What is the Ashtavakra Gita? Explained to Kids
- myNachiketa
- Jan 14
- 3 min read
The Ashtavakra Gita is an ancient Indian text written in Sanskrit and is a conversation between a sage named Ashtavakra and a great king named Janaka. In this conversation, they discuss life, happiness, the soul, and how to find inner peace. The Ashtavakra Gita is also called the Ashtavakra Samhita, which talks about the Atman (true self) and moksha (freedom).
myNachiketa presents: What is the Ashtavakra Gita? Explained to Kids
Who was Sage Ashtavakra?
Sage Ashtavakra was unusual from birth. His body was bent in eight places, and because of this, he was named Ashtavakra, which means “eight bends.” Although his body looked different, his mind was extremely bright. He learned sacred texts and philosophy at a very young age. When some people laughed at his appearance, he did not get upset. Instead, he taught them that the body is only the outer covering, and the real person is the pure, wise self inside.
Who was King Janaka?
King Janaka was a famous ruler of Mithila and is also known as the father of Devi Sita from the Ramayana. He was powerful, rich, and very responsible toward his people. But even with all his success, he had an important question: How can I remain peaceful inside while doing all my duties as a king? He loved learning and often invited sages to his court to talk about philosophy. When he met Sage Ashtavakra, he asked him about true happiness and inner freedom.
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The conversation between Sage Ashtavakra and King Janaka
The Ashtavakra Gita records their dialogue. King Janaka asked how he could be free from worry and find real peace. Ashtavakra explained that Janaka was not just a king, not just a body, and not even just his thoughts and emotions. The real Janaka was the pure inner self, calm and happy by nature.
Core ideas of the Ashtavakra Gita.
Detachment (Vairagya)
Ashtavakra teaches that most of our worries come from too much attachment to things, people, praise, success, or even our own ideas. Attachment means thinking, “I must have this,” or “I cannot be happy without that.”
He does not say we must run away from the world. Instead, he says:
live in the world
do your duties
love your family
but do not cling inside
He explains that attachment creates fear (fear of losing) and sadness (when something changes). When we are detached from inside, we can still enjoy life, but our peace is not broken when things change. True detachment is inner freedom, not outer running away.
Self-Realization (Knowing the true “I”)
Self-realization means discovering who you really are. Ashtavakra says we usually think: “I am this body.” “I am my name.” “I am my job or my role.” “I am my thoughts and feelings.”
He gently says all of these are not the real ‘you’.
According to him:
the body changes
thoughts change
emotions change
roles change
But the witness inside, the awareness that sees all this, does not change. That awareness is the true Self (Atman): peaceful, free, and untouched.
When Janaka asked how to be free, Ashtavakra explained: “You are already free. You only forgot who you are.”
Self-realization is not becoming something new. It is remembering what you always were. The moment one recognizes the true Self, fear, loneliness, and smallness disappear, and a deep natural peace appears.
The Illusory Nature of the World (Maya)
Ashtavakra often says that the world is like a dream or mirage. This does not mean the world is fake or useless. It means our ideas about it are mistaken.
We believe: “This will stay forever.” “I will always feel this way.” “People will never change.”
But everything we see keeps changing - bodies, situations, relationships, emotions, possessions. Because they change, they cannot be our permanent identity or source of guaranteed happiness.
Ashtavakra compares:
dreams at night feel real while dreaming
When you wake up, you smile and say, “It was only a dream.”
Similarly, when we “wake up” through wisdom, we see that what we were clinging to was temporary. The Self alone is unchanging; the rest is passing scenery.
What does the Ashtavakra Gita teach kids?
It teaches that you are more than your looks, just like Ashtavakra was more than his bent body. It shows that the real “you” is peaceful and kind inside, even if you sometimes feel angry, scared, or sad. It reminds kids that happiness is not only in toys, marks, or sweets, but also in a quiet and loving heart. It also teaches not to tease others for how they look or speak, because everyone has a beautiful inner self.
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