अष्टावक्र उवाच अविनाशिनमात्मानं एकं विज्ञाय तत्त्वतः। तवात्मज्ञानस्य धीरस्य कथमर्थार्जने रतिः॥
Know self as indestructible and one. How could a wise man having self-knowledge can like acquiring wealth?
आत्माज्ञानादहो प्रीतिर्विषयभ्रमगोचरे। शुक्तेरज्ञानतो लोभो यथा रजतविभ्रमे॥
Not knowing self leads to attachment in false sense objects just as mistakenly understanding mother of pearl as silver invokes greed
विश्वं स्फुरति यत्रेदं तरङ्गा इव सागरे। सोऽहमस्मीति विज्ञाय किं दीन इव धावसि॥
This world originates from self like waves from the sea. Recognizing, 'I am That', why run like a poor?
श्रुत्वापि शुद्धचैतन्य आत्मानमतिसुन्दरं। उपस्थेऽत्यन्तसंसक्तो मालिन्यमधिगच्छति॥
After hearing self to be pure, conscious and very beautiful, how can you be attracted to sexual objects and get impure?
सर्वभूतेषु चात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि। मुनेर्जानत आश्चर्यं ममत्वमनुवर्तते॥
For a sage who knows himself to be is in all beings and all beings in him, retaining attachment is surprising!
आस्थितः परमाद्वैतं मोक्षार्थेऽपि व्यवस्थितः। आश्चर्यं कामवशगो विकलः केलिशिक्षया॥
For the one aspiring for highest non-dual Lord and fully aware of the meaning of liberation, subjugation to desires is surprising
उद्भूतं ज्ञानदुर्मित्रम- वधार्यातिदुर्बलः। आश्चर्यं काममाकाङ्क्षेत् कालमन्तमनुश्रितः॥
For a person having reached his last time, incapable of enjoying and knowing it to be enemy of the gained knowledge, it is surprising to be after sexual desires
इहामुत्र विरक्तस्य नित्यानित्यविवेकिनः। आश्चर्यं मोक्षकामस्य मोक्षाद् एव विभीषिका॥
Suprise, unattached to this and the other world, those who can discriminate between the permanent and the impermanent, and wish to liberate are afraid of liberation
धीरस्तु भोज्यमानोऽपि पीड्यमानोऽपि सर्वदा। आत्मानं केवलं पश्यन् न तुष्यति न कुप्यति॥
The wise who always see self only, are neither pleased nor get angry whether they are feted or tormented
चेष्टमानं शरीरं स्वं पश्यत्यन्यशरीरवत्। संस्तवे चापि निन्दायां कथं क्षुभ्येत् महाशयः॥
How can noble men be perturbed by praise or blame who see their bodies alike to others
मायामात्रमिदं विश्वं पश्यन् विगतकौतुकः। अपि सन्निहिते मृत्यौ कथं त्रस्यति धीरधीः॥
Devoid of any questions, seeing this world as imagined in Maya, how can one with resolute intelligence be fearful of even the incident death?
निःस्पृहं मानसं यस्य नैराश्येऽपि महात्मनः। तस्यात्मज्ञानतृप्तस्य तुलना केन जायते॥
Who can be compared to the saint, free from desires even in disappointment and satisfied with the knowledge of self?
स्वभावाद् एव जानानो दृश्यमेतन्न किंचन। इदं ग्राह्यमिदं त्याज्यं स किं पश्यति धीरधीः॥
Know this world to be visible due to its very nature, it is non-existent actually.How can a person with resolute intelligence discriminate things as to be taken or to be rejected?
अंतस्त्यक्तकषायस्य निर्द्वन्द्वस्य निराशिषः। यदृच्छयागतो भोगो न दुःखाय न तुष्टये॥
One who has given up inner passions, is beyond doubts and is without any desires does not feel pain or pleasure due to random events