Truth is not for those who want pleasure || Acharya Prashant, on Ashtavakra Gita (2019)

वाग्मिप्राज्ञामहोद्योगं जनं मूकजडालसम् ।करोति तत्त्वबोधोऽयमतस्त्यक्तो बुभुक्षभिः ॥ १५-३॥

vāgmiprājñāmahodyogaṃ janaṃ mūkajaḍālasam ।karoti tattvabodho’yamatastyakto bubhukṣabhiḥ ॥ 15-3॥

This awareness of the Truth makes an eloquent, clever and energetic man dumb, stupid and lazy,and therefore Truth is avoided by those whose aim is pleasure. || 15.3 ||

Question: Acharaya Ji, Pranaam! Please help he understand the given verse from Ashtavakra Gita.

Acharya Prashant Ji: “Truth makes the eloquent man dumb.”

Ashtavakra is saying, “Truth makes the eloquent man dumb, the clever man stupid, and the energetic man lazy. And therefore those whose aim is happiness in life, they avoid the Truth.”

If you have been eloquent, you talk too much, then Truth puts a lid on your mouth because you start seeing the foolishness of your words. You used to yak so much, and a little touch of the Truth – awestruck! What to say? The words have been stolen away. It feels stupid to express the non-sense within.