Chapter-18, Verse 4

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 18.4:

भवोऽयं भावनामात्रो न किञ्चित्परमार्थतः ।

नास्त्यभावः स्वभावानां भावाभावविभाविनाम् ॥ ४ ॥

This existence is just imagination. It is nothing in Reality, but there is no non-being for natures that know how to distinguish being from non being. || 4 ||

The verse asserts the illusory nature of the phenomenal world, which is projected by the mind due to ignorance of the True Self. The Self is the Pure Awareness that is the Witness of all phenomena, but not affected by them. The existence of the world is dependent on the imagination of the mind, and has no Absolute Reality.

The verse also denies the possibility of non-existence or nihilism, which is another extreme view that negates the reality of the self. The Self is not a product of the mind, nor is it subject to birth and death. It is the eternal and unchanging substratum of all existence, and the source of all bliss. The Self is not nothing, but everything.

The verse further clarifies that the distinction between existence and non-existence is only valid for those who are deluded by the dualities of the mind. Those who have realized their True Nature as the Self are free from the bondage of the mind, and see the Oneness of all. They are not affected by the appearance or disappearance of the world, as they know that it is nothing but the Self.

Similar verses from other Vedic texts are:

- Bhagavad Gita 5.15:

अज्ञानेनावृतं ज्ञानं तेन मुह्यन्ति जन्तवः । ज्ञानेन तु तदज्ञानं येषां नाशितमात्मनः ॥

Ignorance covers Knowledge, and by that people are deluded. But for those whose ignorance is destroyed by Knowledge, their Knowledge of the Self destroys ignorance.

- Yogavashishta 6.2.1:

यथा रज्ज्वां भुजङ्गादिभ्रान्तिर्नास्ति वस्तुतः ।तथा ब्रह्मणि सर्वं तद्भ्रान्तिर्नास्ति वस्तुतः ॥

As there is no snake in reality in a rope, but only an illusion; so there is nothing in reality in Brahman, but only an illusion.

- Mandukya Karika 2.32:

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

There is no cessation, nor origination, nor bondage, nor seeker; nor one desiring liberation, nor one liberated. This is the Ultimate Truth.