Chapter-15, Verse 14

Aṣṭāvakra-Gītā Verse 15.14

यत्त्वं पश्यसि तत्रैकस्त्वमेव प्रतिभाससे। किं पृथग्भासते स्वर्णात् कटकाङ्गदनूपुरम्॥१४॥

Whatever you see, it is you alone manifest in it.

How could bracelets, armlets and anklets be different from the gold? || 14 ||

- The Verse expresses the non-dualistic view of reality, which is the essence of Advaita Vedanta. It asserts that the true Self (Atman) is identical with the Supreme Reality (Brahman), and that there is no difference between them. The Self is not a separate entity, but the very substratum of all existence. Whatever appears as the world is nothing but a projection of the Self, and has no independent reality apart from it.

- The Verse uses the analogy of gold and ornaments to illustrate this point. Just as gold can take various forms and shapes, such as bracelets, armlets and anklets, but remains the same substance, so too the Self can appear as various objects and phenomena, but remains unchanged and undivided. The ornaments are not different from the gold, nor do they have any intrinsic value or identity apart from it. Similarly, the world is not different from the Self, nor does it have any Absolute Reality or significance apart from it.

- The Verse implies that one who Realizes this Truth attains liberation (moksha) from the bondage of ignorance (avidya) and suffering (duhkha). By seeing oneself as the sole Reality, one transcends the duality of subject and object, self and other, and becomes free from attachment, desire and fear. One experiences bliss (ananda) and peace (shanti) in one's own Nature, which is Pure Consciousness (chit). One does not need to seek anything outside oneself, for one has everything within oneself.

Some similar verses from other Vedic texts are:

- From the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad:

sarvaṃ khalvidaṃ brahma tajjalāniti śānta upāsīta |

atha khalu kratumayaḥ puruṣo yathākraturasmai lokaḥ syat |

tasmāt sarvāsu kāleṣu sarvam eva brahmetyupāsīta || 2.4.6 ||

All this is indeed Brahman. From it all this originates. Having known this, one should meditate with a calm mind.

Then verily one becomes a person of will. As one's will is, so does one become. Therefore one should meditate on all this as Brahman at all times. || 2.4.6 ||

- From the Mandukya Upanishad:

na nirodho na cotpattiḥ na baddho na ca sādhakaḥ |

na mumukṣur na vai mukta ityeṣā paramārthatā || 2.32 ||

There is no dissolution, no origination, no bondage, no seeker;

No liberation-seeker, nor anyone liberated. This is the Ultimate Truth. || 2.32 ||

- From the Bhagavad Gita:

brahmaṇy ādhāya karmāṇi saṅgaṃ tyaktvā karoti yaḥ |

lipyate na sa pāpena padmapatram ivāmbhasā || 5.10 ||

One who performs actions by dedicating them to Brahman;

And renouncing attachment, is not tainted by sin; Just as a lotus leaf is not wetted by water. || 5.10 ||