श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच । यथास्थितमिदं यस्य व्यवहारवतोऽपि च । अस्तं गतं स्थितं व्योम जीवन्मुक्तः स उच्यते ॥ ४ ॥
śrīvasiṣṭha uvāca | yathāsthitamidaṁ yasya vyavahāravatō’pi ca | astaṁ gataṁ sthitaṁ vyōma jīvanmuktaḥ sa ucyatē || 4 ||
Translation
Vasiṣṭha said: He for whom this world, standing just as it stands, has set and gone and remains as empty space, even while he takes part in its affairs: he is called freed while living.
Word by word
- yathā
- just as
- sthitam
- it stands
- idaṁ
- this world
- yasya
- for whom
- vyavahāra
- in its affairs
- vataḥ
- taking part
- api
- even
- ca
- and
- astaṁ
- has set
- gataṁ
- gone
- sthitaṁ
- remains
- vyōma
- as empty space
- jīvan
- while living
- muktaḥ
- freed
- sa
- he
- ucyatē
- is called
Meaning
The first mark of freedom while living. Nothing in the world has to change: it stands "just as it stands" (yathāsthitam), and he still acts in it (vyavahāravataḥ). What has changed is its standing for him: it has set like the sun, gone, and what remains is space, open and empty. The commentary: one who does the actions scripture does not forbid, and for whom this whole universe, as it stands, has from the highest point of view turned back and become empty like the sky; like a city seen in a mirror, it appears and yet is not there. The next ten verses each end the same way, "he is called freed while living": a refrain to be heard, one mark at a time.