Chapter-14, Verse 4

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 14.4

अन्तर्विकल्पशून्यस्य बहिः स्वच्छन्दचारिणः। भ्रान्तस्येव दशास्तास्तास्तादृशा एव जानते॥४॥

Of one who is empty of doubt within, and who wanders freely outside;

The states are like those of a deluded person, only such ones know them. (4)

The verse describes the characteristics and experiences of a liberated person, who has realized the Supreme Self and is free from all mental modifications. Such a person is not affected by the dualities of the world, such as pleasure and pain, success and failure, honor and dishonor, etc. He lives in the present moment, without any attachment or aversion to anything. He does not have any fixed rules or norms for his conduct, but acts spontaneously according to his natural inclination. 

He does not care about what others think of him, or how he appears to them. He is indifferent to praise or blame, fame or infamy, gain or loss. He is not bound by any sense of duty or obligation, but follows his own will.

The verse also implies that such a person's state of mind is incomprehensible to ordinary people, who are deluded by ignorance and attachment. They may mistake him for a madman, a fool, a sinner, or a Saint, depending on their own projections and prejudices. They may admire him or despise him, worship him or persecute him, but they cannot understand him. 

Only those who have attained the same level of realization can recognize and appreciate his true nature. They can communicate with him on a deeper level, beyond words and concepts. They can share his joy and peace, his wisdom and compassion.

The verse echoes the teachings of other Vedic texts, such as the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita, which also describe the qualities and behavior of a Realized person. 

For example, in the Katha Upanishad (2.3.10), it is said:

यदा पञ्चावतिष्ठन्ते ज्ञानानि मनसा सह ।

बुद्धिश्च न विचेष्टते तामाहुः परमां गतिम् ॥

When the five senses are stilled, along with the mind; and the intellect does not stir, that they call the Highest State.

Similarly, in the Bhagavad Gita (2.55), Lord Krishna says:

प्रजहाति यदा कामान् सर्वान् पार्थ मनोगतान् ।

आत्मन्येवात्मना तुष्टः स्थितप्रज्ञस् तदोच्यते ॥

When he gives up all desires that arise in the mind; and is satisfied in the Self by the Self alone; He is called a man of steady wisdom.

These verses suggest that the Ultimate Goal of human life is to attain Self-Realization, which liberates one from all bondage and suffering. This State can only be achieved by transcending the limitations of the body, mind, and intellect, and identifying with the Pure Consciousness that is one's true essence. This state is also characterized by a natural detachment from worldly affairs, and a spontaneous expression of one's innate freedom and bliss.

End of Chapter-14