~~Ashtavakra-3.~~

~~~~~~~~~~~ ASHTAVAKRA-3 ~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~अष्टावक्र-3~~~~~~~~~~~~~


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  Ashtavakra Gita (अष्टावक्र गीता / अष्टावक्र संहिता) ( or 
as sometimes it is called 'Ashtavakra Samhita' also) 
inculcates the essence of the highest knowledge of
Advata. It deals with the actual realization of the 
eternal Atman (Self), which is not something that 
dawns only when this world is renounced ; or when 
it does not exist or ceases to be  perceived as when 
one is said to go to another sphere after death ; or 
when one is in yogic samadhi ; or when one is other-
wise unconscious as in deep sleep. But it is attained
in the highest stage when one is in the very midst of 
the world, perceiving or the feeling the objects in it,
even as King Janaka while actually ruling his kingdom,
did attain, following the teachings of Rishi Ashtavakra.
   "Seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, taking, 
speaking and walking, the great-souled one, free from 
all efforts and non-efforts, is verily emancipated." 
(XVII,12.)
"The wise one who lives on happily doing what comes 
to one to be done, does not feel troubled either in 
activity or inactivity."
(XVIII,20.)
"For the wise man there is nothing to be renounced 
nor accepted nor destroyed." 
(VI, 4.)
"The man of Knowledge lives like other men of the 
world."
(XVIII, 18.)
"Only those like him can understand him." (XVIII, 18.)"
Such a person ever feels his oneness with the ALL.
"The man of knowledge does not feel any desire for
the dissolution of the universe or aversion to its 
existence." 
(XVII, 7.)
In fact, the highest knower (Jnanin) realizes at all 
times that whatever exists is nothing but his very self,
the Atman or Brahman.
Ashtavakra further furnishes the key to the means 
of attaining this supreme knowledge in the words "As
one thinks, so one becomes." 
(I, 10).
But the steps, as may be gathered from the following 
verses, require the hardest and the most patient efforts
to climb Till the ego "I" is effaced, the Truth cannot be 
known. 
(VIII, 4. XVI, 10 and XVIII, 73.)
If you desire liberation ( from the bondage of 
ignorance), my child, shun the objects of senses like 
poison, and seek forgiveness, sincerity, kindness, 
contentment and truth like nectar." 
(I, 1.)
"In whatever you perceive you alone appear. 
Completely give up all such distinctions as 'I am He' 
and 'I am not this.'
Consider all as thy self."
(XV, 15.)
"The man of ignorance does not attain peace either 
by action or by inaction. The wise becomes happy by
merely ascertaining the Truth." 
(XVIII, 34.)


~~~~~~~~~~~~OM TAT SAT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ॐ तत् सत् ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


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"Ashtavakra".

~~~~~~~~~~~ASHTAVAKRA~~~~~~~~~~~~
                 ~~~~~~अष्टावक्र ~~~~~~
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  Ashtavakra was born of Kahor ( Kahoda) and Sujata. 
While Ashtavakra was still in his mother's womb, Kahor 
was once reciting the Vedas, sitting beside his wife. To 
their great surprise, the child in  the womb suddenly cried
out :
"Father, even lying in my mother's womb I have already  
learnt all the Vedas through your grace. But I regret that 
you often make mistakes in yourrecitation."
Kahor took this as a grave insult, and cursed him, saying 
that  he would  be  born  with  eight  parts  of  his  body 
deformed. Accordingly, in course of time, the child was 
born likewise, with a twisted form, and so was named 
'Ashtavakra', (Eight-curved). In the meanwhile Kahor 
went to the court of the king Janaka to  beg money from 
the  king. The  king  had at  that  time in his court a great 
scholar called Vandi (Vandin), son of King Varuna. He 
was profoundly versed in the Vedas. Kahor was called 
to debate by him, was defeated and thrown into the sea 
where he  had  to  be engaged  as  a  priest in a sacrifice,
(Yajna)  that was being performed by Varuna.
  When Ashtavakra grew to be a lad of twelve and heard 
of the sad plight of his father, he repaired to the court of 
Janaka, in company  with  his  maternal  uncle Svetaketu. 
Being a mere boy, he was  not at first  allowed  entrance 
into the court, but when he gave proof of his extra-ordinary
learning in the Sastras, he was cordially  welcomed. He at 
once sought out his father's opponent, Vandi, and entered 
into a debate with him. A wonderful controversy ensued, 
and the boy of twelve defeated the foremost vetaran scholar 
of the court of Janaka. He then rescued  his father  from the
captivity of Varuna. Kahor was highly satisfied with his son, 
and asked him to bathe in the river 'Samaanga', and lo ! he 
came out of the waters with all his limbs made straight. But 
his name continued the same for ever.
                                                 
                                                          -MAHABHARAT. 

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