Chapter-18, Verse 34

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 18.34

अप्रयत्नात्प्रयत्नाद्वा मूढो नाप्नोति निर्वृतिम् ।तत्त्वनिश्चयमात्रेण प्राज्ञो भवति निर्वृतः ॥ ३४ ॥

The stupid does not attain tranquility either by action or by inaction. The wise one becomes tranquil merely by Knowing the Truth. || 34 ||

The first line contrasts the ignorant and the wise in terms of their approach to action. The ignorant person is confused about whether to act or not, and does not Realize that neither option will lead to Realization. He is attached to the fruits of his actions, and suffers from the dualities of success and failure, pleasure and pain, praise and blame. He is bound by his ego and desires, and does not understand the true nature of Reality.

The second line praises the wise man who has attained the state of nirvriti, or cessation of all mental noise. He is not affected by the fluctuations of the mind, and remains calm and serene in all situations. He does not need to perform any action or renounce any action, because he has Realized the Truth that he is the Self, which is beyond action and inaction. He is free from all bondage and ignorance, and enjoys the bliss of his own being.

The verse implies that the difference between the ignorant and the wise is not in their external behavior, but in their internal Knowledge. The ignorant person is deluded by the appearance of the world, and thinks that he is a separate individual who has to act or refrain from acting to achieve happiness. The wise person has seen through the illusion of the world, and knows that he is the supreme self, which is the source of all happiness. He does not depend on anything outside himself, and is content with his own self-knowledge.

Like this verse there are similar verses from Vedic texts, for examples:

- The Isha Upanishad, verse 1, from the Yajur Veda:

ईशावास्यमिदं सर्वं यत्किञ्च जगत्यां जगत् तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथा मा गृधः कस्यस्विद्धनम् ॥ १ ॥

All this, whatever moves in this moving world, is enveloped by God.

Therefore, renounce and enjoy; do not covet anyone's wealth. || 1 ||

This verse also teaches the detachment from the fruits of action, and the recognition of the divine presence in all things. It advises the seeker to renounce the sense of ownership and attachment, and to enjoy the gifts of God without greed or envy.

- The Bhagavad Gita, chapter 2, verse 48, from the Mahabharata:

योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनंजय ।सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते ॥ ४८ ॥

Perform your actions, O Arjuna, being steadfast in yoga, abandoning attachment and remaining balanced in success and failure. Equanimity is called yoga. || 48 ||

This verse also emphasizes the importance of performing one's duty without attachment to the outcome, and maintaining a balanced state of mind in all situations. It defines yoga as the state of equanimity, which is the result of knowing the Self as the Witness of all actions.

- The Yoga Vasistha, chapter 6, verse 2.34, from the Ramayana:

अहंकारविमूढात्मा कर्ताहमिति मन्यते ।अतत्त्वार्थविदो मूढाः कर्मभिर्न सुखी भवेत् ॥ २.३४ ॥

The deluded self, bewildered by egoism, thinks, \"I am the doer\".

The ignorant, who do not know the truth, are not happy with their actions. || 2.34 ||

This verse also criticizes the egoistic notion of being the doer of actions, and the consequent suffering that arises from ignorance of the Truth. It implies that the True Self is not the doer, but the Witness of all actions, and that the happiness lies in the Realization of the Self.