Chapter-18, Verse 51

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 18.51

अकर्तृत्वमभोक्तृत्वं स्वात्मनो मन्यते यदा। तदा क्षीणा भवन्त्येव समस्ताश्चित्तवृत्तयः॥५१॥

When one sees oneself as neither the doer nor the reaper of the consequences, then all mind waves come to an end.

The meaning of this verse is that the root cause of bondage and suffering is the identification of oneself with the body-mind complex, which leads to the sense of ownership and enjoyership. When one realizes that one is not the doer or the experiencer of actions and their results, but the Pure Witness of everything, then the mental modifications (cittavṛttis) that create the illusion of duality and diversity cease to exist. One attains the state of peace, bliss and freedom, which is one's True Nature.

This verse is in line with the core teaching of Advaita Vedanta, which asserts that the Ultimate Reality is Brahman, the non-dual, self-luminous, infinite and eternal Consciousness, and that the individual Self (jīva) is not different from Brahman. The apparent difference is due to the superimposition of the limiting adjuncts (upādhis) of the body, senses and mind, which are products of ignorance (avidyā). When ignorance is dispelled by the Knowledge of one's identity with Brahman, the bondage of karma and rebirth is also destroyed.

Similar verses from other Vedic texts, are:

 - Yogavāsiṣṭha

अहं नाम न विद्यते भोक्तृत्वे चापि कर्मणि ।

अहं नाम न विद्यते भोक्तृत्वे चापि कर्मणि ॥

There is no such thing as 'I' in the enjoyer or in the action.

This is from the Yogavāsiṣṭha, Chapter VI, Part 2, Sarga 215, Verse 5. It conveys the same idea as the Ashtavakra Gita verse, that the notion of 'I' as the doer or the enjoyer is an illusion, and that there is no reality in the action or its result.

 - Avadhūta Gītā

नाहं कर्ता हरिः कर्ता चिद्रूपोऽहं सदाशिवः ।

I am not the doer, Hari is the doer, I am of the Nature of Consciousness, I am always auspicious.

This is from the Avadhūta Gītā, Chapter 1, Verse 20. It expresses the same Truth as the Ashtavakra Gita verse, but in a more devotional tone, attributing the agency to Hari, the Supreme Lord, and affirming one's identity with the Pure Consciousness, which is always auspicious (sadāśiva).

 - Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad

न कर्मणि लिप्यते पापकेन पापं न चात्मनि विद्यते ।

One is not tainted by sin by doing actions, nor does sin exist in the Self.

This is from the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad, Chapter 5, Verse 11. It conveys the same message as the Ashtavakra Gita verse, that one is not affected by the good or evil consequences of actions, as one is the Self, which is beyond sin and virtue.