਿ ਨ ਕੁਪ੍ਯਤਿ ।
ਨ ਦਦਾਤਿ ਨ ਗ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਹ੍ਣਾਤਿ ਮੁਕ੍ਤਃ ਸਰ੍ਵਤ੍ਰ ਨੀਰਸਃ ॥ 17-13॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
He does not condemn or flatter, does not exult or rage. He is not trapped in the ego-stories of giving and taking. Liberated, he moves everywhere without personal agenda.
ਸਾਨੁਰਾਗਾਂ ਸ੍ਤ੍ਰਿਯਂ ਦ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਸ਼੍ਟ੍ਵਾ ਮ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਤ੍ਯੁਂ ਵਾ ਸਮੁਪਸ੍ਥਿਤਮ੍ ।
ਅਵਿਹ੍ਵਲਮਨਾਃ ਸ੍ਵਸ੍ਥੋ ਮੁਕ੍ਤ ਏਵ ਮਹਾਸ਼ਯਃ ॥ 17-14॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
Whether seeing strong attraction or seeing death close at hand, the great-souled one remains unshaken and steady - truly free.
ਸੁਖੇ ਦੁਃਖੇ ਨਰੇ ਨਾਰ੍ਯਾਂ ਸਂਪਤ੍ਸੁ ਚ ਵਿਪਤ੍ਸੁ ਚ ।
ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ੋ ਨੈਵ ਧੀਰਸ੍ਯ ਸਰ੍ਵਤ੍ਰ ਸਮਦਰ੍ਸ਼ਿਨਃ ॥ 17-15॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
For the steady one with equal vision, there is no inner partiality based on pleasure and pain, man and woman, success and setback.
ਨ ਹਿਂਸਾ ਨੈਵ ਕਾਰੁਣ੍ਯਂ ਨੌਦ੍ਧਤ੍ਯਂ ਨ ਚ ਦੀਨਤਾ ।
ਨਾਸ਼੍ਚਰ੍ਯਂ ਨੈਵ ਚ ਕ੍ਸ਼ੋਭਃ ਕ੍ਸ਼ੀਣਸਂਸਰਣੇ ਨਰੇ ॥ 17-16॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
In the person whose bondage has worn out, there is neither cruelty nor sentimental pity, neither arrogance nor self-pity, neither amazement nor agitation.
ਨ ਮੁਕ੍ਤੋ ਵਿਸ਼ਯਦ੍ਵੇਸ਼੍ਟਾ ਨ ਵਾ ਵਿਸ਼ਯਲੋਲੁਪਃ ।
ਅਸਂਸਕ੍ਤਮਨਾ ਨਿਤ੍ਯਂ ਪ੍ਰਾਪ੍ਤਾਪ੍ਰਾਪ੍ਤਮੁਪਾਸ਼੍ਨੁਤੇ ॥ 17-17॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
Liberation is not hatred of objects and not greedy chasing of them. With an unattached mind, one simply meets what comes - and does not suffer over what does not.
ਸਮਾਧਾਨਾਸਮਾਧਾਨਹਿਤਾਹਿਤਵਿਕਲ੍ਪਨਾਃ ।
ਸ਼ੂਨ੍ਯਚਿਤ੍ਤੋ ਨ ਜਾਨਾਤਿ ਕੈਵਲ੍ਯਮਿਵ ਸਂਸ੍ਥਿਤਃ ॥ 17-18॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
With the mind empty of conceptual dividing, he does not live by categories like composure and disturbance, good and bad. He abides as though in complete freedom.
ਨਿਰ੍ਮਮੋ ਨਿਰਹਂਕਾਰੋ ਨ ਕਿਂਚਿਦਿਤਿ ਨਿਸ਼੍ਚਿਤਃ ।
ਅਂਤਰ੍ਗਲਿਤਸਰ੍ਵਾਸ਼ਃ ਕੁਰ੍ਵਨ੍ਨਪਿ ਕਰੋਤਿ ਨ ॥ 17-19॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
Free of possessiveness and ego, established in the certainty of "nothing belongs to me", with all expectation dissolved within, he may act - yet inwardly he does not feel "I am doing."
ਮਨਃਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ਸਂਮੋਹਸ੍ਵਪ੍ਨਜਾਡ੍ਯਵਿਵਰ੍ਜਿਤਃ ।
ਦਸ਼ਾਂ ਕਾਮਪਿ ਸਂਪ੍ਰਾਪ੍ਤੋ ਭਵੇਦ੍ ਗਲਿਤਮਾਨਸਃ ॥ 17-20॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
Free from the mind's games of "brightness" and confusion, from dreaminess and dullness, the one whose mind has dissolved can be in any state without bondage.
Browse Related Categories:
