The Avadhuta Gita, attributed to Lord Dattatreya, is a radiant expression of non-dualism (Advaita Vedanta). These verses tear down illusion and guide the seeker inward—past names, forms, and mental constructs—toward the innermost, natural state of the Self.
🔹 Verse 2.11
Sanskrit:
ईदृशं सहजं यत्र अहं तत्र कथं भवेत् ।
त्वमेव हि कथं तत्र कथं तत्र चराचरम् ।। ११।।
📜 English:
Where such natural Being exists, how can there be “I”? How can there be “you”? How can there be this moving and unmoving world?
📘 Hindi:
जहाँ ऐसी सहज सत्ता विद्यमान हो, वहाँ "मैं", "तू" और यह जगत् कैसे हो सकते हैं?
💡 Insight:
When one abides in pure Being (sahaja), the illusion of separation dissolves. There is no "other."
🔥 Example: Ramana Maharshi described Self as pure presence—where duality is a dream.
🔹 Verse 2.12
Sanskrit:
गगनोपमं तु यत्प्रोक्तं तदेव गगनोपमम् ।
चैतन्यं दोषहीनं च सर्वज्ञं पूर्णमेव च ।। १२।।
📜 English:
That which is described as space-like is indeed like space—Consciousness itself: faultless, all-knowing, and complete.
📘 Hindi:
जो आकाशवत कहा गया है, वह वास्तव में आकाश के समान है — दोषरहित, सर्वज्ञ और पूर्ण चैतन्य।
💡 Insight:
Pure awareness is like space—untouched, infinite, and inclusive.
🔥 Example: In Zen, “beginner’s mind” points to open, all-accepting awareness—like sky.
🔹 Verse 2.13
Sanskrit:
पृथिव्यां चरितं नैव मारुतेन च वाहितम् ।
वरिणा पिहितं नैव तेजोमध्ये व्यवस्थितम् ।। १३।।
📜 English:
It neither walks the earth nor is blown by wind; not hidden in water nor residing in fire.
📘 Hindi:
वह न तो पृथ्वी पर चलता है, न वायु से चलता है; न जल से ढका है और न ही अग्नि में स्थित है।
💡 Insight:
The Self is non-material, beyond the classical elements. It pervades but is not confined.
🔥 Example: The Gita also says—"na jãyate mriyate vā kadācin" (2.20)—the Self is birthless, deathless.
🔹 Verse 2.14
Sanskrit:
आकाशं तेन संव्याप्तं न तद्व्याप्तं च केनचित् ।
स बाह्याभ्यन्तरं तिष्ठत्यवच्छिन्नं निरन्तरम् ।। १४।।
📜 English:
Space is pervaded by It, but It is not pervaded by anything. It dwells within and without—unbroken, infinite.
📘 Hindi:
वह आकाश में व्याप्त है, लेकिन कोई भी उसमें व्याप्त नहीं है। वह भीतर-बाहर है — अखंड और निरंतर।
💡 Insight:
True Self is omnipresent yet untouched, like a screen behind all forms.
🔥 Example: Like silence underlies all sound, Self underlies all perception.
🔹 Verse 2.15
Sanskrit:
सूक्ष्मत्वात्तददृश्यत्वान्निर्गुणत्वाच्च योगिभिः ।
आलम्बनादि यत्प्रोक्तं क्रमादालम्बनं भवेत् ।। १५।।
📜 English:
The yogis, recognizing its subtlety, formlessness, and attributelessness, speak of gradual absorption—starting with objects of support.
📘 Hindi:
योगी इसकी सूक्ष्मता, अदृश्यता और निर्गुणता को जानकर क्रमशः आलम्बनों के माध्यम से ध्यान करते हैं।
💡 Insight:
Meditation begins with form, then drops it. The final aim is pure formless awareness.
🔥 Example: Tibetan Dzogchen and Patanjali Yoga both use staged concentration leading to objectless Samadhi.
🔹 Verse 2.16
Sanskrit:
सतताऽभ्यासयुक्तस्तु निरालम्बो यदा भवेत् ।
तल्लयाल्लीयते नान्तर्गुणदोषविवर्जितः ।। १६।।
📜 English:
Through constant practice, when support is dropped, the mind dissolves into That—free from all merits or defects.
📘 Hindi:
निरंतर अभ्यास से जब साधक निरालम्ब हो जाता है, तब गुण-दोषों से रहित होकर वह परम में लीन हो जाता है।
💡 Insight:
Supportless awareness—when no thought remains—is the final yoga.
🔥 Example: In Advaita, this is "mano-nasha"—destruction of mind’s separate identity.
🔹 Verse 2.17
Sanskrit:
विषविश्वस्य रौद्रस्य मोहमूर्च्छाप्रदस्य च ।
एकमेव विनाशाय ह्यमोघं सहजामृतम् ।। १७।।
📜 English:
This poisonous world, filled with delusion and unconsciousness, has one remedy—the unfailing nectar of naturalness.
📘 Hindi:
मोह और मूर्च्छा से युक्त इस विषैले संसार को नष्ट करने की एक ही औषधि है — सहजता का अमृत।
💡 Insight:
True nature (sahaja) is the elixir that dissolves the world’s illusion.
🔥 Example: Saints like Nityananda Avadhuta radiated “sahaja” presence, beyond rituals and scriptures.
🔹 Verse 2.18
Sanskrit:
भावगम्यं निराकारं साकारं दृष्टिगोचरम् ।
भावाभावविनिर्मुक्तमन्तरालं तदुच्यते ।। १८।।
📜 English:
Form can be seen, formless perceived within. That which is beyond both is the intermediate—the True Self.
📘 Hindi:
जो दृष्टिगोचर है वह साकार है, जो भाव से जाना जाता है वह निराकार है; पर जो इन दोनों से परे है, वही मध्य है।
💡 Insight:
Self is not this or that—it is the space between, the unborn field.
🔥 Example: Buddhist teachings on Shunyata echo this "middle" reality.
🔹 Verse 2.19
Sanskrit:
बाह्यभावं भवेद्विश्वमन्तः प्रकृतिरुच्यते ।
अन्तरादन्तरं ज्ञेयं नारिकेलफलाम्बुवत् ।। १९।।
📜 English:
The outer is the world, the inner is nature (prakrti). Know That which is more inner than the inner, like water in coconut.
📘 Hindi:
बाहरी रूप विश्व है, भीतरी प्रकृति है। उससे भी अधिक अंतर में स्थित जो है, उसे नारियल के जल के समान जानो।
💡 Insight:
You are not the body, not even mind. You are the innermost essence.
🔥 Example: Saints say, "Go beyond the seer and the seen—discover the seeing itself."
🔹 Verse 2.20
Sanskrit:
भ्रान्तिज्ञानं स्थितं बाह्यं सम्यग्ज्ञानं च मध्यगम् ।
मध्यान्मध्यतरं ज्ञेयं नारिकेलफलाम्बुवत् ।। २०।।
📜 English:
Illusory knowledge pertains to outer things; right knowledge to what’s within. Yet know what lies deeper than even the middle—like the water inside the coconut.
📘 Hindi:
भ्रांत ज्ञान बाह्य में स्थित होता है, सम्यक ज्ञान मध्य में। लेकिन जो उससे भी अंदर है, उसे नारियल के जल की तरह जानो।
💡 Insight:
Truth is not even knowledge—it is that which shines before knowledge arises.
🔥 Example: The Turiya state in Mandukya Upanishad is this "inner of the inner."
Modern Outlook Summary (Shlokas 2:11–2:20)
| Shloka | Focus | Modern Insight |
|---|---|---|
| 2.11 | Nonduality of Self | When Self is realized as natural Being, duality of 'I', 'you', and world disappears. |
| 2.12 | Nature of Consciousness | Like space—consciousness is flawless, omniscient, and perfect. |
| 2.13 | Beyond Elements | The Self is not bound by earth, water, fire, or air—it is beyond material nature. |
| 2.14 | All-Pervading Self | It pervades space but is itself untouched, within and beyond all. |
| 2.15 | Stages of Meditation | Progressing from gross to subtle objects leads to absorption into the formless. |
| 2.16 | Objectless Meditation | Final absorption arises when all supports dissolve, leaving pure awareness. |
| 2.17 | Natural Realization | Only the nectar of naturalness (sahaja) cures the poisonous delusion of the world. |
| 2.18 | Form and Formless | Self transcends both form and formless—known as the 'intermediate reality'. |
| 2.19 | Inner Essence | Like water inside coconut, Self is more subtle than outer and inner layers. |
| 2.20 | Ultimate Knowledge | Beyond false and correct knowledge lies the innermost essence—the true Self. |
📜 English Summary (Verses 11–20)
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Self is natural and effortless; duality dissolves in its presence.
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Consciousness is like space—perfect and all-knowing.
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The Self is not composed of elements—it is beyond nature.
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It pervades everything but is pervaded by nothing.
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Concentration should move from gross to subtle to formless.
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When supports dissolve, pure awareness remains.
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Sahaja (natural awareness) is the only cure to worldly illusion.
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The Self is neither form nor formless—but beyond both.
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Go deeper than body and mind—to the essence like coconut water.
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True Self is deeper than all knowledge—ungraspable yet most real.
📚 हिंदी सारांश (श्लोक 11–20)
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सहज सत्ता में "मैं", "तू" और संसार की भावना समाप्त हो जाती है।
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चैतन्य आकाश के समान है — पूर्ण, दोषरहित और सर्वज्ञ।
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आत्मा पंचमहाभूतों से परे है — उसमें बंधा नहीं है।
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यह सबको व्याप्त करता है लेकिन स्वयं अप्रभावित रहता है।
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साधना क्रमशः स्थूल से सूक्ष्म और अंततः निरालंब तक जाती है।
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जब सब आलंबन मिटते हैं, तब शुद्ध चेतना शेष रहती है।
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सहजता का अमृत ही संसार के विष का समाधान है।
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आत्मा रूप और अरूप दोनों से परे है — वह मध्य सत्ता है।
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आत्मा शरीर और प्रकृति से भी अंतरतम है — नारियल जल की तरह।
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सत्य वह है जो सभी ज्ञान से भी परे है — सबसे अंतरंग।