Let’s be honest: we all seek connection, love, and belonging. But sometime along the way, that lovely human yearning transforms into attachment. We don’t just love people; we strive to own them. We do not simply pursue success; we get hooked to it. We don’t just care about our appearance; we become obsessed with it. And we wonder why peace always seems to be just around the corner. This is precisely what the Ashtavakra Gita Part 2 is all about: freedom from attachment. Not “detachment” in the cold, uncaring sense, but rather freedom within love, life, and all of the craziness that comes with being human.
The King’s Dilemma
In this section of the dialogue, King Janaka gets agitated. Despite being a monarch with power, fortune, family, and position, he has a strange feeling inside. He’s trapped, even in luxury. He looks at Ashtavakra, the young, twisted-bodied sage, and finally admits what most of us are afraid to speak aloud: Janaka says, “Master, I have everything.” Yet, I am not free. My heart clings to my kingdom, family, and name. How can I love and still feel liberated? “How can I live without being possessed by life itself?” Ashtavakra (smiling faintly): “Janaka, let go of the belief that you own anything or anyone. Be present in the world without becoming a part of it. When the mind abandons its cravings, love becomes pure—not hungry, nor scared. “That is freedom, my child.” Janaka asks: “But if I drop my attachments, won’t I stop caring?” Ashtavakra: “On the contrary, you’ll begin caring without constraints. When you no longer need someone to fulfill you, you may truly love them unconditionally.” That is the essence. Boom. There is no fluff or mysticism—only psychological clarity wrapped in spiritual profundity.
The Possession Trap
Ashtavakra was neither anti-love nor anti-life. He just saw how the mind corrupts pure emotion. When you say “I love you,” you usually imply, “I want you to make me feel safe.” When you say “I want success,” you really mean “I want validation.” When you fear losing something, it’s not love; it’s reliance disguised as loyalty. Ashtavakra is calling the bluff. He’s essentially saying:
“Love without the need to own.” Work without having to win. Exist without the need to prove.”
The liberation does not come from letting go of life. It’s about letting up of the illusion of control.
What Does Love Without Chains Actually Look Like?
Freedom from attachment does not imply that you abandon your relationship, leave your job, and live off the grid with a dog named Enlightenment. It means you come to life without clinging to death. You can love someone sincerely without collapsing when they leave. You can pursue your goals with zeal while without losing sleep if things don’t go as planned. You can own stuff without giving up your peace. Because genuine love—for others, purpose, or yourself—does not cling. It flows.
Janaka’s realization
Janaka sits in silence for an extended period of time following their chat. You can practically imagine the weight of his crown, the echo of his thoughts, and Ashtavakra’s serene presence beside him. Then Janaka finally speaks: Janaka confesses that his attachment is not love. It is fear. “I am afraid of losing what gives me identity.” Ashtavakra says, “Yes, Janaka.” The one who loves from fear suffers indefinitely. But the person who sees everything as passing clouds adores the sky itself. When you realize you are the sky, you will stop chasing the weather.” That sentence slams like a thunderclap: you are the sky, and the attachments are merely weather. The weather can be sunny or stormy, but it is never permanent.
The Modern Translation (Why It Matters Now)
Let’s bring this ancient wisdom into 2025. We live in an era of emotional overattachment, when we want constant digital confirmation. We mistake “I love you” for “I need your attention.” Our worth is based on likes, followers, and the appearance of control. We are not horrible people, just distracted ones. Our modern empire is not created of gold, but of dopamine. Ashtavakra’s message remains relevant: “Freedom does not mean giving up love.” It suggests you stopped loving out of fear.”
The paradox of freedom.
Most people are surprised to learn that the less you cling, the deeper you connect. Attachment reads: “I love you because I need you.” Freedom says, “I love you because I choose to.” Attachment creates cages. Freedom develops bridges. Ironically, when you love without grasping, others feel safer around you. Why? Because they realize you are not attempting to control them. You’ve transitioned from being a beggar of affection to a giver of presence.
The Practice
How can you embody this reality without becoming a monk or a robot? Try this:
1. Observe Your Hooks Every time you feel that fear spike—”What if they leave?” “What if I fail?”—pause. Ask yourself, “What am I trying to control right now?” The enchantment is broken via awareness.
2. Detach without disappearing. Freedom is not withdrawal; it is grounded engagement. Love wholeheartedly, yet understand when to move aside. Care sincerely, but don’t beg for energy you don’t have.
3. Let things end gracefully. Yes, grieve when anything ends, whether it is a relationship, a period, or an era. Then let it go. If you keep reviewing the previous chapter, you will be unable to progress to the next.
The Real Mic Drop Moment
Towards the end of the teaching, Janaka bows to Ashtavakra and says, “O Master, you’ve freed me without taking anything away.” Ashtavakra simply responds: “Freedom was never given to Janaka.” You only quit keeping yourself prisoner.” That is the essence of the Ashtavakra Gita: emancipation is not about abandoning the world. It’s about giving up the idea of ownership.
The message of Part 2 is simple, yet it hits home: Stop clutching life too tightly. People, power, love, and success flow together. You can either swim against the current or float with it. The more tightly you hold, the more pain you feel. When you let go, everything begins to make sense again. Freedom is not detachment from life; rather, it is living it without fear of loss. If Ashtavakra were still alive today, he may say:
“Stop becoming an attachment addict. Begin to notice it.”
That’s when love reverts to its original form: a beautiful, unchained flow of being rather than ownership or obsession.
