Chapter 13 ( 7 verses)

 CHAPTER THIRTEEN 

जनक उवाच

Janaka spoke

{BLISSFUL STATE OF SELF}

अकिंचनभवं स्वास्थं कौपीनत्वेऽपि दुर्लभम् ।

त्यागादाने विहायास्मादहमासे यथासुखम् ॥१३-१॥

  ‘Staying as one’s essence where nothing exits’,

is difficult to attain even if one is an ascetic wearing only the Kaupeena.

Therefore, I will discard both renunciation and acceptance.

I will stay in my natural state of bliss.

(Reaching the state of the Supreme silence and bliss is not possible, just by wearing a loin cloth and living s a recluse in a cave.

Even a recluse who has renounced everything of the world will have the ego that he has renounced all, and is greater than all. Even if he owns no other physical object, other than his Kaupeena (loin-cloth), he will be attached to that at least.

Renunciation of objects and family physically is not the true renunciation.

Renunciation of the Vaasanaas, the lingering taste for pleasures alone is the true renunciation. A man without Vaasanaas is not affected by his house, family, or the objects of the world.

There is no need to renounce anything, or accept anything newly (as a discipleship to some Guru) to attain the state of the Supreme.

Renounce the renunciation itself, as there is nothing outside of Aatman to renounce.)

 कुत्रापि खेदः कायस्य जिह्वा कुत्रापि खेद्यते ।

मनः कुत्रापि तत्त्यक्त्वा पुरुषार्थे स्थितः सुखम् ॥१३-२॥

The body gets tired anywhere. (It is action-bound.)

Tongue also gets tired. (It is taste-bound.)

Mind also gets tired. (It is thought-bound.)

Therefore, I will renounce and be happy in the fulfilled state of liberation.

(Where can you run away, to escape the so-called ‘perceived world’?

Go to a forest, or a cave, or a hill, or an Ashram of a reputed Guru!

You still need food to maintain the body; studies to engage the mind; and other necessities like water, roof etc.

Why not stay in the comfort of home, where you do not have to worry about food and other bodily needs, and so easily spend time in the practice Vichaara?

You cannot stop the body from moving, or breathing, or sitting or standing, wherever you run off to!

You cannot be without the basic necessity of survival, namely food.

Tongue is always in want of food.

You cannot keep the mind without thoughts even if you go to the end of the universe.

Mind has to think; its nature is to think; and it will think inside a dark cave also, even if you close your eyes and sit in a lotus posture.

Any perceived pattern of the world is binding as long as you see the ‘perceived’ as real. When once you understand all the perceived world patterns as pictures drawn on emptiness, where is the need to run away?

Wherever you are, in whatever situation of the life-story, be just a witness of the actions of the body, mind and tongue.

Let the body do the actions it is used to.

Let the mind do the thinking to attend to world-affairs.

Let the tongue have the food which keeps the body healthy without diseases.

You cannot stop their functioning to reach the Aatman-Knowledge.

Be aware and conscious as a witness to whatever actions are done by them, without a bother; like a man supervising the perfect workings of machines.)

कृतं किमपि नैव स्यादिति संचिन्त्य तत्त्वतः

यदा यत्कर्तुमायाति तत्कृत्वाऽऽसे यथासुखम् ॥१३-३॥

There is nothing that is called action done by me.

(I stay as I am, as the conscious awareness.)

With this understanding by the realization of the truth,

I keep doing what is to be done, as and when needed,

(according to my character-role in life),

and will stay in my natural state of bliss.

 कर्मनैष्कर्म्यनिर्बन्धभावा देहस्थयोगिनः ।

संयोगायोगविरहादहमासे यथासुखम् ॥१३-४॥

Karma and non-Karma concepts are the bindings stuck to Yogis,

who are with the idea of body-identity.

I will just stay in the natural blissful state of mine,

getting rid of both joining and separation.

(What is Karma or no-Karma for the all-pervading Aatman?

Karma Yoga, abstaining from the doership of the work (Naishkarmya), doing actions yet not doing; all these words have no meaning for me now.

Only when you are still in the idea that you own a body and mind; and the work done by the body or mind has to be renounced; then and then only, you have to worry about Karma and Naishkarmya concepts. I see no body or mind! I see no action also.

I see only Knowledge shining as all.

I am the knowledge of the action too! Where is the doership to renounce?)

अर्थानर्थो न मे स्थित्या गत्या न शयनेन वा ।

तिष्टन् गच्छन् स्वपन् तस्मादहमासे यथासुखम् ॥१३-५॥

There is no gain or loss of any sort when I stay, walk, or sleep.

Therefore, staying, walking, or sleeping,

I will just stay in the natural blissful state of mine.

(What if I stay inside a house filled with people, or in a desolate forest?

What if the body walks in a forest-path, or in a busy road?

What if the mind sleeps, or dreams, or wakes up?

What if the body stands, or sits?

I am just as I am shining as all!)

स्वपतो नास्ति मे हानिः सिद्धिर्यत्नवतो न वा।

नाशोल्लासौ विहायास्मादहमासे यथासुखम् ॥१३-६॥

I do not incur any harm if I sleep (refrain from actions);

 nor do I gain anything, if I engage in any effort.

Without bothering about loss or the joy of achievement,

I will just stay in the natural blissful state of mine.

सुखादिरूपा नियमं भावेष्वालोक्य भूरिशः ।

शुभाशुभे विहायास्मादहमासे यथासुखम् ॥१३-७॥

After observing much the rules that govern the events as joy and sorrow,

(and understanding that the joys and sorrows are imagined by the mind),

I have renounced all ideas of auspiciousness and inauspiciousness.

Therefore, I will just stay in the natural blissful state of mine.