Chapter-20, Verse 08

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 20.8

क्व प्रमाता प्रमाणं वा क्व प्रमेयं क्व च प्रमा।
क्व किञ्चित् क्व न किञ्चिद्वा सर्वदा विमलस्य मे॥८॥

Where is the Knower, the means to Knowledge, the object of Knowledge, or Knowledge itself; where is anything, and where is nothing for me who am ever pure?

This verse emphasizes the inherent purity and non-dual nature of the Self (Atman) in Advaita Vedanta philosophy. Here's a breakdown:

The Questions: The first line uses a series of rhetorical questions: "Where is the Knower (प्रमाता, pramātā)", "the means to knowledge (प्रमाणं, pramāṇam)", "the object of knowledge (प्रमेयं, prameyam)", and "Knowledge itself (प्रमा, pramā)".

Negation of Duality: These questions point to the absence of duality. The Self, being Absolute Reality, doesn't require a separate knower, a means to knowledge, or an object to be known. Knowledge itself is not a separate entity from the Self.

Ever Pure: Finally, the verse declares "सर्वदा विमलस्य मे" (sarvadā vimalasya me), which translates to "for me who am ever Pure." This emphasizes the inherent unsullied nature of the Self, unaffected by the limitations and dualities of the phenomenal world.

Comparative Verses:

1. Bhagavad Gita

न कर्तृत्वं न कर्माणि न फलं कर्त्तार्य् अपि।
विभूति-कर्तार्य् एव तु सर्वस्य स्वभावजम्॥ १७ ॥

There is neither agency, nor action, nor fruit of action, attributable to the Self. Nature itself is the doer of all activities in all beings.

This verse from the Bhagavad Gita, like the Ashtavakra Gita verse, negates the notion of the Self being an agent, action, or object in the phenomenal world.

2. Isha Upanishad (Verse 1):

ईशावास्यमिदं सर्वं यत्किञ्च जगत्यां जगत्।
तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथा मा गृधः कस्यस्विद्धनम्॥ १॥

All this (universe) is filled with the Divine presence. Therefore, renounce (attachment to) and enjoy (what is offered). Do not covet (anything) which belongs to another.

This verse from the Isha Upanishad emphasizes that everything in the universe is ultimately Brahman (the ultimate reality). This aligns with the Advaita Vedantic idea of the oneness of Self and Reality.

3. Yoga Vashishtha 

न सत्ता नासत्ता न सदसद्वा न चतुष्टयम्।
एकमेवाद्वयं यत् स सर्वं ब्रह्ममयम्॥ ४॥

There is neither existence, nor non-existence, nor both existence and non-existence, nor any other fourth state. There is only the non-dual One, which is Brahman, and everything is pervaded by it.

This verse from the Yoga Vashishtha explicitly states the non-dual nature of Reality, similar to the Ashtavakra Gita verse's emphasis on the pure and non-dual Self.

These comparisons highlight the shared understanding of non-duality and the inherent purity of the Self across various Vedic texts, emphasizing the core message of the Ashtavakra Gita verse.