Chapter-18, Verse 21

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 18.21

क्षिप्तः संस्कारवातेन चेष्टते शुष्कपर्णवत् ।

निर्वासनो निरालम्बः स्वच्छन्दो मुक्तबन्धनः ॥ २१ ॥

Blown by the wind of effects of the past actions (saṁskāras), the desireless, independent, free and liberated person moves about like a dry leaf. || 21 ||

The meaning of this verse is that the enlightened person, who has Realized his True Nature as the Self, is not affected by the results of his actions, which are determined by the law of karma. He does not have any attachment or aversion to anything in the world, and he does not depend on anyone or anything for his happiness. He is free from the bondage of ignorance, ego, and duality, and he lives in his own natural state of Bliss.

Similar verses from other Vedic texts, are:

- In the Yoga Vasistha, sage Vasistha tells Rama:

यदा तु ज्ञानमात्रेण देहादीनां विलक्षणः ।

आत्मा विज्ञायते नित्यः स तदा मुक्त उच्यते ॥

When by Pure Knowledge one Realizes that the Self is distinct from the body and other things,

and that the Self is eternal, then he is said to be Realized. || (Yoga Vasistha 6.2.1.5) 

- In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna tells Arjuna:

यदा संहरते चायं कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः ।

इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥

When he withdraws his senses from the objects of sense, like a tortoise withdrawing its limbs into its shell, his Wisdom is firmly established. 

- In the Mundaka Upanishad, the sage Angiras tells the student Shaunaka:

यदा पश्यः पश्यते रुक्मवर्णं कर्तारमीशं पुरुषं ब्रह्मयोनिम् । तदा विद्वान्पुण्यपापे विधूय निरञ्जनः परमं साम्यमुपैति ॥

When he sees the golden-hued Creator, the Lord, the Source of Brahman, then the wise one, shaking off good and evil, becomes stainless, and attains Supreme equality. || (Mundaka Upanishad 3.1.3)