Chapter-15, Verse 17

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 15.17

भ्रान्तिमात्रमिदं विश्वं न किञ्चिदिति निश्चयी ।

निर्वासनः स्फूर्तिमात्रो न किञ्चिदिव शाम्यति ॥ १७ ॥

Knowing that all this is an illusion, one becomes free from desire, pure receptivity and at peace, as if nothing existed.

- The first line of the verse states that the wise person who has Realized the Truth of non-duality knows that the world is nothing but an illusion, a projection of ignorance on the Reality of Brahman, the absolute Consciousness. Therefore, such a person does not attach any reality or value to the objects and phenomena of the world, which are constantly changing and impermanent. He or she does not identify with the body, mind, senses or ego, which are also products of ignorance and illusion.

- The second line of the verse describes the state of mind of the enlightened person who has transcended all desires, which are the root cause of bondage and suffering. Such a person is free from any craving or aversion for anything in the world, and is content with whatever comes or goes. He or she is pure receptivity, meaning that he or she is open to the spontaneous flow of life, without any interference or resistance. He or she is also at peace, meaning that he or she is free from any agitation or disturbance caused by the dualities of pleasure and pain, gain and loss, honor and dishonor, etc.

- The third line of the verse compares the enlightened person to someone who has nothing at all. This does not mean that he or she is deprived or impoverished, but rather that he or she is detached and independent from everything in the world. He or she does not depend on anything for happiness or security, but finds them within his or her own Self, which is one with Brahman. He or she does not have any sense of ownership or doer-ship, but acts as an instrument of Brahman's will. He or she does not have any sense of separation or limitation, but realizes his or her own infinite and eternal nature.

Some similar verses from other Vedic texts are:

- Mundaka Upanishad 2.2.11: 

ब्रह्मैवेदममृतं पुरस्तात् ब्रह्म पश्चात् ब्रह्म उत्तरतो दक्षिणतश्चोत्तरेण ।

अधश्चोर्ध्वं च प्रसृतं ब्रह्मैवेदं विश्वमिदं वरिष्ठम् ॥

Brahman alone is this immortal thing before us; Brahman behind us; Brahman to the south and north; Brahman stretches everywhere; Brahman alone pervades this universe.

- Bhagavad Gita 2.16:

नासतो विद्यते भावो नाभावो विद्यते सतः ।

उभयोरपि दृष्टोऽन्तस्त्वनयोस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः ॥

The unreal has no existence; the Real never ceases to be. The reality of both has thus been perceived by the seers of the truth.

- Chandogya Upanishad 7.24.1:

यत्र नान्यत्पश्यति नान्यच्छृणोति नान्यद्विजानाति स भूमा ।

अथ यत्रान्यत्पश्यति अन्यच्छृणोति अन्यद्विजानाति तदल्पम् ॥

Where one sees nothing else, hears nothing else, knows nothing else, that is the infinite. Where one sees something else, hears something else, knows something else, that is the finite.