Sunday 15 September 2024

Five shlokas from **Chapter 7** of the **Ashtavakra Gita** in Sanskrit, with phonetic transliteration and their relevance in today's context:

Five shlokas from **Chapter 7** of the **Ashtavakra Gita** in Sanskrit, with phonetic transliteration and their relevance in today's context:

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### **Chapter 7 - शुद्धात्मा (The Pure Self)**

1. **सर्वं ज्ञानं परित्यज्य ज्ञानाज्ञाने च शून्यधीः।**
   **आकुलं च मनः कृत्वा न किञ्चिदपि चिन्तयेत्॥1॥**

   **sarvaṁ jñānaṁ parityajya jñānājñāne ca śūnyadhīḥ |**
   **ākulaṁ ca manaḥ kṛtvā na kiñcidapi cintayet ||1||**

   **Phonetic:**  
   *sarvam jñānam parityajya jñānājñāne cha śūnyadhīḥ |*  
   *ākulam cha manaḥ kṛtvā na kiñcidapi cintayet ||1||*

   **Relevance:** Abandoning all concepts of knowledge and ignorance, one should quiet the mind and not think of anything. In today’s context, this verse speaks to the importance of quieting the mind, letting go of intellectual debates, and allowing stillness to prevail in the fast-paced digital world.

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2. **कृतं किंचिदकारेण यदि तुष्टस्तदस्तु तत्।**
   **मृगस्य लुब्धकावृत्तौ जीविते हर्षदुःखयोः॥2॥**

   **kṛtaṁ kiṁcidakāreṇa yadi tuṣṭastadastu tat |**
   **mṛgasya lubdhakāvṛttau jīvite harṣaduḥkhayoḥ ||2||**

   **Phonetic:**  
   *kṛtam kiñcid akāreṇa yadi tuṣṭas tadastu tat |*  
   *mṛgasya lubdhakāvṛttau jīvite harṣaduḥkhayoḥ ||2||*

   **Relevance:** If one has done something without desire and is content, let that be. Whether in life or death, in happiness or sorrow, all is like the hunter's chase of the deer. This verse reminds us of the futility of running after desires, which is a common struggle in today's materialistic world.

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3. **सुखेनैव तिṣṭ्हस्व सुखेनैव विशाम्युत।**
   **सुखेनैव परित्यज्य धर्ममर्थं च कामतः॥3॥**

   **sukhenaiva tiṣṭhasva sukhenaiva viśāmyuta |**
   **sukhenaiva parityajya dharmamarthaṁ ca kāmataḥ ||3||**

   **Phonetic:**  
   *sukhenaiva tiṣṭhasva sukhenaiva viśāmyuta |*  
   *sukhenaiva parityajya dharmamartham cha kāmataḥ ||3||*

   **Relevance:** Rest content in happiness, enter sleep in happiness, and let go of desires for dharma, wealth, and enjoyment. This verse emphasizes inner contentment and simplicity, encouraging us to seek fulfillment within, rather than in external pursuits of material and moral accomplishments, which are prevalent in today's world.

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4. **यत्र यत्र यथा यथाऽस्ति तत्र तत्र तथा तथा।**
   **सर्वस्मिन्भव जाग्रत्स्वम् नैव दृश्यं न दृश्यकृत्॥4॥**

   **yatra yatra yathā yathā'sti tatra tatra tathā tathā |**
   **sarvasminbhava jāgratsvam naiva dṛśyaṁ na dṛśyakṛt ||4||**

   **Phonetic:**  
   *yatra yatra yathā yathā'sti tatra tatra tathā tathā |*  
   *sarvasmin bhava jāgrat svam naiva dṛśyam na dṛśyakṛt ||4||*

   **Relevance:** Wherever or however things exist, they exist as they are. Be awake to the Self, which is neither the seer nor the seen. This shloka emphasizes the importance of remaining aware of the self, unshaken by the appearances of the external world, a timeless message for those dealing with the distractions of modern life.

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5. **अकिञ्चित्करो भोगी सर्वत्र समवेद्यधीः।**
   **आस्ते विश्वमपोह्यात्मा निर्लिप्तः सुखमास्थितः॥5॥**

   **akiñcitkaro bhogī sarvatra samavedya-dhīḥ |**
   **āste viśvamapohya-ātmā nirliptaḥ sukhamāsthitaḥ ||5||**

   **Phonetic:**  
   *akiñcitkaro bhogī sarvatra samavedya-dhīḥ |*  
   *āste viśvam apohya ātmā nirliptaḥ sukhamāsthitaḥ ||5||*

   **Relevance:** The one who does nothing, enjoys everything, and has equanimity of mind everywhere, remains seated, detached from the world, and firmly established in happiness. This shloka inspires us to cultivate inner detachment and awareness, which allows us to enjoy life without becoming entangled in it—a valuable lesson for the modern world.

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### **Relevance of Chapter 7 Today:**

Chapter 7 of the **Ashtavakra Gita** talks about realizing the pure Self and remaining detached from the external world of desires and attachments. In today’s world, where people are constantly striving for material success and intellectual superiority, the teachings of this chapter serve as a guide to finding inner peace and contentment by letting go of mental noise, ego, and attachments. This chapter teaches the art of living in harmony with the self, regardless of external circumstances, a crucial lesson for maintaining mental well-being in modern life.

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