The Ashtavakra Gita was created from the Gyan Samvad

Raja Ja Janak was a shrewd sage. He had no guru, so the king constantly felt that knowledge without guru would not bring success in life, knowledge should be obtained from guru only and only knowledge acquired by guru can lead life on the path of continuous liberation.

The king proclaimed in his kingdom that the gnani who will give me true knowledge, I will establish him in Gurupada and give him whatever he wants, but at the same time discuss the scriptures, knowledge and if he proves not to be able to give knowledge, I will make him a prisoner. But yes, I will keep him as a knowledge lover.

Many sages, including Ashtavakra's father, came to give knowledge to the king but went to the prison for failing to impart knowledge.

Ashtavakra heard this and went to the court of King Janak. All the courtiers, including the king, were sitting on Sajidhji's pompous political attire. Seeing the eight limbs of Ashtavakra bent, the whole courtiers laughed out loud. Ashtavakra also started laughing out loud with everyone. The Rajya Sabha was stunned to see Ashtavakra also smiling.

King Janak asked, are you laughing? Ashtavakra asked, why are you laughing? The king says, seeing your crooked limb made us laugh.

Ashtavakra replied sarcastically, "I laughed when I saw the deformity of your inner body. Knowledge is not important among the courtiers who are busy discussing knowledge." The external body is great. These mortals are recognizing only the appearance and color of the body. The knowledge within is not appreciated at all. Seeing this inner complexity made me laugh. The meeting remained silent.

King Janak says to Ashtavakra, O sage! I want to establish you Gurupade. I am ready to give you whatever you want from this whole state. You give me true knowledge.

Ashtavakra says, brother kingdom is not yours. The king is only the guardian of the people and the ruler of the state. So I want something else. The king says, I will give you whatever you want, all your commands are valid.

Give me your mind, resolve. The king says, I resolve that my mind will be under your control. The sage releases his father and captives and says, "I will come in a week and give you knowledge."

King Janak does not sleep at night during this week. He thinks that I have decided to give my mind to my Guru in Dakshina. So now I have no right to think independently. I am not authorized to make any plans, so King Janak's options are getting quieter.

Ashtavakra comes a week later and asks for the king's well-being. The king says, O welfare friend Guru Bhagwant, you have my well-being because you have my mind so I am only inert.

Guru says, only this inertial direction will lead you on the path of Satjnana because this mind is the one that will lead us astray in the forest of options. As long as there is mind, there is consciousness. As long as there is mind, there is love for body. The vision of the soul diminishes but the human mind attains a foreign state wherever it leads to the self. You have reached this stage, so you will be known as Janakavidehi. Your mind returns to you. See and rule everyone with this mind. The 'Ashtavakra Gita' was created from this conversation of knowledge between Raja Janak and Ashtavakra.

- Quality Barwaliya