Chapter-17, Verse 6

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 17.6:

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षेषु जीविते मरणे तथा।

कस्याप्युदारचित्तस्य हेयोपादेयता न हि॥१७- ६॥

In righteousness, wealth, pleasure, and Realization, in life and death; For one whose mind is noble, there is no acceptance or rejection.

The meaning of this verse is that a person who has attained a high level of spiritual wisdom and detachment does not have any attachment or aversion to the four goals of human life (dharma, artha, kama, and moksha), or to the states of living and dying. Such a person is free from the dualities of likes and dislikes, gain and loss, honor and dishonor, etc. He or she does not seek anything nor avoid anything, but remains content and peaceful in whatever situation he or she faces.

This verse reflects the Advaita Vedanta philosophy of non-dualism, which holds that the Ultimate Reality is One and indivisible, and that the apparent multiplicity and diversity of the world is an illusion caused by ignorance. The goal of spiritual practice is to realize one's True Nature as identical with the Supreme Self (Brahman), which is beyond all attributes and distinctions. When one attains this Realization, one transcends the bondage of karma and the cycle of birth and death, and attains liberation (moksha).

Similar verses from other Vedic texts that convey the same message of detachment and equanimity are:

- In the Bhagavad Gita (2.57), Krishna says:

यः सर्वत्रानभिस्नेहस्तत्तत्प्राप्य शुभाशुभम्।

नाभिनन्दति न द्वेष्टि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता॥

He who is everywhere unattached, neither rejoicing nor grieving upon obtaining anything good or bad. His wisdom is established.

- In the Isha Upanishad (Verse 6), it is said:

यस्तु सर्वाणि भूतान्यात्मन्येवानुपश्यति।

सर्वभूतेषु चात्मानं ततो न विजुगुप्सते॥

He who sees all Beings in the Self, and the Self in all Beings,

He does not hate anyone.

- In the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (4.4.23), Yajnavalkya says:

न वा अरे पत्युरकामय मनुरकामो महीयते कामहैतुको हि मनुरकामो महीयते कामहैतुको हि मनुरकामो महीयते कामहैतुको हि मनुरकामो महीयते कामहैतुको हि मनुरकामो महीयते कामहैतुको हि मनुरकामो महीयते कामहैतुको हि मनुरकामो महीयते कामहैतुको हि मनुरकामो महीयते कामहैतुको हि

O Maitreyi, it is not for the sake of the husband that he is loved, but for one's own sake. It is not for the sake of the wife that she is loved, but for one's own sake. It is not for the sake of the sons that they are loved, but for one's own sake. It is not for the sake of wealth that it is loved, but for one's own sake. It is not for the sake of the gods that they are loved, but for one's own sake. It is not for the sake of the worlds that they are loved, but for one's own sake. It is not for the sake of anything else that it is loved, but for one's own sake.