The Avadhuta Gita, attributed to Lord Dattatreya, is among the most profound works on non-duality (Advaita Vedanta). In verses 21–30, the teachings penetrate even deeper—explaining liberation, death, and the subtle difference between karma and pure realization.
🔹 Verse 2.21
Sanskrit:
पौर्णमास्यां यथा चन्द्र एक एवातिनिर्मलः ।
तेन तत्सदृशं पश्येद्द्विधादृष्टिर्विपर्ययः ।। २१।।
📜 English:
Just as on a full moon night there is only one spotless moon, so too should the Self be seen as One. Seeing duality is an error of perception.
📚 Hindi:
जिस प्रकार पूर्णिमा की रात को केवल एक निर्मल चंद्र होता है, उसी प्रकार आत्मा को एकरूप देखना चाहिए। द्वैत देखना विपर्यय है।
💡 Insight:
All dualities—self and other, good and evil—are illusions over the One.
🔥 Example: Shri Ramakrishna often said, "All is Brahman. The One has become the many."
🔹 Verse 2.22
Sanskrit:
अनेनैव प्रकारेण बुद्धिभेदो न सर्वगः ।
दाता च धीरतामेति गीयते नामकोटिभिः ।। २२।।
📜 English:
Brahman cannot be fragmented by thought. The wise who impart this truth are endlessly praised in countless names.
📚 Hindi:
बुद्धि के भेद से ब्रह्म नहीं बँटता। जो धीर यह ज्ञान देते हैं, वे नामों की कोटियों से पूज्य होते हैं।
💡 Insight:
Truth is one; names are many. Those who know Oneness radiate unshakable strength.
🔥 Example: Adi Shankaracharya unified many sects under one non-dual vision.
🔹 Verse 2.23
Sanskrit:
गुरुप्रज्ञाप्रसादेन मूर्खो वा यदि पण्डितः ।
यस्तु संबुध्यते तत्त्वं विरक्तो भवसागरात् ।। २३।।
📜 English:
Through the grace of the Guru’s wisdom, even a fool may awaken to Truth—and become free from worldly bondage.
📚 Hindi:
गुरु की कृपा से मूर्ख या पण्डित—कोई भी तत्त्व को जानकर संसार से विरक्त हो सकता है।
💡 Insight:
Enlightenment isn’t about IQ. It’s about grace, sincerity, and inner readiness.
🔥 Example: Kabir, unlettered, attained highest realization through his Guru, Ramananda.
🔹 Verse 2.24
Sanskrit:
रागद्वेषविनिर्मुक्तः सर्वभूतहिते रतः ।
दृढबोधश्च धीरश्च स गच्छेत्परमं पदम् ।। २४।।
📜 English:
Free from attachment and aversion, dedicated to the welfare of all, steady in knowledge—the wise one attains the Supreme.
📚 Hindi:
जो राग-द्वेष से मुक्त, सब जीवों के कल्याण में रत, और ज्ञान में स्थिर हो, वह परम पद को प्राप्त करता है।
💡 Insight:
Liberation is not selfish—it includes service, clarity, and equanimity.
🔥 Example: Swami Vivekananda served humanity while rooted in Advaita.
🔹 Verse 2.25
Sanskrit:
घटे भिन्ने घटाकाश आकाशे लीयते यथा ।
देहाभावे तथा योगी स्वरूपे परमात्मनि ।। २५।।
📜 English:
When the pot breaks, its space merges into sky. When the body dissolves, the yogi merges into the Supreme Self.
📚 Hindi:
घड़ा टूटने पर उसका आकाश, महाकाश में विलीन हो जाता है। ऐसे ही देह के अभाव में योगी परमात्मा में लीन होता है।
💡 Insight:
This metaphor teaches oneness of inner and outer space—no separation.
🔥 Example: You saw this lived when the possum knocked the pot. The fall was real, but space remained unbroken.
🔹 Verse 2.26
Sanskrit:
उक्तेयं कर्मयुक्तानां मतिर्यान्तेऽपि सा गतिः ।
न चोक्ता योगयुक्तानां मतिर्यान्तेऽपि सा गतिः ।। २६।।
📜 English:
Karmic beings go where their final thought leads—but not the yogi. His end is not bound by thought.
📚 Hindi:
कर्मियों की गति उनके अंतिम विचार पर निर्भर है, पर योगियों की नहीं।
💡 Insight:
The yogi transcends even death’s determinism. His being is already liberated.
🔥 Example: Gita says “antakāle smaran” applies to karmis, not realized ones.
🔹 Verse 2.27
Sanskrit:
या गतिः कर्मयुक्तानां सा च वागिन्द्रियाद्वदेत् ।
योगिनां या गतिः क्वापि ह्यकथ्या भवतोर्जिता ।। २७।।
📜 English:
The path of karmic men can be described. But the yogi’s destiny is beyond speech and mind.
📚 Hindi:
कर्मियों की गति वाणी से कही जा सकती है, पर योगियों की नहीं। वह अतीन्द्रिय है।
💡 Insight:
True realization is beyond language—it can only be lived, not told.
🔥 Example: Sri Ramana would remain silent when asked about the Self.
🔹 Verse 2.28
Sanskrit:
एवं ज्ञात्वा त्वमुं मार्गं योगिनां नैव कल्पितम् ।
विकल्पवर्जनं तेषां स्वयं सिद्धिः प्रवर्तते ।। २८।।
📜 English:
Knowing this, never speak of yogis following a path. They renounce duality, and perfection comes by itself.
📚 Hindi:
यह जानकर समझो कि योगियों का कोई कल्पित मार्ग नहीं। जब विकल्प मिटते हैं, सिद्धि स्वयं होती है।
💡 Insight:
For the realized, no journey is needed—what is sought is always present.
🔥 Example: The Avadhuta doesn’t travel outward—he resides in the Now.
🔹 Verse 2.29
Sanskrit:
तीर्थे वान्त्यजगेहे वा यत्र कुत्र मृतोऽपि वा ।
न योगी पश्यते गर्भं परे ब्रह्मणि लीयते ।। २९।।
📜 English:
Whether he dies in a sacred place or in a slum, the yogi never returns to the womb. He dissolves in Brahman.
📚 Hindi:
योगी तीर्थ या चांडाल के घर में, जहाँ कहीं भी मरे, वह पुनः जन्म नहीं लेता—वह ब्रह्म में लीन होता है।
💡 Insight:
Liberation has no location—sacredness is in the Self, not geography.
🔥 Example: Sage Dattatreya lived among all, yet remained Brahman.
🔹 Verse 2.30
Sanskrit:
सहजमजमचिन्त्यं यस्तु पश्येत्स्वरूपं ।
घटति यदि यथेष्टं लिप्यते नैव दोषैः ।
सकृदपि तदभावात्कर्म किंचिन्नकुर्यात्
तदपि न च विबद्धः संयमी वा तपस्वी ।। ३०।।
📜 English:
He who knows the natural, unborn, and unfathomable Self, is untouched by what happens. Even if he acts, he is never bound.
📚 Hindi:
जो सहज, अजात और अचिंत्य स्वरूप को जानता है, वह कुछ भी करता हुआ भी दोष से अछूता होता है। वह संयमी हो या तपस्वी—बांधा नहीं जाता।
💡 Insight:
Self-realization ends bondage. The awakened is beyond karma, action, and reaction.
🔥 Example: Nityananda Avadhuta was seen laughing, silent, or fierce—but ever free.
Modern Outlook Summary (Shlokas 2:21–2:30)
| Shloka | Focus | Modern Insight |
|---|---|---|
| 2.21 | Unity of Perception | Seeing duality where there is only One is delusion. |
| 2.22 | All-Pervasiveness of Brahman | The wise are praised endlessly for teaching the indivisible Truth. |
| 2.23 | Grace of the Guru | True wisdom, whether in a scholar or a fool, comes only by grace. |
| 2.24 | Supreme Realization | Steadiness, detachment, and service to all lead to liberation. |
| 2.25 | Pot-Space Analogy | As pot-space merges with space, the yogi dissolves into the Self. |
| 2.26 | Destiny by Karma vs. Yoga | Only karmic thinkers are bound by last thoughts, not yogis. |
| 2.27 | Inexpressible Path of Yogis | The yogi’s path is beyond words — utterly transcendental. |
| 2.28 | Beyond All Paths | The yogi has no path — when duality ends, realization arises. |
| 2.29 | No Rebirth for Yogis | Wherever he dies, the yogi merges in Brahman, never reborn. |
| 2.30 | Freedom in Self-Knowledge | The knower of Self is untouched by action — always free. |
📜 English Summary (Verses 21–30)
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Unity is real; duality is illusion.
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Brahman is indivisible—known through the wise.
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Grace, not scholarship, awakens the Truth.
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Realization arises from detachment and selfless service.
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As pot-space merges with sky, so does Self merge with Supreme.
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Karma binds only the unenlightened—not the yogi.
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The yogi’s path is inexpressible, beyond thought.
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Realized beings have no path—they abide in the Eternal.
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Place of death matters not for the liberated.
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The Self-knower is untouched by action—free always.
📚 हिंदी सारांश (श्लोक 21–30)
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वास्तविकता एक है; द्वैत भ्रम है।
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ब्रह्म अविभाज्य है, जो ज्ञानी ही बताते हैं।
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गुरु की कृपा से ही तत्त्वज्ञान होता है।
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सेवा, वैराग्य और स्थिरता से मुक्ति प्राप्त होती है।
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घट का आकाश महाकाश में मिलता है — ऐसे योगी आत्मा में लीन होता है।
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कर्मियों की गति अंत के विचार से होती है, योगियों की नहीं।
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योगियों की गति वाणी से परे है — अकथनीय।
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योगी का कोई मार्ग नहीं — वह सदा सिद्ध है।
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मृत्यु का स्थान नहीं, आत्मज्ञान ही अंतिम है।
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आत्मज्ञानी कर्म से अछूता रहता है — वह सदा मुक्त है।