Chapter-18, Verse 37

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 18.37

मूढो नाप्नोति तद्ब्रह्म यतो भवितुमिच्छति ।

अनिच्छन्नपि धीरो हि परब्रह्मस्वरूपभाक् ॥ ३७ ॥

The fool does not attain Brahman, for he desires to become It! The wise one certainly realises the Nature of the Supreme Brahman even without desiring to do so.

The meaning of this verse is that the ignorant person who desires to attain the Ultimate Reality of Brahman is unable to do so because of his attachment to the ego and the sense of doership. He thinks that he can achieve Brahman by his own efforts and merits, but he does not realize that Brahman is his own True Nature and not an object of attainment. He is deluded by the illusion of duality and multiplicity, and he suffers from the bondage of ignorance and karma.

On the other hand, the wise man who has realized his own Self as Brahman does not have any desire to become Brahman, because he knows that he is already Brahman. He does not depend on any external means or conditions to experience the bliss of Brahman, because he is always established in the state of non-duality and Self-Knowledge. He is free from the illusion of duality and multiplicity, and he enjoys the supreme peace and happiness of Brahman.

This verse teaches us that the way to attain Brahman is not by desire, but by Renunciation of desire. It is not by effort, but by Surrender of effort. It is not by seeking, but by Being. It is not by becoming, but by Realizing. It is not by doing, but by Knowing. It is not by changing, but by Discovering. It is not by acquiring, but by Losing. It is not by gaining, but by Giving up.

Some similar verses from other Vedic texts are:

- Bhagavad Gita 5.19: 

इहैव तैर्जितः सर्गो येषां साम्ये स्थितं मनः । निर्दोषं हि समं ब्रह्म तस्माद् ब्रह्मणि ते स्थिताः ॥

In this very life, they have conquered the cycle of birth and death whose mind is established in Equanimity. For Brahman is flawless and the same in all; therefore they are established in Brahman.

- Mundaka Upanishad 3.2.9: 

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

When he sees the golden-hued Creator, the Lord, the Purusha, the source of Brahman, then the wise one, shaking off good and evil, becomes stainless, and reaches the Supreme State of Equality.

- Yoga Vasistha 6.2.34: 

नास्ति बन्धो न मोक्षश्च न संसारो न चापि च । एको दृष्टिर्विशुद्धस्य निर्विकल्पस्य चात्मनः ॥

There is no bondage, no liberation, no samsara, and no cessation. There is only one vision of the Pure and non-dual Self.