Chapter-16, Verse 7

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 16.7:

हेयोपादेयता तावत्संसारविटपाङ्कुरः ।

स्पृहा जीवति यावद्वै निर्विचारदशास्पदम् ॥ ७ ॥

As long as there is attachment, the sprout of samsara grows;

As long as there is no inquiry, the State of Realization is not attained. || 7 ||

The verse contrasts two terms: heya-upadeyata (attachment) and nirvicara-dasha (state of inquiry). Attachment refers to the sense of attraction and repulsion towards the objects of the world, which is based on ignorance and egoism. Inquiry refers to the process of discriminating between the Real and the unreal, the Self and the non-self, which leads to the Knowledge of one's True Nature.

The verse states that as long as there is attachment, one remains bound by the cycle of birth and death (samsara), which is compared to a sprout that grows from a seed. The seed of samsara is the ignorance of one's true identity, which gives rise to egoism, desires, actions, and their consequences. The sprout of samsara is the continuous manifestation of various forms of suffering and bondage in the relative world.

The verse also states that as long as there is no inquiry, one does not attain the state of liberation (moksha), which is compared to a space that is free from all limitations. The space of liberation is the Realization of one's True Nature, which is Pure Consciousness, Bliss, and Freedom. The inquiry into one's True Nature is the means to destroy the ignorance and its effects, and to attain the supreme goal of life.

Other Vedic texts that convey similar messages as this verse are:

- From Rig Veda (1.164.39):

द्वा सुपर्णा सयुजा सखाया समानं वृक्षं परिषस्वजाते । तयोरन्यः पिप्पलं स्वाद्वत्त्यनश्नन्नन्यो अभिचाकशीति ॥

Two birds, united always and known as inseparable, cling to the same tree. One of them eats the sweet fruit; the other looks on without eating.

- From Mundaka Upanishad (3.2.3):

परीक्ष्य लोकान् कर्मचितान् ब्राह्मणो निर्वेदमायान् नास्त्यकृतः कृतेन । तद् विज्ञानार्थं स गुरुमेवाभिगच्छेत् समित् पाणिः श्रोत्रियं ब्रह्मनिष्ठम् ॥

Having examined all these worlds that are gained by actions, the Brahmana becomes dispassionate. There is nothing that is attained by actions. Therefore, he should approach a Guru sacrificing all action; one who is well-versed in scriptures and established in Brahman.

- From Bhagavad Gita (2.62-63):

ध्यायतो विषयान् पुंसः सङ्गस् तेषूपजायते ।

सङ्गात् संजायते कामः कामात् क्रोधो ऽभिजायते ॥ क्रोधाद् भवति सम्मोहः सम्मोहात् स्मृति-विभ्रमः । स्मृति-भ्रंशाद् बुद्धि-नाशो बुद्धि-नाशात् प्रणश्यति ॥

While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises. From anger, complete delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost one falls down again into the material pool.