Chapter-18, Verse 17

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 18.17

दृष्टो येनात्मविक्षेपो निरोधं कुरुते त्वसौ ।

उदारस्तु न विक्षिप्तः साध्याभावात्करोति किम् ॥ १८-१७॥

He who experiences distractions in himself indeed must control himself. But the noble-minded great one is not distracted at all. Having nothing to accomplish, what should he do?

The verse contrasts the attitude of two types of seekers: the one who is still bound by the ego and the one who is free from it. The former sees the self as the source of all problems and tries to restrain it by various means, such as meditation, discipline, or renunciation. He thinks that by doing so, he will attain peace and liberation. He does not realize that the self he is trying to control is not the true Self, but the false self, which is the product of ignorance and identification with the body and mind.

The latter, on the other hand, is the one who has realized the True Nature of the Self as Pure Consciousness, which is beyond all limitations and modifications. He is not affected by the fluctuations of the mind, nor does he have any desire or attachment to the objects of the world. He is generous, meaning he is compassionate and benevolent to all beings, without any expectation or discrimination. He does not need to do anything to achieve anything, as he is already established in his own blissful nature.

The verse implies that the way to Realization is not through suppression or control of the self, but through the recognition and abidance in the Self. The self is not the problem, but the solution. The Self is not the obstacle, but the goal. The Self is not the enemy, but the friend.

Similar verses from other Vedic texts are:

- Bhagavad Gita 5.14:

न कर्तृत्वं न कर्माणि लोकस्य सृजति प्रभुः । न कर्मफलसंयोगं स्वभावस्तु प्रवर्तते ॥

The Lord does not create the sense of doership or the actions of the world. Nor does He cause the connection of actions and their results. It is the nature (of the individual) that acts.

- Yoga Vasistha 6.2.18:

नाहं कर्तेति यो वेदि स विद्वान् नात्र संशयः ।

अहंकारविनिर्मुक्तः सर्वकर्माणि लिप्यते ॥

He who knows "I am not the doer" is the wise one. There is no doubt about it. He who is free from egoism is not tainted by any action.

- Katha Upanishad 1.2.18:

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचि-न्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः । अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे ॥

He is never born, nor does he ever die. He is not born again after having been, nor does he cease to be. He is unborn, eternal, everlasting, and ancient. He is not killed when the body is killed.