Chapter-1, Verse 20

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 1.20

एकं सर्वगतं व्योम बहिरन्तर्यथा घटे। नित्यं निरन्तरं ब्रह्म सर्वभूतगणे तथा॥२०॥

20. Just as the same all-pervading space is inside and outside the jar, so the immutable and all-pervading Brahman exists in all things and beings. 

In the previous verse, with his enchanting metaphor of a reflection and the mirror, the all-pervasiveness of the Self was indicated and the transcendence of the Self was established. While, in the present verse with which the chapter concludes, the immanence of the Self is being emphasised. In order to communicate this idea Aṣṭāvakra again employs a very suggestive analogy borrowed from the Upaniṣads. The all-pervading space exists both inside and outside every pot. Similarly, the infinite Consciousness is present in the bosom of every existence – in all things and beings (sarva bhūta gaṇe). 

The pot-space may apparently look as though conditioned by the pot. There can be less space or more space according to the volume of the pot; there can also be clean space or dirty space according to the condition of the pot. But in fact space, as such, can never be conditioned by the pot that exists only in space. Similarly, the infinite Consciousness in which all equipments exist and play about, apparently seems to get conditioned by the individual equipments. The presence of the Self in all things and beings is emphasised in this famous and oft-repeated illustration given in Vedānta.

This primal divine energy, aka Self or Consciousness extends across all universes - manifest and unmanifest. It is present in all things - animate and inanimate. It is without beginning or end, without cause or effect, and just like light shining on an object does not affect the light, so does Consciousness stay unaffected. The same Consciousness is present as our individual Self and once we truly know this Self, we become Love and understand the Unity nay Oneness pervading all of Creation. 

End of Chapter-1