Chapter-18, Verse 19

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 18.19

भावाभावविहीनो यस्तृप्तो निर्वासनो बुधः । नैव किञ्चित्कृतं तेन लोकदृष्ट्या विकुर्वता ॥ १९ ॥

He who is free from being and non-being, who is contented, desireless and wise. He does nothing at all, even though he appears to be acting in the eyes of the world. (18.19)

The first line describes the state of a Realized person, who has transcended the duality of existence and non-existence, who is satisfied with his own Self, who has no cravings or attachments, and who has Realized the Supreme Truth.

The second line states that such a person does not perform any action, even though he may seem to be engaged in various activities in the worldly perspective. This is because he has no sense of doership or agency, and he sees everything as the manifestation of the one Pure Awareness, which is his True Nature.

This verse implies that Realize is not a result of any action, but a recognition of one's own identity as the Witness of everything, which is always free and blissful. It also suggests that the world is an illusion, like a mirage, and that the liberated person is not affected by it, even though he may appear to be involved in it.

Similar verses from other Vedic texts are:

- From the Yoga Vasistha:

अविद्याकल्पितं विश्वं विद्यया नाश्यते यथा ।

विद्याकल्पितमेवैतद्विश्वं नाश्यति केनचित् ॥

The world created by ignorance is destroyed by Knowledge, as the world created by Knowledge is not destroyed by anything. (6.2.1)

This verse asserts that the world is a product of ignorance, which is the false identification of the Self with the body and mind. When one attains the Knowledge of the Self, the world ceases to exist for him, as he realizes that it is nothing but a projection of his Consciousness. However, the world created by Knowledge, which is the Pure Awareness of the Self, is eternal and indestructible, as it is the substratum of all existence.

- From the Mandukya Upanishad:

नान्तःप्रज्ञं न बहिष्प्रज्ञं नोभयतःप्रज्ञं न प्रज्ञानघनं न प्रज्ञं नाप्रज्ञम् । अदृष्टमव्यवहार्यमग्राह्यमलक्षणं अचिन्त्यमव्यपदेश्यमेकात्मप्रत्ययसारं प्रपञ्चोपशमं शान्तं शिवमद्वैतं चतुर्थं मन्यन्ते स आत्मा स विज्ञेयः ॥ ७ ॥

He is not conscious of the internal world, nor conscious of the external world, nor conscious of both the worlds, nor a mass of Consciousness, nor conscious, nor unconscious. He is unseen, beyond empirical dealings, beyond the grasp of the organs of action, uninferable, unthinkable, indescribable, the essence of the Knowledge of the one Self, the cessation of development, tranquil, benign, without a second. This they consider as the Fourth (State; aka Turiya). This is the Self. This is to be known. (7)

This verse describes the State of Turiya, or the Fourth State of Consciousness, which is beyond the three states of waking, dreaming and deep sleep. In this state, one is not aware of any object, subject or relation, but only of the Pure Self, which is the Witness of all phenomena. This state is the Ultimate Reality, which is beyond all description and comprehension, and which is the Source of Peace, Bliss and non-duality.

- From the Bhagavad Gita:

न कर्मणामनारंभान्नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽश्नुते । न च सन्न्यसनादेव सिद्धिं समधिगच्छति ॥

Not by abstaining from actions does a person attain freedom from action, nor by renunciation alone does he attain perfection. (18.49)

This verse explains that Realization is not achieved by merely refraining from actions, or by renouncing the world, but by performing actions with detachment and devotion, without any attachment to the results. Such actions are not binding, as they are done as a service to the Supreme Self, which is the true doer of all actions. By this way, one attains the state of equanimity and perfection, which is the goal of all seekers.