1-8 
ष्टावक्र उवाचः
भावों विभावों के स्वभावों से निःसृत जो विकार हैं
जिसे ज्ञात, क्लेश विहीन सुखमय, शान्ति रस संचार है..-----१

सर्व दृष्टा ईश निश्चय, दूसरा कोई नहीं,
जिसे ज्ञात वह अति शांत, उसकी कामना कोई नहीं.------२
 
संपत्ति और आपत्ति निश्चय, दैव योग विधान हैं,
संतुष्ट वांछा शोकहीन हैं, जिनको इसका ज्ञान.-------३

जीवन मरण सुख और दुःख दैवीय हैं जो जानता,
भाव कर्ता शून्य होकर, कर्म विधि पहचानता.-------४

चिंता से दुःख है अन्यथा कुछ भी नहीं जो जानते,
अन्तः समाहित शांत वे सब ईश इच्छा मानते.------५

न मैं देह, न ही देह मेरी, नित्य बोध स्वरुप हूँ,
कृत - अकृत का विस्मरण और मैं विदेह अरूप हूँ.-----६

ब्रह्म से पर्यंत तृण, बस एक मैं ही हूँ यथा,
निर्विकल्पी शांत, अज्ञ है लाभ हानि की प्रथा.-----७

आश्चर्मय यद्यपि जगत, मिथ्या तथापि क्षणिक है,
बोधस्वरूपी मर्म ज्ञाता, शांत लिप्त न तनिक है.------८
 
[काव्यानुवादः डॉ. मृदुल कीर्ति]

 

Ashtavakra said:

Unmoved and undistressed, realising that being, non-being and change
are of the very nature of things, one easily finds peace. 11.1

At peace, having shed all desires within, and realising that nothing
exists here but the Lord, the Creator of all things, one is no longer
attached to anything. 11.2

Realising that misfortune and fortune come in their own time from
fortune, one is contented, one's senses under control,
and does not like or dislike. 11.3

Realising that pleasure and pain, birth and death are from destiny,
and that one's desires cannot be achieved, one remains inactive,
and even when acting does not get attached. 11.4

Realising that suffering arises from nothing other than thought,
dropping all desires one rids oneself of it, and is happy and at
peace everywhere. 11.5

Realising, "I am not the body, nor is the body mine. I am awareness,"
one attains the supreme state and no longer remembers
things done or undone. 11.6

Realising, "I alone exist, from Brahma down to the last clump of grass,"
one becomes free from uncertainty, pure, at peace, and
unconcerned about what has been attained or not. 11.7

Realising that all this varied and wonderful world is nothing, one
becomes pure receptivity, free from inclinations, and as if
nothing existed, one finds peace. 11.8


[Translation by John Richards]