Chapter-18, Verse 38

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 18.38

निराधारा ग्रहव्यग्रा मूढाः संसारपोषकाः ।

एतस्यानर्थमूलस्य मूलच्छेदः कृतो बुधैः ॥ ३८ ॥

Without any support, eager to attain freedom, the fools only nourish the world. The wise have cut at the very root of this source of misery. || 38 ||

The first line describes the nature of the ignorant people who are attached to the objects of the senses and seek happiness from them. They have no foundation in the Self, which is the only true support. They are restless and greedy, always trying to acquire more and more. They do not realize that by doing so, they are only feeding the cycle of birth and death, which is full of suffering.

The second line contrasts the nature of the wise people who have Realized the Self, which is the Supreme Bliss. They have cut off the root of ignorance, which is the cause of all misery. They have detached themselves from the objects of the senses and the world, which are unreal and impermanent. They have attained Realization, which is the end of all sorrow.

The verse implies that the difference between the fools and the wise is in their understanding of the Reality of the Self and the world. The fools take the world to be real and the Self to be unreal, while the wise take the Self to be Real and the world to be unreal. The fools are bound by their desires and actions, while the wise are free from them. The fools suffer, while the wise rejoice.

Similar verses from other Vedic texts are:

- The Bhagavad Gita Verse 2.62-63:

ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते ।

सङ्गात् संजायते कामः कामात् क्रोधोऽभिजायते ॥ ६२ ॥

क्रोधाद्भवति संमोहः संमोहात् स्मृतिविभ्रमः ।

स्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात् प्रणश्यति ॥ ६३ ॥

While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises. || 62 ||

From anger, complete delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost one falls down again into the pool of materiality. || 63 ||

- The Yoga Vasistha Verse 6.2.215.6:

मोक्षोपायानिमान्पुण्यान्प्रत्यक्षानुभवार्थदान् ।

बालोप्यकर्ण्य तत्ज्ञात्वं याति का त्वादृशे कथा ॥ ६ ॥

Having learnt the methods of Realization, expounded in this work which brings about direct intuition, even a child comes to Realize the Self. || 6 ||

- The Mundaka Upanishad Verse 2.2.8:

परीक्ष्य लोकान्कर्मचितान्ब्राह्मणो निर्वेदमायान्नास्त्यकृतः कृतेन । तद्विज्ञानार्थं स गुरुमेवाभिगच्छेत्समित्पाणिः श्रोत्रियं ब्रह्मनिष्ठम् ॥ ८ ॥

Having examined the worlds that are gained by actions, the Brahmana becomes dispassionate. There is nothing that is not done by actions. Therefore, he should approach a guru who is well-versed in the scriptures and established in Brahman, with sacrificial items in hand. || 8 ||