5. Chapter 5 — Four Ways to Dissolution

5.1

अष्टावक्र उवाच — aṣṭāvakra uvāca

न ते संगोऽस्ति केनापि किं शुद्धस्त्यक्तुमिच्छसि ।
संघातविलयं कुर्वन्नेवमेव लयं व्रज ॥

na te saṃgo'sti kenāpi kiṃ śuddhastyaktumicchasi ।
saṃghātavilayaṃ kurvannevameva layaṃ vraja ॥

You have no contact with anything whatsoever. Therefore, pure as you are, what do you want to renounce? Destroy the complex and even thus enter into (the state of) Dissolution. | This chapter describes four different ways for the realization of the absolute state. The first verse speaks of being Asanga, unattached; the second of looking upon the universe as the same reality as the Self—there, is only one Atman; the third of considering the phenomenal universe as illusory; and the FOUR WAYS TO SELF-REALIZATION 49 fourth of remaining unaffected by the phenomena of the universe, internal and external. Any of these four outlooks will lead to the realization of the Absolute.

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5.2

उदेति भवतो विश्वं वारिधेरिव बुद्बुदः ।
इति ज्ञात्वैकमात्मानं एवमेव लयं व्रज ॥

udeti bhavato viśvaṃ vāridheriva budbudaḥ ।
iti jñātvaikamātmānaṃ evameva layaṃ vraja ॥

The universe rises from you like bubbles rising from the sea. Thus know the Atman to be one and enter even thus into (the state of) Dissolution.

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5.3

प्रत्यक्षमप्यवस्तुत्वाद् विश्वं नास्त्यमले त्वयि ।
रज्जुसर्प इव व्यक्तं एवमेव लयं व्रज ॥

pratyakṣamapyavastutvād viśvaṃ nāstyamale tvayi ।
rajjusarpa iva vyaktaṃ evameva layaṃ vraja ॥

The universe, being manifested like the snake in the rope, does not exist in you who are pure, even though it is present to the senses; because it is unreal. Thus verily do you enter into (the state of) Dissolution.

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5.4

समदुःखसुखः पूर्ण आशानैराश्ययोः समः ।
समजीवितमृत्युः सन्नेवमेव लयं व्रज ॥

samaduḥkhasukhaḥ pūrṇa āśānairāśyayoḥ samaḥ ।
samajīvitamṛtyuḥ sannevameva layaṃ vraja ॥

You are perfect and equanimous in misery and happiness, hope and despair, and life and death. Therefore even thus do you attain (the state of) Dissolution.