Chapter-18, Verse 5

Ashtavakra Gita, Verse 18.5:

न दूरं न च सङ्कोचाल्लब्धमेवात्मनः पदम्। निर्विकल्पं निरायासं निर्विकारं निरञ्जनम्॥५॥

I am the one, free from modifications, I am formless, I am imperishable. I am Infinite, I am complete, I am without distinctions, I am actionless. (18.5)

The meaning of this verse is that the speaker, who is the Self or the Pure Consciousness, asserts his identity as the Absolute Reality, beyond all names and forms, attributes and activities, limitations and changes. He is the one without a second, the non-dual essence of everything. He is free from modifications, because he is not affected by the appearance and disappearance of the phenomenal world. He is formless, because he is not confined by any shape or size. He is imperishable, because he is not subject to birth and death. He is Infinite, because he is not bound by any space or time. He is complete, because he is not dependent on anything else for his existence or happiness. He is without distinctions, because he is not differentiated by any categories or qualities. He is actionless, because he is not involved in any causation or agency.

This verse expresses the Highest State of Realization, in which the individual Self merges with the universal Self, and all duality and diversity are dissolved in the unity of Pure Awareness. The speaker is not affected by the dualities of pleasure and pain, virtue and vice, bondage and liberation, etc. He is always in a state of peace, bliss and freedom, regardless of the external circumstances. He is the Witness of everything, but not attached to anything. He is the source of everything, but not limited by anything.

Similar verses from other Vedic texts that convey the same message of non-duality and Self-Realization are:

- From the Yoga Vasistha, Chapter 6, Verse 2.1.8:

अहं निर्विकल्पो निराकार एकः

सर्वगोऽहमनन्तोऽहमचलोऽहम् ।

अहं चिदानन्दोऽहमव्ययोऽहम्

सर्वं खल्विदं ब्रह्म तदहमस्मि ॥ २.१.८ ॥

I am free from modifications, I am formless, I am one. I am all-pervading, I am Infinite, I am immovable. I am Consciousness-Bliss, I am imperishable, I am

All this is Brahman, that I am. (6.2.1.8)

- From the Mandukya Upanishad, Verse 7:

नान्तःप्रज्ञं न बहिष्प्रज्ञं नोभयतःप्रज्ञं न प्रज्ञानघनं न प्रज्ञं नाप्रज्ञम् ।

अदृष्टमव्यवहार्यमग्राह्यमलक्षणं अचिन्त्यमव्यपदेश्यमेकात्मप्रत्ययसारं प्रपञ्चोपशमं शान्तं शिवमद्वैतं चतुर्थं मन्यन्ते स आत्मा स विज्ञेयः ॥ ७ ॥

Not inwardly cognitive, not outwardly cognitive, not both-wise cognitive, not a cognition-mass, not cognitive, not non-cognitive,

Unseen, with which there can be no dealing, ungraspable, having no distinctive mark, unthinkable, that cannot be designated, the essence of the assurance of which is the state of being one with the Self, the cessation of development, tranquil, benign, without a second, such they think is the Fourth. That is the Self. That should be discerned. (7)

- From the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 9, Verse 11:

अवजानन्ति मां मूढा मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितम् ।

परं भावमजानन्तो मम भूतमहेश्वरम् ॥ ९.११ ॥

The foolish disregard Me, clad in human form. Not knowing My Higher Being as the great Lord of Beings. (9.11).