Chapter-16, Verse 9

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 16.9:

हातुमिच्छति संसारं रागी दुःखजिहासया ।

वीतरागो हि निर्दुःखस्तस्मिन्नपि न खिद्यति ॥ ९ ॥

The passionate man wants to be rid of samsara so as to avoid pain, but the dispassionate man is without pain and feels no distress even in it. || 9 ||

The meaning of this verse is that the one who is attached to the senses and the objects of the world suffers from the cycle of birth and death (samsara) and desires to escape from it. He thinks that by renouncing the world, he will attain happiness and peace. However, he does not realize that the root cause of his suffering is not the world, but his own attachment and ignorance. He is still bound by his likes and dislikes, and his mind is restless and agitated.

On the other hand, the one who is free from attachment and aversion is not affected by samsara at all. He has realized his True Nature as the Pure, blissful, and action-less Consciousness, which is beyond the duality of pain and pleasure, birth and death, gain and loss. He is not attached to anything, nor does he reject anything. He is content and serene in whatever situation he finds himself. He does not seek to escape from the world, nor does he cling to it. He is a Witness of all phenomena, but not a participant.

This verse teaches us that the way to Realization is not through renunciation of the world, but through detachment from the ego and identification with the Self. The world is not a problem, but our perception of it is. If we see the world as an illusion created by our mind, we will not be entangled by it. If we see ourselves as the eternal, unchanging, and blissful Reality, we will not be troubled by it. The world is neither a source of happiness nor a cause of misery, but a reflection of our own state of mind.

Some similar verses from other Vedic texts are:

- Bhagavad Gita 5.20: 

`न प्रहृष्येत्प्रियं प्राप्य नोद्विजेत्प्राप्य चाप्रियम् | स्थिरबुद्धिरसम्मूढो ब्रह्मविद् ब्रह्मणि स्थित: || २० ||

He who remains unattached to the pleasant and unpleasant alike; and neither rejoices nor grieves, he is a Knower of Brahman, and abides in Brahman.

This verse also emphasizes the importance of detachment from the dualities of life, and equanimity in all situations. It says that one who knows Brahman, or the Supreme Reality, remains unaffected by the changes in the world, and dwells in the state of Bliss.

- Mundaka Upanishad 3.1.4:

`नायमात्मा प्रवचनेन लभ्यो न मेधया न बहुना श्रुतेन | यमेवैष वृणुते तेन लभ्यस्तस्यैष आत्मा विवृणुते तनूं स्वाम् || ४ ||

This Atman cannot be attained by instruction; nor by intellectual power, nor by much hearing. He whom this Atman chooses, by him alone is It attained. To him this Atman reveals Its True Nature.

This verse explains that the Self-Realization cannot be achieved by mere intellectual or verbal knowledge, but by Grace and intuition. It says that one who sincerely seeks the Self with devotion and discrimination, will be chosen by the Self itself, and will be blessed with its vision.

- Yoga Sutras 1.12: 

`अभ्यासवैराग्याभ्यां तन्निरोधः

The cessation of the activity of the mind is achieved by practice and detachment.

This verse describes the means to attain the state of yoga, or union with the Self, which is free from all mental fluctuations. It says that one has to practice the methods of concentration and meditation, and also cultivate detachment from the objects of the senses and the results of one's actions. By doing so, one will be able to still the mind and Realize the Self.