Chapter-20, Verse 10

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 20.10

क्व चैष व्यवहारो वा क्व च सा परमार्थता।
क्व सुखं क्व च वा दुःखं निर्विमर्शस्य मे सदा॥१०॥

Where is this worldly interaction, and where is that Ultimate Reality? Where is happiness, and where is sorrow for me who am ever without conceptual thought?

This verse takes the concept of the Self's Transcendence a step further. Here's a breakdown:

1. Negate Duality of Experience: The verse uses questions to negate the relevance of worldly experiences: "Where is this worldly interaction (व्यवहारः, व्यवहारः, vyavahāraḥ)" and "that Ultimate Reality (परमार्थता, paramārthatā)"? It implies that for the enlightened Self, the distinction between daily life and the Ultimate Truth is irrelevant. Similarly, it negates worldly emotions: "Where is happiness (सुखं, sukham)" and "where is sorrow (दुःखं, duḥkham)"?


2. Nirvimarsha: "निर्विमर्शस्य मे सदा" (nirvimarshasya me sadā) translates to "for me who am ever without conceptual thought." Nirvimarsha refers to a state beyond mental constructs and judgments. The Self doesn't engage in categorizing experiences as good or bad, happy or sad.


3. Beyond Duality: This verse emphasizes that the enlightened Self transcends the limitations of both worldly experiences and mental interpretations. It exists in a state of Pure Awareness beyond the duality of the phenomenal world.

Comparative Verses:

1. Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (Verse 4.4.19):

नेह नानास्ति किञ्चन।
न द्वैतं मास्ति।
वाचारम्भणं विकारो वा स आत्मैवायं सर्वम्॥ १९ ॥

Here there is no duality whatsoever. There is no second. This Self is all that was, is, and ever shall be. It is free from speech and modifications.

This verse from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad describes the Oneness of Reality (Atman). Similar to the Ashtavakra Gita verse, it emphasizes the absence of duality and the Self's encompassing nature.

2. Bhagavad Gita:

स्वभावजेन कर्मणा समारभ्य तपस्वी शक्नोति निर्द्वन्द्वः।
स्तुति निन्दा समः स तु मन्मयी मम मर्तव्यः॥ ६१ ॥

The disciplined man of action, free from duality, performs actions ordained by his own nature. He is the same in praise and blame, and devoted to Me. He is worthy of liberation.

This verse from the Bhagavad Gita describes a man of action who transcends the duality of praise and blame. It aligns with the Ashtavakra Gita verse by highlighting how the state of enlightenment transcends worldly judgments.

3. Yoga Vashishtha (Chapter 26, Verse 21):

न सुखं न च दुःखं न मेहेच्छा न द्वेषो न भयम्।
न ममत्वं न त्यक्तं न किञ्चन मनसाऽऽसादयति॥ २१ ॥

Neither happiness nor sorrow, neither desire nor aversion, nor fear; neither possessiveness nor renunciation does the mind grasp anything.

This verse from the Yoga Vashishtha describes a state beyond desire, aversion, and other mental attachments. It resonates with the Ashtavakra Gita verse by emphasizing the Self's freedom from mental constructs that create duality.

These comparative verses showcase the recurring theme in Vedic texts of the enlightened Self existing beyond the limitations of the mind and its interpretations of experience, aligning with the core message of the Ashtavakra Gita verse.