prakāśo me nijaṃ rūpaṃ nātirikto'smyahaṃ tataḥ | yadā prakāśate viśvaṃ tadā'hambhāsa eva hi ||
"My true form is radiance; I am nothing else but that. When the world shines forth, It is me really who shines."
Ashtavakra Gita 2.8
Ashtavakra was a revered sage in ancient India, known not only for his sharp spiritual insight but also for his remarkable story—born with eight physical deformities, yet glowing with extraordinary wisdom. The Ashtavakra Gita, a deep philosophical dialogue between him and King Janaka, explores the highest truths of non-duality, self-realization, and liberation.
This verse captures a core teaching of Advaita Vedanta: that the Self (Atman) is pure light—limitless awareness. When Ashtavakra says “My true form is radiance,” he’s pointing to the formless essence that shines behind all experiences. The light by which we see the world, the very power of perception itself, is not separate from who we are. Even when the senses fall silent, that inner radiance remains. It is unaffected by the body’s conditions, untouched by suffering, and eternal. To realize this is to wake up from the illusion of limitation—and to remember, quite literally, that we are the light.
