AVG 1.1

Chapter 1 (Guidance on self-realization): Verse 1

जनक उवाच ॥

कथं ज्ञानमवाप्नोति कथं मुक्तिर्भविष्यति ।
वैराग्यं च कथं प्राप्तं एतद् ब्रूहि मम प्रभो ॥ १-१॥

Transliteration:

जनक उवाच ॥
janaka uvāca ॥
कथम् ज्ञानम् अवाप्नोति कथम् मुक्तिः भविष्यति।
katham jñānam avāpnoti katham muktiḥ bhaviṣyati।
वैराग्यम् च कथम् प्राप्तम् एतत् ब्रूहि मम प्रभो ॥ १-१॥
vairāgyam ca katham prāptam etat brūhi mama prabho॥1-1॥

Meaning:

जनक (Janaka) उवाच (speaks)॥
कथम् (how) ज्ञानम् (knowledge/awareness) अवाप्नोति (attained/obtained/gained) कथम् (how) मुक्तिः (liberation/salvation/emancipation) भविष्यति (will happen)।
वैराग्यम् (detachment/freedom from worldly desires) च (and) कथम् (how) प्राप्तम् (gained/accomplished) एतत् (this) ब्रूहि (pray tell) मम (to me) प्रभो (oh lord!) ॥ १-१॥

Purport:

Janaka asks:
Master, tell me this,
how is knowledge obtained,
how will liberation happen,
and how is detachment acquired?

Comments: The apparent order of the questions posed by Janaka here (how can knowledge be obtained first, then liberation achieved and after that, freedom from worldly desires acquired) indicate that Janaka is a rank learner seeking clarification and waiting to be enlightened. It is to be noted that most ancient scriptural poetry begins with a question(s) and here too, with the Asthavakra Gita, the format remains. I find the fact that the text directly getting into the heart of the matter is liberating - no elaborate storylines or plots - just gets to the point.