Chapter-18, Verse 32

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 18.32

तत्त्वं यथार्थमाकर्ण्य मन्दः प्राप्नोति मूढताम् ।

अथवाऽयाति संकोचममूढः कोऽपि मूढवत् ॥ ३२ ॥

An unintelligent (moodhah) person becomes confused on hearing the Real Truth, but the wise man withdraws within (and lives in the eyes of the world) like a fool.

The ‘unintelligent’ (moodhaḥ) means one whose thoughts are turned towards sense gratifications and, therefore, not available for serene and deep reflections. Such an individual if he were to listen to a discourse given out by a Sage upon the highest transcendental Truth in all its absolute glory, such an unprepared student is sure to get confused. 

The same discourse when listened to by a student who has prepared himself with all the disciplines necessary for the comprehension of the infinite Self, gets himself rocketed into his own within, to experience therein the peaceful Self. At this juncture, that student, may be considered by the worldly people as a ‘fool’ (mooḍhaḥ), who is not taking any active part in the competitive world, acquiring wealth, running after objects, panting in passions, indulging in mad revelry and generally getting torn apart between likes and dislikes, through joy and sorrow, amidst pleasure and pain!! 

Hence, Aṣṭāvakra uses the simile ‘like a fool’ – he is not a fool but he is like a fool. A fool is incapable of under-taking any activity in the outer world and, is ever an idler. Yet, he is never quiet as he is full of desires and, so, his mind would be constantly in agitation. A wise man also remains without activities, but his mind is ever quiet and serene within, because in him there are no desires.

Here are similar verses from Vedic texts, for context:

- Mandukya Karika 2.32

न निरोधो न चोत्पत्तिर्न बद्धो न च साधकः । न मुमुक्षुर्न वै मुक्त इत्येषा परमार्थता ॥

There is no dissolution, no birth, none in bondage, none aspiring for wisdom, no seeker of liberation and none liberated. This is the Absolute Truth. 

This verse from the Mandukya Karika, a commentary on the Mandukya Upanishad by Gaudapada, expresses the ultimate non-dual truth of Advaita Vedanta. It negates all the concepts of duality, such as creation and destruction, bondage and liberation, seeker and sought, etc. It affirms that the only Reality is the non-dual Brahman, which is the Self of all.

- Yogavashishta 6.2.48

यथा चन्द्रदर्शनं तोयस्यान्तर्जलेऽवशिष्यते ।तथा ब्रह्मदर्शनं जीवस्यान्तर्हृदि स्थितम् ॥

As the reflection of the moon is seen in water, so the vision of Brahman is seen in the heart of the living being. 

This verse from the Yogavashishta, a dialogue between sage Vasistha and prince Rama, illustrates the analogy of the moon and the water to explain the relation between Brahman and the individual Self. It states that Brahman, the Supreme Reality, is reflected in the heart of the living being, which is the seat of Consciousness. The vision of Brahman is not something external or separate from the Self, but rather something internal and identical with the Self.

- Shiva Sutras 1.12

यथा ह्येकं चिदानन्दं बहुधा कल्पयत्यपि । तथा विश्वं चिदानन्दं बहुधा कल्पयत्यपि ॥

As the one Consciousness-Bliss imagines itself in many ways, so the world of Consciousness-Bliss imagines itself in many ways. 

This verse from the Shiva Sutras, a text of Kashmir Shaivism attributed to Vasugupta, describes the nature of reality as the creative play of Consciousness-Bliss. It asserts that the one Reality, which is the Supreme Consciousness-Bliss, manifests itself in various forms and names, without losing its essence. The world is not an illusion or a bondage, but rather an expression and a freedom of the One Reality.