Chapter-2, Verse 19

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 2.19

सशरीरमिदं विश्वं न किञ्चिदिति निश्चितम्। शुद्धचिन्मात्र आत्मा च तत्कस्मिन् कल्पनाऽधुना॥१९॥

19. I have known, for certain, that the body and the universe are unsubstantial and that the Self is Pure Consciousness alone. So, now upon what can imaginations stand? 

Having awakened to the higher plane of Consciousness Janaka realises his oneness with the infinite Self (śuddha cin-mātraḥ). A man when he wakes up, he not only understands that he is the ‘waker’, but this knowledge in him includes the total rejection of his illusory dream. Similarly, in the Realisation ‘I am the Self’, the destruction of the illusory ego and its world are inherent and included. 

When, thus, one has Realized, in his knowledge of the rope, the total non-existence of the illusory serpent, how can he, thereafter, imagine the vicious fangs of the murderous serpent pursuing him? All imaginations are possible only when the illusory snake is consistently perceived. Similarly, when we perceive the world, an endless dream of imagination can continuously maintain the experience of a sorrow ridden world of stormy lusts and surging passions. 

Janaka here exclaims, in his new found wisdom and his spiritual awakening, ‘Upon what can imaginations stand now?’ The Man of Realisation can only act. He will not be ever found to react.