Chapter-2, Verse 24

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 2.24

मय्यनन्तमहाम्भोधौ चित्तवाते प्रशाम्यति। अभाग्याज्जीववणिजो जगत्पोतो विनश्वरः॥२४॥

24. With the calming of the storms of the mind, in the limitless ocean of Myself, unfortunately for the jīva, the trader, the ship of the universe gets wrecked and sunk! 

The graceful picture of the previous verse is carried on and Janaka explains that when the ‘storms of the mind are abated, the world of plurality gets sunk and disappears into the ocean of the Self.’ 

Here the poetic fancy suffers a sudden hijacking. The individualised ego (jīva) is pictured here as a trader who is crossing the seas with all his merchandise. The ego moves from port to port, transacting business in the field of worldly experiences, gathering more and more, and growing ever more rich in his vāsanās. 

When the mind is at rest, the ego, his ship, along with his collected merchandise all get sunk! What is left over is but the shoreless glory of the Infinite Self!