Ashtavakra Gita —
19. Repose in the Self

Majesty of the Self

With the pincers of truth I have plucked
From the dark corners of my heart
The thorn of many judgments. (19.1)

I sit in my own splendor.
Wealth or pleasure,
Duty or discrimination,
Duality or nonduality,
What are they to me? (19.2)

What is yesterday,
Tomorrow,
Or today?
What is space,
Or eternity?
I sit in my own radiance. (19.3)

What is the Self,
Or the not-Self?
What is thinking,
Or not thinking?
What is good or evil?
I sit in my own splendor. (19.4)

I sit in my own radiance,
And I have no fear.
Waking,
Dreaming,
Sleeping,
What are they to me?
Or even ecstasy? (19.5)

What is far or near,
Outside or inside,
Gross or subtle?
I sit in my own splendor. (19.6)

Dissolving the mind,
Or the highest meditation,
The world and all its works,
Life or death,
What are they to me?
I sit in my own radiance. (19.7)

Why talk of wisdom,
The three ends of life,
Or oneness?
Why talk of these!
Now I live in my heart. (19.8)

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* Translated by Thomas Byrom