Aṣṭāvakra Gītā / Janaka (अध्याय २) / 2.18
2.18
the Aṣṭāvakra Gītā (अष्टावक्र गीता)
न मे बन्धोऽस्ति मोक्षो वा भ्रान्तिः शान्ता निराश्रया ।
अहो मयि स्थितं विश्वं वस्तुतो न मयि स्थितम् na me bandho 'sti mokṣo vā bhrāntiḥ śāntā nirāśrayā |
aho mayi sthitaṃ viśvaṃ vastuto na mayi sthitam
The line
There is no bond of mine, nor a release. The error is stilled and without a support. Ah, the world stands in me. In truth it does not stand in me.
नेपालीमा
मेरो बन्ध छैन, मोक्ष पनि छैन। भ्रान्ति शान्त भयो र आश्रयरहित भयो। अहो, विश्व ममा स्थित छ, वास्तवमा ममा स्थित छैन।
Where it sits
Janaka is still speaking. Bond and release fall together, and the world both stands in him and does not.
Split: na (न) + me (मे) + bandhaḥ (बन्धः) + asti (अस्ति) + mokṣaḥ (मोक्षः) + vā (वा) + bhrāntiḥ (भ्रान्तिः) + śāntā (शान्ता) + nirāśrayā (निराश्रया) + aho (अहो) + mayi (मयि) + sthitam (स्थितम्) + viśvam (विश्वम्) + vastutaḥ (वस्तुतः) + na (न) + mayi (मयि) + sthitam (स्थितम्)
Sanskrit, in depth
The words
| Word | Grammar | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| na (न) | indeclinable | not. |
| me (मे) | genitive singular | of me, my. |
| bandhaḥ (बन्धः) | nominative singular, masculine | bond. Recited bandho (बन्धो) before asti (अस्ति). |
| asti (अस्ति) | present third person singular | is. |
| mokṣaḥ (मोक्षः) | nominative singular, masculine | release. Recited mokṣo (मोक्षो) before vā (वा). |
| vā (वा) | indeclinable | or. |
| bhrāntiḥ (भ्रान्तिः) | nominative singular, feminine | error, a wandering. |
| śāntā (शान्ता) | nominative singular, feminine | stilled. Agrees with bhrāntiḥ (भ्रान्तिः). |
| nirāśrayā (निराश्रया) | nominative singular, feminine | without a support. Agrees with bhrāntiḥ (भ्रान्तिः). |
| aho (अहो) | indeclinable | ah. |
| mayi (मयि) | locative singular | in me. |
| sthitam (स्थितम्) | nominative singular, neuter | standing. Agrees with viśvam (विश्वम्). |
| viśvam (विश्वम्) | nominative singular, neuter | the world. |
| vastutaḥ (वस्तुतः) | indeclinable | in truth. |
| na (न) | indeclinable | not. |
| mayi (मयि) | locative singular | in me. |
| sthitam (स्थितम्) | nominative singular, neuter | standing. |
The phrases
bandhaḥ (बन्धः) and mokṣaḥ (मोक्षः) are both under na asti (न अस्ति), and they are me (मे). bhrāntiḥ (भ्रान्तिः) is śāntā (शान्ता) and nirāśrayā (निराश्रया). The second half sets viśvam sthitam (विश्वम् स्थितम्) in mayi (मयि) against the same with na (न), qualified by vastutaḥ (वस्तुतः).
Sanskrit in this line
bandhaḥ (बन्धः) plus asti is bandho 'sti. The second sthitam repeats the first, with na and vastutaḥ (वस्तुतः) between the two mayi phrases.
Say it back
Which two are denied, and what both stands and does not stand?