Chapter 9 ( 8 verses)

 CHAPTER NINE

अष्टावक्र उवाच​

Ashtaavakra spoke

{RENUNCIATION/DISPASSION}

कृताकृते च द्वन्द्वानि कदा शान्तानि कस्य वा ।

एवं ज्ञ्नात्वेह निर्वेदाद्भव त्यागपरोऽव्रती ॥९-१॥

For which person has the dual states of ‘work done, work not done’,

 ever ceased to be?

Understand this truth, and stop engaging in worthless enterprises.

Renounce the wasteful ventures through the development of dispassion.

कस्यापि तात धन्यस्य लोकचेष्टावलोकनात् ।

जीवितेच्छा बुभुक्षा च बुभुत्सोपशमः गताः ॥९-२॥

Dear one!

  the desire to live, the hunger and curiosity about things (seeking new enjoyments),

subside off for some blessed one only,

 who has understood the meaninglessness of it all,

 by observing the wasteful affairs of the world.

अनित्यं सर्वमेवेदं तापत्रितयदूषिमतम् ।

असारं निन्दितं हेयमिति निश्चित्य शाम्यति ॥९-३॥

All this is transitory,

and tainted by three types of scorching pains

(Aadyaatmika, AadhiBhautika, AadhiDeivika)

(mind-ailments, body-pains and random calamities).

It is without essence (no true joy in it);

 blameworthy (brings harm);

and lowly (inert matter).

Thus he decides, and makes his mind quiet.

कोऽसौ कालो वयः किं वा यत्र द्वन्द्वानि नो नृणाम् ।

तान्युपेक्ष्य यथाप्राप्तवर्ती सिद्धिमवाप्नुयात् ॥९-४॥

When or in which age of the body, the dualities (mentioned above)

have spared men from suffering?

  Ignoring them; and acting according to what life brings in its course,

   one should strive for the goal of Moksha.

 नाना मतं महर्षीणां साधूनां योगिनां तथा ।

दृष्ट्वा निर्वेदमापन्नः को न शाम्यति मानवः ॥९-५॥

Observing how there are different theories and opinions

maintained by great Rishis, saints, and Yogis;

which person will not get dispassion and remain quiet?

(How many great ones have struggled to understand the Reality behind the transitory world?  Should not one develop dispassion by such study, and strive for Moksha himself?)

कृत्वा मूर्तिपरिज्ञ्नानं चैतन्यस्य न किं गुरुः ।

निर्वेदसमतायुक्त्या यस्तारयति संसृतेः ॥९-६॥

After explaining the true form of the Conscious-expanse (Chit),

if one (realized Knower) takes you across the worldly existence

 through the methods of dispassion and equanimity,

 is he not the greatest guide you can ever have?

पश्य भूतविकारान्स्त्वं भूतमात्रान् यथार्थतः ।

तत्क्षणाद्बन्धनिर्मुक्तः स्वरूपस्थो भविष्यसि ॥९-७॥

Look at the shapes made of elements as elements only, as they really are.

Instantly, you will be freed of the bondage;

and will remain as your true self.

(There is no joy found in any of the inert objects of the world. Senses just bring to the mind, the knowledge of their shape, sound etc.

Mind alone imagines the joy; and superimposes the quality of joy on the sense objects. When your mind naturally stays quiet without turning outward, then you are not bound anymore.)

वासना एव संसार इति सर्वा विमुञ्च ताः ।

तत्त्यागो वासनात्यागास्त्स्थितिरद्य यथा तथा ॥९-८॥

The worldly existence is just the Vaasanaa-created fields.

Understand this; and remove all of them.

Renunciation of Vaasanaas alone causes the true renunciation as and when.

(Vaasanaas are the lingering taste one has for sense pleasures.

Forced abstinence from pleasures is not the true renunciation.

Unless Vaasanaas are not destroyed through the Vichaara process, one cannot be said to have renounced anything. )