Chapter-18, Verse 29

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 18.29

यस्यान्तः स्यादहंकारो न करोति करोति सः ।

निरहंकारधीरेण न किञ्चिदकृतं कृतम् ॥ २९ ॥

He who feels egoic ownership and doer-ship of his actions within, acts even when not acting, but a wise person who has no sense of ownership or doership, is inactive even when he is active and is free from the effects of such actions.

The first line of the verse contrasts two types of people: one who has a sense of ego (ahaṃkāra) and one who is free from ego (nirahaṃkāra). The egoistic person feels that he is the doer of his actions and the enjoyer of their results. He is attached to his work and its fruits, and he suffers from the dualities of success and failure, praise and blame, happiness and sorrow. He is constantly engaged in action, even when he is not physically active, because his mind is restless and full of desires and fears.

The second line of the verse describes the wise person who is free from ego and has a steady intellect (dhīra). He does not feel that he is the doer of his actions, nor does he seek their results. He is detached from his work and its fruits, and he remains calm and content in all situations. He is not affected by the dualities of the world, nor does he have any desires or fears. He is not engaged in action, even when he is physically active, because his mind is serene and full of wisdom.

The third line of the verse states that there is no difference between action and inaction for the wise person who is free from ego. He does not have any sense of done or undone, because he knows that he is not the agent of his actions, but only a Witness of them. He does not take credit or blame for anything, because he knows that everything is governed by the Supreme Will of God. He does not have any attachment or aversion to anything, because he knows that everything is transient and illusory. He is always in a state of peace and bliss, because he knows that his True Nature is the Self, which is eternal and Real.

The verse can be compared with similar verses from Vedic texts:

- In the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, Verse 18, Lord Krishna says to Arjuna:

कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः । स बुद्धिमान्मनुष्येषु स युक्तः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत् ॥ १८ ॥

He who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, he is wise among men, he is a yogi and a performer of all actions.

This verse conveys the same idea as the Ashtavakra Gita verse, that the wise person who is free from ego sees no difference between action and inaction, and performs all actions without attachment or expectation.

- In the Yogavashishta, Chapter 6, Section 2, Verse 34, Sage Vasistha says to Rama:

न कर्मणा न प्रजया धनेन त्यागेनैके अमृतत्वमानशुः । परेण नाकं निहितं गुहायां विभ्राजते यद्यतयो विशन्ति ॥ ३४ ॥

Not by action, nor by progeny, nor by wealth, but by renunciation alone some attain immortality.

That which is the Supreme Self is hidden in the Cave of the Heart, and it shines forth when the seekers enter it.

This verse implies that the wise person who is free from ego renounces all worldly attachments and realizes the Self, which is situated in the Heart and is the source of immortality and Bliss.

- In the Mundaka Upanishad, Chapter 3, Section 1, Verse 3, the sage Angiras says to the student Shaunaka:

यदा पश्यः पश्यते रुक्मवर्णं कर्तारमीशं पुरुषं ब्रह्मयोनिम् । तदा विद्वान्पुण्यपापे विधूय निरञ्जनः परमं साम्यमुपैति ॥ ३ ॥

When he sees the golden-hued creator, the Lord, the person, the source of Brahman, then the wise one, shaking off all good and evil deeds, becomes stainless and attains Supreme Equality.

This verse suggests that the wise person who is free from ego sees the Supreme Reality, which is the cause of all creation, and transcends all dualities and distinctions, becoming one with the Absolute.