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𑌅𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌕𑍍𑌰 𑌗𑍀ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū 𑌅𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œūð‘ŒĶð‘Œķð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘Œ§ð‘ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒŊ𑌃

𑌅𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌕𑍍𑌰 𑌗𑍀ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū is the kind of text that does not slowly persuade you; it points directly and asks you to verify the point in your own experience. Its teaching is 𑌅ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍈ð‘ŒĪ: the Self is not a person inside the body-mind, but the awareness in which the body, mind, and world appear. When this is seen, life does not necessarily change on the outside, but the inside stops being dominated by craving, fear, and self-made struggle.

Up to now, the dialogue has moved from 𑌜ð‘ŒĻ𑌕's initial questions (knowledge, liberation, dispassion) into a steady recognition of the witness. Chapters 1-4 build the foundation, Chapters 5-9 dissolve doership and fixation, Chapters 10-15 deepen disillusionment with craving and status, and Chapter 17 sketches the liberated life as simple, unshaken, and free of inner hunger. The overall direction has been consistent: stop outsourcing wholeness to experiences and return again and again to the Self as already free.

Chapter 18 is the longest chapter of the entire work (100 verses) and reads like a panoramic compendium. It begins with a salutation to the peace and radiance of awakening, then moves through many angles: the futility of searching for happiness through accumulation, the difference between the wise and the confused, the danger of spiritual ego, and the naturalness of freedom when ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻð‘Œūs (latent cravings) thin out. The verses alternate between sharp negations ("not this, not that") and positive descriptions of the liberated mind's ease.

After this chapter, the text closes with two short but powerful chapters (19-20) where 𑌜ð‘ŒĻ𑌕 speaks from the afterglow of recognition. Those chapters are filled with the rhetorical question 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ("where is...?") to show that, for the Self, the old categories of bondage and liberation cannot even be located.

Seen as a whole, Chapter 18 tries to make freedom feel unmistakably normal. It says again and again: liberation is not a special posture; it is the end of the inner compulsion to grasp, resist, and define yourself by states. The wise can be active or quiet, in palace or forest, praised or blamed - and still be at ease, because the center has shifted from personality to awareness. The chapter is long because it turns that single insight around like a crystal, so that it can be recognized in every angle of life.

𑌅𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌕𑍍𑌰 𑌉ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌚 āĨĨ
ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌎𑍋𑌧𑍋ð‘ŒĶð‘ŒŊ𑍇 ð‘ŒĪð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘Œĩð‘ŒĶ𑍍 𑌭ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌭𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒŪ𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍈 ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖𑍈𑌕𑌰𑍂𑌊ð‘Œūð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒĻð‘ŒŪ𑌃 ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œūð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒĪ𑍇𑌜ð‘Œļ𑍇 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-1āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of whom
𑌎𑍋𑌧-𑌉ð‘ŒĶð‘ŒŊ𑍇 - on the rise of awakening
ð‘ŒĪð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - then; to that extent
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĻ-ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - like a dream
𑌭ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - becomes
𑌭𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒŪ𑌃 - delusion; confusion
ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍈 - to that
ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖-𑌏𑌕-𑌰𑍂𑌊ð‘Œūð‘ŒŊ - whose nature is bliss alone
ð‘ŒĻð‘ŒŪ𑌃 - salutations
ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œūð‘ŒŊ - to peace; to the tranquil one
ð‘ŒĪ𑍇𑌜ð‘Œļ𑍇 - to radiance; to inner light

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
As awakening arises, delusion becomes dreamlike. Salutations to that peaceful radiance whose very nature is pure bliss.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
The chapter opens with a salutation that is also a diagnostic. When 𑌎𑍋𑌧𑍋ð‘ŒĶð‘ŒŊ (the rise of awakening) happens, confusion does not need to be fought; it is seen through. A dream can feel urgent while you are inside it, but it loses its authority when you wake. Likewise, once the Self is recognized as awareness, the old confusions of identity - "I am only the body", "I must control everything", "I will be safe only if..." - start feeling dreamlike. They may still appear as thoughts, but they no longer command the same belief.

The object of salutation is not an external trophy; it is the peace and radiance of the Self itself. ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖-𑌏𑌕-𑌰𑍂𑌊 points to a happiness that is not produced by circumstances but is the natural ease of being. ð‘ŒĪ𑍇𑌜ð‘Œļ𑍍 is inner light: the clarity that sees and the vitality that is not dependent on mood. In Advaita language, this is the Self as 𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍 (awareness) recognized as already complete. The salutation is a way of turning the mind toward that center before the long chapter unfolds.

Practice by noticing where you are still "dreaming" in waking life. When a thought like "I am not enough" or "I must secure the future right now" arises, pause and ask, "Is this a fact, or is it a dreamlike assumption?" Feel the breath and notice awareness present now. Then take the next practical step without feeding the anxious story. Over time, this trains the mind to shift from living inside the dream to living from the witness, which is the real meaning of 𑌎𑍋𑌧𑍋ð‘ŒĶð‘ŒŊ.

𑌅𑌰𑍍𑌜ð‘ŒŊð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌖ð‘Œŋð‘Œēð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 𑌅𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 𑌭𑍋𑌗ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œū𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌊𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œēð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œđð‘Œŋ ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌊𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū𑌗ð‘ŒŪ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌰𑍇ð‘ŒĢ ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖𑍀 𑌭ð‘Œĩ𑍇ð‘ŒĪ𑍍 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-2āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌅𑌰𑍍𑌜ð‘ŒŊð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū - having acquired; having earned
𑌅𑌖ð‘Œŋð‘Œēð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - all
𑌅𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - wealth; gains
𑌭𑍋𑌗ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - enjoyments; pleasures
𑌆𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - obtains
𑌊𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œēð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - abundant; plentiful
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œđð‘Œŋ - indeed not
ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ-𑌊𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū𑌗ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - renunciation of all (inner clinging)
𑌅𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌰𑍇ð‘ŒĢ - without
ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖𑍀 - happy
𑌭ð‘Œĩ𑍇ð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - becomes

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Even after gaining all wealth and abundant pleasures, one does not become truly happy without renouncing all inner clinging.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse is not condemning livelihood or responsible enjoyment; it is diagnosing the inability of acquisition to produce lasting wellbeing. You can gather "all" the things people chase - money, comfort, status, experiences - and still feel anxious, restless, or incomplete. Why? Because the mind is still clinging, still bargaining: "If I add one more thing, then I'll be okay." Ashtavakra calls the cure ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ-𑌊𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū𑌗: not throwing away every object, but dropping the inner dependence that makes objects carry the weight of your happiness.

The Isha Upanishad hints at the same medicine: ð‘ŒĪ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ 𑌭𑍁𑌂𑌜𑍀ð‘ŒĨð‘Œū𑌃 - enjoy through renunciation. The renunciation is internal: enjoy without possessiveness. When you stop making objects into refuge, you can still use them and appreciate them, but you are not enslaved by them. This is also why "renunciation" here is not depression; it is freedom. The mind becomes lighter because it no longer treats life as a never-ending shopping list for wholeness.

Practice by doing one week of "inner renunciation" in a concrete area. Pick one thing you are attached to: an outcome, a habit, a certain image. Keep functioning, but notice the clinging: the rehearsing, the fear of loss, the need for control. Each time it appears, relax the demand with a simple statement: "I can prefer this, but I don't need it to be whole." Then do one small act that loosens dependence - simplify a purchase, reduce a compulsive check, accept one discomfort without drama. This is ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ-𑌊𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū𑌗 in miniature.

𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĶ𑍁𑌃𑌖ð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œ‚ð‘ŒĄð‘Œœð‘ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œēð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑌗𑍍𑌧ð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑌃 āĨĪ
𑌕𑍁ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œķð‘ŒŪ𑌊𑍀ð‘ŒŊ𑍂𑌷𑌧ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌰ð‘ŒŪ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-3āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - "must-do"; duty-bound demands
ð‘ŒĶ𑍁𑌃𑌖 - suffering; pain
𑌆𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œ‚ð‘ŒĄ - sun
𑌜𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œēð‘Œū - flame
ð‘ŒĶ𑌗𑍍𑌧 - burnt
𑌅𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌰-𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - of the inner self/mind
𑌕𑍁ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - from where? how?
𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œķð‘ŒŪ - tranquility; pacification
𑌊𑍀ð‘ŒŊ𑍂𑌷 - nectar
𑌧ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œū - stream
ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌰 - essence
𑌋ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - except; without
ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - happiness

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
If the mind is burnt by the blazing sun of anxiety about "must-do" duties, where can happiness be, except in the nectar-stream of inner tranquility?

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
Many people are not suffering because they have duties, but because of the inner sunburn created by "must-do" anxiety. The mind turns life into an endless list: responsibilities, expectations, self-improvement, image-management. That list produces 𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ-ð‘ŒĶ𑍁𑌃𑌖 - a felt burden of obligation. Ashtavakra uses the image of the sun's flames to show how this dries the heart. In that condition, even pleasures cannot satisfy; they are like a sip of water on a burning day.

The verse says the only real cooling is 𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œķð‘ŒŪ: inner pacification. This is not escapism; it is the mind settling into its own nature. When the sense of doership softens, duties become tasks rather than chains. The Bhagavad Gita points to a similar cooling when it speaks of the person who acts without inner fever, free from expectation and possessiveness. In Advaita, 𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œķð‘ŒŪ deepens when you recognize yourself as awareness rather than as the anxious manager of life.

Practice by identifying your personal "must-do" sun. Notice one area where you carry constant urgency - work, family, health, spirituality. Each day, take a short pause and ask, "What am I trying to control right now?" Then do the next needed action, but drop the extra inner pressure. Add a daily five-minute practice of 𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œķð‘ŒŪ: sit quietly, feel the breath, and let thoughts pass without chasing them. The point is not to remove responsibilities; it is to stop burning yourself with them.

𑌭ð‘Œĩð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍋 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍 𑌊𑌰ð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘ŒĪ𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌃 ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œū𑌂 𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-4āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌭ð‘Œĩ𑌃 𑌅ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 - this becoming; this world-process
𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻð‘Œū-ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑌃 - only imagination; only mental construction
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - nothing
𑌊𑌰ð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - in the ultimate sense
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌅ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - there is not
𑌅𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌃 - non-existence; absolute negation
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œū𑌂 - of that which has real nature
𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ-𑌅𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ - existence and non-existence (appearance and disappearance)
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - of those that manifest as such

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
This world-process is only a mental construction; ultimately it is nothing. What is real does not truly cease - it only appears and disappears as "being" and "non-being".

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse is a classic Advaita move: it calls the world 𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻð‘Œū-ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰, a construction of mind. That does not mean you should deny what appears; it means you should stop treating appearance as ultimate reality. The world is experienced through perception, memory, and interpretation - and those are layered with imagination. When you mistake these layers for final truth, you suffer. The verse says that in the ultimate sense (𑌊𑌰ð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ), the world has no independent substance.

At the same time, it avoids a crude nihilism. It says there is no absolute non-existence (𑌅𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ) of what has true nature (ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ). In other words: appearances come and go, but the underlying reality does not vanish. This aligns with the Upanishadic vision that the Self is unborn and undying, while names and forms arise and dissolve. When this is seen, loss and change still happen, but the heart is not destroyed by them because it knows what does not change.

Practice by working with your strongest "world-story." Notice a situation where you interpret events in a way that creates suffering: "This means I'm failing," "This means I'm unsafe," "This means life is unfair." Label it as 𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻð‘Œū - a construction - and ask, "What is directly present, and what is imagined?" Then respond to what is directly present. This does not make you passive; it makes you accurate. Over time, the mind becomes less trapped in its own stories, which is the practical meaning of seeing the world as 𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻð‘Œū-ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰.

ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒĶ𑍂𑌰𑌂 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚 ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌕𑍋𑌚ð‘Œūð‘Œē𑍍ð‘Œē𑌎𑍍𑌧ð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑌃 𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊𑌂 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑌂 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰𑌂 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑌂𑌜ð‘ŒĻð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-5āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒĶ𑍂𑌰𑌂 - not far
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚 ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌕𑍋𑌚ð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - not by contraction/strain
ð‘Œē𑌎𑍍𑌧𑌂 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - already attained
𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑌃 𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - the state/abode of the Self
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊𑌂 - beyond conceptual alternatives
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑌂 - effortless
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰𑌂 - changeless
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑌂𑌜ð‘ŒĻð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - spotless; pure

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The Self is not far away and is not reached by mental strain; it is already attained. It is beyond concepts, effortless, changeless, and pure.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse corrects the most basic spiritual misunderstanding: treating the Self as a distant goal. If the Self were far, you could travel to it; if it were produced by effort, you could manufacture it. But the verse says the opposite: it is already attained because it is what you are. The problem is not absence; it is mis-identification. ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌕𑍋𑌚 here points to the mind's tendency to squeeze itself - to force concentration, to force control, to force a state. Ashtavakra says: that strain is not the doorway.

The nature of the Self is described with four negations: ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊 (not caught in either/or thinking), ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘Œļ (effortless), ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰 (unchanging), ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑌂𑌜ð‘ŒĻ (unstained). These are not poetic decorations; they are practical cues for recognition. If what you seek is effortless and ever-present, then the way you seek must also become effortless. This is why Advaita often emphasizes relaxation and clarity over force.

Practice by noticing where you are straining for peace. Do you clench your attention in meditation? Do you force yourself to feel "spiritual"? Instead, try the opposite: relax the body, soften the breath, and simply notice that awareness is already present. When thoughts arise, let them be. Ask quietly: "What knows this thought?" That question points back to the already-attained Self. Over time, the mind learns that freedom is closer than effort.

ð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑍋ð‘Œđð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘ŒĪ𑍌 ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍂𑌊ð‘Œūð‘ŒĶð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘Œĩ𑍀ð‘ŒĪð‘Œķ𑍋𑌕ð‘Œū ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌜𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌰ð‘ŒĢð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-6āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑍋ð‘Œđ - confusion; delusion
ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 - mere; only
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘ŒĪ𑍌 - in the cessation
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍂𑌊 - one's own nature
𑌆ð‘ŒĶð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ - taking up; owning as oneself
ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - merely by; simply through
ð‘Œĩ𑍀ð‘ŒĪ-ð‘Œķ𑍋𑌕ð‘Œū𑌃 - free from sorrow
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌜𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - shine
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌰ð‘ŒĢ-ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - those with unobstructed vision

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
When mere confusion ends, simply by returning to one's own nature, unobstructed vision shines and sorrow falls away.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
The verse is radically optimistic: it says sorrow is not your essence. Sorrow arises from ð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑍋ð‘Œđ - confusion about what you are. When that confusion ceases, not by struggle but by clarity, the mind's vision becomes ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌰ð‘ŒĢ - unobstructed. "Returning to one's nature" (ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍂𑌊-𑌆ð‘ŒĶð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ) means recognizing yourself as awareness rather than as the stories and roles within awareness. Then sorrow is seen as a wave, not as a definition.

This is why Advaita treats ignorance as the root cause and knowledge as the cure. It also explains why mere coping strategies often feel incomplete: they manage sorrow without touching its root assumption. When the Self is recognized as whole, the mind does not need to manufacture happiness; it simply stops manufacturing sorrow through mis-identification. Many Upanishadic passages describe this shift as freedom from grief, because grief depends on the belief that the Self can be diminished or lost.

Practice by tracing sorrow back to identification. When grief or anxiety arises, ask: "What am I taking myself to be right now?" Often it is a threatened role or a feared future. Then return to a simpler fact: awareness is present, and it is not damaged by the feeling. This does not erase human emotion, but it prevents collapse into it. Over time, ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌰ð‘ŒĢ ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œŋ becomes the capacity to feel fully while remaining inwardly free.

ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œū ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 ð‘Œļð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĻ𑌃 āĨĪ
𑌇ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌜𑍍𑌞ð‘Œūð‘ŒŊ 𑌧𑍀𑌰𑍋 ð‘Œđð‘Œŋ 𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑌭𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌎ð‘Œūð‘Œēð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-𑍭āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 - all
𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū-ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - mere imagination; mental construction
𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œū - the Self
ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - free
ð‘Œļð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - eternal
𑌇ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - thus
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌜𑍍𑌞ð‘Œūð‘ŒŊ - having known
𑌧𑍀𑌰𑌃 - wise one
ð‘Œđð‘Œŋ - indeed
𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - what?
𑌅𑌭𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - practices (as a means)
𑌎ð‘Œūð‘Œēð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - like a child

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Knowing that all is a mental construction and that the Self is eternally free, what would the wise one keep practicing like a child trying to attain something?

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This is one of Ashtavakra's most provocative themes: once the truth is seen, practice as "achievement" loses meaning. The verse is not mocking sincere effort; it is mocking the misunderstanding that freedom is produced by effort. If the Self is already free (ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ) and eternal (ð‘Œļð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĻ), then the main "work" is recognition, not accumulation. In that light, endless striving can look childish (𑌎ð‘Œūð‘Œēð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍) - like trying to polish a mirror in order to create the face.

Still, the tradition also recognizes stages. Many people need preparatory disciplines to quiet the mind and reduce agitation. Ashtavakra is speaking from the standpoint of direct recognition and is warning you not to turn discipline into a permanent project. The moment you truly see the Self as awareness, you stop treating practice as a ladder to become worthy. Practice becomes assimilation: living from clarity, not chasing an experience.

Practice by shifting the motive of your discipline. If you meditate, do not do it to "get" a state; do it to see clearly what is always present. If you study, do not study to win arguments; study to remove confusion. And after you practice, consciously let go of the practice-thought: rest in simple awareness without measuring. This helps discipline serve recognition rather than becoming a new form of bondage.

𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œū 𑌎𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑍌 𑌚 𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍌 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑌃 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂 ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌜ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂 𑌎𑍍𑌰𑍂ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 𑌚 𑌕𑌰𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘ŪāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œū 𑌎𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ - the Self is Brahman
𑌇ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - thus
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - having ascertained
𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ - being; existence
𑌅𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ - non-being; negation
𑌉 - and
𑌚 - also
𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍌 - imagined; constructed
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑌃 - desireless
𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - what?
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌜ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - knows
𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - what?
𑌎𑍍𑌰𑍂ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - says
𑌚 - and
𑌕𑌰𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does
𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - what?

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Having ascertained "the Self is Brahman" and seeing even "being" and "non-being" as mental constructs, what does the desireless one really need to know, say, or do?

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse describes the end of existential homework. When the Self is recognized as Brahman - the ground of all experience - the mind no longer needs to solve reality by collecting conclusions. Even big conceptual opposites like "exists/does not exist" are seen as 𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū, ideas that come and go. The liberated mind becomes ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ: not because it is dull, but because it has stopped searching for completion through knowing, speaking, and doing.

The point is not that the wise becomes mute or inert; it is that the inner compulsion ends. Most people are driven by an anxious need to understand everything, explain themselves, and control outcomes. That drive is rooted in insecurity about identity. When identity is seen as awareness, the drive relaxes. This is close to the Upanishadic mood where the Self is said to be self-luminous and self-established; it does not need to be certified by constant thought.

Practice by noticing your own compulsion to know, speak, and do. When you feel restless, ask: "Am I trying to secure myself by explaining, fixing, or proving?" If yes, pause and return to awareness. Then do only what is needed, and let the rest drop. This is a practical way to cultivate ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ: not deadness, but freedom from inner bargaining.

𑌅ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 ð‘Œļð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘Œđð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŊ𑌂 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘Œđð‘ŒŪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀ð‘ŒĢð‘Œū ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū āĨĪ
ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒĪ𑍂𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒĢ𑍀𑌂𑌭𑍂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘ŊāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌅ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 - this
ð‘Œļ𑌃 𑌅ð‘Œđð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - "this is I"
𑌅ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌅ð‘Œđð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - "this is not I"
𑌇ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - thus
𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀ð‘ŒĢð‘Œū - exhausted; ended
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū - conceptual dividing; imagining
ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂 - everything
𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œū 𑌇ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - as the Self
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - having ascertained
ð‘ŒĪ𑍂𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒĢ𑍀𑌂-𑌭𑍂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of one who has become silent
ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - of the yogi

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
For the yogi who has recognized everything as the Self, the conceptual dividing of "this is me" and "this is not me" comes to an end, and a natural silence arises.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
The mind usually survives by dividing: me/not me, safe/unsafe, mine/not mine. That division is ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊, conceptual splitting. This verse says that when the yogi sees everything as the Self, the splitting exhausts itself. "Everything is the Self" does not mean confusing objects with the Self; it means seeing that all objects appear in awareness and have no independent existence apart from it. When this is clear, the urgent dividing loses its purpose.

The result is ð‘ŒĪ𑍂𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒĢ𑍀𑌂 - silence. Again, this is not merely quiet speech; it is the settling of inner commentary. The mind is no longer compelled to label and claim. This is why many Advaita texts describe realization as a kind of natural stillness: not forced suppression, but the end of restless categorizing. When the knot of "me/not me" loosens, the heart becomes quieter without effort.

Practice by observing how often your mind says "me" and "mine." In a day, notice the subtle claim: "my idea," "my reputation," "my problem," "my success." Then experiment with loosening it: "This is happening in awareness." You don't have to become passive; you simply stop tightening around ownership. Even a few moments of this loosening can bring a taste of ð‘ŒĪ𑍂𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒĢ𑍀𑌂 - inner quiet that does not depend on controlling the world.

ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌊𑍋 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚𑍈𑌕ð‘Œū𑌗𑍍𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌎𑍋𑌧𑍋 ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘ŒĪð‘Œū āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖𑌂 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚 ð‘Œĩð‘Œū ð‘ŒĶ𑍁𑌃𑌖ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌊ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-10āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻ - not
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌊𑌃 - distraction; scattering
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚 - nor
𑌏𑌕ð‘Œū𑌗𑍍𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - one-pointedness; concentration
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌅ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ-𑌎𑍋𑌧𑌃 - not excessive "knowing"/cleverness
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘ŒĪð‘Œū - not stupidity/dullness
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - not pleasure (as a bondage)
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚 ð‘ŒĶ𑍁𑌃𑌖ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - nor pain (as a bondage)
𑌉𑌊ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of one who is pacified; deeply at rest
ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - of the yogi

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
For the deeply settled yogi, there is no bondage in distraction or concentration, cleverness or dullness, pleasure or pain. These pairs no longer define the heart.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse is not denying that the mind can be focused or distracted; it is denying that these states rule identity. Most people suffer by measuring themselves through mental states: "I'm concentrated, so I'm good; I'm distracted, so I'm failing." The settled yogi is beyond that scoreboard. 𑌉𑌊ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ means the mind has stopped fighting itself. In that rest, even pleasure and pain lose their ability to make you whole or broken.

This is a deep form of equanimity. The Bhagavad Gita describes the steady person as equal in happiness and sorrow and not shaken by change. Advaita adds the inner logic: if you are awareness, then states of mind are objects known by you; they cannot define you. When this is understood, even "spiritual" states like one-pointedness do not become ego trophies, and ordinary states like dullness do not become self-condemnation.

Practice by reducing state-based identity. When you feel focused, enjoy it but don't become proud. When you feel scattered, don't despair; simply return to one small anchor. When pleasure comes, receive it without clinging; when pain comes, respond without panic. Each time, ask: "What is aware of this state?" That question points to the unchanging witness. Over time, you begin to live from 𑌉𑌊ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ rather than from the chase for the "right" state.

ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œū𑌜𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑍇 𑌭𑍈𑌕𑍍𑌷ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍌 𑌚 ð‘Œēð‘Œū𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œēð‘Œū𑌭𑍇 𑌜ð‘ŒĻ𑍇 ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍇 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķð‘‡ð‘Œ·ð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-11āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œū𑌜𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑍇 - in sovereignty; in kingship
𑌭𑍈𑌕𑍍𑌷-ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍌 - in a life of begging; mendicancy
𑌚 - and
ð‘Œēð‘Œū𑌭-𑌅ð‘Œēð‘Œū𑌭𑍇 - in gain and loss
𑌜ð‘ŒĻ𑍇 - among people; in a crowd
ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍇 - in the forest
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊-ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of one whose nature is beyond conceptual splitting
ð‘ŒĻ - not
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍇ð‘Œķ𑌃 - special difference; inner partiality
𑌅ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - is
ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - for the yogi

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
For the yogi whose nature is beyond inner splitting, there is no inner difference between kingship and begging, gain and loss, crowd and forest.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
The verse lists extremes to make a simple point: inner freedom is portable. Many people think peace depends on conditions: "If only I had more money," or "If only I could leave society." Ashtavakra says the truly free mind is ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊 - not trapped in compulsive comparisons - so it is not enslaved by circumstances. Kingship and begging are outer opposites, but the wise does not build identity from either.

This does not mean the wise cannot prefer a simpler life. It means preference is not bondage. If a palace comes, it is handled; if a forest comes, it is handled. The Bhagavad Gita describes this as being equal in honor and dishonor, gain and loss, victory and defeat. Advaita explains why: the Self is not improved by abundance or diminished by lack. So the inner "specialness" of conditions dissolves.

Practice by seeing where you make happiness conditional. Notice a thought like "When I get X, I'll finally relax." Then challenge it gently: "Can I relax a little now?" Do one small act of portability: breathe calmly in a stressful place, simplify a decision, or be content with an imperfect moment. Also, reduce comparison. Each time you compare your life with someone else's, return to the witness and to one practical action you can take. This trains the mind to find steadiness independent of setting.

𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ 𑌧𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑌃 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ 𑌚 ð‘Œĩð‘Œū 𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑌃 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ 𑌚ð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ𑌃 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œĩ𑍇𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œū āĨĪ
𑌇ð‘ŒĶ𑌂 𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑌂 ð‘ŒĻ𑍇ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍈𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-12āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ - where is...? (how could it apply?)
𑌧𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑌃 - duty; ethical order
𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑌃 - desire; pleasure
𑌅𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ𑌃 - wealth; gain
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œĩ𑍇𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œū - discernment (as anxious judging)
𑌇ð‘ŒĶ𑌂 𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - "this is done"
𑌇ð‘ŒĶ𑌂 ð‘ŒĻ - "this is not"
𑌇ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - thus
ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍈𑌃 - by opposites; dualities
ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of one freed
ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - of the yogi

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
For the yogi freed from inner dualities like "done/not done", where are the usual pursuits - duty, gain, pleasure - and even anxious judging called discernment?

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
The rhetorical 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ is a way of saying: these categories cannot bind the wise. The verse does not deny that duties and desires exist in society; it says the liberated mind is not imprisoned by them. When the inner duality of "done/not done" loses its grip, the mind stops living inside constant evaluation. Then even ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œĩ𑍇𑌕 can change meaning: it is no longer anxious judging; it becomes a quiet clarity that does not produce self-torture.

This verse also warns against turning spirituality into another obsession with measurement. Some people live with a constant spiritual accounting: "Have I progressed? Have I purified enough? Have I done the right practice?" That is still ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ bondage. The liberated mind is free because it has shifted identity to awareness. When that shift happens, outer aims can still be handled appropriately, but they no longer carry the weight of identity.

Practice by noticing your inner accountant. Where do you keep scoring yourself - morally, socially, spiritually? When you catch "done/not done" loops, pause and return to a simple awareness of breath and sensation. Then act cleanly: do the right thing in the situation, but stop rehearsing it for self-worth. Over time, this reduces the inner dvandva that makes life heavy.

𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻ𑍈ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œū𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘Œđ𑍃ð‘ŒĶð‘Œŋ 𑌰𑌂𑌜ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū āĨĪ
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĨð‘Œū 𑌜𑍀ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘Œĩ𑍇ð‘Œđ 𑌜𑍀ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-13āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 - something that "must be done"; obligatory act
𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑌊ð‘Œŋ - anything at all
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌏ð‘Œĩ 𑌅ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not exist
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œū𑌊ð‘Œŋ - no
ð‘Œđ𑍃ð‘ŒĶð‘Œŋ - in the heart/mind
𑌰𑌂𑌜ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū - attachment; coloring; fascination
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĨð‘Œū - as
𑌜𑍀ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑌂 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - just living
𑌇ð‘Œđ - here
𑌜𑍀ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the liberated-while-living one
ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - of the yogi

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
For the liberated-while-living yogi, there is no inner sense of "I must do something," and no attachment that colors the heart. Life is simply lived.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse describes a profound simplicity: the end of the inner "should." Of course the wise may still act responsibly, but their actions are not driven by the psychological burden of obligation. The sense of "I must do this to become okay" has ended. Similarly, 𑌰𑌂𑌜ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū - the mind being "colored" by fascination and attachment - has faded. The heart is not dyed by craving.

Many people mistake freedom for inactivity, but this verse shows it is more like unburdened living. Duties can still be met, but without inner pressure. Relationships can still be held, but without possessiveness. This is close to the Gita's vision of action without attachment: acting as required, but not as an anxious self-making project. In Advaita, the key is that the sense of being a separate doer has softened.

Practice by reducing the inner "must" in one daily task. Do the task, but watch the emotional pressure you add: resentment, urgency, guilt. Replace it with a calmer intention: "Let this be done well, without inner violence." Also watch attachments: where does the mind get colored? Praise, romance, control, comfort? Notice the coloring and let it fade by returning to awareness. Over time, you will taste the verse's message: life can be lived cleanly, without being carried as a burden.

𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘ŒŪ𑍋ð‘Œđ𑌃 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ 𑌚 ð‘Œĩð‘Œū ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĶ𑍍 𑌧𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌂 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪð‘Œū āĨĪ
ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑌂𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊ð‘Œļ𑍀ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒŊð‘Œū𑌂 ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒŪð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-14āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ - where is...?
ð‘ŒŪ𑍋ð‘Œđ𑌃 - delusion
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂 - world
𑌧𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌂 - meditation
ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪð‘Œū - liberation (as a concept)
ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ-ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊 - all mental constructions; all intentions/imaginations
ð‘Œļ𑍀ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - at the boundary/limit
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of one who rests
ð‘ŒŪð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - of the great-souled one

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
For the great soul who rests at the far boundary of all mental constructions, where are delusion and world, meditation and liberation as concepts?

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
The verse speaks from the standpoint where even spiritual categories are transcended. When the mind rests at the limit of ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊 - the mind's constructing and intending - then "world" and "delusion" are no longer problems, and even "meditation" and "liberation" are no longer projects. This does not mean the world disappears; it means the mind is no longer caught in conceptual struggle about it. The great soul is described as ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪ: resting.

Many seekers turn meditation into a new tension: "I must meditate correctly to get liberation." This verse says that when the mind's constructing ends, the need to build an identity through meditation ends too. Advaita calls this resting as the Self: awareness does not need to meditate on itself; it is already present. The Bhagavad Gita similarly hints that the highest knowledge is not an experience you produce; it is the stable recognition that changes how you relate to every experience.

Practice by simplifying your spiritual effort. If you meditate, notice the subtle ambition behind it and soften it. Sit, breathe, and let awareness be aware, without pushing. When thoughts about "world" and "liberation" arise, see them as thoughts and let them pass. Then return to simple presence. Over time, meditation becomes less a technique and more a resting, which is what ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ means here.

ð‘ŒŊ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑌂 ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌂 ð‘Œļ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍀ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌕𑌰𑍋ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 ð‘Œĩ𑍈 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻ𑌃 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻ 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-15āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒŊ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ - by whom
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂 𑌇ð‘ŒĶ𑌂 - this world
ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌂 - has been seen
ð‘Œļ𑌃 - that one
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌅ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - "it is not" (as an ultimate claim)
𑌇ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - thus
𑌕𑌰𑍋ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 - may say/do
ð‘Œĩ𑍈 - indeed
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - free from latent craving/conditioning
𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - what?
𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - does
𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĻ𑍍 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even while seeing
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not see (as separate/ultimate)

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The one who has truly seen the world may say, "Ultimately it is not." The desireless one does nothing in the ego-sense; even while seeing, he does not see it as a separate, binding reality.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse uses a paradox to describe the wise person's relation to appearances. The world is seen, yet it can be called "not" (ð‘ŒĻ 𑌅ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ) in the ultimate sense because it has no independent substance apart from awareness. This is not denial of experience; it is denial of independent, binding reality. The desireless one is ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻ, so the world does not hook the mind with craving and fear. Even while seeing, the inner "seeing-as-binding" ends.

Advaita often distinguishes between practical reality and ultimate reality. Practically, the world is experienced and life must be lived. Ultimately, the world is an appearance in consciousness. This verse points to the latter without asking you to become impractical. It is also why the wise is said to "do nothing" even while actions occur: the ego's claim on experience is absent. The Gita uses similar language when it says the wise sees action in inaction and inaction in action.

Practice by applying this distinction when you are overwhelmed. When a situation feels absolute ("this will ruin me"), remember: it is experienced, but it is not ultimate. See it as an appearance within awareness. Then take practical steps without panic. Also work with ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻð‘Œū: notice how craving and fear make experiences sticky. Reduce their fuel by simplifying habits, being truthful, and resting as the witness. This makes "seeing without bondage" more than a philosophy.

ð‘ŒŊ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌂 𑌊𑌰𑌂 𑌎𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ ð‘Œļð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘Œđ𑌂 𑌎𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŊ𑍇ð‘ŒĪ𑍍 āĨĪ
𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂 𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍋 ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍀ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 ð‘ŒŊ𑍋 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-16āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒŊ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ - by whom
ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌂 - has been seen
𑌊𑌰𑌂 𑌎𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ - the supreme Brahman
ð‘Œļ𑌃 𑌅ð‘Œđ𑌂 𑌎𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ - "I am Brahman"
𑌇ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - thus
𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŊ𑍇ð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - would think
𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - what?
𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - thinks
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - free of anxious thinking; thought-free in the sense of no need
ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍀ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 - a second (other)
ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - who
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not see

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
One who has truly seen the supreme Brahman does not need to keep thinking "I am Brahman." What would the one free of anxious thinking think, who sees no second at all?

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse warns against turning the highest teaching into a mantra of ego. "I am Brahman" can be a liberating pointer, but if it becomes a repeated thought used to feel special, it can also become another identity. The verse asks: if you have truly seen Brahman, why would you need to keep asserting it? The one who sees no second (𑌅ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍈ð‘ŒĪ in lived experience) does not need to constantly reassure themselves with a concept.

In Advaita, words like 𑌅ð‘Œđ𑌂 𑌎𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œŋ are meant to remove ignorance, not to create a new mental costume. Once the thorn removes the thorn, both are discarded. That is the spirit of this verse. It points to the quiet mind (ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ) that does not need to keep building itself through thoughts, even "spiritual" thoughts. Recognition matures into silence.

Practice by noticing your own use of spiritual concepts as self-reassurance. If you find yourself repeating ideas to feel safe or superior, pause. Return to direct experience: the fact of awareness is here. Instead of repeating "I am Brahman" mechanically, use it as a pointer: ask, "What is aware right now?" Rest there. This keeps the teaching alive and prevents it from becoming another ego slogan.

ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍋 ð‘ŒŊ𑍇ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌊𑍋 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍋𑌧𑌂 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑍌 āĨĪ
𑌉ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷ð‘Œŋ𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌧𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌕𑌰𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-1𑍭āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌃 - seen; noticed
ð‘ŒŊ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ - by whom
𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ-ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌊𑌃 - inner distraction; Self's projection as mind-movement
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍋𑌧𑌂 - suppression; restraint
𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - does
ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 - but
𑌅ð‘Œļ𑍌 - that one
𑌉ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑌃 - noble-minded; vast-hearted
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷ð‘Œŋ𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - not distracted
ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌧𑍍ð‘ŒŊ-𑌅𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - because there is nothing to be achieved
𑌕𑌰𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does
𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - what?

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
One who notices inner distraction tries to restrain it. But the noble one is not distracted at all; with nothing to be achieved, what would he try to do?

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse contrasts two stages. In early practice, you notice distraction and you try to restrain it. That can be useful. But Ashtavakra is pointing beyond that: the noble one (𑌉ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰) is not stuck in distraction, because the root identification has softened. If you no longer believe you are the mind, the mind's movement does not imprison you in the same way. So the whole project of suppression becomes less central.

The verse also points to a deeper reason: ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌧𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ, the absence of a goal to achieve. When freedom is understood as recognition, not production, the mind stops trying to "get" a state. That does not mean the mind becomes chaotic; it means it becomes less anxious. The ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗 Sutras talk about 𑌅𑌭𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘Œļ and ð‘Œĩ𑍈𑌰ð‘Œū𑌗𑍍ð‘ŒŊ as means; Ashtavakra is speaking from the place where their fruit has ripened into natural ease.

Practice by using restraint skillfully but lightly. If the mind is scattered, bring it back - but don't make it a war. Alongside practice, also inquire: "Who is distracted?" Notice that awareness knows distraction without being distracted. Then let the mind relax into that knowing. The more you taste this, the less you will feel the need to force a mental state, because you will recognize the freedom that is already present.

𑌧𑍀𑌰𑍋 ð‘Œē𑍋𑌕ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌊𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍋 ð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒŠð‘Œŋ ð‘Œē𑍋𑌕ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧ð‘Œŋ𑌂 ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌊𑌂 ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œē𑍋𑌊𑌂 ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-1ð‘ŪāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌧𑍀𑌰𑌃 - steady one; wise person
ð‘Œē𑍋𑌕-ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌊𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - "opposite" to worldly ways; beyond worldly values
ð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌃 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even while living/acting
ð‘Œē𑍋𑌕ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - like ordinary people (outwardly)
ð‘ŒĻ - not
ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧ð‘Œŋ𑌂 - absorption (as an ego-state)
ð‘ŒĻ - not
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌊𑌂 - distraction
ð‘ŒĻ - not
ð‘Œē𑍋𑌊𑌂 - loss; disappearance
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of himself
𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - sees; experiences (as a problem)

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Though the wise one lives outwardly like others, he is inwardly beyond worldly values. He does not see himself as falling into distraction or rising into absorption, nor as losing anything of himself.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse is a reminder that freedom can look ordinary. The wise may still live in society, speak, work, and interact. Outwardly they can appear ð‘Œē𑍋𑌕ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - like everyone else. Yet inwardly they are ð‘Œē𑍋𑌕-ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌊𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ - not in the sense of rebellion, but in the sense of not being governed by the world's value system of praise, status, and constant becoming. Their center is awareness, not reputation.

Because their identity is not tied to mind-states, they do not obsess over ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧ð‘Œŋ and ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌊. Most seekers oscillate: "I was focused; now I'm distracted; I've lost it." The wise does not feel this loss (ð‘Œē𑍋𑌊) because the Self was never a state to be gained or lost. This verse is also compassion for those who fear "falling" spiritually: the deeper stability is not fragile.

Practice by allowing your spiritual life to become ordinary and honest. Notice your fear of losing progress and your desire to appear advanced. Each time, return to the witness and remember: awareness is present even in distraction. Continue simple disciplines, but drop the dramatic story about them. Let your outer life be normal and responsible, and let your inner life be anchored in the recognition that nothing essential can be lost.

𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œđ𑍀ð‘ŒĻ𑍋 ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍃𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍋 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻ𑍋 𑌎𑍁𑌧𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻ𑍈ð‘Œĩ 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 ð‘ŒĪ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œē𑍋𑌕ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪð‘Œū āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-1ð‘ŊāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ-𑌅𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ - being and non-being; appearing and disappearing
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œđ𑍀ð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - free from
ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - who
ð‘ŒĪ𑍃𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - content; satisfied
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - without latent craving/conditioning
𑌎𑍁𑌧𑌃 - wise person
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - not at all
𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - anything
𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - done (as an ego-claim)
ð‘ŒĪ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ - by him
ð‘Œē𑍋𑌕-ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū - from the world's viewpoint
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪð‘Œū - while acting; while making movements

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The wise one, content and free from craving, is beyond the mental opposites of "being" and "non-being." Though he may act from the world's viewpoint, inwardly he does not claim, "I have done something."

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
The verse points to two freedoms: freedom from metaphysical anxiety and freedom from doership. The wise is 𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ-ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œđ𑍀ð‘ŒĻ - not obsessed with proving existence or non-existence. Such debates can become mental addiction. When the Self is recognized, these opposites lose their grip. The second freedom is ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻ: the mind is no longer driven by latent cravings. So even when actions occur, they do not feel like "my achievement" or "my burden."

This is a key Advaita point: actions belong to the body-mind, while the Self is the witness. The Bhagavad Gita says the wise see themselves as not acting even while acting. Ashtavakra's verse says the same with emphasis on the inner absence of claim. The world may see activity, but the wise does not use activity to construct identity. That is why contentment (ð‘ŒĪ𑍃𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ) is repeatedly mentioned: without inner lack, there is no need to own actions.

Practice by reducing doership in small ways. When you complete a task, notice the urge to claim credit or to fear blame. Replace it with a quieter view: "This happened through circumstances, skills, and effort; awareness witnessed it." Also work with cravings that drive action: approval-seeking, control, validation. Each time you see a craving, pause and loosen it. This gradually makes action lighter and more selfless, which is what the verse describes.

𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍌 ð‘Œĩð‘Œū ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍌 ð‘Œĩð‘Œū ð‘ŒĻ𑍈ð‘Œĩ 𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒĶ𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌗𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĶð‘Œū ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍁ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌠ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-20āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍌 - in action; in outward engagement
ð‘Œĩð‘Œū - or
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍌 - in withdrawal; in stepping back
ð‘Œĩð‘Œū - or
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - not at all
𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - for the steady/wise one
ð‘ŒĶ𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌗𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑌃 - stubborn clinging; hard grasping
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĶð‘Œū ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - whenever whatever
𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍁𑌂 - to do
𑌆ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - comes (to be done)
ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - that
𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū - having done
ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌠ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - remains; stands
ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - happily; at ease

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Whether in action or withdrawal, the wise one does not cling stubbornly. Whatever needs to be done when the time comes, he does it and then rests at ease.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This is a very practical description of freedom: flexibility without inner stickiness. Many people cling to one posture - always doing, or always avoiding. The wise is not stubbornly attached to either 𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ or ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ. Action happens when needed, rest happens when appropriate, and neither becomes an identity. This is why the verse ends with ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖ð‘ŒŪ𑍍: ease is the sign, not drama.

This also clarifies that Advaita is not passivity. The wise does act - but without compulsive over-involvement. The Bhagavad Gita praises this as skill in action: acting without inner attachment. In everyday terms, it means responding cleanly and then letting the mind stop replaying. The mind of bondage keeps rehearsing and worrying; the mind of freedom acts and then rests.

Practice by training "do, then stop." Pick one area where you overthink: messages, decisions, mistakes. Do the necessary step, and then consciously end the replay. If the mind restarts, bring it back to the present and to the breath. Also, notice rigid identities: "I'm the kind of person who always works" or "I never engage." Replace them with responsiveness: "What is needed now?" This simple habit cultivates the ease described in the verse.

ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻ𑍋 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œē𑌂𑌎𑌃 ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍋 ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌎𑌂𑌧ð‘ŒĻ𑌃 āĨĪ
𑌕𑍍𑌷ð‘Œŋ𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļ𑍍𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 ð‘Œķ𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌕𑌊𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĢð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-21āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - without latent cravings; free from conditioning
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œē𑌂𑌎𑌃 - without outer support; not leaning on anything
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑌃 - free; acting from one's own nature
ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ-𑌎𑌂𑌧ð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - freed from bondage
𑌕𑍍𑌷ð‘Œŋ𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - tossed; thrown about
ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļ𑍍𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰-ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ - by the wind of impressions/habits
𑌚𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - moves; behaves
ð‘Œķ𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌕-𑌊𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĢð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - like a dry leaf

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Free from craving and not leaning on anything, acting from freedom, the liberated one still moves in the world - carried by the "wind" of past impressions, like a dry leaf.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse addresses a subtle question: if one is free, why does action still happen? It points to ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļ𑍍𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰 - residual impressions and momentum from the past. Even after recognition, the body-mind has habits, preferences, and a certain trajectory. The wise one is free because there is no inner clinging, but the outer instrument still moves, just as a dry leaf can be moved by wind without having a will of its own. The key is the absence of ego-ownership.

This is closely related to the idea of 𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌰𑌎𑍍𑌧: the portion of past momentum that continues until the body ends. Advaita does not deny momentum; it denies that momentum defines the Self. That is why the liberated one can appear to act, speak, travel, and even have moods, while inwardly remaining unattached. The verse protects you from expecting a cartoonish liberation where the body becomes a statue; instead, it describes a natural, unforced freedom.

Practice by observing your own ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļ𑍍𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰 winds. Notice habitual reactions: impatience, people-pleasing, overthinking, indulgence. Instead of claiming them as "me", see them as conditioned patterns moving through the body-mind. Then respond with awareness: do one small, clean interruption of the pattern. Over time, habits lose power, and even while momentum continues, it does not feel like bondage. That is the freedom the verse points to.

𑌅ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œđ𑌰𑍍𑌷𑍋 ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌷ð‘Œūð‘ŒĶð‘ŒĪð‘Œū āĨĪ
ð‘Œļ ð‘Œķ𑍀ð‘ŒĪð‘Œēð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻð‘Œū ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘Œđ 𑌇ð‘Œĩ 𑌰ð‘Œū𑌜ð‘ŒŊ𑍇 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-22āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌅ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of one beyond bondage; not caught in ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌰
ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 - indeed
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌊ð‘Œŋ - anywhere; in any situation
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œđ𑌰𑍍𑌷𑌃 - no elation
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌷ð‘Œūð‘ŒĶð‘ŒĪð‘Œū - no dejection
ð‘Œļ𑌃 - that one
ð‘Œķ𑍀ð‘ŒĪð‘Œē-ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻð‘Œū - cool-minded; calm in heart
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 - always
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘Œđ𑌃 - bodiless (as if beyond body-identity)
𑌇ð‘Œĩ - like; as though
𑌰ð‘Œū𑌜ð‘ŒŊ𑍇 - shines; appears splendid

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
For the one beyond bondage, there is no emotional swing into elation or dejection in any situation. Always cool-minded, he shines as though bodiless.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse describes emotional freedom, not emotional numbness. The liberated mind is not constantly pulled upward by pleasure and downward by pain. It has a steady coolness (ð‘Œķ𑍀ð‘ŒĪð‘Œē) because its identity is no longer tied to passing conditions. "Bodiless" (ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘Œđ) here means: not confined to the body-idea. The body can be present, but the sense of being only the body has faded, so emotional weather does not dominate the sky.

The Bhagavad Gita calls this steadiness being free from agitation in sorrow and free from craving in pleasure. Advaita explains the mechanism: when the Self is known as awareness, feelings are experienced but not owned as identity. That is why the wise can be deeply human - caring, responsive, even tender - without being emotionally enslaved. The shine the verse mentions is the shine of inner stability, not outer performance.

Practice by working with one emotional swing. When you feel elated, notice the urge to cling and prolong; when you feel dejected, notice the urge to collapse and dramatize. In both cases, return to the witness: feel the body, breathe, and let the emotion be present without turning it into a story about "me." Then act from steadiness: enjoy without grasping, and respond to pain without panic. Over time, ð‘Œķ𑍀ð‘ŒĪð‘Œē-ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻð‘Œū becomes less rare and more natural.

𑌕𑍁ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻ 𑌜ð‘Œŋð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘Œķ𑍋 ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕𑍁ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍 āĨĪ
𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘Œķ𑍀ð‘ŒĪð‘Œēð‘Œū𑌚𑍍𑌛ð‘ŒĪ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-23āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌕𑍁ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌊ð‘Œŋ - anywhere
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌜ð‘Œŋð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘Œū - no wish to abandon; no urge to throw away
𑌅ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - exists
ð‘ŒĻ - not
𑌆ð‘Œķð‘Œū - hope/desire; expectation
ð‘Œĩð‘Œū 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - nor even
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕𑍁ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - nowhere at all
𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ-𑌆𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of one who delights in the Self
𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the steady one
ð‘Œķ𑍀ð‘ŒĪð‘Œē - cool; calm
𑌆𑌚𑍍𑌛ð‘ŒĪ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - of very clear/cool inner nature

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
For the steady one who delights in the Self, there is no urge to abandon life anywhere and no expectation anywhere. His inner nature is profoundly cool and clear.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
The verse describes the end of two opposite impulses: the impulse to throw life away and the impulse to demand something from life. Many people oscillate between these: "I want to escape everything" and "I need something more." The Self-delighting one (𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ) needs neither. Because wholeness is felt within, there is no urgent need to abandon situations, and there is no anxious expectation that situations must provide fulfillment. That is why the mind is described as deeply cool and clear.

This is a mature expression of ð‘Œĩ𑍈𑌰ð‘Œū𑌗𑍍ð‘ŒŊ. It is not bitterness and it is not indifference; it is inner completeness. When the Self is recognized, both escapism and grasping lose their force. This is also why the wise can remain in ordinary life without inner bondage: there is no secret bargaining with the world and no secret resentment toward it.

Practice by watching where you fantasize about escape and where you demand fulfillment. If you feel "I want to quit everything," ask what pain you are trying to avoid. If you feel "I need this outcome," ask what lack you are trying to fill. In both cases, return to the witness and to one clean step: rest, simplify, speak truth, take responsibility. Over time, the heart learns the calm of 𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ - being at home in oneself.

𑌊𑍍𑌰𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū ð‘Œķ𑍂ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌚𑍍𑌛ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū āĨĪ
𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑍇ð‘Œĩ 𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍋 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘ŒĪð‘Œū āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-24āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌊𑍍𑌰𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū - by nature; naturally
ð‘Œķ𑍂ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ-𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of one whose mind is empty (of ego-driven vikalpa)
𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - while doing
𑌅ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of this one
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌚𑍍𑌛ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū - spontaneously; as it happens
𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - like an ordinary person
𑌏ð‘Œĩ - indeed
𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the steady one
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - no pride/honor
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌅ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘ŒĪð‘Œū - no humiliation/insult-sense

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The steady one, whose mind is naturally free of ego-churning, may act spontaneously like an ordinary person - yet he is untouched by pride or humiliation.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse dismantles the need to look spiritual. The liberated mind can appear completely ordinary (𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ). It can joke, work, eat, rest - and yet inwardly be empty of ego-based story. That is ð‘Œķ𑍂ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ-𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ here: not a blank mind, but a mind not cluttered with "me" and "mine." Because the ego-story is thin, the person is not wounded by insult nor inflated by praise.

This is one of the most practical markers of freedom: being less controlled by other people's opinions. Many suffer because honor and insult become identity threats. Advaita points out that identity is awareness, not reputation. When that is seen, you can still care about ethics and relationships, but you are not emotionally held hostage. That is why the verse says the wise acts spontaneously (ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌚𑍍𑌛ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū): action is not performance for approval.

Practice by working with praise and blame. Notice one place where you are sensitive to being appreciated or criticized. When you receive praise, enjoy it but don't feed identity; when you receive criticism, learn if it's useful and drop the rest. In both cases, return to awareness and remember: your worth is not a social verdict. Then do one small act of sincerity without performance - an honest boundary, a quiet kindness, a clean correction. This steadily reduces ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ and 𑌅ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ as inner rulers.

𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 ð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘Œđ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘ŒĶ𑌂 ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŊð‘Œū ð‘Œķ𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧𑌰𑍂𑌊ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĢð‘Œū āĨĪ
𑌇ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍁𑌰𑍋𑌧𑍀 ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑌊ð‘Œŋ 𑌕𑌰𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻ āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-25āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - done
ð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘Œđ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ - by the body
𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪ 𑌇ð‘ŒĶ𑌂 - this action
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŊð‘Œū - not by me
ð‘Œķ𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧-𑌰𑍂𑌊ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĢð‘Œū - whose nature is pure (the Self)
𑌇ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - thus
𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū-𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁𑌰𑍋𑌧𑍀 - one who abides in this understanding
ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - who
𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even while doing
𑌕𑌰𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻ - does not do (as an ego-claim)

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Knowing "this action is done by the body, not by me, the pure Self," one who abides in this understanding does not feel egoic doership even while actions happen.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse is a practical Advaita instruction: relocate doership. The body-mind is an instrument that acts, but the Self as pure awareness (ð‘Œķ𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧-𑌰𑍂𑌊) is not the doer. When this is understood, actions can continue without the inner claim "I am doing." That claim is what creates pride, guilt, fear of failure, and obsession with results. Dropping the claim does not make you irresponsible; it makes you less neurotic.

The Bhagavad Gita teaches this repeatedly: the wise sees action as occurring through the qualities of nature, while the Self remains a witness. Ashtavakra's verse is the same teaching in one line. The key is "abiding" (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁𑌰𑍋𑌧𑍀): it is not enough to repeat the idea; it must become your lived reference point. Then doership weakens naturally.

Practice by applying this to one action a day. Before you act, feel the body and note: "The body-mind will do this." After the act, notice the inner claim and soften it: "It happened." If you made a mistake, correct it without self-hatred. If you succeeded, enjoy without inflation. Over time, you will see how much suffering was produced by doership, and how much peace comes from releasing it.

𑌅ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍀ð‘Œĩ 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌭ð‘Œĩ𑍇ð‘ŒĶ𑌊ð‘Œŋ 𑌎ð‘Œūð‘Œēð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑌃 āĨĪ
𑌜𑍀ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖𑍀 ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰𑍀ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļ𑌰ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘Œķ𑍋𑌭ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-26āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌅ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĶ𑍍-ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍀 - as if one who does not know/say "that" (the truth)
𑌇ð‘Œĩ - like; as though
𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - acts
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌭ð‘Œĩ𑍇ð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - does not become
𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even
𑌎ð‘Œūð‘Œēð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑌃 - a fool
𑌜𑍀ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - liberated while living
ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖𑍀 - happy; at ease
ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰𑍀ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - endowed; radiant
ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļ𑌰ð‘ŒĻ𑍍 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even while moving in the world
ð‘Œķ𑍋𑌭ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - shines; appears splendid

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The liberated one may act outwardly as though he does not "speak the truth" at every moment, yet he is not foolish. Happy and radiant, he shines even while moving through ordinary worldly life.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse prevents spiritual showmanship. The liberated person does not need to constantly advertise wisdom. They may speak and act in ordinary ways, even appearing simple. That does not mean ignorance; it means freedom from the need to perform enlightenment. The verse says: he acts "as if" he does not speak the doctrine, and yet he is not 𑌎ð‘Œūð‘Œēð‘Œŋð‘Œķ (foolish). He is 𑌜𑍀ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ: free while living.

Many people confuse wisdom with spiritual language. But real wisdom is the absence of inner bondage, not the ability to quote. This is why the liberated one can "shine" (ð‘Œķ𑍋𑌭ð‘ŒĪ𑍇) even in ordinary life: the shine is inner peace and simplicity. It also implies humility. When you are not trying to prove anything, you can meet people where they are without preaching.

Practice by reducing your need to appear wise. Notice where you reach for spiritual vocabulary to impress or to avoid vulnerability. Try being simpler: listen well, speak truthfully, and act kindly. Let your steadiness be the teaching. At the same time, keep clarity inwardly: remember the witness, release doership, reduce craving. This makes wisdom both humble and real, which is the spirit of this verse.

ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌚ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍁ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍋 𑌧𑍀𑌰𑍋 ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌗ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌜ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œķ𑍃ð‘ŒĢ𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻ 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-2𑍭āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œū-ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌚ð‘Œū𑌰 - many kinds of thoughts/inquiry
ð‘Œļ𑍁ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - thoroughly exhausted
𑌧𑍀𑌰𑌃 - wise person
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - rest; repose
𑌆𑌗ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - has reached
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - does not imagine/construct
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌜ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not "know" in the egoic sense
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œķ𑍃ð‘ŒĢ𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not hear (as an object-seeker)
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not see (as an object-seeker)

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Exhausted of endless mental inquiry, the wise one reaches deep rest. In that rest, the mind stops constructing and seeking through knowing, hearing, and seeing.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
The verse describes a turning point: the mind becomes tired of itself. Many seekers do years of thinking, debating, comparing, and analyzing. That can be useful initially, but it can also become a trap: the mind keeps spinning about liberation instead of resting as the Self. When the mind becomes ð‘Œļ𑍁ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪ - exhausted of its own looping inquiry - it can finally relax into ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ, the rest of being.

The list "does not imagine, does not know, does not hear, does not see" is not literal blindness or ignorance. It means the seeking mode has stopped. The senses may function, but the inner drive to grab objects for completion is absent. This is like the end of compulsive searching on the internet: you close the tabs because you are no longer hungry. The wise has closed the mental tabs.

Practice by noticing your own "mental tabs." Where do you keep searching for certainty, reassurance, or spiritual validation? Set a small boundary: decide a time when you stop consuming and start resting. Sit quietly and let the mind be without feeding it new inputs. When the urge to think arises, let it arise and pass without following. Over time, you will taste a bit of ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - the rest that does not depend on answering every question.

𑌅ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧𑍇𑌰ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌊ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒŪ𑍁ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍁𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚𑍇ð‘ŒĪ𑌰𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌂 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĻ𑍍 𑌎𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍈ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 ð‘ŒŪð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘Œķð‘ŒŊ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-2ð‘ŪāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌅ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧𑍇𑌃 - without (the need for) samAdhi
𑌅ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌊ð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - without distraction
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒŪ𑍁ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍁𑌃 - not a seeker of liberation
ð‘ŒĻ - not
𑌚𑍇ð‘ŒĪ𑌰𑌃 - nor the opposite (one who rejects liberation)
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - having ascertained
𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌂 - imagined; constructed
𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - seeing
𑌎𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - as Brahman alone
𑌆ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - abides; remains
ð‘ŒŪð‘Œđð‘Œū-𑌆ð‘Œķð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - great-souled one

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Free from both distraction and the need to chase samadhi, he is neither a seeker of liberation nor its opposite. Seeing the world as a construction, the great-souled one simply abides as Brahman.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse describes a mature neutrality. Some seekers obsess over ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧ð‘Œŋ; others reject it and cling to distraction as "normal life." The liberated mind is beyond both. It is 𑌅ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌊 in the sense of not being psychologically scattered, and it is also beyond the need to chase special absorption. Therefore it is neither a ð‘ŒŪ𑍁ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍁 (one striving to get liberation) nor "the opposite" (one who dismisses liberation). The posture of striving itself has relaxed.

The core is "seeing the constructed as constructed." When you see thoughts, identities, and world-stories as 𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ, they lose authority. Then what remains is 𑌎𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - awareness itself. This verse is a key bridge between practice and non-practice: practice may quiet the mind, but liberation is the recognition of what awareness already is, independent of mental states.

Practice by loosening your identity as "seeker." Notice where you are chasing a future state and where you are rebelling against practice. In both cases, return to the witness. Treat your thoughts and moods as constructions arising in awareness. Then rest as the awareness that knows them. If you meditate, do it without ambition; if you live your life, live it without distraction-as-escape. This makes the mind steady without turning steadiness into a new cage.

ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĶð‘Œđ𑌂𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰𑍋 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕𑌰𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌕𑌰𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘Œļ𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œđ𑌂𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰𑌧𑍀𑌰𑍇ð‘ŒĢ ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-2ð‘ŊāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌅𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - within whom
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - is; exists
𑌅ð‘Œđ𑌂𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰𑌃 - ego-sense; "I"-maker
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕𑌰𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not act (truly)
𑌕𑌰𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - (yet) acts (as a claim)
ð‘Œļ𑌃 - that one
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œđ𑌂𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰 - without ego
𑌧𑍀𑌰𑍇ð‘ŒĢ - by the steady one
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - nothing
𑌅𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - undone
𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - done

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The ego-filled person may not truly act (actions happen through nature), yet he claims "I act." The ego-free steady one may act, yet inwardly nothing feels "done" or "undone" as a personal burden.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse turns doership upside down. In truth, the body-mind acts through conditioning, circumstances, and nature. But the ego claims ownership: "I did this." That claim creates pride and guilt. So the verse says the ego-filled person "does not act" in the deeper sense (because action belongs to the instrument), yet he claims action. The ego-free person is the reverse: actions may occur through him, yet there is no inner claim and no inner burden of "done/undone."

This is very close to the Bhagavad Gita's analysis of 𑌅ð‘Œđ𑌂𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰. When ego claims doership, it also claims enjoyership and sufferership, and that is the root of bondage. When ego is absent, action becomes lighter and cleaner. In Advaita, the Self is not the doer; it is the witness. Recognizing that changes the entire emotional tone of life.

Practice by observing how doership creates inner weight. Notice after an action how quickly the mind says "my success" or "my failure." Then step back and see the chain of causes: training, help, luck, body energy, mood, circumstances. Let the claim soften. Replace it with responsibility without ego: "I will respond and learn." This reduces pride and guilt and makes the mind more peaceful. Over time, "done/undone" stops being an identity issue.

ð‘ŒĻ𑍋ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌗𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑌂 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚 ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘ŒŪ𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍃 ð‘Œļ𑍍𑌊𑌂ð‘ŒĶð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍍𑌜ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œķ𑌂 𑌗ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘Œđ𑌂 𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌰ð‘Œū𑌜ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-30āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌉ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌗𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - not agitated
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚 ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - nor elated
𑌅𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍃 - without doership
ð‘Œļ𑍍𑌊𑌂ð‘ŒĶ-ð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍍𑌜ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - without inner twitching; without nervous vibration
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œķ𑌂 - without expectation
𑌗ð‘ŒĪ-ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘Œđð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - with doubt gone
𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 - mind
ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the liberated one
𑌰ð‘Œū𑌜ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - shines

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The liberated mind shines: not agitated or elated, free of doership and inner twitching, without expectation, and without doubt.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse gives a clear psychological portrait of freedom. The liberated mind is not constantly swinging between agitation and excitement. It is also 𑌅𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍃 - the sense of "I am the doer" has softened - so action does not create the same inner tension. The phrase ð‘Œļ𑍍𑌊𑌂ð‘ŒĶ-ð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍍𑌜ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ points to the end of nervous inner twitching: the subtle vibration of craving, fear, and self-justification that keeps the mind restless even when life looks fine.

The verse also highlights two roots of suffering: expectation and doubt. ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œķð‘Œū here does not mean hopelessness; it means the end of the inner bargain that says, "Life must give me this for me to be okay." 𑌗ð‘ŒĪ-ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘Œđ means doubt is gone - not because every question has been answered, but because the core confusion about identity has been resolved. This is close to the Gita's description of the steady person whose mind is settled, free from fear and anger, and not dependent on outcomes.

Practice by locating "spanda" in your own experience. Notice the inner twitch that appears when you are waiting for a response, trying to impress, or fearing a mistake. Instead of feeding it, pause, breathe, and return to the witness. Then act cleanly without the extra inner bargaining. Also work with expectation: pick one area where you demand a certain outcome, and soften it into preference. Finally, notice doubt as identity-confusion ("What if I'm not enough?") and meet it with inquiry: "What is aware of this doubt?" Repeating this steadily makes the mind quieter and more radiant, which is what the verse describes.

ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍𑌧𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍁𑌂 𑌚𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍁𑌂 ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒŊ𑌚𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍇 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑌂 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍𑌧𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒŊ𑍇ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌚𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-31āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍𑌧𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍁𑌂 - to meditate deeply; to contemplate
𑌚𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍁𑌂 - to act; to make effort
ð‘Œĩð‘Œū 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - or even
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍍 𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 - whose mind
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - does not engage; does not "push"
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - without motive; without cause
𑌇ð‘ŒĶ𑌂 - this (mind/life)
𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 - yet
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍𑌧𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - meditates/reflects
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌚𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - acts; moves

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The liberated mind does not deliberately push itself into meditation or action, yet it may still meditate and act spontaneously, without motive.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse describes spontaneity after the ego's project ends. The mind no longer "tries" to meditate to gain something, and it no longer "tries" to act to prove something. The compulsive push is gone. Yet life does not freeze. Thought and action can still arise, but they arise as natural movements, not as anxious strategies. That is why the verse says "without motive" (ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ): there is no inner bargaining behind the movement.

This is an important point because many imagine that spirituality means becoming inactive or blank. Advaita says the real shift is inner: the end of doership and craving. The body-mind can continue to function like an instrument - breathing, speaking, responding - without egoic ownership. The Bhagavad Gita says the wise may act, yet remain inwardly free. This verse gives the same idea: action and contemplation may happen, but not as an ego-project.

Practice by doing one activity without hidden motive. Choose a simple task - washing dishes, walking, writing. Do it attentively, but watch for the inner push: "I must finish fast," "I must look good," "I must get praise." Each time it appears, soften it and return to presence. Also, if you meditate, notice the ambition for a state and drop it. Let practice become a resting rather than a chase. Over time, you will understand ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ as a lived quality: actions occur, but inner compulsion fades.

ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂 ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĨð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĢ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒŪ𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑌃 𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘ŒĪð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĪ
𑌅ð‘ŒĨð‘Œĩð‘Œū ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌕𑍋𑌚ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒ𑌃 ð‘Œ•ð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒŠð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-32āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂 - truth; reality
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĨð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - as it truly is
𑌆𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĢ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - having heard
ð‘ŒŪ𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑌃 - dull one; unprepared one
𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - attains; falls into
ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘ŒĪð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - dullness; foolishness
𑌅ð‘ŒĨð‘Œĩð‘Œū - or else
ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - goes to; falls into
ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌕𑍋𑌚ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - contraction; shrinking; fear
𑌅ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒ𑌃 - not dull; capable one
ð‘Œ•ð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒŠð‘Œŋ - someone
ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - like a fool

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Hearing the truth as it is, the unprepared person may become even more confused. Or even a capable person may shrink and contract in fear, behaving like a fool.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse is a sober caution: the truth can be misheard. A dull or ego-driven mind may take non-duality as license for carelessness, denial, or arrogance - becoming "more foolish" than before. On the other hand, even a sincere, capable person can feel ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌕𑍋𑌚 - contraction - when the teaching threatens cherished identities. The mind may feel: "If I'm not the body-mind, then what am I?" That fear can look like confusion.

Tradition therefore emphasizes preparation: ethical stability, humility, and a willingness to examine oneself honestly. The teaching is simple, but the ego's defenses are complex. When Ashtavakra says "you are free," the ego may either inflate ("I'm already liberated!") or shrink ("then my life is meaningless"). Both are distortions. The right hearing is mature: it softens craving and fear and makes responsibility cleaner, not optional.

Practice by checking how you receive teachings. If you notice arrogance or carelessness arising, treat it as a sign of mishearing. If you notice fear and contraction, slow down and ground yourself in simple practice: breath, honesty, kindness. Study with a quiet mind and apply the insight gradually in daily life. The goal is not to force yourself to feel fearless; it is to let understanding become stable. This prevents ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘ŒĪð‘Œū and ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌕𑍋𑌚 from hijacking the teaching.

𑌏𑌕ð‘Œū𑌗𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍋𑌧𑍋 ð‘Œĩð‘Œū ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒ𑍈𑌰𑌭𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 𑌭𑍃ð‘Œķð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĪ
𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œū𑌃 𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌊ð‘ŒĶ𑍇 ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-33āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌏𑌕ð‘Œū𑌗𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū - one-pointedness; concentration
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍋𑌧𑌃 - suppression; restraint
ð‘Œĩð‘Œū - or
ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒ𑍈𑌃 - by the foolish/immature
𑌅𑌭𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - is practiced
𑌭𑍃ð‘Œķð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - intensely; excessively
𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œū𑌃 - the wise
𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 - something that "must be done"
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - do not see (as a burden)
ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - like one asleep (in ease)
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ-𑌊ð‘ŒĶ𑍇 - in one's own place/nature
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌃 - established

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Foolish minds intensely practice concentration or suppression. The wise, established in their own nature, do not carry the burden of "something must be done"; they rest as naturally as one asleep.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
Ashtavakra is not attacking 𑌏𑌕ð‘Œū𑌗𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū or ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍋𑌧 as tools; he is attacking the mindset that thinks freedom is produced by force. The foolish mind often becomes extreme: it tries to clamp down on thought or concentrate to prove worth. That can create more tension. The wise rests in ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ-𑌊ð‘ŒĶ - one's own nature - and therefore does not experience life as an endless duty list. The inner burden of "I must fix myself" fades.

This is a core difference between force and clarity. Force can temporarily suppress mind, but the root identification remains. Clarity dissolves identification, so the mind can rest without effort. The verse uses "sleep" as a metaphor for ease, not for unconsciousness. It suggests a natural resting in being where the mind is not continuously commanding itself.

Practice by using technique without violence. If you meditate, bring attention back gently rather than aggressively. Notice if you are trying to "win" at meditation. Replace that with a softer inquiry: "What is aware right now?" Also, reduce the inner list of "shoulds" by choosing one simple practice and doing it consistently without obsessing. This helps concentration serve recognition instead of becoming another ego contest.

𑌅𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍍 ð‘Œĩð‘Œū ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒ𑍋 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍇ð‘ŒĢ 𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌜𑍍𑌞𑍋 𑌭ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-34āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌅𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - from not making effort
𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - from making effort
ð‘Œĩð‘Œū - or
ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒ𑌃 - the confused one
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌆𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not attain
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - peace; repose; cessation
ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩ-ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘ŒŊ - certainty of truth
ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍇ð‘ŒĢ - by merely; just through
𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌃 - the wise one
𑌭ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - becomes
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - at peace; inwardly rested

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The confused one does not attain peace either by effort or by laziness. The wise one becomes peaceful simply through clear certainty of the truth.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse criticizes two common mistakes: forcing and avoiding. Some try to become free through strain; others avoid inner work and call it freedom. Both miss the point. The verse says the confused mind finds no rest either way because the root confusion remains. Peace comes from ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩ-ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘ŒŊ: clear certainty about what you are. That certainty dissolves the anxiety that fuels restlessness.

This does not mean intellectual belief; it means an insight that becomes stable. When you know, not merely think, that you are awareness and not the changing stories, the mind stops panicking about outcomes. Then effort becomes lighter and rest becomes natural. In Advaita, this is why knowledge is central: actions can purify, but only knowledge removes the core misunderstanding.

Practice by shifting from method-addiction to clarity. Keep simple disciplines, but make inquiry central: "What is aware?" When you notice yourself oscillating between over-effort and avoidance, return to this question. Also verify in experience: notice that awareness is present whether the mind is busy or quiet. This repeated verification is how ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘ŒŊ becomes steady and peace becomes natural.

ð‘Œķ𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧𑌂 𑌎𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧𑌂 𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŊ𑌂 𑌊𑍂𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĢ𑌂 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌊𑍍𑌰𑌊𑌂𑌚𑌂 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĪ
𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌂 ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌜ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌭𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑌊𑌰ð‘Œū 𑌜ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-35āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œķ𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧𑌂 - pure
𑌎𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧𑌂 - aware; awakened
𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - dear; beloved
𑌊𑍂𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĢ𑌂 - full; complete
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌊𑍍𑌰𑌊𑌂𑌚𑌂 - beyond the world of mental projection
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - without disease; free of disturbance
𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌂 - the Self
ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 - that
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌜ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - do not know
ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 - in that matter
𑌅𑌭𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘Œļ-𑌊𑌰ð‘Œū𑌃 - devoted to practice as an end in itself
𑌜ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū𑌃 - people

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
People who are obsessed with practice as an end often fail to recognize the Self that is pure, aware, dear, complete, beyond mental projection, and free of disturbance.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse is not anti-practice; it is anti-obsession. Practice can be necessary to calm the mind and refine attention, but it can also become a substitute for recognition. Some people keep practicing to avoid the simple, direct insight: "I am awareness." The verse describes the Self with strong adjectives - pure, awake, complete - and says those who are only focused on methods may miss it because they keep looking for an experience rather than recognizing the experiencer.

Advaita often compares this to polishing a mirror while forgetting to look at the face already reflected. The Self is not created by practice; it is revealed when mis-identification ends. If practice becomes a never-ending project of self-improvement, it can quietly reinforce the assumption "I am a deficient person who must become." This verse breaks that assumption by pointing to the Self as already 𑌊𑍂𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĢ.

Practice by balancing discipline with direct inquiry. Keep your practice simple and consistent, but regularly ask: "What knows this experience?" After meditation, rest for a minute as awareness without doing anything. Also watch for the subtle identity "I am a practitioner." Let that soften. When practice supports recognition, it becomes a doorway; when practice replaces recognition, it becomes a treadmill. This verse invites you off the treadmill.

ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĢð‘Œū ð‘ŒŪ𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌂 ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘Œ­ð‘ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑌰𑍂𑌊ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĢð‘Œū āĨĪ
𑌧ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑍋 ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌜𑍍𑌞ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍇ð‘ŒĢ ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌠ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŊ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-36āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌆𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not attain
𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĢð‘Œū - by action
ð‘ŒŪ𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌂 - liberation
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒ𑌃 - the thoroughly confused one
𑌅𑌭𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘Œļ-𑌰𑍂𑌊ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĢð‘Œū - by practice-as-action
𑌧ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - blessed one
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌜𑍍𑌞ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ-ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍇ð‘ŒĢ - by knowledge alone
ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - liberated
ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌠ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - stands; remains
𑌅ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - unchanged; unmoving in essence

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The confused one does not attain liberation through action, even through practice-as-action. The blessed one, through knowledge alone, stands liberated, unchanged in essence.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This is a central Advaita claim: liberation is not a product of action. Actions happen in time and produce results in time. Liberation is the recognition of the timeless Self. So the verse says the confused one keeps trying to "do" liberation through practice-as-action and misses the point. The blessed one is freed by ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌜𑍍𑌞ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ - knowledge - because knowledge removes ignorance directly.

This does not cancel the role of discipline; it puts it in its proper place. Discipline can purify the mind and reduce agitation so that knowledge can be received and assimilated. But discipline itself is not the liberator. The liberator is seeing what is already true. That is why the liberated one is called 𑌅ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŊ: unchanged. The Self was never modified by bondage, so it does not become modified by liberation either.

Practice by reorienting your effort. Keep the practices that make you calmer and more honest, but stop using them as a way to "earn" liberation. Let them support clarity. Add daily inquiry: "What am I, really?" Notice that awareness is present before, during, and after every practice. That is the 𑌅ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŊ Self the verse points to. Over time, practice becomes lighter and knowledge becomes deeper.

ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒ𑍋 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĶ𑍍 𑌎𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍋 𑌭ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍁ð‘ŒŪð‘Œŋ𑌚𑍍𑌛ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ āĨĪ
𑌅ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌚𑍍𑌛ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑌊ð‘Œŋ 𑌧𑍀𑌰𑍋 ð‘Œđð‘Œŋ 𑌊𑌰𑌎𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍂𑌊𑌭ð‘Œū𑌕𑍍 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-3𑍭āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒ𑌃 - the confused one
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌆𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not attain
ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍 𑌎𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ - that Brahman
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - which
𑌭ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍁ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - to become
𑌇𑌚𑍍𑌛ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - desires
𑌅ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌚𑍍𑌛ð‘ŒĻ𑍍 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even without desiring
𑌧𑍀𑌰𑌃 - the wise one
ð‘Œđð‘Œŋ - indeed
𑌊𑌰-𑌎𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ-ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍂𑌊-𑌭ð‘Œū𑌕𑍍 - of the nature of the supreme Brahman

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The confused person does not attain Brahman precisely because he wants to "become" it. The wise one, even without that desire, already stands as the very nature of the supreme Brahman.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
The desire to "become Brahman" hides the fundamental mistake: assuming you are not already That. Wanting to become reinforces separation. The verse says the confused one fails because of this very posture. The wise one does not need to want to become; he recognizes his nature as 𑌊𑌰𑌎𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ. The difference is not effort; it is identity.

This is why Advaita often says the path is subtraction, not addition. You are not manufacturing divinity; you are removing the ignorance that makes you feel limited. Once that ignorance is removed, the Self is seen as always already whole. The verse also comforts sincere seekers: your deepest nature is not waiting for a future achievement; it is available now as awareness.

Practice by noticing where your spirituality is driven by becoming. If you feel "I'm not there yet," see that as a thought arising in awareness. Instead of feeding it, return to the witness and ask, "What is 'there' made of?" Usually it is an imagined future mood. Replace that with present recognition: awareness is here. Continue disciplined living, but let the core shift from "becoming" to "seeing." This aligns your practice with the verse's instruction.

ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌧ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œū 𑌗𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌗𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘Œū𑌃 ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌰𑌊𑍋𑌷𑌕ð‘Œū𑌃 āĨĪ
𑌏ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘Œēð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘Œē𑌚𑍍𑌛𑍇ð‘ŒĶ𑌃 𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍋 𑌎𑍁𑌧𑍈𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-3ð‘ŪāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌧ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œū𑌃 - without true support; unsupported within
𑌗𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ-ð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌗𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌃 - busy with grasping
ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘Œū𑌃 - confused ones
ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌰-𑌊𑍋𑌷𑌕ð‘Œū𑌃 - nourishers of bondage
𑌏ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of this
𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ-ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘Œēð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - root of harm/misfortune
ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘Œē-𑌚𑍍𑌛𑍇ð‘ŒĶ𑌃 - cutting of the root
𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - done
𑌎𑍁𑌧𑍈𑌃 - by the wise

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Confused people, unsupported within, stay busy grasping and thus keep nourishing bondage. The wise cut the very root of this root of harm.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
The verse describes the ordinary condition: inner unsupportedness. When you do not know the Self as your foundation, you feel ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌧ð‘Œū𑌰 - as if you are hanging in midair. That insecurity pushes you into 𑌗𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ (grasping): grabbing possessions, control, validation, certainty. But grasping only feeds ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌰, because it strengthens craving and fear. The verse calls this the root of harm: it keeps suffering self-renewing.

The wise cut the root by finding the true support: awareness itself. When you recognize the Self as the ground, the frantic need to grasp relaxes. This is not merely a moral improvement; it is a structural change. The same life continues, but it is no longer driven by panic. That is why the verse calls the wise "root cutters": they remove the cause, not merely the symptoms.

Practice by identifying your main grasping pattern. Is it needing praise, needing control, needing certainty, needing comfort? Then ask what it is trying to support: usually a fear of being unsafe or unworthy. Meet that fear with inquiry and with calm action. Reduce one grasping behavior deliberately and replace it with one inner support practice: quiet sitting, honest journaling, prayer, or self-inquiry. Over time, you will feel less ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌧ð‘Œū𑌰, and grasping will reduce naturally.

ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌂 ð‘Œē𑌭ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒ𑍋 ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑌃 ð‘Œķð‘ŒŪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍁ð‘ŒŪð‘Œŋ𑌚𑍍𑌛ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ āĨĪ
𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂 ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĶð‘Œū ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œļ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-3ð‘ŊāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌂 - not peace
ð‘Œē𑌭ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - attains
ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒ𑌃 - the confused one
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - because; though
ð‘Œķð‘ŒŪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍁ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - to become calm
𑌇𑌚𑍍𑌛ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - desires
𑌧𑍀𑌰𑌃 - the wise one
ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂 - truth
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - having ascertained clearly
ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĶð‘Œū - always
ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪ-ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻð‘Œļ𑌃 - with a peaceful mind

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The confused person does not find peace even while wishing to be calm. The wise person, having clearly ascertained the truth, remains peaceful in mind always.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
Many people sincerely want peace and still don't find it. The verse explains why: wishing is not the same as seeing. If the mind continues to identify with thoughts and emotions, it will remain reactive, even while it "wants to be calm." The wise one is calm because of ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩ-ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘ŒŊ: clarity about identity. When you know yourself as awareness, peace is no longer a mood you chase; it is a baseline.

This verse also points out a common trap: trying to calm the mind while keeping the causes of agitation alive. If you keep feeding craving, resentment, and fear, the mind won't settle. The wise cuts the cause by seeing the truth and by living in alignment with that seeing. In that sense, peace is both insight and lifestyle.

Practice by shifting from wishing to understanding. When you notice restlessness, ask: "What am I believing right now?" Often it is a fear-story or a demand-story. Question it. Then take one action that supports calm: simplify one task, speak one truth, release one grudge, reduce one indulgence. Over time, peace becomes less of a wish and more of a lived consequence of clarity.

𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑍋 ð‘ŒĶ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œķð‘ŒĻ𑌂 ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĶ𑍍 ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘ŒŪð‘Œĩð‘Œē𑌂𑌎ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 āĨĪ
𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘ŒŪð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-40āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ - where is...?
𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑌃 ð‘ŒĶ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œķð‘ŒĻ𑌂 - vision/knowledge of the Self
ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - for that one
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - who
ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌂 - the seen; objects
𑌅ð‘Œĩð‘Œē𑌂𑌎ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - depends on; leans on
𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œū𑌃 - the wise
ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 - that kind (of dependence)
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - do not adopt/see as valid
𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - see
𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌂 - the Self
𑌅ð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - imperishable

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
How can one truly know the Self if one depends on what is seen (objects and experiences)? The wise do not lean on the seen; they recognize the imperishable Self.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse points to the basic direction of inquiry: do not look for the Self among objects. Many people try to find freedom through experiences - visions, moods, states, achievements. But all of that is ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒŊ, the seen. The Self is the seer. If you lean on the seen for your identity, you will remain unstable, because the seen constantly changes. The verse asks: where is Self-knowledge in that approach?

Advaita's method is simple: turn from objects to the knower. The wise see the Self as 𑌅ð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŊ, imperishable. That does not mean denying objects; it means not grounding yourself in them. This is also why the Upanishads emphasize the Self as the inner witness and why teachers use ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌗𑍍-ð‘ŒĶ𑍃ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ discrimination: separate the seer from the seen until the seer is recognized as awareness.

Practice by making a clear shift once a day. Sit quietly and notice an object: a sound, a sensation, a thought. Then ask, "What knows this?" Do not answer with another thought; simply notice the knowing presence. That is closer to you than any experience. Then bring this into life: when you are tempted to base your worth on a result, remember the imperishable witness. This gradually reduces dependence on the seen and makes Self-knowledge more stable.

𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍋𑌧𑍋 ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒŊ𑍋 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍𑌎𑌂𑌧𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘Œĩ𑍈 āĨĪ
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑍈ð‘Œĩ 𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĶð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-41āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ - where is...?
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍋𑌧𑌃 - suppression; forced restraint
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the thoroughly confused one
ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - who
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍𑌎𑌂𑌧𑌂 - force; stubborn insistence
𑌕𑌰𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does
ð‘Œĩ𑍈 - indeed
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of one who delights in the Self
𑌏ð‘Œĩ - indeed
𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the wise/steady one
ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĶð‘Œū - always
𑌅ð‘Œļ𑍌 - that (restraint)
𑌅𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑌃 - natural; not artificial

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Where is true restraint for the confused person who forces it? For the wise one who delights in the Self, restraint is natural always.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
Forced suppression is often a sign of inner conflict. The mind sees its own restlessness and tries to clamp down, but the clamping itself is another form of agitation. That is why the verse asks, "Where is ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍋𑌧 for the confused one?" The wise person does not need to fight the mind with the mind, because their identity is not entangled with mind-movement. When the Self is known, craving reduces, and restraint becomes natural.

This does not mean the wise is careless. It means self-control is no longer maintained by tension. In the Bhagavad Gita, steadiness is linked to freedom from 𑌰ð‘Œū𑌗 and ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍇𑌷. When attraction and aversion soften, restraint becomes 𑌅𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ - unforced. Ashtavakra's point is: do not confuse tight control with freedom; freedom is the absence of inner compulsion.

Practice by reducing the fuel rather than increasing the clamp. Notice what triggers your impulses - stress, loneliness, boredom, pride. Instead of forcing suppression, work with the trigger: breathe, ground the body, simplify the environment, and return to awareness. Then choose a clean action. Over time, impulses weaken because the inner need behind them is met more wisely. This is how ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍋𑌧 becomes natural, not theatrical.

𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌕𑌃 𑌕ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑍍 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑍍 𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌕𑍋𑌊𑌰𑌃 āĨĪ
𑌉𑌭ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌕𑌃 𑌕ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑍍 𑌏ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘Œĩ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌕𑍁ð‘Œē𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-42āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of "being" (existence)
𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌕𑌃 - affirmer; one who constructs/claims
𑌕ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - someone
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑍍 - "nothing"; non-being
𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌕𑌃 - affirmer; one who constructs/claims
𑌅𑌊𑌰𑌃 - another
𑌉𑌭ð‘ŒŊ - both
𑌅𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌕𑌃 - one who posits both (being and non-being) / one who negates both
𑌕ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - someone
𑌏ð‘Œĩ𑌂 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - just so; in this way
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌕𑍁ð‘Œē𑌃 - unconfused; undisturbed

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Some minds affirm "it exists," others affirm "nothing exists," and others take positions involving both. The one who is free of these mental constructions alone is truly unconfused.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse points out how the mind can get addicted to philosophy. It can take a stand on existence, take a stand on non-existence, or take a complicated stand that mixes both - and still remain restless. These positions feel like clarity, but they are often just new forms of ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊: conceptual construction. Ashtavakra calls the truly free one ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌕𑍁ð‘Œē - not because they hold the "right" opinion, but because they are not trapped in opinion-making.

Advaita uses reasoning, but its final aim is to take you beyond the need for mental positions. The Self is not a thesis to defend; it is the awareness in which all theses appear. When this is recognized, you can use concepts as tools without becoming imprisoned by them. This is why the chapter often critiques both realism and nihilism: both can be mental extremes that miss the living fact of awareness.

Practice by noticing when you use philosophy to avoid direct seeing. If you find yourself debating "is the world real?" while still suffering from fear and craving, return to what is immediate: experience is present and awareness knows it. Ask, "What is aware right now?" Rest there. Let concepts serve insight rather than replacing it. This makes the mind simpler and more ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌕𑍁ð‘Œē.

ð‘Œķ𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌂 𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒŊ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌕𑍁𑌎𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 𑌜ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘ŒŪ𑍋ð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌜𑍍𑌜𑍀ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-43āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œķ𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧𑌂 - pure
𑌅ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - non-dual
𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌂 - the Self
𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒŊ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - imagine; think about; conceptualize
𑌕𑍁-𑌎𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - those with poor understanding
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 - but not
𑌜ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - know (directly)
ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘ŒŪ𑍋ð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - due to delusion
ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍-𑌜𑍀ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - as long as they live
𑌅ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌃 - unrested; not at peace

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Those with poor understanding merely imagine the pure, non-dual Self. Due to delusion, they do not truly know it and remain unrested all their lives.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse draws a sharp line between thinking and knowing. You can hold the concept "the Self is pure and non-dual" and still live with the same cravings and fears. That is 𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻð‘Œū - mental construction. Direct knowledge (𑌜𑍍𑌞ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ) is different: it changes the center of identity. The verse says that without this shift, the mind remains 𑌅ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ, unrested, because the root delusion persists.

This is why Advaita emphasizes assimilation. A concept can sit in the mind while the ego continues to run the show. The point of teaching is to dissolve the ego's central claim, not to decorate it with ideas. When that dissolution does not happen, even beautiful concepts become another burden: "I know the truth, so why am I still suffering?" This verse compassionately names that mismatch as delusion, not as personal failure.

Practice by moving from concept to verification. When you read "you are awareness," pause and look: what is aware of this thought right now? Notice that awareness is already present and unchanged. Then watch how the ego reappears as craving or fear and name it honestly. Reduce one craving each week and strengthen one virtue (truthfulness, simplicity, kindness). This grounds insight so it becomes lived knowledge rather than a borrowed idea.

ð‘ŒŪ𑍁ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍋𑌰𑍍𑌎𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œē𑌂𑌎ð‘ŒŪ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌰𑍇ð‘ŒĢ ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œē𑌂𑌎𑍈ð‘Œĩ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪð‘Œū 𑌎𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĶð‘Œū āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-44āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒŪ𑍁ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍋𑌃 - of one who seeks liberation
𑌎𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘Œŋ𑌃 - intellect; discerning faculty
𑌆ð‘Œē𑌂𑌎ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - support; something to lean on
𑌅𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌰𑍇ð‘ŒĢ - without
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - is not found
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œē𑌂𑌎ð‘Œū - supportless; not leaning
𑌏ð‘Œĩ - indeed
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪð‘Œū - desireless
𑌎𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘Œŋ𑌃 - intellect
ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the liberated one
ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĶð‘Œū - always

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The seeker’s intellect relies on supports. But the liberated one’s intellect is always supportless and desireless, not leaning on anything.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
In early stages, we need supports: a teacher, a method, a scripture, an idea of truth. That is natural. The seeker (ð‘ŒŪ𑍁ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍁) leans because the mind is still learning to stand in awareness. This verse is describing the maturity beyond that: the liberated intellect is ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œē𑌂𑌎, not because it rejects teachers, but because it no longer needs to lean. It rests in its own foundation.

This is the difference between dependence and reverence. A seeker may cling to teachings as security; a liberated one can respect teachings without using them as a crutch. Their intellect is also ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ - not driven by desire for status, experience, or proof. That is why it can be supportless: it is not trying to get something. When the hunger ends, the leaning ends.

Practice by using supports wisely but aiming at inner standing. Study and practice, but notice where you cling: needing a constant answer, needing a constant teacher-voice, needing a constant spiritual identity. Then, once a day, rest without leaning: sit quietly and let awareness be aware. Let the mind feel the ground of being. This gradually transforms supports from crutches into pointers.

ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌷ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍀𑌊ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑍋 ð‘Œĩ𑍀𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌚𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌃 ð‘Œķ𑌰ð‘ŒĢð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌝𑌟ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘Œ•ð‘ð‘Œ°ð‘‹ð‘ŒĄð‘Œ‚ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍋𑌧𑍈𑌕ð‘Œū𑌗𑍍𑌰ð‘Œļð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘ŒŊ𑍇 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-45āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌷ð‘ŒŊ - sense-objects
ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍀𑌊ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - tiger
ð‘Œĩ𑍀𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - seeing
𑌚𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌃 - frightened
ð‘Œķ𑌰ð‘ŒĢ-𑌅𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - seeking refuge
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - enter
𑌝𑌟ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - quickly
ð‘Œ•ð‘ð‘Œ°ð‘‹ð‘ŒĄð‘Œ‚ - cave; lair
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍋𑌧 - suppression/restraint
𑌏𑌕ð‘Œū𑌗𑍍𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - one-pointedness
ð‘Œļð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘ŒŊ𑍇 - for attainment

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Seeing the tiger of sense-objects, frightened seekers rush into the cave of suppression and concentration, hoping to attain them.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
Ashtavakra uses humor and sharp metaphor. When sense-objects feel dangerous, people often run into techniques as refuge: "Let me suppress the mind, let me concentrate intensely, then I will be safe." Sometimes this is necessary as a temporary step, but the verse is pointing out the fear-based posture behind it. If practice is driven by panic and aversion, it can become another form of bondage.

Real freedom is not hiding from the "tiger"; it is understanding why the tiger has power. Objects become terrifying or irresistible because the mind projects completion onto them. When that projection is removed through insight and dispassion, the tiger becomes less frightening. Then practice is not escape; it is clarity. This verse is a reminder to examine motive: are you practicing to see, or to hide?

Practice by approaching desires and fears with awareness rather than flight. When an object triggers craving or panic, pause and feel the sensation in the body. Ask, "What am I believing this object will give or take?" Then return to the witness. Use simple restraint when needed, but keep the spirit of understanding. This transforms ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍋𑌧 from a cave of fear into a tool of clarity.

ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻ𑌂 ð‘Œđ𑌰ð‘Œŋ𑌂 ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū ð‘ŒĪ𑍂𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒĢ𑍀𑌂 ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌷ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĶ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 āĨĪ
𑌊ð‘Œēð‘Œūð‘ŒŊ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œķ𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 ð‘Œļ𑍇ð‘Œĩ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑌚ð‘Œū𑌟ð‘Œĩ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-46āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻ𑌂 - desireless; free of conditioning
ð‘Œđ𑌰ð‘Œŋ𑌂 - lion (a powerful one); conqueror
ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū - seeing
ð‘ŒĪ𑍂𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒĢ𑍀𑌂 - silently
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌷ð‘ŒŊ-ð‘ŒĶ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - elephants of sense-objects
𑌊ð‘Œēð‘Œūð‘ŒŊ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - run away
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œķ𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌃 - not able (to face)
ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - they
ð‘Œļ𑍇ð‘Œĩ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - serve; attend
𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ-𑌚ð‘Œū𑌟ð‘Œĩ𑌃 - having flattered; having become servile

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
When the elephants of sense-objects see the lion of desirelessness, they flee. If they cannot flee, they stand quietly and even "serve" with flattery.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse flips the usual power dynamic. Normally, objects dominate the mind through craving and fear. But when the mind becomes ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻ (free from latent craving), objects lose their grip. In that presence, temptations either fall away ("flee") or become harmless ("serve"). The imagery of elephants and lion emphasizes strength: the strength of desirelessness is greater than the strength of temptation.

This is not about hating the world. It is about becoming internally whole. When you are not hungry, food cannot seduce you in the same way; when you are not needy, praise cannot control you in the same way. The "serving" here points to a mature relationship with life: pleasures can be enjoyed as they come, but they do not become masters. The mind is sovereign because it is not bargaining.

Practice by building the lion, not by fighting the elephants. Reduce one compulsive pattern that keeps you hungry: scrolling, overeating, validation-seeking. Replace it with a higher nourishment: quiet presence, honest connection, meaningful work. As hunger reduces, objects naturally lose their power. Then you will see the verse's point in daily life: temptation fades when inner fullness grows.

ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œū𑌂 𑌧ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌃ð‘Œķ𑌂𑌕𑍋 ð‘ŒŊ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œļ𑌃 āĨĪ
𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĻ𑍍 ð‘Œķ𑍃ð‘ŒĢ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍 ð‘Œļ𑍍𑌊𑍃ð‘Œķð‘ŒĻ𑍍 𑌜ð‘Œŋ𑌘𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĨð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-4𑍭āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻ - not
ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ-𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - garland/sign of liberation (as a display)
𑌧ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - wears
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌃ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌕𑌃 - unattached; without clinging
ð‘ŒŊ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ-ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œļ𑌃 - with an integrated/steady mind
𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - seeing
ð‘Œķ𑍃ð‘ŒĢ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - hearing
ð‘Œļ𑍍𑌊𑍃ð‘Œķð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - touching
𑌜ð‘Œŋ𑌘𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - smelling
𑌅ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - eating
𑌆ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - remains; lives
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĨð‘Œū ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - at ease; comfortably

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The unattached, steady-minded one does not wear liberation as a sign. He simply lives at ease, seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, and eating.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse continues the theme that liberation is not a costume. The steady-minded one is ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌃ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌕 - unattached - so he does not need to display freedom with outer signs or a special persona. The phrase ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ-𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œū is a playful image: some people "wear" liberation as a garland, announcing it through speech, posture, or performance. Ashtavakra says the truly free one simply lives. Seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating - ordinary human functions continue - but without inner bondage.

This is a corrective for spiritual vanity and for spiritual fragility. If freedom depends on looking a certain way or maintaining a certain state, it is not freedom. The liberated mind is integrated (ð‘ŒŊ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ-ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œļ): it is not split into "spiritual" and "worldly" compartments. This is close to the Gita's portrait of steadiness, where the wise person is not disturbed by sensory contact and does not need to prove anything. Freedom is inward, and therefore it can be simple.

Practice by letting your spirituality become quieter and more honest. Notice where you try to appear wise or to convince others (or yourself) that you are progressing. Reduce that performance. Instead, focus on the inner signs of freedom: less craving, less reactivity, more clarity, more kindness. Do one small act each day that is free of display - a helpful action without credit, a boundary without drama, a simple enjoyment without clinging. This makes ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌃ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌕 and ð‘ŒŊ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ-ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œļ lived realities.

ð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍁ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĢð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍇ð‘ŒĢ ð‘Œķ𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧𑌎𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌕𑍁ð‘Œē𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻ𑍈ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌚ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻð‘Œū𑌚ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘ŒŪ𑍌ð‘ŒĶð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 ð‘Œĩð‘Œū 𑌊𑍍𑌰𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-4ð‘ŪāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 - reality; the real
ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĢ - hearing (of teaching)
ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍇ð‘ŒĢ - by merely; just through
ð‘Œķ𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧-𑌎𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘Œŋ𑌃 - pure intellect; clear understanding
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌕𑍁ð‘Œē𑌃 - unconfused; undisturbed
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - not at all
𑌆𑌚ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - proper conduct (as a rigid label)
𑌅ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū𑌚ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - improper conduct (as a rigid label)
𑌔ð‘ŒĶð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - indifference; withdrawal
ð‘Œĩð‘Œū - or
𑌊𑍍𑌰𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - sees; categorizes

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
By simply hearing the truth, the intellect becomes clear and undisturbed. From that clarity, it stops being trapped in rigid labels of "proper," "improper," or "indifferent."

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse describes what "right hearing" can do. When the mind truly hears ð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 (the reality of the Self), it becomes ð‘Œķ𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧-𑌎𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘Œŋ - clear in understanding - and therefore less entangled in judgment. It does not mean the wise becomes unethical; it means the mind no longer lives in self-righteous labeling. Actions are guided by clarity and compassion rather than by anxiety about image.

Notice how this fits with the earlier warning (18-32): the truth can be misheard. A careless mind might misuse this verse to excuse behavior. But Ashtavakra is describing a purified intellect, not a lazy one. When ego shrinks, the need to perform morality for identity also shrinks. Then what remains is a cleaner simplicity: doing what is appropriate without inner drama and without harsh condemnation of oneself and others.

Practice by keeping the foundation of ethics while dropping the addiction to judgment. When you evaluate yourself or others, ask: "Is this discernment, or is it ego?" Keep what is genuinely helpful (boundaries, responsibility), and drop what is egoic (contempt, self-hatred). Return to awareness before you act, and let actions come from steadiness. Over time, you will feel what the verse points to: less inner confusion and less compulsive labeling.

ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĶð‘Œū ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍁ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĶð‘Œū ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 𑌋𑌜𑍁𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘Œķ𑍁𑌭𑌂 ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œķ𑍁𑌭𑌂 ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌚𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œū ð‘Œđð‘Œŋ 𑌎ð‘Œūð‘Œēð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-4ð‘ŊāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĶð‘Œū ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - whenever whatever
𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍁𑌂 - to do
𑌆ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - comes (to be done)
ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĶð‘Œū ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - then that
𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - does
𑌋𑌜𑍁𑌃 - straightforwardly; simply
ð‘Œķ𑍁𑌭𑌂 - good; auspicious
ð‘Œĩð‘Œū - or
𑌅ð‘Œķ𑍁𑌭ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - not good; inauspicious
ð‘Œĩð‘Œū 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - or even
ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of that one
𑌚𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œū - conduct; activity
ð‘Œđð‘Œŋ - indeed
𑌎ð‘Œūð‘Œēð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - like a child (uncontrived)

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Whatever comes to be done, he does it simply and directly. Whether it appears good or bad, his conduct is uncontrived, like a child's.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
The verse is describing naturalness, not irresponsibility. When the ego is not busy calculating self-image, action becomes 𑌋𑌜𑍁 - straightforward. The wise responds to what life asks without overthinking and without hidden manipulation. The comparison to a child (𑌎ð‘Œūð‘Œēð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍) points to innocence of ego-strategy: the action is not weighed down by performance, pride, or fear.

This does not cancel discernment. It means discernment is quiet and functional rather than anxious. The wise can still distinguish helpful from harmful, but the heart is not trapped in inner argument. This is also why the verse includes "good or bad": from the wise person's standpoint, even outcomes do not become identity. Actions happen according to circumstances, and the mind remains light.

Practice by simplifying one decision process. Notice where you delay action because you want certainty, approval, or perfection. Take one clean step without waiting for ideal conditions. Also, practice 𑌋𑌜𑍁 in speech: say one honest sentence without overexplaining or manipulating. When mistakes happen, correct them without self-hatred. This grows the uncontrived clarity the verse describes.

ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖ð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘Œē𑍍ð‘Œē𑌭ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 𑌊𑌰ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĪ
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌂 𑌗𑌚𑍍𑌛𑍇ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 𑌊𑌰ð‘ŒŪ𑌂 𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-50āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - from freedom; from independence
ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - happiness
𑌆𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - obtains
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - from freedom
ð‘Œē𑌭ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - attains
𑌊𑌰ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - the supreme
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - from freedom
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - peace; repose
𑌗𑌚𑍍𑌛𑍇ð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - reaches
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - from freedom
𑌊𑌰ð‘ŒŪ𑌂 𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - the highest state/abode

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
From freedom comes happiness; from freedom comes the supreme; from freedom comes deep peace; from freedom comes the highest state.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse is a celebration of ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - inner independence. The freedom meant here is not merely outer choice; it is freedom from being owned by craving, fear, and self-image. When you are internally free, happiness is not constantly negotiated with circumstances. That is why the verse repeats the word: it wants you to see that the highest good is not an object you obtain, but the freedom of the heart itself.

Advaita sees this freedom as the natural condition of awareness. Bondage is mostly the mind's habit of leaning and clinging. When that habit ends, the Self is recognized as already complete, and peace (ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ) becomes stable. This is why the text can call freedom the "highest state": not a mystical achievement, but the end of dependence.

Practice by building inner freedom in a measurable way. Choose one compulsion - a habit, a craving, a fear-driven avoidance - and reduce it gently but consistently. Replace it with one freedom-supporting habit: quiet sitting, honest reflection, service, simplicity. Notice how even small reductions in compulsion bring disproportionate peace. Let that encourage you. Over time, ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊ stops being an idea and becomes an inner atmosphere.

𑌅𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪ𑌭𑍋𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂 ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑍋 ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĶð‘Œū āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĶð‘Œū 𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀ð‘ŒĢð‘Œū 𑌭ð‘Œĩ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑍇ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œūð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŊ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-51āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌅𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - non-doership
𑌅𑌭𑍋𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - non-enjoyership; not being the experiencer-as-owner
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ-𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - of one's own Self
ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - understands; regards
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĶð‘Œū - when
ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĶð‘Œū - then
𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀ð‘ŒĢð‘Œū - exhausted; dissolved
𑌭ð‘Œĩ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - become
𑌏ð‘Œĩ - indeed
ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌃 - all
𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ-ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - mind-modifications; mental movements

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
When one truly understands the Self as neither doer nor owner-enjoyer, the mind's restless movements naturally dissolve.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse links stillness to identity. The mind's movements (ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋs) are fueled by the doer-enjoyer story: "I must act," "I must get," "I must avoid." When that story is believed, the mind keeps moving to secure outcomes. When you recognize 𑌅𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩ and 𑌅𑌭𑍋𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩ - that the Self is not the personal doer and not the owner of experiences - the fuel reduces. Then the mind quiets, not by force, but by lack of need.

ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗 says that the mind becomes still through practice and dispassion, but Advaita adds a deeper lever: correct identity. If you keep thinking you are a separate agent, you will keep producing vRuttis. When the witness is recognized as the Self, vRuttis may still arise, but they are not fed by compulsive ownership. That is why the verse says they become 𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀ð‘ŒĢð‘Œū: worn out.

Practice by watching doership and enjoyership in real time. When you begin a task, notice the thought "I am doing." When you seek a result, notice the thought "I must enjoy/own this." Then step back: feel awareness knowing these thoughts. Let the body-mind act as needed, but soften the inner claim. This is not irresponsibility; it is inner freedom. Over time, mental agitation reduces because the doer story is no longer constantly reinforced.

𑌉𑌚𑍍𑌛𑍃𑌂𑌖ð‘Œēð‘Œū𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œū ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌰ð‘Œū𑌜ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 ð‘Œļð‘Œļ𑍍𑌊𑍃ð‘Œđ𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪð‘Œū āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-52āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌉𑌚𑍍𑌛𑍃𑌂𑌖ð‘Œēð‘Œū - unrestrained; free of rigid constraint
𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even
𑌅𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œū - natural; unforced
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌃 - state; abiding
𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the wise one
𑌰ð‘Œū𑌜ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - shines
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 - but not
ð‘Œļ-ð‘Œļ𑍍𑌊𑍃ð‘Œđ-𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of one whose mind has craving
ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌃 - peace
ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the foolish/immature
𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪð‘Œū - artificial; manufactured

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Even if outwardly free of rigid restraint, the wise one’s abiding is naturally peaceful. But the peace of a craving-filled fool is artificial and fragile.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
The verse makes a subtle distinction: outer restraint is not the same as inner freedom. The wise person's peace is 𑌅𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ - natural - because it comes from reduced craving and clear identity. Therefore it can remain even without rigid self-control. The foolish person's peace, when craving is still alive, is 𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ - manufactured - because it depends on controlling circumstances or suppressing impulses. It breaks easily.

This does not mean the wise behaves recklessly. It means the wise does not need constant tension to be steady. When the root hunger is gone, discipline becomes easier and more organic. Many seekers experience the opposite: they rely on tight control while craving remains, so their peace feels brittle. Ashtavakra is encouraging a deeper cure: remove craving, not merely behavior.

Practice by focusing on the root. If you notice your peace depends on perfect routines or external control, that is a clue that craving or fear is still running. Work with the craving directly: simplify, be honest, reduce compulsive stimulation, and return to the witness often. Use discipline, but without harshness. Over time, peace becomes less dependent on external management and more like the natural steadiness described here.

ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œēð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒŪð‘Œđð‘Œū𑌭𑍋𑌗𑍈𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌗ð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œŋ𑌗ð‘Œđ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū 𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œū 𑌅𑌎ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘Œū ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌎𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-53āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œēð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - sport; enjoy; move playfully
ð‘ŒŪð‘Œđð‘Œū-𑌭𑍋𑌗𑍈𑌃 - with great enjoyments
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - enter
𑌗ð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œŋ-𑌗ð‘Œđ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - mountain caves/valleys
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ-𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū𑌃 - with imagination/constructing removed
𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œū𑌃 - wise ones
𑌅𑌎ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘Œū𑌃 - unbound
ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ-𑌎𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - those whose intellect is liberated

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The wise, free of mental constructing and unbound within, may enjoy great pleasures or enter mountain caves. With liberated intellect, they are free in any setting.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse breaks the stereotype that the wise must look one particular way. Freedom is not a lifestyle uniform. The liberated may enjoy comforts or may live simply in solitude; the point is that neither binds them. Because their mind is ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ-𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū - no longer busy constructing identity and expectation - they are not enslaved by either luxury or austerity.

This matches the chapter’s repeated theme: the inner shift is primary. When craving is gone, enjoyment does not become addiction, and solitude does not become escapism. The wise can move according to circumstance, health, and responsibility without turning it into a spiritual badge. That is why the verse calls them 𑌅𑌎ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧: unbound in the heart.

Practice by dropping the idea that one outer form guarantees freedom. If you are drawn to simplicity, practice it without superiority. If you live with comforts, practice gratitude and non-clinging. In both cases, watch the mind’s constructing: "this proves I'm spiritual" or "this proves I'm worldly." Let that story dissolve. Then the outer life becomes flexible and the inner freedom grows, which is the real teaching of the verse.

ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰𑍋ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŊ𑌂 ð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌂 ð‘ŒĪ𑍀𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘ŒŪ𑌂𑌗ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū𑌂 𑌭𑍂𑌊ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌂 𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌊𑍂𑌜𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œū𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘Œđ𑍃ð‘ŒĶð‘Œŋ ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻð‘Œū āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-54āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰𑍋ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŊ𑌂 - learned one (versed in scripture)
ð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌂 - deity
ð‘ŒĪ𑍀𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - sacred place; pilgrimage
𑌅𑌂𑌗ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - woman; beauty
𑌭𑍂𑌊ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌂 - king; power/authority
𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - beloved; dear one
ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū - having seen
ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌊𑍂𑌜𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - having honored; having worshiped respectfully
𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the wise one
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œū𑌊ð‘Œŋ - none whatsoever
ð‘Œđ𑍃ð‘ŒĶð‘Œŋ - in the heart
ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻð‘Œū - latent craving/impression

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Even after seeing and honoring learning, divinity, holy places, beauty, power, and loved ones, the wise one carries no craving-impression in the heart.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse shows the difference between appreciation and attachment. The wise can honor a learned person, worship a deity, respect a holy place, appreciate beauty, relate to power, and love the beloved - and yet not be inwardly hooked. That is because ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻð‘Œū does not stick. The heart does not get perfumed with craving. The experiences pass through without leaving a chain.

Many people fear that spirituality requires rejecting beauty, love, or devotion. This verse says: the problem is not contact; it is clinging. When identity is awareness, contact does not become bondage. Devotion can remain pure, love can remain tender, and respect can remain sincere - without turning into dependency. That is a mature form of freedom: fullness without denial.

Practice by observing where ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻð‘Œū sticks in you. After a pleasant experience, notice if the mind starts planning, craving, and clinging. After praise or power-contact, notice if ego inflates. Then return to the witness and let the impression dissolve: "That was experienced; it can end." Continue to honor what is worthy, but do it from fullness, not from hunger. This trains appreciation without bondage.

𑌭𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑍈𑌃 𑌊𑍁ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍈𑌃 𑌕ð‘Œēð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍈ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚 ð‘ŒĶ𑍌ð‘Œđð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍈ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œū𑌊ð‘Œŋ 𑌗𑍋ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑌜𑍈𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œđð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌧ð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍋 ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗𑍀 ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌂 ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻð‘Œū𑌕𑍍 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-55āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌭𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑍈𑌃 - by servants
𑌊𑍁ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍈𑌃 - by sons
𑌕ð‘Œēð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍈𑌃 - by spouse
𑌚 - and
ð‘ŒĶ𑍌ð‘Œđð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑍈𑌃 - by grandsons
𑌚 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - and also
𑌗𑍋ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑌜𑍈𑌃 - by relatives of one’s clan
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œđð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - by laughing; by mocking
𑌧ð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - insulted; dishonored
ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗𑍀 - yogi; wise one
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not go into
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌂 - disturbance; distortion
ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻð‘Œū𑌕𑍍 - even a little

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Even if mocked and insulted by those close to him, the yogi is not inwardly disturbed even a little.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
Insults from strangers can be ignored, but insults from close people cut deeper because they hit identity. This verse says the yogi is free even there. Being laughed at or dishonored by servants, family, or relatives does not throw him into distortion (ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ). That does not mean he is indifferent to relationships; it means he is not psychologically owned by other people's words.

This is a practical sign of inner freedom: you can be corrected without collapsing and you can be criticized without becoming bitter. The ego often demands respect as proof of worth. When worth is rooted in awareness, respect can be welcomed, but lack of respect does not destroy you. That is why the verse highlights the hardest scenario: close relationships.

Practice by training steadiness under criticism. When a close person mocks you, notice the immediate urge: defend, attack, withdraw. Pause and feel the sting in the body. Ask, "What identity is hurt?" Then respond cleanly: set a boundary, clarify, or stay silent - but avoid reactive drama. This builds inner stability. Over time, words lose their power to distort you, and relationships become less driven by ego.

ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘ð‘Œ·ð‘ð‘ŒŸð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒŠð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌃 𑌖ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒŠð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚 𑌖ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĶð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂 ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌂 ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌂 ð‘ŒĪð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍃ð‘Œķð‘Œū 𑌏ð‘Œĩ 𑌜ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘ŒĪ𑍇 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-56āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌃 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even while satisfied/content
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌃 - not (bound by) satisfaction
𑌖ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑌃 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even while weary
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌖ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - does not grieve; is not distressed
ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of that one
𑌆ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊ-ð‘ŒĶð‘Œķð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - wondrous state
ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌂 ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌂 - that and that (state/aspect)
ð‘ŒĪð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍃ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌃 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - only those like him
𑌜ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - know

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Even when content, he is not trapped in the idea of contentment; even when weary, he is not distressed. Only those who are similar truly understand this wondrous state.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse points to being beyond labels. Satisfaction and dissatisfaction are both mind-states; fatigue and distress are different; most people mix them. The wise can be satisfied without clinging to satisfaction, and can be tired without falling into misery. That is why the verse sounds paradoxical: it is describing a person whose identity is not swallowed by states. The state may be present, but it does not own the Self.

The "wondrous state" is hard to explain to someone who has not tasted it, because language naturally uses opposites. The wise is described in many verses as beyond opposites, so the usual categories do not fit. This does not make the wise inhuman; it makes the wise less reactive. The wonder is the end of compulsive suffering, not the end of ordinary feeling.

Practice by separating fatigue from misery and pleasure from clinging. When you are tired, do what the body needs - rest, eat, slow down - but watch for the mind adding a story of defeat. When you feel content, enjoy it, but watch for fear of losing it. In both cases, return to the witness and let the state be present without becoming identity. This is a practical doorway into the steadiness the verse describes.

𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍈ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌰𑍋 ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌂 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘Œļ𑍂𑌰ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘Œķ𑍂ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œū ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œū ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œū ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŊð‘Œū𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-5𑍭āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œū - the compulsive sense of "must-do"
𑌏ð‘Œĩ - indeed
ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌰𑌃 - bondage; repeated suffering
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌂 - not that
𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - see (as binding)
ð‘Œļ𑍂𑌰ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - the wise
ð‘Œķ𑍂ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ-𑌆𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œū𑌃 - empty in form (free of ego-structure)
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œū𑌃 - formless
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œū𑌃 - changeless
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŊð‘Œū𑌃 - free of disturbance/disease

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Bondage is nothing but the compulsive sense of "I must do." The wise do not carry that compulsion; abiding as formless, changeless awareness, they remain free of disturbance.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse identifies a surprisingly ordinary root of bondage: the inner "must." Not duty as responsibility, but duty as psychological compulsion - the feeling that your worth depends on doing and achieving. That compulsion creates constant tension and self-judgment. Ashtavakra calls that tension ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌰. The wise do not "see" it in the sense of not adopting it as identity. Action can still happen, but not from inner bondage.

The verse then describes the wise in Vedantic language: ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰 (formless), ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰 (unchanging), ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŊ (free of disturbance). It is pointing to awareness as the true Self, not to a special mental state. When you recognize yourself as awareness, the compulsive "must" loses authority. Life becomes cleaner: responsibilities remain, but inner slavery reduces.

Practice by identifying your strongest "must." It might be "I must be liked," "I must be productive," "I must be perfect." Notice how it drives anxiety. Then replace compulsion with clarity: "I will do what is right, but I will not make my identity depend on it." Take one small task and do it from steadiness, then stop. Over time, this weakens 𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œū as bondage and makes action lighter.

𑌅𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍋𑌭ð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍍 ð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌃 ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒ𑌧𑍀𑌃 āĨĪ
𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ 𑌕𑍁ð‘Œķð‘Œē𑍋 ð‘Œđð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌕𑍁ð‘Œē𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-5ð‘ŪāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌅𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even while not doing
ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍋𑌭ð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - due to agitation; inner disturbance
ð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌃 - restless; scattered
ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 - everywhere
ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒ-𑌧𑍀𑌃 - the confused-minded one
𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even while doing
ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 - but
𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ - tasks; duties
𑌕𑍁ð‘Œķð‘Œē𑌃 - skillful; wise
ð‘Œđð‘Œŋ - indeed
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌕𑍁ð‘Œē𑌃 - unconfused; undisturbed

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Even when doing nothing, the confused mind is restless due to inner agitation. Even while doing tasks, the skillful wise one remains undisturbed.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse dismantles the idea that peace comes from changing outer activity. A restless mind can be restless even in a quiet room, because agitation is internal. Likewise, a wise mind can be calm even in busy work, because calm is internal. The difference is not the schedule; it is the relationship to thought. The confused mind is driven by ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍋𑌭 - inner disturbance - so even "doing nothing" becomes a kind of anxious doing.

This is why Advaita insists that the cure is not mere lifestyle optimization. A better routine can help, but if the ego's compulsions remain, restlessness will find new outlets. The wise is 𑌕𑍁ð‘Œķð‘Œē - skillful - because he can act without being agitated by the sense of doership and fear. Tasks are performed as needed, but the mind does not create a self-story around them.

Practice by training calm-in-action. Choose one daily task and do it with full attention, breathing slowly, without rushing. Notice the mind's urge to jump ahead and gently return. Also train calm-in-stillness: sit for two minutes without entertainment and watch how the mind tries to escape. In both cases, return to awareness. This builds ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌕𑍁ð‘Œēð‘ŒĪð‘Œū that does not depend on your activity level.

ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖𑌂 ð‘Œķ𑍇ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌚 āĨĪ
ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖𑌂 ð‘Œĩ𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖𑌂 𑌭𑍁𑌂𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 ð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œĩð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘Œ°ð‘‡ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒŠð‘Œŋ ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌧𑍀𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-5ð‘ŊāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - with ease; happily
𑌆ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - sits; remains
ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - with ease
ð‘Œķ𑍇ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - lies down; sleeps
ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - with ease
𑌆ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - comes
ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - goes
𑌚 - and
ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - with ease
ð‘Œĩ𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - speaks
ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - with ease
𑌭𑍁𑌂𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - eats; enjoys
ð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œĩð‘Œđð‘Œū𑌰𑍇 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even in worldly dealings
ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪ-𑌧𑍀𑌃 - peaceful-minded one

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
He sits in ease, sleeps in ease, comes and goes in ease, speaks in ease, and eats in ease. Even in worldly dealings, his mind remains peaceful.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse emphasizes that peace is not reserved for meditation alone. For the ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪ-𑌧𑍀𑌃 (peaceful-minded one), ease infuses all ordinary actions. That does not mean every moment is pleasant; it means the inner friction has reduced. The mind is no longer constantly resisting experience or bargaining for more. Therefore, even simple activities carry a quiet comfort.

Many people postpone peace: "After I finish this phase, I'll relax." The wise has learned to live from a different center. Because identity is awareness, not outcome, the mind can be at ease while walking, speaking, eating, and handling transactions. This is a key theme of the chapter: liberation is not an exotic event; it is the absence of inner struggle in ordinary life.

Practice by bringing ease into one routine. Pick one daily action - brushing teeth, commuting, eating - and do it without rushing, without multitasking, and without mental commentary. Notice the body and breath. Then bring the same into interactions: speak slowly, listen fully, and drop the urge to prove. These small experiments make peace tangible and train the mind toward the ease described here.

ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒĻ𑍈ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œē𑍋𑌕ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĶ𑍍 ð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œĩð‘Œđð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĢ𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒŪð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘Œđ𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒĶ 𑌇ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍋𑌭𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑍋 𑌗ð‘ŒĪ𑌕𑍍ð‘Œē𑍇ð‘Œķ𑌃 ð‘Œļ𑍁ð‘Œķ𑍋𑌭ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-60āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - by nature
ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of whom
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌏ð‘Œĩ 𑌆𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌃 - no distress/need at all
ð‘Œē𑍋𑌕ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - like the world; like ordinary people
ð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œĩð‘Œđð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĢ𑌃 - while behaving/engaging
ð‘ŒŪð‘Œđð‘Œū-ð‘Œđ𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒĶ𑌃 - a great lake
𑌇ð‘Œĩ - like
𑌅𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍋𑌭𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - unshakable
𑌗ð‘ŒĪ-𑌕𑍍ð‘Œē𑍇ð‘Œķ𑌃 - whose afflictions are gone
ð‘Œļ𑍁ð‘Œķ𑍋𑌭ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - shines beautifully

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Though he behaves outwardly like others, he has no inner distress by nature. Like a vast lake, unshaken and free of affliction, he shines.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
The metaphor of the great lake is powerful. Small ponds ripple easily; vast lakes have depth, and disturbances do not reach their bottom quickly. The wise one is like that: he may participate in the world's activities, but inwardly he has depth. There is no underlying hunger or distress (𑌆𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ) driving him. Because 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œē𑍇ð‘Œķs (afflictive patterns) have faded, he remains 𑌅𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍋𑌭𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - not easily shaken.

This verse also clarifies a common misunderstanding: liberation does not require withdrawing from life. It requires withdrawing the ego's dependence. You can behave "like the world" in the sense of doing your responsibilities, yet inwardly not be ruled by craving and fear. That combination is what makes the wise shine: grounded, responsible, and free.

Practice by cultivating depth rather than just calmness. Calmness can be superficial if it depends on everything going well. Depth comes from recognizing awareness as the Self. Each day, spend a few minutes resting as the witness, and in the day, notice when a small disturbance shakes you too much. Use that as an opportunity to return to depth: breathe, widen attention, and remember what is unchanging. Over time, you become more like the great lake the verse describes.

ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌰𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌰𑍁𑌊𑌜ð‘Œūð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 āĨĪ
𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌰𑌊ð‘Œŋ 𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋð‘ŒŦð‘Œē𑌭ð‘Œū𑌗ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑍀 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-61āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌃 - withdrawal; turning away
𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even
ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the confused one
𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌃 - engagement; outward action
𑌉𑌊𑌜ð‘Œūð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - arises
𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌃 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even engagement
𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the steady/wise one
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ-ð‘ŒŦð‘Œē-𑌭ð‘Œū𑌗ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑍀 - bearing the fruit of withdrawal

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Even withdrawal becomes another form of engagement for the confused mind, while even engagement yields the fruit of withdrawal for the wise.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse shows that bondage is not mainly in outer behavior; it is in inner motive. A confused person may "withdraw" from the world, but if the withdrawal is driven by fear, resentment, or desire for a special identity, it is still 𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ in disguise - inner engagement with craving and aversion. The wise person may be active in the world, but because action is not fueled by clinging, it carries the fruit of ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ: inner freedom.

The Bhagavad Gita makes this point in its own way: true renunciation is not abandoning action; it is abandoning attachment. When the ego is not claiming results, action does not bind. This verse therefore corrects superficial spirituality. The real question is not "Am I busy or quiet?" but "Am I free from craving while I act or withdraw?"

Practice by checking motive whenever you change posture. If you want to "withdraw," ask if it is clean rest or fear-driven escape. If you want to "engage," ask if it is responsibility or craving for validation. In both cases, return to awareness and choose the cleaner motive. When engagement is clean, it becomes liberating; when withdrawal is clean, it becomes restorative. This is how ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ-ð‘ŒŦð‘Œē appears in the middle of life.

𑌊𑌰ð‘Œŋ𑌗𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑍇𑌷𑍁 ð‘Œĩ𑍈𑌰ð‘Œū𑌗𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒŊ𑍋 ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒĶ𑍃ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘Œđ𑍇 ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌗ð‘Œēð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œūð‘Œķð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ 𑌰ð‘Œū𑌗𑌃 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌗ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-62āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌊𑌰ð‘Œŋ𑌗𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑍇𑌷𑍁 - in possessions; in acquisitions
ð‘Œĩ𑍈𑌰ð‘Œū𑌗𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 - dispassion
𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - generally; mostly
ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the confused one
ð‘ŒĶ𑍃ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - is seen
ð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘Œđ𑍇 - toward the body
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌗ð‘Œēð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ-𑌆ð‘Œķð‘Œū - whose craving/expectation has fallen away
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ 𑌰ð‘Œū𑌗𑌃 - where is attachment?
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌗ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū - where is (even) dispassion?

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Often the confused person shows dispassion only toward possessions. But for the one whose craving toward the body has fallen away, where is attachment - and where is even the need to claim dispassion?

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse exposes superficial renunciation. It is relatively easy to give up some external possessions and still remain deeply attached to the body-identity: comfort, youth, appearance, fear of illness, fear of death. That is why the verse says the foolish person's dispassion is often limited to 𑌊𑌰ð‘Œŋ𑌗𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ. The deeper attachment remains untouched. True freedom begins when the craving rooted in body-identification weakens.

The wise person described here has ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌗ð‘Œēð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ-𑌆ð‘Œķð‘Œū toward the body - the anxious expectation that the body must always be a certain way for life to be okay. When that drops, the inner obsession reduces, and then even labels like "attached" and "detached" become less relevant. That is why the verse asks: where is 𑌰ð‘Œū𑌗, and where is ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌗ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū? The mind is simply free.

Practice by expanding your view of attachment. Notice not only what you own, but what you fear losing. Watch body-related compulsions: constant comfort-seeking, insecurity about aging, panic about minor symptoms. Care for the body responsibly, but reduce the emotional worship of it. Each time fear arises, return to awareness and remember what is not the body. This is a deeper form of ð‘Œĩ𑍈𑌰ð‘Œū𑌗𑍍ð‘ŒŊ than merely simplifying possessions.

𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻð‘Œū𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĶð‘Œū āĨĪ
𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻð‘ŒŊð‘Œū ð‘Œļð‘Œū ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍂𑌊ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĢ𑍀 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-63āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻð‘Œū - imagining; mental construction
𑌅𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻð‘Œū - "not imagining"; suppression/anti-imagination
ð‘Œļ𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū - attached; stuck
ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œŋ𑌃 - view; vision
ð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the confused one
ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĶð‘Œū - always
𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ-𑌅𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻð‘ŒŊð‘Œū - by abandoning imagined and unimagined (both extremes)
ð‘Œļð‘Œū - that (vision)
ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 - however
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the steady one
𑌅ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œŋ-𑌰𑍂𑌊ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĢ𑍀 - becomes "non-seeing" (non-fixating)

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The confused mind is always stuck in imagining or in fighting imagination. But when both are dropped, the steady one’s vision becomes free of fixation - a kind of "non-seeing."

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
The mind can get trapped in two extremes: constant mental constructing (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻð‘Œū) and constant suppression of constructing (𑌅𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻð‘Œū). Both are still fixation. One keeps feeding stories; the other keeps fighting stories. The verse says the steady one is free because both extremes are abandoned. Then vision becomes 𑌅ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œŋ - not blindness, but non-fixation. The mind does not compulsively objectify.

This is a subtle pointer: freedom is not achieved by fighting thought; it is achieved by seeing thought as thought and not building identity from it. When the witness is recognized, thoughts can arise and pass without being either indulged or suppressed. That is the "non-seeing" here: not looking at reality through the filter of constant mental making.

Practice by catching yourself in both extremes. When you are lost in stories, pause and return to sensation and breath. When you are aggressively trying to stop thought, soften the effort and let thought be, while not following it. In both cases, shift attention to the awareness that knows. Over time, this creates 𑌅ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œŋ - a clean seeing that is free of compulsive fixation.

ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑌂𑌭𑍇𑌷𑍁 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑍋 ð‘ŒŊð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚𑌰𑍇ð‘ŒĶ𑍍 𑌎ð‘Œūð‘Œēð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍 ð‘ŒŪ𑍁ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œē𑍇𑌊ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘Œķ𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌕𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĢð‘‡ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒŠð‘Œŋ 𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĢð‘Œŋ āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-64āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ-𑌆𑌰𑌂𑌭𑍇𑌷𑍁 - in all undertakings
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑌃 - desireless; without craving for result
ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - who
𑌚𑌰𑍇ð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - moves; lives
𑌎ð‘Œūð‘Œēð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - like a child (uncontrived)
ð‘ŒŪ𑍁ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌃 - sage
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œē𑍇𑌊𑌃 - no stain; no binding residue
ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - for that one
ð‘Œķ𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - pure one
𑌕𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĢ𑍇 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even while being done
𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĢð‘Œŋ - in action

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The sage who lives without craving in all undertakings, simple like a child, is not stained by action even while actions occur.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse states the core of ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ living: action does not bind when desire for egoic result does not bind. The sage is compared to a child not because of immaturity, but because of uncontrived simplicity. Actions happen, but they are not used to build identity, and therefore they do not leave the same "stain" (ð‘Œē𑍇𑌊) of pride, guilt, and fear.

The Bhagavad Gita repeatedly teaches that action without attachment does not bind. Ashtavakra says the same in a simpler form: if the heart is clean and non-craving, action cannot stick. This does not deny cause and effect in the world; it denies psychological bondage. The pure mind responds and moves on, rather than replaying and owning.

Practice by choosing one undertaking and making it ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ. Do it with care, but drop the demand for recognition or perfection. After finishing, deliberately release the mental replay. If praise comes, receive it lightly; if blame comes, learn what is useful and drop the rest. This is how you reduce ð‘Œē𑍇𑌊 and make actions cleaner.

ð‘Œļ 𑌏ð‘Œĩ 𑌧ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌃 ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑍇𑌷𑍁 ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪ𑌃 āĨĪ
𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĻ𑍍 ð‘Œķ𑍃ð‘ŒĢ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍 ð‘Œļ𑍍𑌊𑍃ð‘Œķð‘ŒĻ𑍍 𑌜ð‘Œŋ𑌘𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍍 𑌅ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌰𑍍𑌷ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œļ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-65āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œļ 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - he alone
𑌧ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - blessed
𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ-𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌃 - knower of the Self
ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ-𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑍇𑌷𑍁 - in all conditions/states
ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - who
ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪ𑌃 - equal; even-minded
𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - seeing
ð‘Œķ𑍃ð‘ŒĢ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - hearing
ð‘Œļ𑍍𑌊𑍃ð‘Œķð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - touching
𑌜ð‘Œŋ𑌘𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - smelling
𑌅ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - eating
𑌇ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌰𑍍𑌷-ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻð‘Œļ𑌃 - with mind free of thirst/craving

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Blessed indeed is the Self-knower who remains equal in all conditions, whose mind is free of thirst, even while seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, and eating.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse ties together equanimity and ordinary living. The Self-knower is not defined by sensory shutdown; he may see and hear, eat and move, but the mind is ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌃-ð‘ŒĪ𑍃𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒĢð‘Œū in spirit - free of thirst. That thirst is the subtle demand that says, "I need more," or "I need different." When thirst ends, equanimity (ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĪð‘Œū) becomes natural across all states (ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ-𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ).

This is why the verse calls such a one 𑌧ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - blessed. It is not social blessing; it is inner wholeness. Many people can control behavior, but very few end the inner thirst. When the thirst ends, the senses can function without enslaving. This is the mature freedom the chapter keeps describing: life continues, but craving does not rule.

Practice by noticing "thirst moments." These are the moments when you feel, "This isn't enough," or "I need a bigger hit of pleasure/approval/control." Pause there. Feel the body, breathe, and return to awareness. Then choose a simple act of contentment: stop scrolling, eat a bit less, speak less defensively, accept a small discomfort. These small reductions in thirst gradually create the equanimity the verse praises.

𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌰𑌃 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ 𑌚ð‘Œū𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑌃 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌧𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ 𑌚 ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌧ð‘ŒĻð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĪ
𑌆𑌕ð‘Œūð‘Œķð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑍇ð‘Œĩ 𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĶð‘Œū āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-66āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ - where is...?
ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌰𑌃 - bondage; repetitive suffering
𑌆𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑌃 - appearance; mere semblance
ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌧𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 - goal to be achieved
ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌧ð‘ŒĻð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - means/practice
𑌆𑌕ð‘Œūð‘Œķð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌇ð‘Œĩ - like space
𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the steady one
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - free of conceptual splitting
ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĶð‘Œū - always

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
For the steady one, always free of conceptual splitting and vast like space, where are bondage and mere appearance, goal and means?

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
The verse uses the metaphor of 𑌆𑌕ð‘Œūð‘Œķ (space) to describe the liberated mind: open, unconfined, and untouched by what appears within it. Space does not need to solve the clouds; it simply holds them. Similarly, the wise does not feel trapped in ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌰 because experiences are seen as 𑌆𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œļ - appearances in awareness. When identity is awareness, the usual spiritual structure of "goal and means" loosens. You are no longer trying to travel to yourself.

Upanishadic teaching often uses space to show this: pot-space and vast space are not truly different; the difference is only a boundary. When the boundary of ego is seen as a mental construction, the Self is recognized as vast. That is why the verse asks rhetorical questions. It is not dismissing practice; it is pointing to the truth that practice ultimately reveals: the ever-present openness of awareness.

Practice by cultivating the "space view." When thoughts and emotions arise, imagine them as clouds moving in the sky of awareness. Do not fight them; do not chase them. Let them pass. Then notice that the sky is unchanged. When you feel trapped in a problem, widen attention: hear sounds, feel breath, sense the body, and recognize the field. This helps you taste why the wise is compared to space.

ð‘Œļ 𑌜ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍀 𑌊𑍂𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĢð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌰ð‘Œļð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌗𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑌃 āĨĪ
𑌅𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒĻð‘Œĩ𑌚𑍍𑌛ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍇 ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧ð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍇 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-6𑍭āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œļ𑌃 - that one
𑌜ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - conquers; triumphs
𑌅𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ-ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍀 - renouncer of worldly gain/ends
𑌊𑍂𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĢ-ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌰-ð‘Œļ-ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌗𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑌃 - full in expression and being; complete and vital
𑌅𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑌃 - natural; unforced
𑌅ð‘ŒĻð‘Œĩ𑌚𑍍𑌛ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - unbroken; uninterrupted
ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧ð‘Œŋ𑌃 - absorption/rest in the Self
ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - whose
ð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - remains; prevails

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
He truly triumphs - the one who has renounced worldly gain and yet remains full in life, whose absorption in the Self is natural and unbroken.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse defines victory in a non-worldly way. Real victory is not defeating others; it is being free of being defeated by craving. The 𑌅𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ-ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍀 is one who has renounced the chase for gain as identity. Yet the verse immediately says he is 𑌊𑍂𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĢ - full, not dry. That fullness comes from 𑌅𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧ð‘Œŋ: a natural, unforced resting in awareness that is 𑌅ð‘ŒĻð‘Œĩ𑌚𑍍𑌛ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ, unbroken even while life continues.

Many people associate renunciation with dullness, but the verse insists the opposite: when the heart is not hungry for gain, vitality can be more genuine. This is also why the text repeatedly praises unforced steadiness. Forced ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧ð‘Œŋ is still an ego project; unforced ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧ð‘Œŋ is simply the mind abiding in its source. That is the triumph being described.

Practice by renouncing one "gain identity." Identify one area where your self-worth depends on achievement, money, status, or being seen. Reduce that dependence intentionally: simplify a goal, refuse one manipulative shortcut, do one good action quietly. At the same time, cultivate unbroken remembrance: return to awareness repeatedly during the day, not as strain but as gentle recall. This makes ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧ð‘Œŋ less a special event and more a stable background.

𑌎ð‘Œđ𑍁ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ 𑌜𑍍𑌞ð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍋 ð‘ŒŪð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘Œķð‘ŒŊ𑌃 āĨĪ
𑌭𑍋𑌗ð‘ŒŪ𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌕ð‘Œū𑌂𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀 ð‘Œļð‘ŒĶð‘Œū ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 ð‘ŒĻ𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-6ð‘ŪāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌎ð‘Œđ𑍁ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū 𑌅ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 - with many words here
𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂 𑌉𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ - what is the use?
𑌜𑍍𑌞ð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ-ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌃 - knower of truth
ð‘ŒŪð‘Œđð‘Œū-𑌆ð‘Œķð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - great-souled one
𑌭𑍋𑌗-ð‘ŒŪ𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷 - enjoyment and liberation
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œū𑌕ð‘Œū𑌂𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀 - without craving for
ð‘Œļð‘ŒĶð‘Œū - always
ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 - everywhere
ð‘ŒĻ𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑌃 - without personal relish/agenda; not hooked

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Why many words? The great-souled knower of truth craves neither pleasure nor liberation, and remains unhooked everywhere.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse is a summary pause. After many descriptions, it says: enough words. The essence is simple: the knower is not hungry. Not hungry for 𑌭𑍋𑌗 (pleasure) and not hungry even for ð‘ŒŪ𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷 as an achievement. That is why he is called ð‘ŒĻ𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ: not driven by the "flavor" of personal agenda. He can participate in life without being hooked.

This echoes earlier verses in the work where the rare person is described as desiring neither enjoyment nor liberation. The point is not apathy; it is fullness. When the Self is seen as complete, both worldly craving and spiritual ambition soften. Then the mind becomes simpler, and language becomes less necessary. The truth is lived.

Practice by examining your two cravings: worldly and spiritual. Notice where you chase comfort, praise, romance, and control. Also notice where you chase "attainment": wanting to feel special, wanting a perfect state. In both cases, return to awareness and to contentment. Do one act of simple living each day and one act of quiet inquiry each day. This gradually makes the mind less hungry and more ð‘ŒĻ𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ in the best sense: free.

ð‘ŒŪð‘Œđð‘ŒĶð‘Œūð‘ŒĶð‘Œŋ 𑌜𑌗ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍈ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌜𑍃𑌂𑌭ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĪ
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘ŒŊ ð‘Œķ𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧𑌎𑍋𑌧ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂 𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪð‘Œĩð‘Œķð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-6ð‘ŊāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒŪð‘Œđð‘ŒĪ𑍍-𑌆ð‘ŒĶð‘Œŋ - beginning with ð‘ŒŪð‘Œđð‘ŒĪ𑍍 (cosmic intellect) and so on
𑌜𑌗ð‘ŒĪ𑍍-ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍈ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - the dual world
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ-ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 - mere name
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌜𑍃𑌂𑌭ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - expanded/spread out
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘ŒŊ - having abandoned; having let go
ð‘Œķ𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧-𑌎𑍋𑌧ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of pure awareness
𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - what?
𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 - duty; something to be done
𑌅ð‘Œĩð‘Œķð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - remains

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The whole dual world, from cosmic categories onward, is only an expansion of names. When that is let go, what duty remains for pure awareness?

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse points to the constructed nature of cosmology and identity. Whether you describe the world through ð‘ŒŪð‘Œđð‘ŒĪ𑍍 and other categories or through modern categories, the mind is still naming and mapping. The verse says: it is ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ-ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 - name only. The map is not the territory. When the mind stops mistaking its maps for ultimate reality, a great weight lifts. Then what remains is ð‘Œķ𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧-𑌎𑍋𑌧: pure awareness.

From that standpoint, the idea of "duty to become liberated" collapses. Pure awareness does not have a task to complete; it is already itself. This does not mean the body-mind will stop acting responsibly. It means the inner identity of "I am a limited person who must reach a state" is dropped. What remains is simplicity and spontaneous right action.

Practice by noticing where you cling to maps. You may cling to spiritual frameworks, psychological labels, or stories about your past. Use them as tools, but do not make them your identity. Once a day, deliberately drop all labels for a minute and rest as awareness. Then return to life and act responsibly. This trains you to relate to names as names, which is the freedom the verse is pointing to.

𑌭𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒŪ𑌭𑍂ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑌂 ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍀ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘ŒŊ𑍀 āĨĪ
𑌅ð‘Œē𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŦ𑍁𑌰ð‘ŒĢ𑌃 ð‘Œķ𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧𑌃 ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ𑍈ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œķð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-𑍭0āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌭𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒŪ-𑌭𑍂ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - of the nature of illusion
𑌇ð‘ŒĶ𑌂 ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂 - all this
𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌅ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - "nothing exists" (in the ultimate sense)
𑌇ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - thus
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘ŒŊ𑍀 - one with firm certainty
𑌅ð‘Œē𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - not an object of perception; subtle
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŦ𑍁𑌰ð‘ŒĢ𑌃 - shining presence; awareness
ð‘Œķ𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧𑌃 - pure
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - by nature alone
ð‘Œķð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - becomes calm; is pacified

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
With firm certainty that all this is illusory and has no independent existence, the pure one - a subtle shining presence - becomes calm by nature.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse speaks in the strongest Advaita language: "nothing exists" - meaning nothing exists independently, as a separate ultimate reality. Everything is 𑌭𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒŪ-𑌭𑍂ð‘ŒĪ in the sense of being appearance. When this is firmly understood, the mind stops clinging. The pure one is described as 𑌅ð‘Œē𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒŊ-ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŦ𑍁𑌰ð‘ŒĢ: a shining presence that cannot be captured as an object. That is awareness itself.

The danger here is nihilism: thinking the verse means nothing matters. That is a mishearing. The verse is pointing to the unreality of separateness, not to the unreality of lived experience. In practice, this insight reduces panic and possessiveness. When you stop treating experiences as ultimate, the heart becomes naturally calm (ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ) because it is no longer bargaining with life.

Practice by applying "dreamlike" insight without becoming careless. When you are anxious, remind yourself: "This is an appearance in awareness; it is not ultimate." Let the body relax, and return to the subtle shining of knowing. Then act responsibly in the world - pay the bill, speak the truth, help someone - but without panic. This is how ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ-ð‘Œķð‘Œū 𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ becomes real: calmness that arises from seeing clearly.

ð‘Œķ𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŦ𑍁𑌰ð‘ŒĢ𑌰𑍂𑌊ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒĶ𑍃ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪ𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑌃 āĨĪ
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌧ð‘Œŋ𑌃 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ 𑌚 ð‘Œĩ𑍈𑌰ð‘Œū𑌗𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū𑌗𑌃 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œķð‘ŒŪð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒŠð‘Œŋ ð‘Œĩð‘Œū āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-𑍭1āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œķ𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧-ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŦ𑍁𑌰ð‘ŒĢ-𑌰𑍂𑌊ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of one whose nature is pure shining awareness
ð‘ŒĶ𑍃ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ-𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - the sense of objecthood; treating things as separate objects
𑌅𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - not seeing; not adopting
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ - where is...?
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌧ð‘Œŋ𑌃 - rule; injunction
ð‘Œĩ𑍈𑌰ð‘Œū𑌗𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 - dispassion
ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū𑌗𑌃 - renunciation
ð‘Œķð‘ŒŪ𑌃 - calmness; pacification
𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even
ð‘Œĩð‘Œū - or

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
For one who abides as pure shining awareness and no longer sees separate objecthood, where are rules, dispassion, renunciation, or even calmness as practices?

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse speaks from the standpoint where practices become unnecessary because their purpose has been fulfilled. Rules (ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌧ð‘Œŋ), dispassion (ð‘Œĩ𑍈𑌰ð‘Œū𑌗𑍍ð‘ŒŊ), renunciation (ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū𑌗), and calmness (ð‘Œķð‘ŒŪ) are usually taught as means to reduce craving and stabilize the mind. But if you have recognized yourself as ð‘Œķ𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧-ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŦ𑍁𑌰ð‘ŒĢ - pure shining awareness - and the habit of objectifying (ð‘ŒĶ𑍃ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ-𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ) has softened, then these means are no longer carried as burdens. They may remain as natural qualities, but not as anxious projects.

This verse is easily misused if heard prematurely. It is not telling an untrained mind to ignore ethics or discipline. It is describing a mature mind where discipline is no longer forced. The chapter keeps alternating between lofty descriptions and sober warnings (like 18-75) for this reason: to prevent spiritual bypassing. The right hearing is: practice until the mind is clear, then let practice become natural.

Practice by letting discipline become less tense. Keep basic ethics and simple daily practices, but watch for the ego behind them: pride, harshness, perfectionism. Reduce that. Also cultivate the key insight of the verse: notice when you are objectifying life - treating people and experiences as separate things that must complete you. Return to awareness and see that objecthood is a mental habit. As that habit weakens, ð‘Œķð‘ŒŪ and ð‘Œĩ𑍈𑌰ð‘Œū𑌗𑍍ð‘ŒŊ grow more naturally.

ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŦ𑍁𑌰ð‘ŒĪð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒĻ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌰𑍂𑌊𑍇ð‘ŒĢ 𑌊𑍍𑌰𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌂 𑌚 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑌃 āĨĪ
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ 𑌎𑌂𑌧𑌃 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ 𑌚 ð‘Œĩð‘Œū ð‘ŒŪ𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌃 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œđ𑌰𑍍𑌷𑌃 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌷ð‘Œūð‘ŒĶð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œū āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-𑍭2āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŦ𑍁𑌰ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - of one who shines; is vividly present
𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ-𑌰𑍂𑌊𑍇ð‘ŒĢ - as infinite; without limit
𑌊𑍍𑌰𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌂 - nature; the field of phenomena
𑌚 - and
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - not seeing (as separate/ultimate)
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ 𑌎𑌂𑌧𑌃 - where is bondage?
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘ŒŪ𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌃 - where is liberation?
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œđ𑌰𑍍𑌷𑌃 - where is elation?
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌷ð‘Œūð‘ŒĶð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œū - where is dejection?

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
For the one who abides as the infinite shining Self and does not see the world-field as separate, where are bondage and liberation, joy and sorrow?

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
The verse is describing a shift of scale. When you identify as a limited person, bondage and liberation feel like real conditions, and joy and sorrow feel like ultimate verdicts. When you recognize yourself as 𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ awareness, these opposites lose their grip. They may still appear as experiences in the mind-body, but they no longer define identity. That is why the verse asks: where are they?

This is not emotional denial. It is the recognition that feelings are waves, not the ocean. The "not seeing 𑌊𑍍𑌰𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ" here means not taking the phenomenal field as the Self. When that confusion ends, both bondage and liberation are seen as ideas that applied only to the imagined separate self. From the standpoint of the infinite, the drama reduces.

Practice by enlarging your reference point. When you feel intense joy or sorrow, notice the urge to make it absolute. Then return to awareness and see the feeling as a wave. Ask, "What is aware of this wave?" Rest in that. This does not suppress emotion; it gives it space. Over time, the inner hold of ð‘Œđ𑌰𑍍𑌷 and ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌷ð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ reduces, and equanimity becomes more natural.

𑌎𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘Œŋ𑌊𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌰𑍇 ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰𑌂 ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍇 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŪ𑍋 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œđ𑌂𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰𑍋 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑌃 ð‘Œķ𑍋𑌭ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 𑌎𑍁𑌧𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-𑍭3āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌎𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘Œŋ-𑌊𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ-ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌰𑍇 - in bondage up to the level of intellect
ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒŊð‘Œū-ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - only illusion; mere appearance
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - turns; operates; plays out
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŪ𑌃 - without "mine"
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œđ𑌂𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰𑌃 - without ego
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑌃 - desireless
ð‘Œķ𑍋𑌭ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - shines
𑌎𑍁𑌧𑌃 - the wise one

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Within the mind-and-intellect world, the play of illusion continues. But the wise one shines free - without possessiveness, without ego, without craving.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse clarifies where bondage lives: in the mind-intellect complex. ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒŊð‘Œū is not necessarily a cosmic trick; it is the way the mind constructs a world and a self-story. That construction can keep running at the level of experience, but the wise is not imprisoned by it. He is ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŪ, ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œđ𑌂𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰, ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ. These are not moral decorations; they are the practical signs that the ego-story has weakened.

The phrase "illusion plays out" also protects you from unrealistic expectations. Even after insight, the body-mind will still have perceptions, habits, and reactions. What changes is ownership. When you do not take the mind’s play as "me", its power reduces. That is why the wise "shines": the shine is clarity amidst the play, like a lamp that is not disturbed by shadows moving on the wall.

Practice by treating the mind's drama as ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒŊð‘Œū without becoming dismissive. When thoughts and emotions surge, name the play: "mind-story." Then return to the witness. Also actively reduce possessiveness, ego, and craving in daily choices: simplify one desire, stop one manipulation, drop one resentment. This makes the mind-intellect play lighter and less binding.

𑌅𑌕𑍍𑌷ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 𑌗ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌊ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌂 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍋 ð‘ŒŪ𑍁ð‘ŒĻ𑍇𑌃 āĨĪ
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū 𑌚 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œĩð‘Œū ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘Œđð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘Œđ𑌂 ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘Œĩð‘Œū āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-𑍭4āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌅𑌕𑍍𑌷ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 - imperishable
𑌗ð‘ŒĪ-ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌊ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - free from torment; with anguish gone
𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌂 - the Self
𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - of one who sees/realizes
ð‘ŒŪ𑍁ð‘ŒĻ𑍇𑌃 - of the sage
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū - where is knowledge (as an object)?
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂 - where is the world (as an ultimate)?
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘Œđ𑌃 - where is the body (as identity)?
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ 𑌅ð‘Œđð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - where is "I" (ego)?
ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŪ 𑌇ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - "mine"
ð‘Œĩð‘Œū - or

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
For the sage who sees the Self as imperishable and free of inner torment, where are the old categories of knowledge and world, body and ego, "I" and "mine"?

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse shows what changes when the Self is seen as 𑌅𑌕𑍍𑌷ð‘ŒŊ, imperishable. When identity is no longer tied to the changing, the sense of inner torment (ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌊) reduces. Then many categories lose their grip: you are no longer obsessed with collecting knowledge as identity, no longer trapped in the world as threat, no longer confined to body-identity, and no longer caught in possessiveness. The ego's "I" and "mine" are what generate most suffering, so their weakening is the real liberation.

The verse uses 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ to say these things cannot be located as binding realities for the wise. They may appear as practical tools - knowledge can still be used, the world can still be navigated, the body can still be cared for - but they no longer define the Self. That is why the sage is free of torment: the core misidentification is gone.

Practice by working specifically with "I" and "mine." Notice how often you tense around ownership: my reputation, my plan, my body, my comfort. Each time, pause and ask, "Who is this 'I'?" Return to awareness. Then act responsibly without possessiveness. Over time, the categories the verse lists become lighter, and you understand directly why freedom is described as the end of torment.

ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍋𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍀ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ 𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĢð‘Œŋ 𑌜ð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘Œœð‘ŒĄð‘Œ§ð‘€ð‘Œ°ð‘ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĶð‘Œŋ āĨĪ
ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑍋𑌰ð‘ŒĨð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œēð‘Œū𑌊ð‘Œū𑌂ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚 𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍁ð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍋ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌕𑍍𑌷ð‘ŒĢð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-𑍭5āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍋𑌧-𑌆ð‘ŒĶ𑍀ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ - restraint and related disciplines
𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĢð‘Œŋ - practices/actions
𑌜ð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - abandons
ð‘Œœð‘ŒĄ-𑌧𑍀𑌃 - dull-minded one; unprepared intellect
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĶð‘Œŋ - if
ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑍋-𑌰ð‘ŒĨð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - fantasies; mental chariots
𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œēð‘Œū𑌊ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - idle talk; prattle
𑌚 - and
𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍁𑌂 - to do
𑌆𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - becomes capable; falls into
𑌅ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍-𑌕𑍍𑌷ð‘ŒĢð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - immediately; at once

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
If an unprepared, dull mind abandons disciplines like restraint, it immediately falls into fantasies and idle talk.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
After many lofty descriptions, this verse gives a grounded warning. A dull or unprepared mind cannot imitate the freedom of the wise by simply dropping discipline. If craving and restlessness are still active, then abandoning restraint leads not to liberation but to indulgence: fantasies, compulsive thinking, and endless talking. This verse is Ashtavakra's way of preventing misuse of non-dual teaching as an excuse for laziness.

The difference is maturity. The wise does not need forced restraint because desire has softened through insight. The unprepared mind still needs structure. This is why traditions insist on ethics, steady practice, and humility. Freedom is not an attitude you declare; it is an inner transformation. Until that transformation is stable, disciplines like ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍋𑌧 protect you from your own compulsions.

Practice by being honest about your readiness. If you notice your mind immediately runs to fantasy and distraction when you relax discipline, keep discipline - but make it gentle and sustainable. Reduce stimulation, keep simple meditation, and live truthfully. At the same time, work toward the deeper aim: seeing the Self as awareness. As insight grows, discipline becomes less forced. This is how you respect the verse's warning without getting stuck in rigid control.

ð‘ŒŪ𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑌃 ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰𑍁ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌜ð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘ŒĪð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊𑍋 𑌎ð‘Œđð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌷ð‘ŒŊð‘Œēð‘Œūð‘Œēð‘Œļ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-𑍭6āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒŪ𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑌃 - dull one; unprepared person
ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰𑍁ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even after hearing
ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍 ð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 - that truth/reality
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌜ð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not abandon
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍂ð‘ŒĒð‘ŒĪð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - confusion; delusion
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊𑌃 - appearing without concepts
𑌎ð‘Œđð‘Œŋ𑌃 ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - outwardly due to effort
𑌅𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌰𑍍 - inwardly
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌷ð‘ŒŊ-ð‘Œēð‘Œūð‘Œēð‘Œļ𑌃 - longing for objects; craving

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Even after hearing the truth, the unprepared person does not drop confusion. Outwardly he may seem "thought-free" through effort, but inwardly he still longs for sense-objects.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse exposes a kind of spiritual hypocrisy that can arise when non-dual teaching is treated as a performance. A person may try to look detached and quiet, but if craving is still alive inside, the mind remains bound. Outward ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊 can be manufactured by suppression or by image-management, while inwardly the mind is still ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌷ð‘ŒŊ-ð‘Œēð‘Œūð‘Œēð‘Œļ, thirsty for objects. The verse says: hearing is not enough if the inner motive is unchanged.

This is why the tradition insists on sincerity. If the heart is still hungry, pretending to be free creates more splitting: an outer mask and an inner craving. Ashtavakra’s point is not to shame, but to make you honest: freedom is measured by reduced craving and fear, not by the appearance of calm. This also ties back to the chapter’s warnings about mishearing.

Practice by choosing honesty over image. Notice where you try to appear detached while secretly craving. Bring the craving into awareness without judgment and work with it directly: simplify habits, reduce stimulation, and strengthen contentment. If you meditate, do it not to look spiritual but to see clearly. Over time, outer quiet and inner quiet align, and ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊 becomes less of a mask and more of a natural simplicity.

𑌜𑍍𑌞ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍍 𑌗ð‘Œēð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œū ð‘ŒŊ𑍋 ð‘Œē𑍋𑌕ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū𑌊ð‘Œŋ 𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍋ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑌰𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍁𑌂 ð‘Œĩ𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍁ð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘Œĩ ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘ŒĻ āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-𑍭𑍭āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌜𑍍𑌞ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - through knowledge
𑌗ð‘Œēð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ-𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œū - whose sense of action/doership has melted away
ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - who
ð‘Œē𑍋𑌕-ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even from the world's viewpoint
𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪ-𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - one who does actions
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌆𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍋ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not obtain
𑌅ð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑌰ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - occasion; opportunity (for egoic claiming)
𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍁𑌂 - to do (as "I do")
ð‘Œĩ𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍁𑌂 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - even to speak (as "I assert")
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘ŒĻ - anything

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Though he may appear to act in the world, the one whose doership has melted through knowledge finds no occasion to claim "I do" or "I say" anything as an ego.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse highlights the difference between action and doership. The liberated person may still be seen doing tasks, speaking, and moving. But because doership has melted (𑌗ð‘Œēð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ-𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œū), there is no inner claiming. That is why it says he finds no "occasion" to do or say anything: not because he is mute or inactive, but because the ego’s habit of stamping actions as "mine" has vanished.

In practical terms, this means life becomes simpler. Actions happen when needed, words are spoken when helpful, but the mind does not build a self-image from them. This is close to the Gita’s repeated refrain: the wise acts without attachment and without ego. The deeper freedom is not in changing outward life dramatically; it is in removing the inner owner.

Practice by noticing when you "stamp" your actions. After speaking, do you replay: "Did I sound smart?" After acting, do you claim: "I achieved" or "I failed"? Catch the stamping and soften it. Replace it with a quieter view: "This happened through the body-mind; awareness witnessed it." Continue to act responsibly, but drop the inner ownership. Over time, you will understand the verse: the ego finds no opportunity to claim.

𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑌃 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ 𑌊𑍍𑌰𑌕ð‘Œūð‘Œķ𑍋 ð‘Œĩð‘Œū ð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌂 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ 𑌚 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘ŒĻ āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑌂𑌕ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĶð‘Œū āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-𑍭ð‘ŪāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ - where is...?
ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑌃 - darkness; ignorance
𑌊𑍍𑌰𑌕ð‘Œūð‘Œķ𑌃 - light; knowledge
ð‘Œĩð‘Œū - or
ð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌂 - loss; abandonment
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ - where is...?
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘ŒĻ - anything at all
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the changeless one
𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the steady one
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑌂𑌕ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the fearless/undisturbed one
ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĶð‘Œū - always

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
For the always fearless, changeless wise one, where are darkness and light, loss and gain - where is anything at all that could bind him?

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse is speaking from the Self’s standpoint. Darkness and light, ignorance and knowledge, loss and gain - these opposites apply to the mind and to the world of change. But the Self is described as ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰, changeless. When identity is anchored there, the opposites lose their power to define you. That is why the verse’s tone is absolute: "where is anything at all?"

This does not deny practical learning or practical loss. It denies existential bondage to them. The wise can still learn skills, still correct mistakes, still respond to loss - but inwardly they are ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑌂𑌕, not threatened at the root. Because the Self is recognized as unchanging awareness, the mind does not collapse into fear when conditions change.

Practice by distinguishing practical change from existential threat. When you feel fear around loss or failure, ask, "What is threatened?" Often it is a self-image. Return to awareness and see that awareness is present and unchanged. Then take the practical step: learn, repair, plan. This keeps you functional without being owned by the opposites the verse lists.

𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ 𑌧𑍈𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œĩ𑍇𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑌂𑌕ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘Œĩð‘Œū āĨĪ
𑌅ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌚𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌃ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-𑍭ð‘ŊāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ - where is...?
𑌧𑍈𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 - courage; firmness
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œĩ𑍇𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂 - discernment
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑌂𑌕ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū - fearlessness; undisturbedness
𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘Œĩð‘Œū - even or
𑌅ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌚𑍍ð‘ŒŊ-ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of one whose nature is indescribable
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌃ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of one beyond fixed nature/attributes
ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - of the yogi

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
For the yogi whose nature is indescribable and beyond fixed attributes, where are even qualities like courage, discernment, and fearlessness as separate "traits"?

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse pushes the teaching to its logical end: even virtues become hard to "locate" as personal possessions. In ordinary life we say, "I am courageous," "I have discernment." But when the ego-sense dissolves, qualities may appear, yet they are not owned. The yogi is described as 𑌅ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌚𑍍ð‘ŒŊ, indescribable, and ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌃ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ, beyond fixed attributes. From that standpoint, labeling becomes less meaningful.

This does not mean virtues are irrelevant. It means virtues have matured into spontaneity. Courage, discernment, and fearlessness may express naturally, but without the ego claiming, "I am virtuous." The chapter keeps pointing to this: the freed mind is simple. Even the language of attainment becomes unnecessary.

Practice by cultivating virtues without ego-ownership. Do courageous things, make discerning choices, reduce fear - but notice when the mind wants credit. Drop the credit and keep the action. Also, practice humility: allow yourself to be a learner. Over time, qualities become natural and less performative, which is closer to what the verse indicates.

ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍍𑌗𑍋 ð‘ŒĻ𑍈ð‘Œĩ ð‘ŒĻ𑌰𑌕𑍋 𑌜𑍀ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚𑍈ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œđð‘Œŋ āĨĪ
𑌎ð‘Œđ𑍁ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 𑌕ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘ŒĻ āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘Ū0āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌃 - not heaven
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌏ð‘Œĩ ð‘ŒĻ𑌰𑌕𑌃 - nor hell
𑌜𑍀ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌃 - liberation while living
ð‘ŒĻ - not
𑌚 𑌏ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œđð‘Œŋ - nor indeed
𑌎ð‘Œđ𑍁ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū 𑌅ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 - with many words here
𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂 𑌉𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ - what is the use?
ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗-ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū - from the yogic vision
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘ŒĻ - nothing at all

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
From the yogic vision, heaven and hell and even the idea of liberation-as-a-thing cannot be located. What more is there to say? Nothing remains as separate.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse speaks from the non-dual standpoint where the mind’s reward-and-punishment map has collapsed. Heaven and hell are meaningful within a worldview of doer and consequence. But when identity is awareness, these become categories within the mind, not ultimate destinations for a separate self. The verse even negates 𑌜𑍀ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ as a "thing" because, from the Self’s standpoint, there was never bondage to begin with.

This is not an excuse to ignore ethics. It is a statement about ultimate reality. In practical life, actions have consequences, and discipline matters. But the deepest freedom is the recognition that the Self is untouched. The verse says: from ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗-ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œŋ - the vision of union - separateness cannot be found. That is why it says "nothing": not nihilism, but non-duality.

Practice by dropping the transactional mentality in spirituality. Notice where you are seeking goodness mainly for reward or avoiding badness mainly for fear. Replace that with sincerity: do what is right because it aligns with clarity. At the same time, rest daily as awareness and observe that awareness is not improved or damaged by outcomes. This slowly brings your lived perspective closer to ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗-ð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œŋ.

ð‘ŒĻ𑍈ð‘Œĩ 𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 ð‘Œēð‘Œū𑌭𑌂 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘Œēð‘Œū𑌭𑍇ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œķ𑍋𑌚ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ āĨĪ
𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘Œķ𑍀ð‘ŒĪð‘Œē𑌂 𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŪ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ𑍈ð‘Œĩ 𑌊𑍂𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘Ū1āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - not at all
𑌊𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - prays for; begs for; anxiously seeks
ð‘Œēð‘Œū𑌭𑌂 - gain
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌅ð‘Œēð‘Œū𑌭𑍇ð‘ŒĻ - not because of loss
𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œķ𑍋𑌚ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - grieves; laments
𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the steady one
ð‘Œķ𑍀ð‘ŒĪð‘Œē𑌂 - cool; calm
𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 - mind
𑌅ð‘ŒŪ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ - with nectar; with the immortal (taste of the Self)
𑌏ð‘Œĩ - indeed
𑌊𑍂𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - filled

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
He neither begs for gain nor grieves over loss. The steady one’s mind is cool, filled with the nectar of inner wholeness.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse describes freedom from gain-loss obsession. The mind that constantly prays for gain and mourns loss is a mind that has made outcomes into identity. The wise does not live that way. Because identity is awareness, not result, gain and loss are handled practically without inner collapse. That is why the mind is called ð‘Œķ𑍀ð‘ŒĪð‘Œē: cool, not overheated by craving.

The word 𑌅ð‘ŒŪ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ is important. It points to the "immortal nectar" of the Self - a happiness not dependent on what comes and goes. When that taste grows, the mind does not need to beg life for proof of worth. This is also why the Bhagavad Gita praises contentment and equanimity in gain and loss. The inner nectar makes outer swings less binding.

Practice by watching your relationship to outcomes. Notice where you "pray" for a particular result: approval, money, a certain response. See the anxiety behind it. Then practice doing what is right without begging life to guarantee comfort. Also, practice receiving loss without self-pity: feel the pain, take practical steps, but avoid identity-collapse. Over time, the mind becomes cooler because it is less dependent on outcomes for peace.

ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍌ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑍋 ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒĶ𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘ŒŪ𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĶð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ āĨĪ
ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĶ𑍁𑌃𑌖ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍃𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍 𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘Ū2āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻ - not
ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 - the calm/peaceful person
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍌ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - praises
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑌃 - desireless one
ð‘ŒĻ - not
ð‘ŒĶ𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - the wicked/unwholesome
𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĶð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - condemns
ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪ-ð‘ŒĶ𑍁𑌃𑌖-ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖 - equal in pain and pleasure
ð‘ŒĪ𑍃𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - content
𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - anything
𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 - "must-do" duty
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not see (as binding)

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The desireless one neither flatters the calm nor condemns the wicked. Equal in pain and pleasure and content within, he does not carry a burden of "something must be done."

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse is about inner non-reactivity, not moral indifference. The wise does not feed ego by praising "good people" to look good or condemning "bad people" to feel superior. Praise and blame can be tools, but they can also be ego games. The desireless one is free of that game. Because he is inwardly content and equal in pain and pleasure, he does not need to use judgment as a way to stabilize identity.

This does not mean the wise cannot act against harm or support what is wholesome. It means action is not driven by inner agitation. The verse also links this to the end of 𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 as burden: when you are not trying to fix your self-image through action, action becomes simpler. This aligns with the chapter’s repeated critique of the inner "must" voice.

Practice by watching where you use judgment to feed ego. Notice if you praise to be liked or condemn to feel righteous. Replace that with clean discernment: "What action reduces harm?" Then act, without contempt. Also cultivate equanimity: when pleasure or pain comes, remember the witness and keep your response steady. This reduces the need for reactive praise/blame and supports the contentment the verse describes.

𑌧𑍀𑌰𑍋 ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œŋ ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌰ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌂 ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒĶð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌕𑍍𑌷ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ āĨĪ
ð‘Œđ𑌰𑍍𑌷ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑌰𑍍𑌷ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍋 ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒŪ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍋 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚 𑌜𑍀ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘Ū3āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌧𑍀𑌰𑌃 - steady one; wise
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œŋ - does not hate
ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌰ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - worldly life; the cycle of experience
𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌂 - the Self
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒĶð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑍃𑌕𑍍𑌷ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not crave to "see" (as an object)
ð‘Œđ𑌰𑍍𑌷 - elation
𑌅ð‘ŒŪ𑌰𑍍𑌷 - irritation; impatience; resentment
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - freed from
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒŪ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - not dead
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚 𑌜𑍀ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - nor (as a separate ego) lives

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The wise one does not hate the world, and does not crave to "see the Self" as an object. Freed from elation and resentment, he is not trapped in the ego’s sense of being a separate living or dying entity.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse corrects two common spiritual cravings: world-hatred and Self-seeking as an object. Some people hate ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌰 because it frustrates their desires; that hatred is still attachment, inverted. The wise does not hate, because he is not bargaining with the world for completion. At the same time, he does not crave to "see the Self" as an experience. The Self is the seer; turning it into an object is another form of seeking.

The line "not dead and not living" is a poetic way of saying: the wise is not confined to the ego's biography. The body lives and will die, but the Self as awareness is not born and does not die. When this is recognized, emotional swings like ð‘Œđ𑌰𑍍𑌷 and 𑌅ð‘ŒŪ𑌰𑍍𑌷 reduce because they are driven by ego-threat and ego-gratification.

Practice by dropping both extremes: stop hating life and stop chasing a special "Self experience." When you feel resentment toward the world, ask what desire was blocked. When you feel desperate for a mystical experience, ask what insecurity is driving it. Return to the witness and rest. Then live responsibly and kindly in the world. This makes freedom practical and prevents it from becoming another form of craving.

ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌃ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍇ð‘Œđ𑌃 𑌊𑍁ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍌 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑍋 ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌷ð‘ŒŊ𑍇𑌷𑍁 𑌚 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œķð‘Œ°ð‘€ð‘Œ°ð‘‡ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒŠð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œķ𑌃 ð‘Œķ𑍋𑌭ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 𑌎𑍁𑌧𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘Ū4āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌃ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍇ð‘Œđ𑌃 - without clinging attachment
𑌊𑍁ð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰-ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰-𑌆ð‘ŒĶ𑍌 - toward children, spouse, and the like
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑌃 - without craving
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌷ð‘ŒŊ𑍇𑌷𑍁 - toward sense-objects
𑌚 - and
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - free of worry
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ-ð‘Œķ𑌰𑍀𑌰𑍇 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even about one’s own body
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œķ𑌃 - without expectation
ð‘Œķ𑍋𑌭ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - shines
𑌎𑍁𑌧𑌃 - the wise one

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The wise one shines: not clinging even to family roles, not craving sense-objects, free of worry even about his own body, and without anxious expectation.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse describes non-attachment in its most sensitive places: relationships and the body. ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌃ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍇ð‘Œđ here does not mean lack of love; it means lack of clinging. Love can remain, but the possessive demand "you must be mine in a certain way" falls away. Similarly, ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ toward objects means pleasure is not treated as a necessity. The mind becomes quieter because it is not continually bargaining.

The verse also says the wise is free of worry even about the body. This does not mean negligence; it means the body is cared for without panic and obsession. ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œķð‘Œū is the end of anxious expectation: the mind stops demanding that life guarantee a certain shape of future. That is why the wise "shines": inner freedom is visible as steadiness.

Practice by distinguishing love from clinging. In relationships, notice where fear makes you control. Replace it with trust and honest communication. With the body, practice responsible care without obsession: exercise, eat well, rest, but drop the identity-story around it. And work with expectation: each time you catch yourself demanding a guarantee, soften it into preference. These steps make the verse’s qualities concrete.

ð‘ŒĪ𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œŋ𑌃 ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĨð‘Œū𑌊ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑌂 𑌚𑌰ð‘ŒĪ𑍋 ð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘Œķð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œķð‘Œūð‘ŒŊð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘Ū5āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĪ𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œŋ𑌃 - contentment; satisfaction
ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 - everywhere
𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of the steady one
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĨð‘Œū-𑌊ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ-ð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - living with what comes; as life falls into place
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑌂 - freely; as he wishes
𑌚𑌰ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - while roaming/moving
ð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘Œķð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - places
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 - wherever
𑌅ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ - at sunset; when the day ends
ð‘Œķð‘Œūð‘ŒŊð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - of one who lies down/rests

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Contentment is everywhere for the steady one who lives with what comes. Roaming freely through places, he rests wherever the day ends.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse gives a simple image of inner freedom: wherever the body happens to be, the heart is content. The wise does not require a perfect setting to be at ease. He lives ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĨð‘Œū-𑌊ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ - with what comes - not as fatalism, but as inner flexibility. Because craving is reduced, contentment is portable.

The image of resting wherever the day ends suggests a mind that does not constantly negotiate. Many minds are always planning the next place, the next improvement, the next upgrade. The wise can move freely, but not from dissatisfaction. Movement is not escape; it is simply movement. This is the repeated theme of Chapter 18: freedom is the end of inner demand.

Practice by building "portable contentment." Choose one daily moment when you deliberately stop optimizing - during a meal, a walk, or a pause at work. Let the moment be enough. Also practice sleeping with a lighter mind: reduce scrolling, reduce mental replay, and end the day with a few breaths of witnessing. These small habits cultivate the steadiness and ease the verse pictures.

𑌊ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍂ð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 ð‘Œĩð‘Œū ð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘Œđ𑍋 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū ð‘ŒŪð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌭𑍂ð‘ŒŪð‘Œŋð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œūð‘Œķ𑍇𑌷ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍇𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘Ū6āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌊ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍁 - may fall
𑌉ð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘ŒĪ𑍁 - may rise
ð‘Œĩð‘Œū - or
ð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘Œđ𑌃 - the body
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌅ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū - no concern for him
ð‘ŒŪð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - of the great-souled one
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ-𑌭𑍂ð‘ŒŪð‘Œŋ - the ground of one's true nature
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - rest; repose
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ - having forgotten
𑌅ð‘Œķ𑍇ð‘Œķ - all
ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œļ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍇𑌃 - of bondage; of the cycle of worldly becoming

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Let the body fall or rise - the great soul is not anxious about it, having forgotten the whole cycle of bondage by resting in the ground of true nature.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse speaks to the deepest fear: fear about the body. "Let it fall or rise" is a poetic way of saying: let it live or die, let it weaken or recover. For the ð‘ŒŪð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œū, the body is no longer the center of identity. Because he rests in the ground of being (ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ-𑌭𑍂ð‘ŒŪð‘Œŋ), the anxious clinging that makes the body feel like "me" is weakened. That is why the mind is not dominated by worry.

This does not recommend neglect. The wise cares for the body as an instrument, but without worshiping it as the Self. When identity shifts to awareness, the body’s changes are still felt, but they do not become existential catastrophe. The verse also says he has "forgotten" bondage - meaning he is no longer hypnotized by the old self-story of limitation and fear.

Practice by relating to the body more wisely. Care for it responsibly: rest, eat well, move, seek help when needed. But watch the identity-panic: "If the body changes, I am ruined." When that thought appears, return to awareness and remember what is not the body. Then take practical steps calmly. Over time, body-care becomes clean, and body-fear loses its grip.

𑌅𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘ŒĻ𑌃 𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑌚ð‘Œū𑌰𑍋 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œķ𑍍𑌛ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œķð‘ŒŊ𑌃 āĨĪ
𑌅ð‘Œļ𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑍇𑌷𑍁 𑌕𑍇ð‘Œĩð‘Œē𑍋 𑌰ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĪ𑍇 𑌎𑍁𑌧𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘Ū𑍭āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌅𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - having nothing; non-possessive
𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ-𑌚ð‘Œū𑌰𑌃 - moving freely; acting as he wishes (without compulsion)
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌃 - free of opposites
𑌛ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ-ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œķð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - doubts cut off
𑌅ð‘Œļ𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - unattached
ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ-𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑍇𑌷𑍁 - in all conditions/states
𑌕𑍇ð‘Œĩð‘Œē𑌃 - alone; pure; uncombined
𑌰ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - delights; rests joyfully
𑌎𑍁𑌧𑌃 - wise one

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Having nothing to cling to, moving freely, beyond opposites with doubts cut, unattached in all conditions, the pure wise one rests in a quiet joy.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse strings together many signs of liberation. 𑌅𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘ŒĻ is inner poverty in the best sense: nothing is possessed as identity. 𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ-𑌚ð‘Œū𑌰 here does not mean indulgence; it means inner freedom to move without compulsion. ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ and 𑌛ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ-ð‘Œļ𑌂ð‘Œķð‘ŒŊ describe the end of inner argument: doubt about the Self is cut, so the mind is no longer pulled by opposites. Then 𑌕𑍇ð‘Œĩð‘Œē joy arises - the quiet delight of being.

Notice how different this is from ordinary pleasure. Ordinary pleasure depends on getting and keeping; it is fragile. This joy comes from non-dependence. That is why the verse ends with 𑌰ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĪ𑍇: he "plays" or "delights" in the Self. The wise can still live and act, but the center has shifted from acquisition to presence.

Practice by cultivating the inner meanings of these qualities. Let go of one possession-identity ("this is who I am") and one doubt-loop ("what if I'm not okay"). Reduce engagement with opposites that agitate you: praise/blame, gain/loss, success/failure. Return to awareness repeatedly. Over time, 𑌕𑍇ð‘Œĩð‘Œē joy becomes more accessible: not as excitement, but as quiet wholeness.

ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŪ𑌃 ð‘Œķ𑍋𑌭ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 𑌧𑍀𑌰𑌃 ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œē𑍋𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œūð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑌕ð‘Œū𑌂𑌚ð‘ŒĻ𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌭ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘Œđ𑍃ð‘ŒĶð‘ŒŊ𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌂ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍𑌧𑍂ð‘ŒĪ𑌰𑌜ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘Ūð‘ŪāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŪ𑌃 - without "mine"; non-possessive
ð‘Œķ𑍋𑌭ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - shines
𑌧𑍀𑌰𑌃 - steady/wise one
ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪ-ð‘Œē𑍋𑌷𑍍𑌟-𑌅ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ-𑌕ð‘Œū𑌂𑌚ð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - equal toward clod, stone, and gold
ð‘Œļ𑍁-𑌭ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ-ð‘Œđ𑍃ð‘ŒĶð‘ŒŊ-𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌂ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋ𑌃 - whose heart-knot is well cut/broken
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍𑌧𑍂ð‘ŒĪ - shaken off; blown away
𑌰𑌜ð‘Œļ𑍍-ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑌃 - passion and inertia (the guNas)

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The wise one shines, non-possessive and equal toward clod, stone, and gold. His heart-knot is broken, and passion and inertia have been shaken off.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse gives a classical marker of freedom: ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪ-ð‘Œē𑍋𑌷𑍍𑌟-𑌅ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ-𑌕ð‘Œū𑌂𑌚ð‘ŒĻ - seeing clod, stone, and gold with the same inner steadiness. It does not mean the wise cannot use money or objects responsibly; it means value does not hypnotize the heart. When greed and fear are gone, gold loses its power to define worth. That is why he is ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŪ, free from possessiveness.

The "heart-knot" (ð‘Œđ𑍃ð‘ŒĶð‘ŒŊ-𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌂ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋ) is the knot of ego-identification that ties awareness to body-mind as "me." When it is cut, the guNas lose dominance. 𑌰𑌜ð‘Œļ𑍍 (restless passion) and ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪð‘Œļ𑍍 (dull inertia) are shaken off, meaning the mind becomes clearer and steadier. This is a deep inner purification, not merely an external lifestyle.

Practice by working with value-hypnosis. Notice how money, status, and possessions trigger greed or insecurity. Then practice "same-ness" inwardly: remind yourself that worth is awareness, not objects. Make one deliberate choice each week that reduces greed: give, simplify, stop comparing. Also watch the heart-knot in daily reactions: "my pride", "my shame." Return to the witness. Over time, the knot loosens and equanimity grows.

ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œĩ𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑍍 ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻð‘Œū ð‘Œđ𑍃ð‘ŒĶð‘Œŋ āĨĪ
ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑍋 ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍃𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒĪ𑍁ð‘Œēð‘ŒĻð‘Œū 𑌕𑍇ð‘ŒĻ 𑌜ð‘Œūð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘Ūð‘ŊāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 - everywhere
𑌅ð‘ŒĻð‘Œĩ𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - unconcerned; not fixated
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - nothing at all
ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻð‘Œū - latent craving/impression
ð‘Œđ𑍃ð‘ŒĶð‘Œŋ - in the heart
ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ-𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - of the liberated Self (person)
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍃𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - fully content; completely satisfied
ð‘ŒĪ𑍁ð‘Œēð‘ŒĻð‘Œū - comparison
𑌕𑍇ð‘ŒĻ - with what?
𑌜ð‘Œūð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - arises

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
For the liberated one who is not fixated anywhere, there is no craving in the heart. Being fully content, with what could he be compared?

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse says the liberated one becomes incomparable because comparison is fueled by lack. When you feel incomplete, you compare: "better/worse," "ahead/behind." When ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻð‘Œū is gone and contentment is deep (ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍃𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪ), comparison loses meaning. That is why the verse asks, "with what?" It is not praising superiority; it is describing a freedom from the measuring mind.

It also says 𑌅ð‘ŒĻð‘Œĩ𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ: not fixated anywhere. This is not carelessness; it is the end of obsessive attention. The mind is not continually scanning for gain or threat. Because it is not hooked, cravings do not take root in the heart. The person can function in life without being consumed by evaluation.

Practice by reducing comparison and fixation. Notice where you constantly measure yourself - in work, relationships, spirituality. Each time, return to awareness and to one clean action you can take. Also reduce obsessive checking: news, messages, metrics. Create small spaces of non-fixation. As the mind becomes less addicted to measuring, a deeper contentment grows, and the verse becomes more understandable from the inside.

𑌜ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻ 𑌜ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻ 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ āĨĪ
𑌎𑍍𑌰𑍁ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍍 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚 𑌎𑍍𑌰𑍂ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 ð‘Œ•ð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑍋 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘Ŋ0āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌜ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘ŒĻ𑍍 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even while knowing
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌜ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not (egoically) know/claim
𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĻ𑍍 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even while seeing
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌊ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not (egoically) see/claim
𑌎𑍍𑌰𑍁ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍍 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even while speaking
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚 𑌎𑍍𑌰𑍂ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - does not (egoically) speak/claim
𑌕𑌃 𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - who else?
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - from desirelessness
𑌋ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - except; without

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Even while knowing, seeing, and speaking, he does not claim knowledge, sight, or speech as an ego. Who else could be like this, except the truly desireless one?

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This is a poetic way of describing non-ownership. The senses and intellect function, but the ego is not taking credit. The wise knows and sees and speaks, but without the inner stamping: "I know," "I see," "I speak." That stamping is what makes experience personal and binding. Without it, experience is light. That is why the verse links this to ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻ: when craving is gone, ownership is greatly reduced.

This verse is also a reminder that liberation is not about shutting down faculties. It is about removing the owner. The world still appears and communication still happens, but the inner need to build identity through them fades. This is why the wise can seem effortless: there is less inner commentary and less self-display.

Practice by watching your inner stamping. Notice how often you claim: "my insight," "my opinion," "my achievement." Then experiment with speaking and acting without claim. Listen more. Speak only what is useful. Let knowing happen without turning it into identity. Over time, you will feel the lightness the verse points to: functioning continues, but ownership and craving reduce.

𑌭ð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍁𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū 𑌭𑍂𑌊ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒŊ𑍋 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑌃 ð‘Œļ ð‘Œķ𑍋𑌭ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 āĨĪ
𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑍇𑌷𑍁 𑌗ð‘Œēð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œū ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘Œķ𑍋𑌭ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘Œķ𑍋𑌭ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘Ŋ1āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌭ð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍁𑌃 - mendicant; monk
ð‘Œĩð‘Œū - or
𑌭𑍂𑌊ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌃 - king; ruler
𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - also
ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - who
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ𑌃 - desireless; free of craving for results
ð‘Œļ𑌃 - that one
ð‘Œķ𑍋𑌭ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - shines
𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑍇𑌷𑍁 - in all conditions/states
𑌗ð‘Œēð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œū - melted; dissolved
ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - whose
ð‘Œķ𑍋𑌭ð‘ŒĻ-𑌅ð‘Œķ𑍋𑌭ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū - good and bad (as ego-labels)
ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌃 - mind; judgment

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Whether a monk or a king, the desireless one shines. In all conditions, his egoic labeling of "good" and "bad" has melted away.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse says freedom is not a costume tied to a role. The desireless one can be a 𑌭ð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍁 or a 𑌭𑍂𑌊ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ, and still shine. What matters is not the outer life but the inner motive. When ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ becomes real, the mind is less driven by reward and fear. That is why the verse says the shine remains across states.

The "melting" of good/bad judgment does not mean losing discernment. It means the ego is no longer using morality as identity. The wise can still distinguish wholesome and unwholesome actions, but without self-righteousness and without self-hatred. This is consistent with the chapter’s repeated theme: reduce inner ownership and craving, and life becomes cleaner.

Practice by living ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŪ in your current role. If you are a leader, lead without ego; if you are a helper, help without martyrdom. Notice where you label yourself as "good" to feel safe or label others as "bad" to feel superior. Replace that with simple responsibility: do what reduces harm and increases clarity. Over time, your role becomes less binding, and the inner shine of steadiness grows.

𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌕𑍋𑌚𑌃 𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œĩð‘Œū ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū𑌜ð‘Œū𑌰𑍍𑌜ð‘Œĩ𑌭𑍂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌚𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘Ŋ2āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌕𑍍ð‘Œĩ - where is...?
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ-𑌆𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - freedom of will; acting as one wishes
ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌕𑍋𑌚𑌃 - contraction; shrinking
ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩ-ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - certainty of truth
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū𑌜 - without pretence; without hypocrisy
𑌆𑌰𑍍𑌜ð‘Œĩ-𑌭𑍂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - of one who is pure straightforwardness
𑌚𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - fulfilled; accomplished in purpose
ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌗ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - of the yogi

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
For the fulfilled yogi who is purely straightforward without pretence, where are notions like freedom and contraction, or even the need to assert certainty?

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
The verse points to a mind that has become simple and transparent. When the yogi is ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œū𑌜 (without pretence) and 𑌆𑌰𑍍𑌜ð‘Œĩ (straightforward), there is less inner conflict. Such a person is 𑌚𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ: the inner purpose is fulfilled, so the mind is not constantly proving something. From that standpoint, even ideas like "I have freedom" or "I feel contracted" lose their obsessive importance.

This is not denial of human experience; it is freedom from self-drama. A mind that is truthful and not hiding does not need to keep announcing certainty. It can live from quiet clarity. The verse suggests that many of our spiritual concepts become unnecessary when the heart is clean. What remains is sincerity and steadiness.

Practice by reducing pretence in your life. Notice where you hide, exaggerate, perform, or manipulate to look a certain way. Replace that with one act of clean honesty each day. Also, practice straightforward action: do what is needed without overcomplication. As inner straightness grows, you will notice less contraction and less need to constantly reassure yourself with concepts. That is the beginning of being 𑌚𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ in practice.

𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍃𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œķ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ 𑌗ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻð‘Œū āĨĪ
𑌅𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĶð‘ŒĻ𑍁𑌭𑍂ð‘ŒŊ𑍇ð‘ŒĪ ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍 𑌕ð‘ŒĨ𑌂 𑌕ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ 𑌕ð‘ŒĨ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘Ŋ3āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ-ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - rest in the Self
ð‘ŒĪ𑍃𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ - satisfied by
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œķ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ - without expectation
𑌗ð‘ŒĪ-𑌆𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻð‘Œū - with distress gone
𑌅𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌰𑍍 - within
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - whatever
𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁𑌭𑍂ð‘ŒŊ𑍇ð‘ŒĪ - is experienced
ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - that
𑌕ð‘ŒĨ𑌂 - how?
𑌕ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - to whom?
𑌕ð‘ŒĨ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - can be spoken/explained

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
For one satisfied by resting in the Self, free of expectation and distress, whatever is experienced within cannot really be put into words for someone else.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse points to the ineffability of realization. When the mind rests in the Self (𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ-ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ), it is satisfied in a way that does not depend on external description. That inner state is not an object you can hand to someone through language. Words can point, inspire, and clarify, but direct recognition is personal. That is why the verse asks, "How, and to whom, can it be told?"

This also hints at why realized people often speak simply. They may use words when helpful, but they are not compelled to describe inner states for validation. The satisfaction (ð‘ŒĪ𑍃𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ) is inward and stable, and the distress (𑌆𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ) that drives seeking has faded. Therefore, the urge to convert experience into stories reduces.

Practice by valuing direct seeing over endless description. If you study, pause often and verify in experience: what is aware right now? If you feel the urge to talk about spirituality constantly, ask whether it is serving clarity or feeding identity. Try short periods of quiet where you let the teaching become lived rather than discussed. This respects the verse’s point: what matters most is not what you can say, but what you can be.

ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒŠð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌷𑍁𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍌 𑌚 ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĻð‘‡ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒŠð‘Œŋ ð‘Œķð‘ŒŊð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍋 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚 āĨĪ
𑌜ð‘Œūð‘Œ—ð‘Œ°ð‘‡ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒŠð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻ 𑌜ð‘Œū𑌗𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌧𑍀𑌰ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍃𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 𑌊ð‘ŒĶ𑍇 𑌊ð‘ŒĶ𑍇 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘Ŋ4āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even while sleeping
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌷𑍁𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍌 - not (as) in deep sleep (as identity)
𑌚 - and
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍇 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even while dreaming
ð‘Œķð‘ŒŊð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌃 ð‘ŒĻ - not "lying down" (as identity)
𑌚 - and
𑌜ð‘Œū𑌗𑌰𑍇 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even while awake
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌜ð‘Œū𑌗𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - not "awake" (as ego-identity)
𑌧𑍀𑌰𑌃 - steady one
ð‘ŒĪ𑍃𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - content
𑌊ð‘ŒĶ𑍇 𑌊ð‘ŒĶ𑍇 - at every step; always

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Even when sleeping, he is not trapped in "sleep"; even when dreaming, he is not lost in "dream"; even when awake, he is not confined to "waking." The steady one remains content at every step.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse uses paradox to point to continuity of awareness. Ordinary people identify with states: waking, dream, deep sleep. The wise rests as the witness of states. Therefore, even when the body sleeps, the Self is not "asleep." Even when dreaming happens, the Self is not caught. Even in waking, the Self is not confined to waking-identity. This is a poetic way of pointing to the underlying awareness that remains.

The contentment "at every step" suggests that peace is not dependent on maintaining one particular state. Many seekers chase a meditative state and feel lost when it is absent. This verse says: the wise is content in all states because identity is not a state. This is aligned with the Upanishadic teaching of the witness underlying waking, dream, and deep sleep.

Practice by noticing awareness across transitions. When you wake up, notice the simple knowing before thoughts begin. During the day, pause and feel the continuity of awareness between tasks. Before sleep, rest as the witness without forcing thoughtlessness. Over time, you will intuit the verse: states change, but awareness remains, and contentment can become more continuous.

𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌃 ð‘Œļ𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒŠð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 ð‘Œļ𑍇𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŊð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒŠð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŊ𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌎𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘Œŋ𑌰𑌊ð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍𑌎𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘Œŋ𑌃 ð‘Œļð‘Œūð‘Œđ𑌂𑌕ð‘Œūð‘Œ°ð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒĻð‘Œđ𑌂𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘Ŋ5āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌃 - knower; wise one
ð‘Œļ-𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even with thoughts
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - free of anxious thinking
ð‘Œļ-𑌇𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŊ𑌃 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even with senses
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - not bound by senses
ð‘Œļ𑍁-𑌎𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘Œŋ𑌃 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even with sharp intellect
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍𑌎𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘Œŋ𑌃 - beyond intellect as identity
ð‘Œļ-𑌅ð‘Œđ𑌂𑌕ð‘Œū𑌰𑌃 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even appearing with ego
𑌅ð‘ŒĻð‘Œđ𑌂𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌃 - without ego-ownership

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Though thoughts and senses and intellect may operate, he is free of anxious thinking, not bound by the senses, and not identified with the intellect. Even if an ego-function appears, there is no ego-ownership.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse describes freedom as non-ownership rather than shutdown. Thoughts can appear, but they do not become anxious rumination (ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ). Senses can function, but they do not enslave (ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌰ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŊ). Intellect can be sharp, but it is not the core identity (ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍𑌎𑍁ð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌧ð‘Œŋ). Even ego-functions like using "I" in speech can continue, but without ego-ownership (𑌅ð‘ŒĻð‘Œđ𑌂𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ).

The verse is therefore a compassionate correction: do not mistake liberation for becoming blank. Liberation is clarity about what is "me." The wise uses mind and senses as tools while resting as awareness. This is why the language is paradoxical: "with, yet without." It points to a lived relationship where faculties operate without binding identity.

Practice by shifting from identification to use. Notice thoughts, senses, and intellect as instruments. When a thought arises, see it as an object known by awareness. When a sensory pull arises, feel it without obeying it. When intellectual pride arises, soften it and return to humility. Over time, you will experience the verse directly: functions continue, but ownership and bondage reduce.

ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖𑍀 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚 ð‘Œĩð‘Œū ð‘ŒĶ𑍁𑌃𑌖𑍀 ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌰𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍋 ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌗ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒŪ𑍁ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍁𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œĩð‘Œū ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘ŒĻ āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘Ŋ6āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖𑍀 - not (defined as) happy
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒĶ𑍁𑌃𑌖𑍀 - not (defined as) unhappy
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌰𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - not (defined as) dispassionate
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌗ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - not (defined as) attached
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒŪ𑍁ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍁𑌃 - not a seeker of liberation
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū - not (as a personal label) "liberated"
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - not "something"
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚 𑌕ð‘Œŋ𑌂𑌚ð‘ŒĻ - nor "nothing"

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
He cannot be boxed into opposites: not defined as happy or unhappy, attached or detached, seeker or liberated, "something" or "nothing."

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse is a final sweep of negation: it says that the liberated one cannot be captured by ordinary labels. Labels depend on opposites, and the wise is free of inner dependence on opposites. That does not mean he never feels happiness or pain; it means he is not defined by them. Likewise, he may live simply, but not as an identity called "dispassionate." He may be free, but not as a badge called "liberated." The Self is beyond such boxes.

The phrase "not something and not nothing" is especially important. It prevents two extremes: making the Self into a thing you can possess, and falling into nihilism. Advaita points to awareness as real and present, yet not an object. This verse is pointing to that subtle middle: the Self is not a thing, yet it is not nothing. It is the ever-present knowing.

Practice by noticing your urge to label yourself. Do you want to be "happy," "detached," "spiritual," "liberated"? Those labels can create subtle pressure and disappointment. Instead, return to awareness and let states come and go. Live responsibly, practice sincerely, but drop the need to define yourself. Over time, freedom becomes less about an identity and more about the absence of inner boxing.

ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œ•ð‘ð‘Œ·ð‘‡ð‘ŒŠð‘‡ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒŠð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷ð‘Œŋ𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧𑍌 ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 āĨĪ
𑌜ð‘Œūð‘ŒĄð‘ð‘ŒŊð‘‡ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒŠð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œœð‘ŒĄð‘‹ 𑌧ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 𑌊ð‘Œūð‘Œ‚ð‘ŒĄð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘‡ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒŠð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒŠð‘Œ‚ð‘ŒĄð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌃 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘Ŋ𑍭āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌊𑍇 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even in distraction
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷ð‘Œŋ𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - not truly scattered (in identity)
ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧𑍌 - in absorption
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧ð‘Œŋð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - not one who claims samAdhi
𑌜ð‘Œūð‘ŒĄð‘ð‘ŒŊ𑍇 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even in dullness
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œœð‘ŒĄð‘Œƒ - not truly dull (as identity)
𑌧ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - blessed one
𑌊ð‘Œūð‘Œ‚ð‘ŒĄð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑍇 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even in scholarship
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘ŒŠð‘Œ‚ð‘ŒĄð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - not one who claims to be a scholar

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Even in distraction he is not inwardly scattered; even in absorption he does not claim samadhi. Even in dullness he is not defined by dullness; even in learning he does not claim the identity of a scholar.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse continues the theme of non-identification across states and identities. The mind can have distraction and stillness, dullness and sharpness. But the wise does not build identity from any of these. That is why even distraction does not truly scatter him: awareness remains present. Even samadhi does not inflate him: he does not use it as ego. Even scholarship does not become pride, and even dullness does not become self-hatred.

This is a deep form of freedom because it removes state-chasing and state-fearing. Many seekers feel, "If I lose concentration, I'm failing." Or they become proud: "I had samadhi." This verse says both are mistakes because they treat states as identity. The blessed one (𑌧ð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ) is the one who is free from that confusion.

Practice by changing your relationship to mind-states. When you are distracted, return gently without self-judgment. When you are calm, enjoy it without pride. When you feel dull, take practical steps (rest, movement) without despair. When you are sharp, use it for truth and service, not for superiority. Repeatedly remember: awareness is present in all states. This makes stability more real and less performative.

ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍋 ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĨð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨ𑌃 𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪ𑌃 ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 ð‘Œĩ𑍈ð‘ŒĪ𑍃𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒĢ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑌰ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘Ŋð‘ŪāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - liberated
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĨð‘Œū-ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - in whatever condition; as things are
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨ𑌃 - steady; inwardly healthy
𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ-𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - with what needed to be done done
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - at rest; at peace
ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪ𑌃 - equal; even-minded
ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 - everywhere
ð‘Œĩ𑍈ð‘ŒĪ𑍃𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒĢ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - from freedom from thirst/craving
ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŪ𑌰ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not remember/replay
𑌅𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - the undone
𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - the done

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Liberated, steady in whatever condition arises, at peace with duties done, equal everywhere and free of craving, he does not keep replaying "done" and "undone."

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse gives a very practical signature of freedom: no obsessive replay. Many people suffer from constant mental review: what I did, what I should have done, what I might do. That replay is fueled by craving and fear. The liberated one is ð‘Œĩ𑍈ð‘ŒĪ𑍃𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒĢ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ in spirit - free of thirst - so the fuel is reduced. He does what needs to be done and then rests. That is why he is 𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ-𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ and ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ: duties handled, mind at peace.

Equanimity is emphasized again: ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪ𑌃 ð‘Œļ𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰. The wise does not need a special environment to be steady. And because identity is not tied to perfection, he does not torture himself with "done/undone." This does not mean he becomes careless; it means correction happens without self-hatred and without endless rumination.

Practice by ending the replay loop. After a task, intentionally close it: take one breath and tell yourself, "Finished." If something needs follow-up, write it down and stop rehearsing. Also, work with craving: notice how wanting a perfect image fuels rumination. Reduce it by choosing honesty and simplicity. Over time, you will taste the peace described here: action becomes cleaner, and the mind becomes more restful.

ð‘ŒĻ 𑌊𑍍𑌰𑍀ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 ð‘Œĩ𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍋 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍋 ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕𑍁𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĻ𑍈ð‘Œĩ𑍋ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌜ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ ð‘ŒŪ𑌰ð‘ŒĢ𑍇 𑌜𑍀ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍇 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū𑌭ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌂ð‘ŒĶð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-ð‘Ŋð‘ŊāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌊𑍍𑌰𑍀ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - does not become overly pleased
ð‘Œĩ𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - while being praised/respected
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - while being blamed/criticized
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌕𑍁𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not get angry
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌏ð‘Œĩ 𑌉ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌜ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not fear/shrink
ð‘ŒŪ𑌰ð‘ŒĢ𑍇 - at death
𑌜𑍀ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑍇 - in life
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌅𑌭ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻ𑌂ð‘ŒĶð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not become overly delighted/attached

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
He is not inflated by praise and not angered by blame. He does not fear death, and he does not cling to life with anxious delight.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse names four common hooks: praise, blame, death, and life. The ego inflates with praise and burns with blame. It fears death and clings to life as possession. The wise is free because identity is not reputation and not biology. Therefore praise and blame are heard but do not rule. Death is acknowledged but does not terrify. Life is appreciated but not clung to as a guarantee of security.

This is not indifference; it is steadiness. The wise can still respond to feedback and take responsibility, but without emotional slavery. The key is that the Self is known as beyond birth and death, so the deepest fear model collapses. Then life can be lived more fully, because it is not lived from panic.

Practice by working with one hook at a time. If praise affects you, do one good action without telling anyone. If blame affects you, practice receiving criticism and extracting only what is useful. Contemplate impermanence gently to reduce death-fear, and also notice how clinging to life shows up as anxiety. Each day, return to awareness and remember what is not touched by praise, blame, life, or death. This builds the steadiness described here.

ð‘ŒĻ 𑌧ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ 𑌜ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū𑌕𑍀𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĢ𑌂 ð‘ŒĻð‘Œū𑌰ð‘ŒĢ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪ𑍁𑌊ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑌧𑍀𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĨð‘Œūð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĨð‘Œū ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪ 𑌏ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ𑌷𑍍𑌠ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 āĨĨ 1ð‘Ū-100āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘ŒĻ 𑌧ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - does not run
𑌜ð‘ŒĻ-𑌆𑌕𑍀𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĢð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - into crowded society
ð‘ŒĻ - nor
𑌆𑌰ð‘ŒĢ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - into the forest/solitude
𑌉𑌊ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪ-𑌧𑍀𑌃 - one whose mind is deeply pacified
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĨð‘Œū ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĨð‘Œū - as it is; in whatever way
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍𑌰 - wherever
ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪ𑌃 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - equal indeed
𑌅ð‘Œĩð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌠ð‘ŒĪ𑍇 - remains; abides

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The deeply settled one does not run to crowds or to forests as escape. Wherever he is, as things are, he remains equal and at peace.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This final verse closes the chapter with a grounded summary: freedom is not a change of location. People often imagine peace is in a different environment - either in society for stimulation or in the forest for escape. The wise does not "run" either way. Because the mind is 𑌉𑌊ð‘Œķð‘Œū𑌂ð‘ŒĪ, it carries peace with it. It can function in crowds without losing itself and can be alone without fear.

The verse is also a gentle critique of escapism. Running away may help temporarily, but if the mind carries craving and fear, those follow. True peace comes from recognition of the Self and the weakening of ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘ŒĻð‘Œū. Then environment becomes a secondary detail rather than a condition for sanity.

Practice by building a mind that does not need escape. Create small moments of stillness in the middle of your day, even in noise. Also learn to be alone without immediately reaching for stimulation. In both places, return to awareness and soften reactivity. Then choose settings wisely for your health and responsibilities, but do not treat settings as salvation. This makes the chapter’s final instruction lived: wherever you are, remain equal and at peace.




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