g A TRANSLATION
OP
YOGA-VASISHTA
LAGHU-(the smaller)
BY
K. MRMINSWSMI SIYER.
Author of the Translation of " Yasudeva Manana" or
" The Meditations of Vasudeva," &c.
Copyright Reserved.
PRINTED BY THOMPSON Co., AT THE "MINERVA PRESS,"
POPHAM S BROADWAY.
1896.
PRICE RS. 3. POSTAGE EXTRA.
J
mm
l * f . L -
A TRANSLATION
OF
YOGA-VASISHTA
LAGHU (the smaller)
BY
K. NflRSYNSflMI flIYER,
Author of the .Translation of " Vasudeva Manana" or
" The Meditations of Vasudeva," &c.
Copyright Reserved.
PRINTED BT THOMPSON AND Co., AT THE " MINERVA PRESS,"
POPHAM S BROADWAY.
1896.
PRICE RS- 3. POSTAGE EXTRA,
PRINTED BY THOMPSON AND CO., AT THE H MINERVA PRESS.
TO ALL
TRUE LOVERS AND FOLLOWERS
OF THE
Hindu Religion and Truth
BY THE AUTHOR.
ERRATA.
Page
line
for
read
9
5
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gullet.
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37
* sharp-poinetd
sharp- pointed
16
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17
13
* Vatava
Vadava.
58
36)
16
32
4 Vritta
* Vritra.
n
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do
do.
41
**}
Adhi-Vahya
Adhi-Vahika.
65
13
4 (with the left)
4 (with the righi
182
32
(the last) 4 and
he.
PAGE.
INTRODUCTION ... ... ... ... ... vii xxiii
I. VAIRAGGYA-PRAKARANA the Chapter relating to
the mental despondency of Rama ... ... i
i. The Story of Sukha 22
II. MUMUKSHU-PRAKARANA the Chapter relating to
the longing after Salvation 28
III. UTPATHTHI-PRAKARANA the Chapter on Origin
1. The Story of Akasaja or Son of Akasa ... 37
2. The Story of Lila or Sport ... ... ... 46
3. The Story of Karkati 62
4. The Story of Aindhava the son of Indhu or
the Moon ... ... ... ... ... 72
5. The Story of the Deceitful Indra 74
6. The Story of Manas (mind) .. 76
7. The Story of a BSla (lad) 80
8. The Story of a Siddha ... 81
9. The Conclusion of this Prakarana ... ... 87
IV. STHITHI-PRAKARANA the Chapter on Preservation
1. The Story of Sukra or Venus ... ... ... 102
2. The Story of Dma, Vyala and Kata 109
3. The Story of Bheema, Bhasa and Drudha .... 116
4. The Story of Dhasoora 120
5. The Story of Kacha 138
6. The Conclusion of this Prakarana 141
V, UPASA NTHI-PRAKARANA the Chapter on Quies
cence
i. The Story of King Janaka , 143
i CONTENTS.
PAGE.
2. The Story of Punnya and Pavana ... 149
3. The Story of the Great3ali *57
4 . The Story of Prahlada ... 165
5. The Story of Gadhi 176
6. The Story of Uddhalaka ..* 183
7. The Story of Suraghu *95
8. The Story of Bhasa and Vilasa 201
9. The Story of Veethahavya ... ... 204
10. The Conclusion ofthis Prakarana ... 216
VI. NIRVA NA PRAKARANA
1. The Story of Bhusunda ... 228
2. The Story of Deva-Pujah or the Worship of
God ... 242
3. The Story of Bilwa Fruit ... 252
4. The Story of &ila a Granite ... ... 255
5. The Story of Arjuna ... ... 256
6. The Story of Sata the hundred Rudras ... 260
7. The Story of Vetala the Sphynx ... 263
8. The Story of Bhageeratha ... ... 267
9. The Story of S ikhidwaja ... ... 272
10. The Story of Kacha ... 3 10
11. The Story of Mithya-Purusha or the Illusory
Personage ... 3 12
12. The Story of Bhringi ... ... 3 ! 5
13. The Story of Ikshwku ... ... 3 J 7
14. The Story of a Muni and a Hunter 327
15. The Conclusion of Nirvana Prakarana 33
INDEX.. 34i
INTRODUCTION.
IT is intended to give herein a short introduction to, and an
analysis of, Laghu-Yoga-Vasishta. Of course the analysis can
not be an exhaustive one, as it will have then to run through
many pages and form a book of its own. There are, as
at present known to us, two works by the name of Yoga-
Vasishta, the larger one going by the name of Brihat-Yoga-
Vasishta and the smaller one, Laghu-Yoga-Vasishta. The
term Brihat means great, while Laghu signifies small. Vasish-
ta is because of this work emanating from Rishi Vasishta as
will be seen later on. Though the book is dubbed with the
appellation, Yoga- Vasishta, it treats ofjnana only though
practical Yoga is dealt with in two stories in this work.
Even there it says that the pure Raja- Yoga is meant and not
Hata-Yoga. Rather the word Yoga seems to have been
used in the title of this work in its generic sense of including
Jnana-Yoga and other Yogas as in the Bagawatgita,
Of the two above mentioned works, the smaller one is
an abridgment of the bigger and contains about 6,000 Grand-
has, whereas the latter contains 36,000. The commentary of
the former has the same number of Grandhas as the original
whereas that of the latter amounts to 74,000 Grandhas which
with its original is a lakh on the whole. In the abridged
text, almost all the words of the bigger one are reproduced
verbatim ; the work of the author being generally to clip the
bigger of its expansive descriptions and so on ; so that in the
work before us, we have got the quintessence extracted.
This work seems to have been undertaken by one Abhi-
nandana, a great pandit of Cashmere. The authorship or
rather writership is attributed to Rishi Valmiki, the author of
the Ramayana who is said to have related the whole of Yoga-
Vasishta to Rishi Bdradwaja as having occurred between
Sri Rama and Rishi Vasishta. But of this later on. The
Vlll INTRODUCTION.
larger work seems to have been partially translated by a
gentleman hailing from Bengal. But this one, though small,
it is named, is yet big enough.
This work is, in the words of Madame Blavatsky, " meant
for the few only/ In the phraseology of this work, it is in-
tended neither for those Ajnanis (or the worldly-minded),
who welter in the sea of Samsara without being indifferent
to the worldly things nor for those higher spiritual person
ages who have reached a state of adeptship, so as to be above
all advice. Hence it is written in the interests of those wbo
have become indifferent to worldly things and crave for
spirituality becoming a potent factor in their daily lives.
Fancy a work like "The Voice of Silence" put into the hands
of a worldly person of decidedly materialistic view and he
will throw it away in sheer disgust. Similarly will this work
appear to a person who has not caught a glimpse even of the
higher life and principles. A person of true Vairaggya, should
he wish to have not only some hints thrown on the nature of
cosmos, Manas (mind) and Universal Spirit from the idealistic
stand-point but also some rules of guidance in his daily
practical life towards occult knowledge with the proper
illustrations will herein find, in my opinion, a mine of know
ledge to be guided by and to cogitate upon.
There are some peculiar traits in the feature of this work
as contradistinguished from other spiritual works in the
Sanscrit literature. As all know, the Vedas and the Upa-
nishads are so mystic in their nature in many places that their
real meaning is not grasped clearly and all persons except
true occultists rare to find in this world interpret them in
different ways, one holding that the Vedas inculcate nature
worship, another putting upon them a diametrically opposed
view and so on. Even in the Ten Upanishads, all the meta
physical leaving aside for the present, as impossible, the
occult theories have not been worked out in a systematical
manner except in the way of some clues vouchsafed thereupon.
Taking the Pur&nas in their dead letter light, our Pandits
generally have found them replete with indecent and absurd
stories and thrown them into a corner ; and hence the nick
name of Purdnas has been applied, in ordinary usage amongst
us, to any thing that is a farrago of fictions and absurdities.
INTRODUCTION. IX
But for the timely resurrection of them by H. P. Blavatsky
with the profound ray of light shed upon them by her,
almost all of us should have unanimously buried, by this
time, into oblivion all those savoring of Purdnas. Even
she has not thrown full light on them, as she proba
bly was not privileged so to do. As regard, Itihasas,
vis., the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, they are consi
dered as so many stories only and as such are much in favor
of our orthodox Pandits who do not care to go above
worldly things. Vedanta soars high in the region of the
Absolute with its theories and words ; and our metaphysicians
of the old school in India, carrying the notion of the physical
world up there, try to solve the problem of the homogeneity
orotherwise of the Infinite and are wrangling with one another
as our Adwaitins, Visishtadwaitins and Dwaitinsare doing in
their every day lives, so much so that their arguments end in
mental gymnastics only and with nothing practical in their
lives. Here a curious instance occurs to me. One day an
Adwaita Pandit lectured in a certain place about Brahman
being Nirguna (or without any attributes), and the only Reality
and argued with great vehemence against his adversary.
Next day seeing him, while I was passing by, circumambulate
an idol in a temple. I asked him as to whom he was paying
respects. The Pandit merely laughed over the affair without
an answer. Thus are most of our Pandits, theorizing only
with nothing practical about them and soaring into the region
of the Absolute without a proper knowledge of the basic
foundations of Vedanta.
But Yoga-Vasishta has chalked out for itself a new and
distinct path. At first, it enunciates a doctrine in its several
bearings and then elucidates it with beautiful stories. There
in it gives also rules of guidance for the conduct of life in the
daily world, these also finding their illustrations in the stories
given out. As in the Puranas, we have not to rack our
brains over with the slight hints thrown therein and to
sometimes give up in despair the problems before us.
Secondly This book serves as a ladder wherewith to
scale from the Sireswara STinkhya doctrine of Patanjali as
given out in his Yoga-Sutras to the Maya-conception of the
Adwaita Pantheists and thus renders possible a reconciliation
B
X INTRODUCTION.
between them both. Through a study of Patanjali s Yoga-
Sutras, it is clear from Book III, Aphorism 17 that the cause
of all pains is the conjunction of the seer with the visual or
the subject with the object ; the conception of " I" having been
brought about by the identification of the subject with the
object. Through Sasbatkara Anubhava or direct realization,
the Yogi finds he is one with the subject and does not find
then the reality of the object. It is this that is illustrated in
the story of Sukha.
Thirdly Seme of the theories and facts, occult, meta
physical or otherwise, given out by H. P. B. find their
corroborations in this work. 1 have got a deep-seated con
viction in me which tells me that if Theosophical ideas are ever
to gain a firm footing in India, it can only be by showing that
it is H. P. B. s explanations alone that can throw proper light
upon and galvanize with life our old Aryan works. For this
purpose, I think all the authorities, express or implied, which
are found in a stray form in the Hindu works, should be
ransacked, culled out and given to the world. As H. P. B.
herself said, her business was to string the flowers found in
India as well as in other places and make a nosegay out of
the same.
Now 1 shall give out some illustrations therefor. They
are
(1) That Parabrahm, the Absolute is not the cause of
the creation of Brahma or the universe as creation implies
some conditioned thought and space and as the Infinite is
unconditioned and can therefore have no kind of causal rela
tionship to that which is finite or conditioned, viz., the universe
which manifests itself or is absorbed according to the Law of
the Absolute (vide the story of Sikhidwaja).
(2) Devas and Asuras are merely the opposite intelli-
gential forces or poles in nature such as positive and nega
tive. With the cessation of the one aspect, the other also
ceases to exist- This statement is to be found in the story of
Prahlada.
(3) Tn " The Secret Doctrine," it is stated that the Asuras,
Rudras, &c., represent in one sense the egos of man ; they
being the active powers as opposed to Devas, the passive
INTRODUCTION. XI
ones. This fact is exemplified in Sukra s story as well as in
the story of the 100 Rudras.
(4) The eking out of the double and the means through
which such things are done, vis., through the mastery of
Kundalini Sakti are given out in the story of Sikhidwaja.
(5) Being itself a work intended for occult students,
this book gives out the seven states of Jnana and Ajnana
(vide Utpaththi and Nirvana Prakaranas) ; the seven Ajnana
states are not given out in the works I have come across
though the former are.
(6) The relationship between an occult Guru and his
Sishya or disciple (as appears from the story of Sikhidwaja).
(7) The experiences of those persons (who are able to ele
vate themselves beyond their physical bodies) as a Jiva-Suchi
or Neevara-S ukham, either as a needle or the tail-end of
paddy which is exemplified in the Story of Karkati.
(8) Some of the secret meanings of Brighu, Vasishta,
Kasypa, &c., as well as of the worship of God.
(9) The reality of thought as in the story of Gadhi.
(10) The emergence of all objects from the moon after a
minor deluge.
Without multiplying more instances of this kind, I shall
proceed to the contents of this work. The occasion which
called it forth demands that the work was intended for those
only who wish to practically travel on the higher path. Most
of our readers will have been fully acquainted with the con
tents of our great Epic poem, the Ramayana. We find therein
that Rishi Viswamitra turns upon the stage in the early
years of Sri Rama. The Rishi appears before his father,
Dasaratha and demands of him his son Rama to war with
the Rakshasas interfering with his sacrifice. Just before
this time, Rdma goes on a pilgrimage to the many sacred
places ; and having visited the Asramas (hermitages) of the
wise, returns to his native place. On his return, he grows
quite disgusted with his material life, spurns his wealth and
other regal possessions and grows despondent without per
forming any of his daily duties. His attendants go and com
plain to the King his father of the grievous plight of their
master. Thereupon the father sends for his son, seats
him on his lap and enquires of him his state. But the son
XII INTRODUCTION.
evades the question by simply laughing over the affair and gets
away. At this juncture, Muni Viswamitra turns up and the
King delighted with the usual arrival of such a distinguished
and reverend guest consents to execute any orders of the
noble Muni. The Muni demands Rama for his aid at which
Dasaratha is panic-struck. Yet rallying himself, he volun
teers his own services in lieu of his eldest and dearly beloved boy
begotten through dire Tapas. Immediately the Muni begins
to curse Daaaratha for his vacillation in the fulfilment of his
promises, when Vasishta interposes and pacifies the sage by
making the King fulfil his promise. Then Rama is sent for
and his servants meanwhile relate to the Rishis the pitiable
present plight of their master disdaining to perform such ac
tions as tasting food, drinking water, &c. At which Vasishta
remarks that the Vairaggya (indifference) of the Prince is not
akin to that produced by such momentary accidents as the
loss of some dearly beloved relative or wealth but is one which
is the premonitory symptom of a spiritual development in him
after which development all his duties will be regularly per
formed by him. On Rama s arrival at the regal assembly, he
is asked by one of the Rishis as to the cause of his present
sorrow. At which Rama makes a long tirade against wealth,
life, Ahankara, Manas (mind), desires, body and other material
things and at last winds up by saying that he will rather ex
pose himself to the torments of hell-fire than undergo the
excruciating mental tortures, consuming him tittle by tittle
through the abovementioned causes. This concludes the
chapter called Vairaggya Prakarana or the section on in
difference to worldly things.
This work consists on the whole, of six Prakaranas or
sections. Passing by the first, w tf., Vairaggya Prakarana which
has appended to it, the story of Sukha, the son of the pre
sent Vyasa, we have five other Prakaranas, via., Mumukshu
(longing after Salvation), Utpatthi (origin), Sthithi (preserva
tion), Upasanthi (quiescence) and Nirvana (absorption), the
last. In these five chapters, Vasishta inculcates advice upon
Rfima, gives him the reason why and how he should work in
the world by tracing the origin of the universe and the " I
in man to which are identical from the idealistic stand
point with the Original Cause or the Causeless Cause
INTRODUCTION. XlH
of all and devising means for their destruction and finally
initiates him into the mysteries of Atma. First comes the
story of Sukha in the first Prakarana. Sukha was not satis
fied with all the explanations his father, Vyasa gave of Mdya
and hence resorted to Janaka for aid who, by Aparoksha or
direct realisation within himself, showed the end. Then
comes the second Prakarana called Mumukshu. Of the four
fold qualifications necessary to a disciple on the path, vis., the
discrimination of Atma and non-Atma, &c., Rama having
developed the first three is asked by Vasishta to concentrate
his mind upon the attainment of Moksha. For this purpose,
Vasishta expatiates in Mumukshu Prakarana upon the pre
liminary qualifications necessary for the attainment of Moksha
or salvation. Here the author says that the four sentinels
posted at the gate of Moksha are Santi (quiescence of
mind or sweet patience), Vichara (the enquiry after Atma),
Santosha (contentment of mind) and Sadhu-Sanga (associa
tion with the wise) and will have to be befriended by one
wishing to attain Moksha. Should one of them at least be
befriended, he will introduce the aspirant to his companion
sentinels. Then the author goes on to explain that Moksha
does not mean the physical separation from all worldly affairs
but only a state of the mind bereft of all impure Vasanas or
clingings towards, but yet working as usual amidst, worldly
things. The difference between Vasanas, pure and impure
is well defined in this chapter.
Having thus given out the nature of the goal towards
which all egos are gravitating, Vasishta, in order to relieve
Rama from the mental despair and anguish in which he was
placed, then traces the origin of " I", its growth and its
quiescence and then that state from which the above three
states can be viewed as one. For this purpose, he gives
out its relationship with the one Reality and the universe.
This is precisely the position in which Arjuna was placed
when he was instructed by Sri Krishna as in the Bagawat-
gita and when also he was told the relationship exis
ting between the Universal Spirit, the ego and the cosmos ;
the difference being that the detailed instructions in this
work are not given in ajveritable battle field but in that of
the mind and are illustrated by a series of stories wherein the
XIV INTRODUCTION.
different stages of the mind are worked out to suit a disciple
on the path. Now taking his stand on the Pantheistic con
ception of Brahman being the one Reality and the universe
and Jiva as his aspect or manifestation, Vasishta begins the
Utpatihi Prakarana with the statement that the Jiva or ego
in man and the universe in their innate condition are Brahman
only and this phenomenal universe is but an outcome of the
Divine Will seeming to be real through the workings of the
mind. In the technical phraseology of this work, the ideation
reflected in the Lila-Sankalpa of Brahman is the origin of the
world ; its manifestation, the preservation of the world ; and
its disappearance, the destruction of the world. These are
the three aspects that are dilated upon in the second, third
and fourth Prakaranas. In other words, the old Hindu
philosophers held that the universe is nothing but states or
modes of consciousness reflected through the Sankalpa or will
of Parabrahrn which is said through its Law to evolve the
universe out itself for its Lila or sport. The word Sankalpa
is rather a difficult word to translate. Originally it is the
Divine Will in manifestation and in man in his present stage
becomes the will-thought pertaining to his Antahkarana or
the lower mind. It is through the Sankalpa of our Manas that
the universe appears to be and it is this Sankalpa that is
asked to be given up by one who wishes to soar to the one
Reality beyond this universe. The author of this work
defines, in one chapter, Sankalpa to mean the ideation of
Aham or " I" which arises in the relationship of subject to
object when conditionedness is brought about.
In beginning with Utpaththi Prakarana, the author gives
out a story to illustrate Parabrahm manifesting itself as
Brahma, the creator with the conception of "I "through
its own Sankalpa. Instead of giving out, as in the Puranas,
that the creator, Brahma arose out of the navel of NfirAyana
with four hands, etc., this work states that, out of the one
vast Akasa of Jnanaor the one Plenum of Abstract Intelligence,
a Brahmin, the primeval ego called Akasaja was born who
lived for a long time when Kala (time) wanted to get at
him and bring him under his clutches but was unable to do so
through the radiant Tejas (lustre) that shone about his per
son. Then Kala consulted with Yama (Death) who also is the
INTRODUCTION. XV
personification of Time but in the lower or Rupa planes and
advised the former to go in quest, of any of the past Karmas
of the Brahmin which were found to be nil. Thereupon Yama
is said to have remarked to Kala that the Brahmin was no other
than Brahma himself; though performing Karmas, Brahma
had nothing clinging to him, as he did not perform them for
any selfish purposes of his own. From this, it will be clear
that, ere creation began, there was one vast space or Akasa
with no activity in it or in the noumenal state of Parabrahm.
When evolution began, three kinds or states of Akasa are
said to have evolved, vis., Jnana-Akas, Chidakas and Bhuta-
kas. The last is the elemental Akasa compounded of the
quintuplicated five elements, Akasa, Vayu,&c., whereas Chida
kas corresponds to the plane of the lower mind. Janakas
corresponds to the third body or plane. The first ego
of Brahma which is differentiated into many is then, in the
story of Lila, traced in its workings in the three Akasa above-
mentioned. The three pairs introduced therein are (i) Lila
and Padma, (2) Arundhatiand Vasishta, (3) Yiduratha and his
spouse. In the story of Karkati we come to the lowest stage,
whether of the man or world. The intelligence or Purusha
that pervades the physical body is described in this story. In
the Upanishads and other books, the Purusha in this stage is
likened to a thread or the tail-end of paddy. As stated in this
work further on, the normal experience of humanity now is
their being no other than the physical body, though some may,
in theory, hold that they are different from the body ; the
second experience is the direct perception of their being like a
thread-like substance in the gross body and being different
from the gross one. In the third state, they rise to a direct
experience of their being the universe. The Rakshasi Karkati
having a voracious stomach was unable to fully gratify
her appetite and hence got a boon from Brahma to enter
as a Jiva-Suchi or living needle into all human beings,
with the power of troubling those of lower desires but becom
ing the slaves of those who are conquerors of them. It is
this Rakshasi that is at the bottom of all our pains and that
can be made to minister to our wants, if we will only make
up our minds to lord over our desires.
The story of Aindhava brings some corroborations to the
XVI INTRODUCTION.
occult doctrine. The author, after describing that the uni
verse is no other than the aspect of the Brahmic intelligence,
now proceeds to the enumeration of the worlds that exist.
At the beginning of a creation, Brahma is said to have asked
the resplendent orb of the sun to describe its orgin. The
sun and its nine brothers of suns are said to have been born
out of Indhu since according to the Hindu or occult doctrine
all things merge into the moon during Pralaya the son of
Ksyapa, and to be ruling over the ten worlds created by
their own Sankalpa as if they were Brahmas themselves.
Hence arose the ten worlds out of their minds. These ten
worlds may refer to either the ten solar systems or the ten
worlds which are subtler and subtler than one another and ex
isting in space. Besides the 7 worlds as ordinarily known, there
are said to be at first three other worlds which have arisen out
of the one. Out of the one. arises at first the three lokas of
Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra who originate and work in the
seven worlds, Bhu, Bhuvar, &c., up to Satya. Then are in
troduced the stories of the wily Indra, Chitta and a lad to
exemplify the illusory nature of the universe. In the story of
Sambarika, the Siddha, the illusory nature of time is also
illustrated. Thus eight stories conclude this chapter wherein
is traced the initial stage of the origin of " I" ; wherein is
exemplified the fact that the universe arises out of the mere
Sankalpa of the original creator, both the universe and Jiva,
the intelligence arising as the illusory aspect of the one Sub
stratum.
STHITHI PRAKARAXA.
This section deals with the Sthithi character or the pre
servative aspect of the mind or the universe. In the first
story of Sukra, the ego is made to pass after its origin
through a series of births in a time appearing very short to
his father Bhrigu who was then engaged in Nirvikalpa Sa-
madhi near his son and hence was existing in higher planes.
Students of esoteric literature know full well that, of all the
planets, Sukra or Venus corresponds to our ego or the higher
Marias. This higher Manas and the ray of Atma or Bud-
dhi pass through the different forms of humanity as well
as the lower ones. Having traced thus, the author next
INTRODUCTION, XVI
proceeds to give out the curious story of D ama and two others
to illustrate how the " I 1 in man concretes itself in him after
innumerable births with the Ahankara we find in him now.
Once upon a time, there raged a war between the Devas and
the Asuras. The latter, finding themselves worsted in it, creat
ed through the M^yavic power of their leader three men with
out Ahankara or the conception of " I" in them to fight with
their opponents ; since one without Ahankara will be able to
face his enemy without any the least fear, and regardless of
the consequences of his actions. The Devas, finding their
enemy too tough for them to deal with, applied to the higher
powers for help. Vishnu advised them to adopt a rather
queer plan. That was of again and again pretending to make war
with their opponents and of again and again retiring from the
field, when their enemy made onslaughts against them.
Through this process, they were told by Vishnu that the " I" in
the Mciyavic personages would be provoked and hardened and
that those personages would grow terribly afraid of the re
sults of the war and be discomfited through the generation
of " I" in them. This procedure was adopted and the Devas
gained the day. After this was over, three others of true
Jndna and hence without Ahankara were created afresh by
the Asuras and sent against the Devas, Finding them
too hard to combat with, the passive powers of Devas again
implored Vishnu for aid. In this instance, Vishnu came
directly to the field of battle and took the 3 Maydvic personages
away, as men of true Jnna find their asylum in Him
alone. Thus we find that the desires in the external world
which have at first no hold on the subtle " I" in this world get
a hold over it and concrete it through, as it were, a play
of spiral game with it. It thus takes a long time ere the
evils desires take possession of the heart. Likewise many
births are required for their eradication. Both these stages
are necessary to a progressing ego. The ego should first get
into desires and be tinged with Ahankara, so that, through
such a course, it may learn the lessons at their hands and
after the lessons are learnt it no longer needs the desires and
gets out of them. This is the reason why, in that, valuable
work called The Light on the Path, it says thus Seek in
the heart the source of evil and expunge it. It lives fruit
c
XV1U INTRODUCTION,
fully in the heart of the devoted disciple as well as in the
heart of the man of desire. Only the strong can kill it out.
The weak must wait for its growth, its fruition, its death.
And it is a plant that lives and increases throughout the ages.
It flowers when the man has accumulated unto himself innu*
merable existences."
Then this Prakarana, having in all 5 stories, ends with
those of Dhasoora and Kacha wherein it is sought to explain
the position that, though the universe appears to be real in
itself in this stage, it is nothing but Atmic Sankalpa or a
mode of the consciousness of Atma. It is in this Prakarana
that the three modes of Ahankara engendered are mentioned.
The first is the stage where the man identifies himself with the
physical body which is the lowest of Ahankaras and ought to
be shunned. The second is where one identifies himself with
a thread-like small wire. In the third stage, he finds he is
all this universe. These three stages correspond to the
gross, subtle and causal bodies of man and are the intelligences
presiding over them. Beyond these is Turya, the 4th stage
where one is above the universe and identifies himself with
the Spirit itself.
UPASA NTI OR UPASAMA PRAKARANA.
This is the section which deals with the quiescence
of the mind after its sport in the universe. This Praka
rana rejoices in nine stories wherein it is stated that the
quiescence of mind can be obtained only after many births.
To develop this state, many means are given out, such as the
Lord s grace through Bhakti or devotion, the direct knowledge
of Maya, Yoga, Atma-Vicha ra or Atmic enquiry, and Chitta-
Nirodha or the control of mind, Prnayama, &c. King Janaka
sees all as ChidAnada and reaches a higher state. Punnya and
PAvana reach the goal after the lapse of many births. Bali
of the Trivikrama Avatar did his actions in a Nishkama
manner without reference to their fruits. Prahlada was ever
worshipping the lotus feet of Eswara. Gadhi, the father of
Vi6wa~mitra had a direct perception of Mdya and thence of
God, since the Absolute cannot be seen without overcoming
MAya. Atma-Vichdra or Atmic enquiry was the ceaseless
means adopted by UddhaMaka and Suraghu. BhAsa and VilSsa
INTRODUCTION. XIX
put an end to all their pains through the same course.
Veethahavya resorted to Prnayama or the control of breath
for the subjugation of his mind.
The story of Gadhi is worthy of being reproduced here.
Having been daily engaged in meditation in water, he one
day wished to know the nature of Maya and was blessed by
Vishnu the Higher Self, here represented as a dark blue
cloud with the boon of seeing Maya directly and of over
coming it. Some days after, as he was passing to the waters
of a tank, his mind recurred to the boon of Vishnu ; and when
he stepped into the tank, he was entranced and vividly remem
bered, in his normal state, all the lives he had led during his
Samadhi, as a Brahmin and as a Chandala (out-caste). Not
knowing the reason why these visions arose, he returned
home where he met with a guest who uttered some words
which went to prove that his dream in the tank was a reality.
So in order to verify the same, he went to the many places
pointed out by the guest and found all the events of his dream
realized as an actuality in the waking state. This story illus
trates the fact that the many lives we are going through in
our present state of Ajnana are like so many dream lives
which, though they may appear as true like our waking states,
are yet not so, when a high stage of spiritual development
arises. In the story of Veethahavya with which this Praka-
rana winds up, the different stages of his development on the
uttering of the sacred word, Pranava, are described. To pro
duce a control of the mind, two things are essential, Prana*
Nirodha and Sanga-Tyaga, viz., the control of Prana and
renunciation of Sanga or association. By the latter is meant
not disassociation with the world but only with the longing
after, or the attraction towards, the objects of the world. By
Prana-Nirodha, the author expressly .states that he does not
mean it in the Hata-Yogic form but only in the Raja-Yogic way.
NlRVA NA-PRAKAKANA.
This last section has 14 stories in it. The ego in this stage
reaches the Turya or fourth state, after the developed one has
crossed "the three Halls" and is able to have a commanding
view of the lower stages. This Prakarana begins with the story
ofBhusunda, the great Yogi. Busunda, meaning a crow, ty-
XX INTRODUCTION.
ptfies a great spiritual power existing from a very remote period
through marvellous Yoga strength and, according to his own
version, had witnessed Vasishtas born 8 times, Hiranyakshas
diving with the earth down into Patala thrice, Daksha, the
Prajapati losing the sacrifice twice and other mysteries. Then
comes the story of Deva-Pujah. Here is stated the true ra
tionale of the Pujah or worship of God now conducted by the
Hindus. All the form worships are intended for the men in the
lower stages alone. Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra,&c., are developed
entities only. Jnana alone is the true God and the flowers, &c.,
with which God has to be worshipped are equal vision over all,
contentment of mind, spiritual wisdom, &c. Of course this
is likely to disturb the equilibrium of our orthodox men ;
but facts cannot be gainsaid and should be given out. After
some stories are passed, the story of Arjuna comes in where
in Karmas are asked to be performed without caring for
their fruits. But the best story of all in this Prakarana is the
story of $ikhidwaja. Some years ago it came out in "The Theo-
sophist" in a series of articles. The author impresses, through
this story upon a disciple, the necessity of a Guru, an adept
and not an ordinary teacher in order to lead him on into the
higher pursuits of occult mysteries. Otherwise the disciple
will only be, like the blind led by the blind. He is asked to
place implicit faith in the words of such a Guru. The Master
Jean well impress his thoughts upon the student s mind only
when it is rendered passive to that of the teacher, Other
wise no real progress in occultism in possible. But the
Hindus of modern days have degraded it to such an extent as
to exact the same kind of obedience from an ordinary student
towards an ordinary teacher. Then some other points have
also to be noticed in this story. True renunciation lies not in
immuring one self in a closet or going to a forest but in per
forming one s Karmas with a mental abnegation. One should
neither court fresh Karmas nor shirk the old ones that are
peculiarly his. This should be the position of a true Jnani. True
renunciation or Sannyasa is finely illustrated in this story.
King &ikhidwaja after leaving his kingdom, retires into the
forest. There his wife, herself an adept, visits him in her Mayavi
Rupa or double, assuming a male physical form and passing
by the name of Kumbha-Muni. When the king found that
INTRODUCTION. XXI
this supposed Muni was a personage of great powers, he took
him up as his Guru ; he consenting to the two conditions
imposed upon him as in other cases of initiation, w #., implicit
faith in, and acting up to, the words of the Guru and repeated
efforts to be made for the entire control of the mind. Then
the Muni remarks that the King s pains were caused by want
of true Sannydsa or renunciation in him. The King replies that
he gave up his kingdom, wealth, wife, &c., and retired into the
forest and wishes to know if that is not true renunciation.
No, the Muni replies. Then the King gives up his love for
the forest in which he is and asks if that does not constitute
true renunciation. Again did the same negative word come
out of the lips of the Muni. Then the King consigns the
bowl, cloth, &c., which alone he has, into the fire and wishes
to know if that is not Sannydsa. Again was the same ne
gative reply given out. Then the King ruminates over his
situation ; it is sin on his part to gainsay his Master s words
and hence he dives into himself and finds that the last cum-
brance in him is his body which he wants to dispose of
by ascending a high cliff and precipitating it down the same,
when the Muni prevents him from doing so and remarks that
!true renunciation lies in the mind and not in the external
things such as body, &c. Then the Muni sets the King aright
by going into the origin of pains.
Herein is also given out the dual nature of Manas, the
mind, the pure one being purely Satwic in nature and the
impure one being full of Rajas and Tamas. The author says
clearly that the non-dual Reality which exists amidst the many
heterogeneous things of the world can be cognized through
one s self-cognition only and not by any amount of words or
logic or thought. Therefore if a person as a Jivanmukta
cognizes through Samadhi the absolute identity of all things,
and yet moves as usual in this world, then he will in course
of time reach a state called Videhamukti, when he will throw
aside all shackles of bodies and merge into the Absolute fontal
Bliss. As, at the end of every Prakarana in this work, there
is a chapter which summarizes the subjects dealt with in it,
this Prakarana closes with a chapter called Nirvana Prakarana,
wherein are described the seven states of Jnana, the seven
states of Ajnana having been given out in a previous chapter,
INTRODUCTION.
As regards the age of this work, we leave it to competent
authorities to theorize as best as they may. The events re
corded herein should have occurred in Tretayuga, when Rama
incarnated. But in the initiation of Rama by Vasishta as re
corded in this work, we find the story of Arjuna introduced
herein. Is it not an anachronism, some may ask ? We shall
find this objection will vanish into thin air if we bear in our
mind the fact that nature is cycling round and round and is
not a sealed book to our ancients. Every recurrence of the
Yugas brings with it its ownVyasas,Ramas and others. There
fore before the divine vision of our omniscient Rishis, all the
events, past as well as future, march in one procession as
recorded in the tablets of Chittragupta. This is the very
objection which many Orientalists have taken without under
standing exactly the views of theHindus as regards the book of
nature. This reply to the objection made is one that has been
urged by some of our medieval commentators.
Whether Yoga-Vdsishta is considered as an authority
or not, it is a matter of perfect indifference, so far as enquir
ing minds who are thirsting after real knowledge are con
cerned. We judge every work on its own merits and ac
cording to that canon of interpretation, we leave this
work to the public to be judged. There are many repetitions
in this work which are inevitable in a Hindu religious
book treating of the most abstruse questions of philo
sophy and occultism. This work may well be given
the title of an amplified " Voice of Silence," dressed in the
Hindu garb. We launch out this translation of Yoga-
Vasishta with the conviction that full justice has not been
done to the original.
It will be found that in many places in this work the
translation is free and many Sanscrit words have been left
untranslated. Of course in a work like this teeming with
stories, a literal translation will but mar the original. There
are two reasons which induced me to retain the Sanscrit
words themselves in this work. Some of the terms used herein
have no proper English equivalents and hence do require peri
phrastic expressions to express rightly the underlying ideas.
Many of the terms have become commonly known to readers of
Vedantic literature- To understand this work fully, its prede-
INTRODUCTION. XX111
cessor " Vasudeva-Manana or the meditations of V&sudeva
a compendium of Adwaita philosophy published by us will be
of great help. One new feature of the present translation is
the summary given for every chapter or story.
In this effort of mine, I was greatly assisted by my
late lamented co-worker R. Sundareswara Sastrial. My thanks
are especially due to Mr. Bertram Keightley, M. A, the General
Secretary of the Indian Section T. S. for the great help he
rendered me in revising my MSS. ; as also to Messrs, N.
Ramanujacharriar B. A. and B. S. Raghuthmacharriar B. A. for
their kindly suggestions and aid during the progress of this
work.
K. N.
KUMBAKONAM.
YOGA-VA SISHTA.
VAIRAGGYA-PRAKARANA. (& > j &
QALUTATIONS TO THE NON-DUAL PRINCIPLE-
CD through the three organs (of mind, speech and body)
that is the eternal Jnana (wisdom) Light illuminating (the
three worlds) Bhu (earth), Antariksha (intervening space) and
Swarga (heaven), as also our hearts and their exteriors and
that has manifested itself everywhere as visible forms.
Persons qualified to read this work called Vdsishta (the
work of Vasishta) should neither be Ajnanis (the ignorant or
the worldly wise), nor those Jivanmuktas (liberated ones),
who have reached their Jnana-Atma, freeing themselves from
all pain, but only those who, conscious of being under
bondage, long after freedom from it, and are in that vacilla
ting position, from which they contemplate attaining Moksha.
Muni Baradwaja having prostrated before his omni
scient Guru, Muni Valmiki addressed him softly thus How
did Sri Rma of rare Satwaguna come to be in this terres
trial Samsara (mundane existence) full of pains and genera
tive of dire re-births.
To which Vdlmiki replied thus. "My son* Bdradwaja,
thy question is fraught with incalculable happiness (to thee
and all the world). Thou art in possession of the four-fold f
means of salvation which entitle thee to question me about
Nirvanic bliss. Hence hearken to what I am going to say to
thee. Thereby thou wilt be able to master Ajndna which is
the source of all pains. This illusion of the universe manifests
itself, though it really is not, in Parabrahm (the one Reality)
* Soa here refers to a disciple.
t The four-fold means are (i) The discrimination of Atma and
Non-Atma, (2) Indifference to the enjoyments of objects both in this
world and the higher, (4) Sama, Dama, Uparati, Titiksha, Samadhana
and Sraddha, (4) Mumukshatwa or the longing after salvation.
like the blue colour which is unreal, though it appears in the
sky overhead. The Supreme NirvAnic bliss is attained the
moment when one, after having: decided in himself, that it will
be decidedly beneficial to, not in the least, bring to recollec
tion and to forget this illusion of the universe, cognizes,
through intuitive spiritual perception, the unreality of the
universe which appears, as real, to the mind that is of the
nature of Samskaras (self-reproductive thoughts). This
Supreme Bliss is ever-shining, not created by any, self-existent
and imperishable. But it will not be cognized and enjoyed
by those ignorant persons who wallow in the mere pitfalls of
the ^astras (book-learning) inculcating the lower (terrestrial)
wisdom, as contra-distinguished from the higher (Divine)
wisdom, which sets its face against the recollection of things;
visible. The wise say that the best thing for a man to do in
this world is to give up, without the least longing, Vasanas,
(all affinities for objects) which cause the mind to fluctuate,
and that such abdication constitutes the Eternal Moksha
(salvation) and the stainless path."
"VAsanas are of two kinds. The impure Vasanas are
those which, generating re-births, are terrific in their results
while the pure ones are those which liberate one from such
re-births. The great Ones say that the generation of the ever-
recurrent cycle of re-births when excessive Ahankara (egoism)
is developed in the body which is nothing but a transforma
tion of Ajnana is termed the impure Vasanas ; while the
pure V&sanas which free one from re-birth, may be likened to
a seed that will not sprout after being fried in (a pan of) red-
hot fire. Those who having developed the pure Vasanas
support a body simply to wear out their Prdrabdha * karmas,
and do not again subject themselves to the pangs of rebirth
may be said to have attained the Jivanmukti state (embodied
salvation) which enables one to perceive all spiritual things
through subtle Jnana experience, and to enjoy the bliss of
Chidnanda (conscious bliss state.)"
Again Muni Vdlmiki continued thus " Mayest thou, oh
my son, liberate thyself from births and deaths after medita
ting truly, through thy intelligence upon the path pointed out
* Prftrabdha Karmas are those past actions, the results of which
are being enjoyed by one during his present birth.
VAIRA GGYA-PRAKARANA. 3
by Vasishta to R4ma who heard him intently, and reached
the glorious and incomparable Jivanmukti state. Becoming
well versed in all the four Vedas and all the depart
ments of knowledge, Rama spent his youth sportively
and hence fearlessly for some time. After his frolicsome
days were over, there arose in him a desire to visit all
places of pilgrimage able to confer spiritual benefits and
the sacred Asrams (hermitages) of the wise. For this
purpose, Rama of blue complexion and lotus eyes, approached
his father like a Hamsa (Swan), and having prostrated himself
before his lotus feet addressed him thus : "oh father, my mind
longs after the visiting of ancient places of pilgrimage, sacred
shrines, and the forest resorts where the Munis perform
their Tapas (religious austerities). There is no boon, how
ever great, which it is not in thy power to grant. Please
therefore be kind enough to allow me to carry out my inten
tions. Thereupon Dasaratha (his father), in consultation
with his world-famous Vasishta, gave his assent to it with
a request to his son to return soon.
Then Rama of blue complexion, having paid due respects
to his father, set out on liis holy pilgrimage along with his
brothers on an auspicious day. Having crossed their Kosala
kingdom, they spent their days delightfully passing through
and observing all kinds of rivers, forests in which Tapas was
performed, the hermitage of ascetics, sandy deserts, seaport
towns, slopes of hills, &c. Then Rama, eulogised by
Devas (celestials) and worshipped by men, returned like
Esa (lord) and Jayantha, son of Indra returning to 6ivapura
and Devaloka respectively and reached, amidst the thick
showers of flowers and praise of men, Oude where his father
abode. There he described, in detail, all the events of his
trip and the diverse customs obtaining in different countries-
Thereafter, he was in the habit of daily rising up from
his bed before daybreak and performing his daily ceremonies.
Having paid due respects to his father Dasaratha, he would
daily hear many kinds of stories pregnant with wisdom and
justice from the lips of Vasishta and other Munis of great
Tapas. According to the directions of his father, he would
be sometimes engaged in the chase along with his retinue.
Having supped with his distant relatives, friends and
4 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
brothers, he would pass his night sweetly. Thus did he pass
his fifteenth year, assisting and pleasing kings and others,
like the cool moon or delicious nectar. At this period of his
life, his once radiant body became all at once emaciated, like
the river floods going down in summer ; his red cool face of
long eyes became wan like a white lotus ; and he ever seated
himself in the Padma posture, with his hands resting on his
chin, and his young feet tinkling with bells. Then wholly
absorbed in pensive thought, he forgot to perform his daily
allotted duties of life, and his mind grew despondent. His
followers noticing the ever statue-like position their master
assumed, fell at his feet and asked him the cause of his
moody temper. To which Rama merely replied by performing
his daily rites with such a depressed mind and dejected face,
as affected all who saw it. Being apprised of this fact, his
father Dasaratha sent for him one day, and having seated him
on his lap, asked him to explain the cause of his grief. Rama
simply prostrated himself at his father s feet and took leave
of him, saying there was none.
At this juncture, the world-famed Muni Viswamitra
appeared in the council hall of the king. Thereupon, the
crowned King of Kings, Dasaratha having saluted the Muni
and paid, according to rules, due respect to him, addressed
him thus : " thou wert pleased, through thy kind grace, to
vouchsafe me a visit at a time when thy servant least antici
pated it. Thy presence has removed all my sins. I am now like
a lotus which has blossomed fully at the approach of the sun.
Never did I before feel the bliss I do now. To me thy
presence here resembles the rain cooling the plants suffering
from long drought, or the eye miraculously recovered by a
person blind. The bliss arising from the advent of thy vene
rable self has cooled my whole body like Ganges water and
removed all depression from my heart, as if this very body of
mine had levitated and been moving in the Akasa, or as if the
Jiva (ego) that once departed out of a body came in again to
tenant it, or as if 1 had come by the nectary vase deposited
within the fortress of Agni in Devaloka and containing
ambrosia churned out of the roaring ocean of milk.
Oh Muni of rare Tapas, free from love and hatred, the pains
of sensual objects, instability, vain anger or the dire births or
VAIRA GGYA-PRAKARANA. 5
disease, thy arrival here has taken me by surprise. I consent
to part with any object thou expectest to receive from me.
Therefore please intimate to me thy wish."
Thereupon the SupremeMuni, with the hairs of his body,
standing on ends, said " Oh Maharaja, Dasaratha, who has
many king s under thy subjection, and contravenes not the
words of thy Guru Vasishta, thou hast delivered thyself of
words, that are well befitting one descended from the noble
Surya (Solar) family. Unable to bear the atrocities committed
by the Rakshasas who stand in the way of my attempt at the
performance of one of the foremost of (Yagnas) sacrifices, I
have come to thee for redress. I hope, therefore, thou wilt
hand over to me thy eldest son Raghava (Rama), of great
probity \vho is simply Yama (Death) to the delusion-produ
cing Rakshasas, being, as he is, a terrific lion in strength
and Devendra in intrepidity. Raghava will easily put an end
to the invincible Rakshasas. Therefore, oh king, cast aside
all fears about him on the score of his youth. Munis like me
will never direct their minds to dubious matters which will
involve persons in pain. It is only men like myself and
Vasishta that can really gauge the unfathomable greatness
of Rdma, who is superior to all If thou carest for greatness,
Dharma (virtues) and fame, then thou shouldst hand over to
me Rama at once. There is nothing, which truly noble
persons withhold from a suppliant. If thou dost give him over
to me, I tell thee truly that Rama will annihilate the brave
Rakshasas."
Hearing these words of Viswamitra, Dasaratha was
bewildered and after a Muhurta (48 minutes), breathed the
following words in a plaintive tone * My son L very young,
being not yet turned sixteen. He has not fought up to now.
Therefore he will not be able to cope with the Rakshasas of
terrible prowess. He is quite ignorant of the tactics of war
in meeting his foes. Therefore thy poor servant, will him
self go in his stead with the four-fold army and fight with
them. Should Rama, my eldest son, part from here, my other
three sons will not find themselves alive afterwards. Nor is
it likely, I shall outlive, one moment, his separation Now
I am not afraid of any enemy other than Rdvana, though
before 1 was not afraid of him too. Will the courage of
6 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
warriors who make their enemies retreat before them, be
ever a fixed quantity ? Time, in its revolution works mira
culous changes in all things. The mighty become weaklings.
As I am old, I am grieved as to what I should do hereafter."
Thereupon, Viswamitra said with great wrath. " Hav
ing promised me first, thou hast overstepped truth. A war
like leonine king like thee, to conduct thyself like a paltry
beast ! Thou mayest live happily with thy wife, sons, and
other relatives. 1 will repair to the place whence I came.
Observing these events taking place, Vasishta interposed
and said to Dasaratha : " Born, as thou art, in the race of
Manu, and dubbed with the title, Emperor Dasaratha, thou
shouldst preserve thy word inviolate. If thy tongue should
err, who else will maintain his word P If thy subjects on
this earth will unfailingly act up to the strict justice enunciat
ed by thee with a spirit of true reformation, then a fortiori,
oh king, thou shouldst not fail to act up to it. This Muni
Viswamitra, will protect thy son Raghava completely, like
ambrosia guarded by fire (in Devaloka), and therefore the
Rdkshasas, who have war only as their avocation will not be
able to inflict the least injury on thy son." At these words
of Vasishta, Dasaratha of puiss v an farms enquired of the fol
lowers of Rama, as to what he, whom he obtained through
the grace of the great Ones, was doing. Thereupon they
began to describe in the following manner the grievous
plight of their master, ever since his return from pilgrimage
" It is only after entreating him by falling at his feet, that he
performs some of our daily ceremonies. He says of what
avail are the pleasures-giving- offspring, wealth, house, &c.,
being, as they, are, only unreal ? Our master has no incli
nation towards valuable white clothes or dainties of six
tastes or cool water or anything else. Like ascetics devoid
of all egoism, he is free from all Abhimana (identification of
self with objects), and has no inclination towards state-
affairs ; neither does he rejoice at happiness, nor is he afflicted
by pains. He grievously complains of his life being spent in
vain in the many worldly actions that do not contribute to
the Jivanmukti state wherein all sorrows are unknown.
Thinking that his great wealth is a source of infinite danger,
he has given up all longing for it, and gives it away indis-
VAIRA GGYA-PKAKARANA. 7
criminately to all. We are not able to divine the underlying
thought in his heart. Oh ! for one in this assembly who
will be pleased to instil, into our young king all the noble
qualities that will befit him to be a ruler of our kingdom.
These are the characteristics which our prince evinces."
At these submissive words of Rama s followers, Vasishta
told them the following " Go ye and fetch this greatly be
loved Rama (unknown to others,) like a deer that has strayed
away from its herd." Then addressing the assembly, he
sa id The great delusion that has now arisen in him, is un
like any that springs out of (disappointment as to) any de
sired object or out of a great accident ; but is only (the step
ping stone to) the acquisition of Divine wisdom through
(Viraggya) indifference to worldly objects, and (Viveka) true
discrimination. Like us, he will attain the quiescent state of
Brahman after removing from his mind, all his delusion (of
doubts) through the many-sided reasonings of the stainless
Atmic enquiry. Rama s mind will soon become full and then
he will perform sweetly and nobly all actions on behalf of
men." While the Muni was saying this, Rama appeared
before the regal assembly and prostrated himself at the feet
of his father, and then at the feet of Vasishta, Viswamitra,
Brahmins well versed in all departments of knowledge, and
the teachers imparting learning. Then having received the
prostrations of his inferiors, he recognised their salutations
with words of respect, and gestures of the eye. On the king
asking him to come over, and sit on his lap in the throne,
he merely spread his folded cloth on the ground and sat on
it without going up to him. At which the king addressed
him thus " Oh My son of rare knowledge, why shouldst
thou, whom all should look up to as the seat of eternal bliss,
pine away thus with this body of rare bloom emaciated, and
thy mind despondent even for a moment, like the ignorant ?
Men like thee with a mind bereft of all desires have attained
easily the Nirvanic seat, as stated by our Guru Vasishta,
who is a revered sage and a Brahma-rishi. Then why art
thou grieved thus in vain ? All those accidents that bring on
pains will never approach thee, should thy present delusion
depart."
After Dasaratha, the crowned king of kings had said
8 VOGA-VA SISHTA.
this, Vasishta began when Viswmitra interrupted him thus
4t Oh, thou redoubted champion, that hast conquered easily
thy enemies of sensual objects, which are invincible, except
through supreme efforts, drown not thyself in the ocean of
delusion full of Ajnana which is befitting only the ever-
fluctuating ignorant persons of the world. If thou wilt re
veal to me the cause of the delusion, preying upon thee like a
subterranean cat undermining a good house, then thou wilt
be relieved of it, and be also able to attain thy longed-for ob
ject. Moreover thy mental grief will thereby vanish to ap
pear no more. Please therefore speak out." At these words
of Viswamitra, Rama relieved of all grief and quite jubilant
like a peacock at hearing the thunder sound in the clouds,
when the air becomes cool, addressed Viswamitra thus " Oh
Supreme Muni, the incarnation of grace and of great Tapas,
as thou wert pleased to allow my ignorant self to relate the
cause of my grief, I will do so. Now please hearken to the
impediments in my way."
" Born in the house of Dasaratha, my father, I became
well versed in all departments of knowledge and conducted
myself strictly according to the dictates of religion. Then I
circumambulated this earth girt by ocean, bathing as I
went in the many sacred waters. With my return from the
pilgrimage, all my desires for this delusion of the universe
have ceased. There is not even an iota of bliss in this world.
Destruction (death) exists only for birth, and birth is for death
again. Therefore all are illusory in this world. All worldly
things are generative of pains only, fraught with all dangers,
unrelated to one another, related to one another only through
the Sankalpa of the mind, obdurate like an iron rod, and
fruitful of great (material) wealth. Therefore of what avail
are the enjoyments of objects and kingdoms ? If we set
about enquiring, whence came the * I or the body we have,
we find that all those which are foreign to Atma, are nothing
but unreal. All things being unreal, when I began to further
enquire as to which generates which, among these things, I
ceased to have any love for them, like a traveller, who, when
he is convinced of the undulatory mirage in a desert not
being water, never after craves for it. In trying to find out
VAIRA GGYA-PRAKARANA. 9
the path which will relieve me from the pains of the uncon
querable sensual objects, I am burning within like an old tree
which is consumed within, through the heat generated by it
self through its old age. This unbearable dire delusion of
mine is like a stone sticking in my gullets. Being afraid lest
my relatives should condemn me for this grief of mine, (I
tried in all manner of ways and yet) I am not able to get out
of it though I cried aloud."
Wealth." Like one s family with children, &c., that will
not make happy him who is beset with the highest of dangers,
wealth which only makes hosts of thoughts to whirl in the
brains of men will not confer bliss. Just as a king allies himself
with any person who owns his supremacy, no matter whether
that person be noble-minded or base, so wealth which is
attained by any person who flies to it for refuge tends, how
ever serviceable it may be, to the condemnation of the
spiritually wise, and hence is base. Who is there in this
world whose mind does not thaw like ice at the sight of
wealth or whirl in the maelstrom of wealth which embitters
the happiness arising from the quintessence of the sweet
discourse of the spiritually wise through the venom of
love, hatred, &c., created in such worldly men by the
manifold evil effects of wealth. Like a ruby that gets blurred
with a coating of dust, all persons whether they are benefi
cial to their relatives or not, whether they are intelligent
or poor or warlike succumb to this desire and are degraded.
It is rare to find blameless opulent men, word-keeping
warriors or kings who look equally upon all their subjects.
This wealth which the mind covets and is very ephemeral in
its nature is utterly useless like a flower- bud in a creeper
growing in a well and encircled by a serpent."
Life." Then Prana (Life) which is like a drop of rain
water dripping from the end of a leaf turned over-head, flits out
of the body, like an idiot at unseasonable times. It is only by
being bitten by the serpent of the ever-waxing (desires of
thej five senses that persons without true Jnana begin to
droop in their minds and thus shorten their lives. I do not
rejoice in this life of mine which darts like a flash of light
ning in the cloud of delusion, regarding this my limited body
as real. It is possible to cleave the all-pervading Akasa or
io YOGA-VA STSHTA.
restrain the stormy winds or still the waves that ever and
anon arise on the surface of the water hut to disappear ; but
by no means is it possible to resist this desire of life which
should not be considered as permanent. This life is epheme
ral like autumnal clouds or a ghee-less lamp or ocean waves ;
though appearing as real, it has not the least of quiescence,
is steeped in boundless ignorance and is devoid of the true
end of human life ; if we enquire into its fruits, we find pains
only are generated like unto the pangs of delivery. That is
the noblest life in which persons, after attaining the highest
Atmic wisdom replete with bliss and free from all*pains,
spend their lives in ceaseless Atmic enquiry, without wasting
their time like such base things as trees, beasts or birds.
The lives of those who have freed themselves from rebirths
are the true ones and the noblest ; but others lives are like
those of old asses. In the case of persons without discrimi
nation, learning is a burden to them ; in the case of persons
without quiescence (of mind), their mind is a burden to them ;
but in the case of persons having passion and other stains,
Atma Jnana is a burden to them. In the case of persons
who have not enjoyed the blis in their own Self, the beauti
ful body, life, Manas, Buddhi, Ahankara, actions, &c., are
intolerable burdens to them like those of a carrier. Life
after associating itself with this body departs out of it even
while young, like the wise who shun the association with the
wicked. There is nothing so baneful as this life which is
perishable in its nature and fleeting in the bestowal of plea
sures."
Ahankara. " I am much terrified by the enemy of the
illusory and harmful Ahankara (I-am-ness or egoism) which is
generated through delusion and permeates me all throughout.
It is only through Ahankara that all the mental cares, dangers
and the ever-increasing actions of life arise. There is no enemy
greater than he. Having associated with this enemy of
mine for a long time, I am now in an agitated state of mind
I do not taste food with water. Why need I speak about
(other) enjoyments ? All our daily ceremonies, yajnas
(sacrifices), the enjoyables and others associated, as they are,
with Ahankara are merely unreal. Therefore the real secret
lies only in the renunciation of this Ahankara. So long as
VAIRA GGYA-PRAKARANA. 1 1
this Ahankara be-clouds us, so long will the flowers of desires
bloom and increase in us. Though I have given up all
Karmas (actions) in order to free myself from Ahankara, yet
my pains have not ceased, not having cognized my own Self.
Mayest thou, Oh Rishi, be pleased to bless me in order that
I may liberate myself from this cursed Ahankara which is the
source of all dangers in this world, is evanescent, has its seat
in the mind, and is idiotic in its nature and without due dis
crimination and intelligence."
Manas. " Then my Manas (mind) is tossed about in ob
jects of love and hatred, &c., like a light feather in a stormy
wind. It ever whirls far and wide in vain in sensual objects away
from the association with the wise like a strolling city dog ;
but no results accrue therefrom. Like a flower (bamboo)
case which is not able to hold the water in it, this baneful
mind does not hold the joy (or enjoy the happiness) within,
but whirls at the sight of its much-coveted immense
wealth. This ferocious dog of mind following its mate of
desires ever preys upon poor ignorant me like a carcase.
Just as a straw is tossed to and fro in the air by a whirlwind,
this mind of mine subjects me to all kinds of delusions and
pains and tempts me far into the great void. This terrible
mind which appears to be of the nature of the causeless
Maya but which is otherwise through right enquiry, leads me
into the many worldly actions like a lad obsessed. It will
flit in a moment from earth to Patala* and thence back
again to earth. This deceptive mind in seeming to lift me
up to higher states hurls me to still lower ones, like a decay
ed rope that is used in lifting wood out of a well. This
monster of a venomous mind is more terrible than fire itself,
more insurmountable than mountains and more obdurate
than a huge diamond."
" It is possible to drink up the contents of the ocean, era
dicate (the mountain) Mahameru to its root or swallow the
flaming fire ; but it is impossible to control this mind of ours.
It is the one cause of the generation of all objects. This
perishable universe exists only when the mind exists but
disappears with the absence of the latter. Therefore the
mind should be annihilated. All the host of pains and plea-
* The lower world.
12 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
sures which are like mountain fastnesses arise through the
mind only. Hence I conclude they will perish, should the
mind perish through stainless discrimination."
Desires. " The pack of owls called passion and anger
play in the Akasaof Atma during the night of restless desires
enveloped with the intense gloom of dire delusion. All my
much longed-for, virtuous actions are entirely gnawed away
by my desires like a fiddle string by a rat. Being
without a mind of Atma Jnana, I am enmeshed by
them, like a bird caught in a trap and droop thereby.
The fire of desires has scalded me quite. In my present
state, I do not think that even a bath in ambrosia will cool
me. Like the sable darkness on the New Moon day, they
make the most undaunted of persons to quail with fear, daze
the eye of good intelligence and create tremors even in the
hearts of the wise of sweet patience. This old harlot of desires
of the nature of the ominous owl, ever follows persons in the
hope of inciting them to earn wealth but in vain. Like a
dancing woman who, though enfeebled by age, dances in
vain without true joy, all my desires (play in me in a similar
manner and) afflict me. They will try to encompass things
beyond their reach ; but even if such things are within their
grasp, they will pass over and again long for happiness (in
other things . Like monkeys, they roam about without any
fixed seat. Like bees that rejoice, flying from one flower to
another in agarden, they traverse in a moment, PAtala, Akasa
and all the eight quarters of the world. It is these ever-wax
ing desires that brino- on the pains of re-birth, the heaviest of
all pains. The Devas (celestials) extol disinclination of the
mind (towards desires) as the greatest panacea for the remedy
of the disease of desires which afflict even those living in
palatial mansions guarded by forts. It is desires that make
the deep inner man manifest itself externally, like radiant
damsels wearing golden bracelets or diseases or the rays of
the sun which make the lotus bud blossom forth (and appear
externally). These desires of the mind which are like a dia
mond point or a sharp-poinetd sword or like the sparks of
iron emitted out of fire will, in one moment, reduce to nothing
those men great as Mahameru or the handsome wise men
or the courageous or warriors or any others."
VAIRA GGYA-PRAKARANA. 13
"This body which is composed of the cool intestines,
muscles, &c., and is subject to changes, being at one time
fat and at another time lean, shines in this mundane existence
simply to undergo pains. What more palpably fruitless,
painsgiving and degraded thing could be conceived of than
this body which oscillates with pains or pleasures through the
increase or decrease of the experiences of objects ? Of what
avail is this body whether eternal or otnerwise, liable to
pains and pleasures which house is tenanted by Ahankara,
the householder having the ten mischievous cows of Indryas
(or the organs), the servant of Manas (mind) producing San-
kalpa, and his partner of desires with the portals of the
mouth wherein are adorned the festoons of many teeth and
the monkey of the tongue ? If this body which is the medi
um of the enjoyment of wealth, kingdom, actions, &c., exist
always, then no doubt it is one that should be longed after ;
but all these will vanish with the advent of Yama (Death)
at his appointed time. What beauty is there to be enjoyed
in this body which is composed of blood and flesh, has the
tendency to rot, is the same for the rich as well as the poor
and, being without discrimination, is subject to growth and
decay. Only he who relies with certainty upon a lightning
flash or an autumnal cloud or a vast Gandharva (illusory)
city will cling to this body as true."
Infancy. "Whatever (person) you are born as in this
ocean of Samsara (Mundane existence) rolling with many
waves of diversified actions in a restless and fluctuating state,
the period of infancy is ever the cause of intense pains. This
period is ever attended by unavoidable dangers, weaknesses,
inability to convey ideas, ignorance, desires and instability of
thought. And in this body it is that the mind functions and
outvies, in its fluctuation, the ocean waves or a damsel s eyes
or the flames of fire or a lightning flash. It (the infant)
feeds itself on offal like a roving dog and rejoices or weeps
at trifles. Sometimes it eats the dust and invites the moon
in the sky to come near it. Will all this ignorance constitute
bliss? This mischievous period of infancy which creates terror
in the hearts of one s master, parents, relatives, elders and
others is the source of perpetual fear and a nest replete with
many stains. The bawd of non-discrimination will find a
14 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
safe asylum in it. During this period none enjoys happiness."
Youth. " Having crossed this period beset with many
dangers, one reaches the period of youth liable to another
kind of pains and then reels and droops under the heavyblows
dealt by the devil called Manmatha (the god of love) who
lives (latent) in the hollows of his mind. His noble intelligence
though broadened in its views through a study of all depart
ments of knowledge, though illumined in mind through the
service of the guru and though purified through good Karmas
will yet be defiled then like a muddy stream. The gigantic
car of ) r outh grows more and more in this forest of body and
then the deer of mind falls giddily into the pit of sensual ob
jects in it. The pains increase so long as there are the plea
sures of youth to be enjoyed. Similarly too, the desires
increase mightily till the youth is over and work manifold
mischief. He only is a man who has acquired the power to
easily attain (while young) salvation, overcoming all the
obstacles of youth. Such a person is it that is fit to be wor
shipped by all, is truly wise and is one that has known his
true state. Is there to be found in this universe, the period
of youth (in the lives of any) fraught with such inestimable
qualities as grace, humility, &c. and fit to be the safe
asylum (of persons) ? We may as well look for a spacious
forest in the sky above."
Lust. " What happiness is there to be derived from the
string-tossed puppets of female bodies composed of joints,
muscles, bones and flesh ? Oh, there will arise very fine desires
no doubt, for women having soft tendrils of hair, if we once
dissect (or analyse), with our minds, their eyes and other parts
of the body into their components of skin, flesh and blood as
well as tears, &c. The breasts of females adorned with pearl-
garlands and other ornaments, like unto the waters of the Gan
ges with its long waves flowing down from the great Meru
heights are preyed upon (or enjoyed) by bipeds like packs of
dogs, licking balls of cooked rice strewn in the crematoriums in
the suburbs of a town. Which person is there in this world
who will not be burnt like straw when exposed to the flames
of females proceeding from Agni (fire), the sin and having
darkness in the shape of sable locks and scalding men with
their eyes ? The cool body of females (which one enjoys)
VAIRA GGYA-PRAKARANA, 15
serves as the dry fuel with which to burn him in hell. Dames
with dark eyes are so many traps set by K3ma (god of de
sire) to ensnare the ignorant minds of men. They resemble
also the bait of flesh strung in the angling noose of excru
ciating torments in order to lure the fish of men in the pool
of re-births replete with the mud of the dire mind. Oh, I will
never long for the pleasures of women who are like caskets
locking up within them infinite miseries and having, within
them the gems of the endless desires, hatred, &c. If we be
gin to analyse this body into flesh, blood, bones, muscles,
&c., then all our desires towards females, said to shine with
the moon s resplendence, will become inimical to us in a short
time. Only he who has a spouse (and tastes the conjugal
pleasures) lusts after such an enjoyment ; otherwise how can
he feel the pleasures of conjugal life ? If the lust of women
which is the source of all enjoyments ceases, then all the
worldly bondage which has its substratum in the mind will
cease. With the cessation of the (conception of this) uni
verse which exists only in name, there dawns the eternal Ely
sian bliss. This lust of women which, being without discri
mination, is enchanting at a distance, craves always, even if
gratified, and flutters like the wings of a honey-drinking bee
and is hard to be given up. Being afraid of the terri
ble consequences it works, such as diseases, death, dotage
and the mental and other pains, I do not long after it now.
How without its renunciation, can I expect to attain the rare
Brahmic seat ?"
Dotage. "The never-ending stage of infancy is devour
ed (or succeeded) by the stage of youth ; the latter is, in its
turn, devoured by that of old age with its great changes.
If dotage sets in, accompanied as it is by delusion, diseases,
pains, &c., then one s ripe intelligence bids adieu to him,
like the affection of a husband : - towards his first wife after
marrying a second one. With dotage, there ensue manifold
pains, such as decline in this body of nine gates, forgetfulness,
inability to gratify the desires or perform the requisite actions,
dire diseases, complete helplessness in getting at things re
quired and the scorn heaped upon him by his sons and others.
Friends, issues, relatives, servants and others will laugh at
the poor man who is quivering with old age. Like owls
1 6 YOUA-VA SISHTA.
resting in the hollows of a tree, his desires will abide in this
uncouth form of his, full of pains and greyness and devoid of
strength and good qualities In this old age beset with
frailties and imbecility when all dangers having, as their hand
maids, desires burn one s hearts, all imaginary fears arise in
him as he is unable to cope with the desires which arise in
voluntarily in him and to contemplate upon the beneficial
nature of the existence in the higher world. Thirst of joy in
material objects will increase with old age ; but the person
will be powerless to gratify that thirst. Being unable to
enjoy them, all his thoughts will droop and wither. Death
lays its hand on grey heads which are like ripe pumpkins of
the genus that become grey at their proper time. It is before
the king called Death that the armies of mental and physical
diseases march in procession in this world, having the insignia
of the Chamara* called greyness. In the tabernacle of this
body white-washed by greyness, there live the dames called
dangers, imbecile mind and diseases that make one droop.
What bliss can we expect to derive from association with this
the old grey hag of dire dotage ? It is very difficult to do
away with the desires of old age by getting rid of the three
kinds of desires (of son, wife and wealth) very easily.
Kdla. All the pleasurable objects of enjoyment in this
world arising through Ajnana in the series of re-births take
leave with the arrival of Yama (Death or Time), like a thread
nibbled by a rat. There is nothing in this world which is not
devoured by Kala (time) like Vatava-Agni (the deluge fire)
quenching the ocean waters abounding in crecodiles, fishes,
&c. Even in the case of the ineffable great Ones, he will not
wait a minute beyond the allotted time. Having swallowed
up everything, he would be all himself. Even glorious
Divine Kings, the beneficent Brahma, Asura Vrittaf of the
might of Mahameru and others come under his clutches like a
serpent under an eagle s grip. He will easily destroy all
things, whether they be tendrils or leaves, a straw or Maha
meru, the ocean waters or the lofty Mahendra mountains
and wield them according to his will. He now creates in
the morning this forest of the universe with the Aswatha
* Chumar-- Jhcnvris or the Yak tails used as signs of regalty.
f Asura Vntta the enemy of Indra.
VAIRA GGYA-PRAKARANA. 17
(fig) tree, wherein grow the fruits of the mundane eggs
buzzing with myriads of the flies of egos and having seen
them ripe in the noon through his eyes of the sun, plucks
them now grown as the guardians of the quarters and eats
them up (in the night). Also he strings in a rope of three*
gunas, even the gems of the highest men of the universe, and
makes them his prey. In this dilapidated dwelling of the
small universe, he collects, in the casket of Death, all the
worldly men scattered everywhere in it like rubies. Having
hunted all the egos of beasts, birds, &c., in the great forest
of this essenceless universe, he, at last, during the Maha-
kalpa, sports in the tank of the great ocean filled with lotus
of the shining Vatava fire. This personage of time has, in
the repast of the diverse created worlds, all the living ones
as his dainties of the six tastes such as bitterness, &c., and
the incomparable seven seas of milk, clarified butter, <fcc., as
his beverage; and cycles round and round in the objects
created at every Mahakalpa."
Destructive Kakli. "This invulnerable and destructive
Sakti (potency of Brahman) does away with the universe with
all its moving and fixed objects and reigns triumphant like a
tigress in the forest of delusion along with her attendants the
goddess Durga and others. Having put an end to all living
beings and the universe, she holds up in her hand a honeyed
vessel (vis.\ this earth and wears on her breast the three Lo-
kas (worlds), as a garland composed of the three lotuses, blue,
red, and white.* In her arm, she carries, like a sportive par
rot in a cage, a man-lion thundering with the sound of a
thunder-cloud. On her stainless body, still as the autumnal sky,
she has sportively, like the young cuckoo, the great Time
with his sweet voice like that of the melodious flute. Her
victorious bow is the non-existence of all and her arrows, the
created pains. Thus (at the time of Pralaya or deluge ),
does she dance and reel every where at her sweet will and
pleasure with great radiance. Besides, she wears on her
head Swarga as her head ornament and on her feet, Patala,
the many hells strung as her leg ornaments. The sun and
the moon are her ear ornaments, the Himalayas, her bones
and Mahameru, her golden ornament and the Chakravfila
* The 3 colors of Prakrit! or matter.
3
i8 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
Mountain, her girdle. Sometimes ?he will ride on the pea
cock-vehicle of Subbaramania (the son of Siva) inclining
backwards and moving to and fro. Sometimes she will as
sume the head of the Rudras, having three eyes and the terri
ble moon on their head. Sometimes she will wear (on her
person) as a Chowri the beautiful locks of the Goddess
Paramoswari or the writhing headless living trunks of the
mighty and terrific Bairavas ;* or she will carry as an alms-
bowl the body of Devendra shining with a thousand eyes.
Wearing (on her neck) the garland of skulls strung together
by the bodily muscles, she will annihilate all the worlds in a
manner terrific even unto herself and stay in the one shining
Akasa. It is this terrific woman that at the time of the great
Pralaya dances with joy with the garlands in her breast
composed of the lotuses (w#.), the round heads of the all-
pervading Vishnu."
" All the objects heretobefore described by me are not real.
This dire mind arises only through Ahankara. All the
visible objects are dead to me. I am not able to know the
end (and aim) of these births. Therefore my mind falters and
is afflicted through mental cares. The diseases of desires
preponderate in all. It is rare to find those high-souled men
who are free from the intense mist of desires. This my youth
which is well-fitted for the acquisition of the higher spiritual
ends is now vainly spent in fruitless endeavours.
Association with the wise. "True love for great personages
is at a great discount and hence the path of Moksha (salva
tion) is not known. So it is that it is rare to attain Atma-
Tatwa. As the stainful mind (of man) has not the good
heartedness (or benevolence) to consider other s happiness
as its own, it is ever reeling. Again as this mind has not
the complacency to rejoice at another s virtue, there is no
internal contentment. Then as it does not consider others
pains as its own, there arises not compassion in it. Again
if it is not indifferent to the vicious actions of others, base
ness (of mind) however distant, will overtake it. And then
cowardice will take the place of courage ; else persons de
graded into hell will again return to Swarga. It is very
* One of the terrific manifestations of Siva,
VAIRA GGYA-PRAKARANA. 19
easy to contract association with the ignorant, but it is very
hard to do so with the truly illuminated."
" All thoughts of objects which appear but to perish
produce bondage only. All the hosts of egos which are the
result of their Vasanas separate themselves (from their
bodies) and go to heaven or hell. All the quarters will cease
to exist in the absence of the sun which differentiates them.
All countries visited get new appellations and change with
times. The grandest mountains are scattered to dust. When
Sat (the Reality) alone prevails (at the time of deluge),
the three worlds of Bhu, Antariksha and Deva (or Swarga)
perish, the oceans become parched up, stars are pulve
rized and scattered in space and the hosts of Devas and the
Asuras disappear. Then Siddhas* will be annihilated ; Dhruva
(polar star) will die ; the Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra)
will be absorbed in the Supreme Reality ; Time, the power of
Eswara, who through his Sankalpa produces creation, &c-,
along with its law of ordination comes to an end ; the
all-full Akasa perishes ; and even the ancient visible macro
cosm becomes merged in the non-dual Parameswara (the
Supreme Lord) who is the liberator from the delusion of
Maya, the one Reality above the reach of speech and mind
and the one Jnana completely devoid of any stains."
" People in this world die, ever being engaged in such
frivolous thoughts as the following " This time is an
auspicious one, this is the spring season (for doing work),
what is the best time favourable for pilgrimage ?, relatives
only grace an occasion, 1 cannot hereafter attain the like of
the enjoyment I had at such and such a time and such like."
If after resolving within themselves to act out the lives of
the Great Wise Ones, they do not utilize the day for this
purpose, how can they expect to have sound sleep at nights ?
Having centered all their affections upon wife, children and
wealth as if they were nectar and having identified them
selves with them, they ever accumulate wealth for them. But
if those much longed-for things disappear through some
mishap, their sorrow knows no bounds. Having vanquished
all enemies, some men come into the safe possession of
* Those persons who have developed psychical powers such as
Anima, &c.
20 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
immense wealth without any rivals ; but lo ! Yama glides in
from some covert place and puts an end to all their fond
cherished hopes. All the illusions called wife, sons, &c., are
like so many wayfarers who meet together in the course of
a journey. Even B rah mas die in a Kalpa which is but a
moment of time (compared to eternity). It is absurd on the
part of our mind with its very limited perception of time to
attempt to know anything about the extreme smallness or
greatness of time. All men are subject to diverse pains only.
The really learned are very few in number. All the manifold
Karmas of the different castes or orders of life generate pains
and are illusory. How then am I to live (amidst such
pains) ? Let me walk in that path in which i shall be freed
from all actions, involving me in auspicious days, great
wealth, &c., and become of the nature of thought itself. All
things generating pains in this world such as dangers, wealth,
birth, death and others perish in the instant of time stated in
our books of computation. A brave warrior dies at the
hands of a coward and a hundred persons die through one
man s hand. How men of cringing spirit exalt themselves to
the status of lords ! Thus is the wheel of time gyrating
without any limit."
" Therefore in my mind severely scalded by the forest
fire of these earthly stains, there will not arise the ever-
increasing desire of wealth like the misconception of mirage
in a desert. I do not long for a life of the pleasures of
regalty or for death which is inevitable to it. Therefore I
shall rather be as T am now, without any pains to suffer
from. But then, there is the despondency in my mind
harrowing me which I have to free myself from. And if you
through your well-trained mind cannot remove it now, when
else will it be done ? Even the most virulent of poisons, is
no poison to me ; but the sensual objects are truly so. The
former defiles one body only, whereas the latter adulterates
many bodies in successive re-births."
"Pleasures, pains, relatives, friends, life, death and others
will in no way enthral the mind of the (emancipated) Wise.
To them, this passing life is like water drops sprinkled by the
wind and the sensual enjoyments are like a lightning flash.
Also the period of youth which is conducive to men s salvation
VAJRA GGVA-PRAKARANA. 21
(if properly utilized) is only ephemeral. Having reflected well
upon these things, quiescent sages like yourselves are ever
engaged in deep.- Samadhi (meditation). The proclivities of
my discriminative mind are also towards the identification
of myself with; Kutastha (Brahman) ; but like a lady separated
from hen deaf lord, my* mind will neither attain the certainty
of Brahman nor incline towards material desires. Therefore
in this dilemma of mine, please point out to me that ever
resplendent and eternal seat devoid of pains, frailties, <
Upadhis (or vehicles of matter), doubt or delusion. What is
that eternal state unapproachable by pains wherein I shall i
remain unscathed by the fire of sensual objects, though
moving in them, like a ball of mercury exposed to fire? Li(ce
the oqean \vhich is ; nothing else but its waters all over,, Samp,
sara ( mundane existence) rests; on words only, proceeding
frojm.the power of speech. How did the righteous Great Ones
manage to avoid tJie pains of this world ? Please ; be grapiou,s
epough to import, to me that certainty of yours. Does
i>,t. this supreme state exist ? Is, there not t|?is s.eat of
quiescence.? If so, will not any one unlock to me the real
mysteries,. Even i they do, I shall not, through my efforts
alone, 1}$ afale to attain the quiescent Seat. For being devoid
o| 4Qubt. and Ahankara, I shall not perform any duties.
N.eitjier fqpc^nor, swe.st; water nor fine clothes will I long for.
I shall npt perform the daily ceremonies of bathing, giving
and others. ^Iy. mind will not incline tpwards wielding the
regal sceptre or Cowards pleasures or pains. Without love or
hatred, I shall only preserve taciturnity and be desireless,
statue-like/
Thus did Eama, with a face like the stainless cool
full moon, a sweet accent and a mind now full blown through.
Atmic discrimination, deliver himself before the assembly of
the joyful Munis and then remained silent like a peacock
ceasing its cry at the sight of the sable threatening clouds.
22 tOGA-VA siSHTA.
THE STORY OF SUKHA.
Summary. In this chapter, Viswamitra relates this story
to Rama to impress upon him (who was convinced of the un
reality of the universe and the ego, as is evident from the
foregoing chapter) the truth that he alone is the One Con-
ciousness (Reality).
Hearing these wondrous words of Rama, the heir ap
parent, which will relieve one from the great Samsara, all
those assembled in the Council Hall of Dasaratha were ex
hilarated with joy with their hairs standing on end, as if they
came there to expressly hear Rama s words. Even the efful-
g ent hosts of Siddhas exulted in the Akasa above. After ex-
pressions of approbation of Rama s words, and copious
showers of flowers (viz., contentment) had filled the hall for
about 12 minutes, the Siddhas, who had been roving in the
Akasa for about a Kalpa with extreme pains, said thus to
themselves " We who were labouring under delusion till
now, are fortunate enough in having to-day drunk the sweet
nectar of Rama s words and thereby purified our mind of all
stains. We shall benefit ourselves with what the Munis say
and attain the Supreme Principle given out by them." So
saying they descended from the Akasa down to Dasaratha s
assembly on earth, when all in the hall rose up and advanced
to meet them. First and foremost did Vasishta and Viswa
mitra pay respects to them who returned the same to
both. Then king Dasaratha came in for his share of res
pect from the Siddhas through their kind expressions on
his saluting them. Then showering flowers and kind words
on Rama who was before them, they exclaimed " Oh
Munis, the recent abnegatory utterances of R&ma possess
ed of the practice of benevolence and other qualities
are passing strange and noble in their nature. It is
indeed difficult to derive happiness in this most injurious
Samsdra which, though created by Devas full of pleasures, is
fraught with pains ? True if Rama of supreme indifference
towards objects had longed after Samsara, we may be justi-
tified in doing so ; but in as much as we long after things
hated by Rama, we Siddhas as well as Devarshis and others
should be classed under the ignorant."
THE STORY OF SUKHA. 23
Viswamitra eying Rama with great love said "Thou
hast cognized all through thyself, through thy stainless
intelligence. There is nothing more for thee to understand
clearly. Thou and Muni Sukha replete with spiritual wisdom
are on a par with one another. Even those who have acquir
ed the matchless spiritual wisdom endeavour to attain the
quiescent state. At which Rama questioned him thus -
" Please, oh father, enlighten me as to how Sukha-Muni
though possessing intelligence devoid of Ahankara had no
quiescence of mind at first and how he came into possession
of that bliss afterwards."
To w r hich the Muni replied thus " Brahmarshi* Sukha
who was replete with Jnana (spiritual wisdom) which, if de
veloped, puts an end to a series of seven re-births at once,
enquired, like thee, into the origin of things. In doing so, he
became seized with doubts as to the certainty of his convic
tions and his equilibrium of mind was disturbed. But with a
non-fluctuating mind freed from the thraldom of sensual ob
jects, he approached his father Vyasa living on the mountains
of Mahameru and asked him for a solution of the following
questions " Whence this Maya generating great pains ? How
does it perish ? Whom had it as its originator ? What
part of it, if any, does endure ? When did all the things of
the universe originate ?"
After Vyasa had, given suitable replies to the many ques
tions proposed by ukha, the latter simply remarked that
his (father s) explanation had not dispelled his doubts, he
having been aware of the same before. Finding it was not
possible for him to convince Sukha (his son), Vysa asked
him to apply for solution to King Janaka of stainless and
supreme spiritual wisdom. Whereupon he descended from
Mahameru down to earth and reached the gates of the
golden palace of Janaka. Though apprised of the arrival of
Sukha, the ^rahma-rishi, he king did not go in advance to
meet him as he wished to^fet the new-comer s equillibrium
* There were 3 classes of Rishis, in India who were the earliest
adepts known ; the Royal or Rajarshis, king s and princes (like
Viswamitra and others) who adopted the ascetic life; the Divine or
Devarshis, the sons of Dharma or Yoga (as Narada and others) ; and
the Brahmarshis, the descendants of those Rishis who were the found
ers of Gotras of Brahmins or of caste races, (as Baradwaja, Vasishta
and others). 5. D,
24 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
of mind. Yet Sukha was not in the least disconcerted and
waited at the gates of the king for seven days. Then after being
detained and tested in another place for seven days, he was con
ducted to the harem in the palace and was there sumptuously
fed upon the choicest viands of six tastes and treated with
flowers, sandal and other objects of enjoyment by handsome
ladies of slender waist. And yet Sukha who was like a cool
full-moon was indifferent to the dark or bright aspect of these
enjoyments. So that neither the happiness arising from the
enjoyments to which Sukha was exposed by the king nor the
pains flowing out of the disgrace to which he was subjected
did affect, in the least, the mind of this great Muni. Will
ever the soft, noble zephyr be able to agitate Meru, the
grandest of mountains? Observing the internal exultation
of the Muni s heart (unruffled by the externals), the king
saluted and eulogised the Muni and then addressed him thus:
"Oh Brahma-rishi, who has attained the highest fruit, having
given up all worldly concerns, please tell me what business
has wafted thee here."
At which Sukha questioned him thus " How did Maya
arise ? How does it grow? And how is it destroyed? Please,
oh guru, explain them to me truly."
At these wordsof Sukha, Janakaexplained in the same man
ner as Vyasa did, which the Brahma-rishi no sooner heard than
he said ; " Thus had I known previously and thou gavest the
same explanation, my father gave me. The signification of
the holy sentences given out in the sacred books point but to
the one non-dual One. If M^ya which originates as differentiated
out of the one Atma in the nature of breath or vibrations is
again merged into it, there seems not to be even an iota of
benefit derivable from this perishable Maya. Oh Guru, who
is able to remove the delusion off the minds of men, please
throw light upon the nature of this incomparable real Atma ?"
To which the king thus replied " Though thou hast
known everything definitely, still thou hast asked me in spite
of thy father s words. The state given out (by us) is the real
one. Atma alone t j, which pervades as the all-full Chidakas
everywhere. Nought else is but That. That Jnana is bound
by its own Sankalpa. * With the liberation from that
* It is will in its highest sense and thought in its lowest sense.
THE STORY OF SUKHA. 25
Sankalpa, there is freedom from the trammels of bondage.
As thou hast now clearly cognized that Atma Jnana, thou
hast abandoned all longing for enjoyments and the sight of
the visibles. Thou hast, through thy all-full mind and with
out pains, attained all that could be got at, vis., Brahman it
self. Thou hast commingled with that secondless Principle
which is above the reach of all vision. Thou hast become a
Jivan-mukhta.* But there is one thing which thou hast
yet to do, w 0., the giving up of the delusion of Maya which
has arisen in thy mind (the giving up of which, will entirely
free thee and not bar thy further progress)."
When the king of kings named Janaka thus initiated
Sukha into the Atmic mysteriesf (through his direct pre
sence), the stainless Rishi attained quiescence in his Atma or
Higher Self, being freed from the pangs of birth and the
agonies of death ; then all his enquiring spirit, perplexities
of mind and doubts vanished through (direct) self-cognition.
Then having reached the highest pinnacle of Mahameru, he
went into the non-fluctuating- Nirvikalpa Sam^dhi and after
a period of 1000 Solar years merged into the Janna-Akasa, J
like a light which, when divested of its wick and ghee, returns
back to its fount of Akasic Agni (fire). Like water-drops
becoming one with the ocean of waves, he, being cleansed of
the stains of contemplation (or thinking), merged into the
secondless Brahman, the vibration that started in himself (as
the " I") having melted away. Thus did he attain quiescence
(of mind) free from the delusion of Mdya.
This is exactly the path thou shouldst follow, oh, Rdma.
The right characteristic of a mind that has known all that
should be known is the non-identification of itself with the
ever pleasurable worldly enjoyments. With the proclivities
of the mind towards material objects, bondage in objects
* A Jivanmukhta is one who is emancipated while in body while a
Videhamukhta is one who is emancipated after throwing- off the bod) ,
even when alive.
f He who attains unto Atma, having- overcome Maya, the illusion,
will alone know what Maya is and how it arises and is destroyed. And
this knowledge of Atma is an occult mystery which is the subject of
initiation by a Guru. Hence it is we find that no words can describe
the origin of Maya, &c. As Sukha was a fit disciple, he was made to
have an Apar6ksha or direct perception of the same by Janaka.
Jnana stands here for Brahman or Atma. It is stated to be
Jnana Akas as Akasa is all-pervading.
26 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
becomes strengthened ; otherwise, the bondage becomes
slackened and in course of time perishes. Oh Rama, the
extinction of Vasanas alone, is Moksha (salvation) ; but the
concretion of the mind in material objects through Vsanas
is bondage. Those persons are Jivanmuktas who have quite
disabled the Vdsanas and are indifferent to the many worldly
enjoyments without the aids of Tapas (religious austerities),
Vratas (religious observances) and others. That one Princi
ple which Rama s mind has cognized through the utterances
of the Great Ones is the one Reality and none else. Now the
only person who is able to relieve this Great Soul of R&ma
from all his doubts and render his mind quiescent is the
omniscient Vasishta who knows clearly the three periods of
time, is the Guru of men in this world and is a witness to all
things having name, form, &c." So said Vis wamitra in the
king s assembly.
Having given vent to these words, Vis wamitra looked at
Vasishta s face and reminded him by saying that Rcima
should be taught those Jnana stories which Brahma residing
in the lotus had been pleased to favor them with, in order to
put an end to the dissensions* between them and liberate all
the virtuous from their Sanchita Karmaf and attain Moksha.
Initiation into the Mysteries of Brahman will fructify only in
that disciple s mind which is desireless and will produce Jnana
(spiritual wisdom) in it. This is what the Sastras (books)
say. And herein lies the glory (of the higher spirituality).
But the initiation imparted to a vicious disciple, full of desires
will become defiled like the pure milk deposited in a sable
dog s skin.
Thus did Vis wamitra expatiate in various ways when the
unsullied Narada, Vedavyasa and other Munis assembled
there, heard all of Viswamitra s words and eulogised him
unanimously for his noble utterances.ThereuponMuni Vasishta,
son of Brahma and equal unto him, addressed Vis wdmitra
thus " Oh Muni, well versed in all departments of know
ledge, I will do according to thy bidding. Whoever will go
against the words of the Great Ones that have known really
* The dissensions between Vasishta and Vi^wamitra are related at
great length in Mahabharata.
f The accumulated Karmas which are yet in store, to be enjoyed in
future births.
THE STORY OF SUKHA. 27
who "the knower" is? I will now recite the pure Jnana
stories meant for the non-fluctuating and the pure minded
and given out by the lotus-residing Brahma on the Nishada
hills in order to liberate them from the cycles of re-birth."
Therefore Vasishta with a concentrated and pure mind
related the following to make Ajnana (ignorance) perish, and
the Supreme Seat of All full Jndna dawn, in men s minds.
MUMUKSHU PRAKARANA.
Summary Of the four-fold qualifications required of a
neophyte on the Path, the last one, viz., the longing after
emancipation is treated of, in this chapter.
Vasishta said " Now, oh Rama, hearken to what I am
going to say. Through right endeavours in this life (of the
world), all the ends of human aspiration can be achieved by
following strictly the Sastraic (or scientific) injunctions.
Such endeavours are two-fold, one in the direction of Atma
Jn3na Sastras (or the sciences relating to divine wisdom)
and the other in the direction of (ordinary) Sastras (treating
of terrestrial wisdom). The former is, on account of Moksha
and the latter which is not the true Sastraic path leads to
bondage. Those virtuous persons only will gain Moksha who
from their early boyhood, train themselves up in the Atma
Jnna (or spiritual) lore, associate themselves with the un
flinching great men and develop benevolence and other good
qualities."
At which Raghava exclaimed " Being under the control
of Vasanas generated by me in my former births, 1 have not
been making efforts in the direction of the right path. Oh
Guru, what then am I to do ?
On Vasanas pure and impure. To which Vasishta replied
thus "Oh Rma of marvellous qualities, it is through one s
efforts alone and none else that the Brahmic seat can be
mastered. Now the hosts of Vasanas may be divided under
two heads, vis., the pure and the impure. Of these two, those
alone which were generated by him in his many lives will
cling to him (in his future births). Should the pure ones cling
to him, he will easily attain the immaculate Brahmic Seat
through them ; but in the case of the impure Vasanas, pains
will be generated. Thou shouldst, oh Rama, even through
dint of painful efforts, avoid these impure ones. Through
the two ordained paths of good and evil, the current
of Vasanas swells enormously. Mayest thou, after
MUMUKSHU-PRAKARANA. 29
straining all thy nerves in the cultivation of Brah-
mavidya (Brahmic science), liberate thyself from the
impure Vasanas and rest firmly in the (pure) Vasanas
appertaining to the beneficent Reality. Thou shouldst,
through thy equal vision over all and thy own efforts, play
fully check the lad of mind from getting into the impure
Vasanas and make it associate with the pure ones. If after
annihilating the many impure ones which are the products of
the many previous births, thou shouldst make the pure ones
dawn now, then they will conduce to thy (future) efforts.
Even should any doubt arise in thy mind as to what the
pure ones will lead thee, thou shouldst always be cultivating
them only, as any excess therein is not, in any way, injuri
ous. Till thy mind is illumined by the Reality of Brahman,
thou shouldst always be following the path of initiation into
Brahman by the Gurus through the sacred sentences of the
Vedas."
"Mayest thou, Oh Rama, remain immutably fixed in that
state of direct cognition, after purging thy mind of its impure
Vasanas and making it, through the pure ones, attain the
Atmic Seat, free of all stains and pains. Destroy all thy illu
sory thoughts, so that they may not resurrect again. Develop
extreme quiescence of mind and bliss within thyself. And
then through thy intelligence freed from the longing after
objects, thou shouldst, Oh Rama, commingle thyself with
Brahman, engaged in the investigation of the significance
of the holy sentence, Tatwamasi (That art Thou) and me
ditate upon such identity. Now listen to the utterances of
Brahma seated on the honey-dropping lotus flower."
Vasishta s own history. At which Rdghava enquired of
Vasishta the cause of such utterances when Vasishta went on
thus " Out of Chidakasa* which is the endless, the all-per
vading, the seat of all and the illuminator of all objects, there
arose Vishnu. Brahma arose out of the lotus of his heart and
evolved, as so many creations of his mind, this earth and
other diverse objects. Now the author of the universe, Lord
Brahma, (in the course of its progress), found the many noble
souls in Bharata-Varsha (the portion of land including
* There are three states of Akasa or planes of matter as mentioned
in this work, of which Chidakas a or Jnanakas a is the third.
30 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
India) writhing under extreme pains and was moved to pity,
like a father towards his afflicted son. Contemplating upon
the salvation of these afflicted ones, he came to the conclusion
that the cycle of births and deaths cannot be arrested by
either Japas (uttering of Mantras) or Tapas (religious auste
rities) macerating the body or the many kinds of gifts or
bathing in such holy waters as the Ganges and others or any
other means except through Atma Jnana. Therefore, through
his stainless mind, he created us all, like himself, with a bowl
and, in the hand, a rosary of beads. So was I born and
having saluted him, I was shewn a seat on a petal on the
northern side of the lotus in which he was gloriously seated-
There he pronounced a curse on my mind that it should be
enveloped by Maya for one Muhurta (or 48 minutes). There
at my mind became stupified and I began to play the woman
like an illiterate and ignorant person devoid of all spiritual
wisdom. Observing me thus, Brahma questioned me as to
the cause of my dire sorrow. To which I asked him how
this Samsara arose and how Moksha can be attained after
freedom from existence. Upon which he blessed me with a
true cognition of the higher state. As its result, I was in a
non-fluctuating state, owing to my cognition of Jnana Atma
Reality. Upon which Brahma remarked to me thus. "it
was we that enveloped thy intelligence by the base Maya and
then cleansed it of Maya after having annihilated the latter.
We have ordained that all souls shall be initiated by thee
and attain Moksha- After the dawning of full Jnana, thou
shalt soon go to Bharata-Varsha in Jambudwipa which is the
land of all perishable Karmas (religious works). There shalt
thou initiate men, having the four qualifications (of attaining
salvation), into Atma Jnana; but shalt initiate lovers of
(ritualistic) Karmas), in whom the conception of egoism has
not vanished, into the due performance of such Karmas."
" According to his mandates, I go to Bharata-Varsha and
live in it so long as humanity exist there. I have no longing
for any objects in this world. I shall ever be in the Sushupti
(dreamless sleeping) state and thus be able to overstep the
limits of the painful mind, though engaged in the daily ac
tions of the world No actions of mine identify themselves
with my Self. Oh valorous Rama, those intelligent disciples
MUMUKSHU-PRAKARANA. 3 1
alone will be knowers of Atma who, after thoroughly dis
criminating between a guru of all-full Jnana and another of
Ajnana, find an asylum in a supreme immaculate Guru (vis.,
the former). Those only who understand the teachings
of their Gurus (from all aspects) by an instantaneous appre
hension of what they (the Gurus) mean and at what they
drive, will see them realised (afterwards) as in an objective
vision. The stainless Guru will never initiate into Tatwa
Jnana those who are weak-willed and addicted to sensual
desires.
The four means of Moksha. " If the four sentinels
that wait at the gates of Moksha (salvation) viz., Silnti
(sweet patience or quiescence of mind), Vichara (Atmic
enquiry), Santosha (contentment of mind) and Sadhu-Sanga
(association with the wise) be befriended, then will there be
any obstacle to the attainment of salvation ? (No). Like the
waiters, posted at the gates of the palace of a king protecting
the earth, who allow ingress to the visitors without to see
the king within, the above four sentinels allow admittance
within into Moksha. Even if one of them be befriend
ed, then he will introduce him (the new comer) to the
the rest of his fellows. Therefore thou shouldst cease
lessly endeavour to hold fast to one at least, throwing aside
all obstacles that come in the way and associate with him inti
mately. In order to put an end to the ephemeral re-births,
we should, above all, develop our (spiritual) intelligence
through association with the wise, enquiry into Atma Jnana
books and deep Samadhi (or Meditation). The venom of
the pains of Sams&ra will be dispelled (and the man bitten
will be cured of the poison) through the Garuda-Mantra*
called Jnana. Then (with the development of Jndna), even
showers of arrows discharged at him will be (to him) like
those of soft lily flowers ; a bed of flames will resemble to him
a soft cushioned bed redolent of rosewater besprinkled in it ;
and the chopping off of his head will be like Sushupti (the
dreamless sleeping state) wherein happiness is enjoyed. The
ripping open of his stomach will be like the application of
* It is the belief in India that a person bitten by a serpent will be
cured by Garuda Mantra ; Garuda or eagle being- the enemy of the
serpent.
32 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
sandal over his body and the piercing in his breast of straight-
pointed innumerable lancets will be like cool water sprinkled
from a pump in the long summer season. The poisonous
disease of sensual objects unfit to be associated with, can be
avoided only by those who have developed the discrimina
tive (spiritual) wisdom and not by any others.
" It is not through a mere enquiry into Atma Jnana know
ledge that Nirvanic bliss is attained ? If one should conduct
himself in such a way as to assimilate" (as one), within him
self, the knowledge derived from the three sources of his self-
experience, the true significance of the holy sentences in the
spiritual Books and the instructions of a wise Gtfru, then the
inseparable Atmic wisdom will rise in him. The mere study
of rare Jnana books by persons of petty intelligence will but
breed Ajnana in their minds. Books treating of devotion and
the performance of rituals will generate less Ajnana than
the study of Jnana books (unaccompanied by the other
two above mentioned). And it should be remembered that
it is far better to lead a mendicant s life by begging for
food at the doors of even outcastes with a bowl in hand
than to pass a life of Ajnana. Immense wealth, friends,
relatives, Benares and other sacred places, bathing in
the Ganges and other waters, the hermitage of Munis,
religious austerities afflicting the body and other like
things are not the sure means of ever reaching the higher
state ; but it is through the mind s efforts that the immacu- j
late and supreme Seat can be attained.
8dnti. "Now listen, oh Rama, to the ineffaceable charac
teristics of the four sentinels placed at the gate of Mok.sha.
If the supreme " sweet patience that nought can ruffle" be
mastered, then all desires and sorrow will fly like gloom be
fore the rising sun. Being confided in (and loved), like a
mother, by the virtuous as well as the vicious, such persons
of sweet patience will never be ruffled in mind, whether they
get nectar to drink and enjoy the bliss of Lakshmi residing
in the luxuriant lotus flower, or are engaged in great wars,
entailing excessive carnage, or whether they are born or dead.
They never rejoice or grieve through the enjoyment of plea
sures or pains arising from sensual objects. These pure men
of sweet patience will shine aloft far higher than such persons
MUMUKSHU-PRAKARANA. 33
as men of mere ripe intelligence, performers of sacri
fices, men well versed in all departments of knowledge,
puissant kings, virtuous men and others (not possessing this
one attribute). Great men having quaffed this ambrosia of
sweet patience which is rare for all intelligent men who long
after it, have attained the glorious Moksha. Mayest thou
too, oh Rima, act in this virtuous path.
Atma Vichdrana. " If along with this, thou shouldst de
velop fully Atmic enquiry through thy subtle pure intelligence
after a study of the holy &astras, then such an incomparable
intelligence will reach the Supreme Seat. It is this enquiry
alone that enables one to differentiate causes from effects and
constitutes the rare remedy for the cure of the disease of re
births. Having cleared oneself of all doubts through this
discriminative power which gets not blurred even in the midst
of the intense darkness (of ignorance) shines with undiminished
lustre even in the midst of any light and through which all
things are visible, one should always be engaged, even when
threatened by dangers, in the enquiry of whence am I ?
Whence came this universe of Samsara ? And of whom is
this universe an attribute ? Such an enquiry averts the
dangerous disease called the gloom of AjnAna.
Santoska. " Now to noble contentment. It is the bliss
arising from the enjoyment of objects, good or bad, without
any longing or aversion and the non-grief (or indifference)
shown towards objects not obtained. Should this incompar
able ambrosia of contentment become permanently settled
in one, then all enjoyment of objects will become a poison
to him. Then the mind which was immersed in sensual objects
raises up its eyes towards Atmic wisdom and sees not a
distorted image as in a stained glass. Such a person of true
contentment will be revered by the great Tapaswins and the
chief of meo.
Sddhu Sangha. (< To all those who wish to master this
world of Maya, the association with the wise is the
unfailing means. Like the Ganges which yields its fruits
to those who bathe in its cool waters, the association with the
wise expands the poor intellect of men, transmutes the acci
dents arising out of material objects into a real wealth (for
progress) and converts a mind, which is miserable amidst any
34 VOGA-VA S1SHTA.
objects, into one which sees happiness everywhere. To such,
neither sacrificial fires, nor Tapas, nor bounteous gifts nor
holy waters are indispensable. One should, at any cost, long-
to approach those great personages replete with wisdom who
are friendly to all, relieving them from bondage and form the
ferry to cross the ocean of rebirths.
* Thus are the four-fold means for getting rid of this oppres
sive Samsara. Those who have intimately befriended these four
have crossed the ocean of Samsara. OhRama of sweet patience
and other qualities, please hearken to the stories (narrated
in this book) which will relieve thy pining mind of its delusion.
Atma Jnana, the end of all Vedas, will dawn of itself in
one who probes into their underlying meaning without
caring for their (surface) attributes or meaning. All delu
sions, such as love and hatred, &c., will vanish ; the mind will
become as pellucid as the waters of a pool in the autumnal
season. Such persons of adamantine armor will never be
pierced by the arrows of pains, such as poverty and others.
The fruits of an enquiry without desires.-" A mind enga
ged in (Atmic) enquiry will never be afflicted by the awe-in-
spiringMaya and will maintain the equilibrium of a waveless
ocean. All persons of excessive enquiry will acquire the depth
of the unfathomable ocean, the stability of Mahameru and the
coolness of the noble moon. The virtuous who tread the
path of Atma Jnana will take delight only in Samadhi and
other Karmas congenial to their pursuits, like a spotless
and chaste dame contemplating, in her harem, upon her lord
as God and rejoicing in such thought.
The characteristics of a Jivan Mukhta." Then the above-
said rare Jivan Mukhti state will gradually ripen in him who
is desireless and in whose eyes there is nothing supernatural.
His state is indescribable and yet he will move in the world
like anybody else. His mind will not be bound by any long
ings after Karmas. He will be indifferent to joy or pains
arising from good or bad results. He will preserve a pleasant
position in the happy enjoyment of whatever he obtains. He
will not in the least concern himself with the enjoyments
foreign to the path of the wise. He will ever be engaged in
the ceaseless enquiry into the path of salvation which arises
through interrogating the wise without transgressing their
MUMUKSHU-PRAKARANA. 35
words in order to enjoy bliss uninterruptedly and be oblivious
of this body. Having attained Atma Jnana, he will not be re
born and subject himself to the pangs of delivery from his
mother s womb. Those sinful men whose minds are reeling
amidst sensual pleasures, being led away by them, can truly
be said to be the mere vermin generated out of the offal
in their mother s womb. In the absence of the company of
those great men of supreme intelligence, one should be per
forming those actions which fetch him food gotten through
right-earned and well-spent wealth. So long as he gets
quiescence in his stainless Atma and the certain (mental)
quiescence of the Turya (4th) state dawns in him, he should
ever be engaged in Atmic enquiry through a study of Atma
Jnfma books, quiescence of mind, right conduct, acuteness of
intellect and association with the wise. How can this certain
and stainless Turya state, arising through Atmic enquiry, be
described in words ?
Turya State. " A person who gets quiescence in this Turya
state devoid of all Bavanas (thoughts) and thus crosses the
ocean of Samsara, will attain the Seat of Moksha. Such a
one will never be affected by anything, whether he is in a
state of J iva or iva devoid of the J i va state, whether he moves
in a family or is a solitary recluse, whether he is bound by
the delusions of Srutis and Smritis or not, or whether he per
forms all actions or not. He will then be in the one Reality
of Atma as in one vast ocean without (any intercepting object
as) the Himalayas.
, The proper path of enquiry. " Thou mayest place thy
credence in the words of even a child, if they are consistent
with the Srutis, Guru s words and thy self-experience.
Otherwise thou shouldst reject as straw the utterances of even
Brahma himself. Know also that the many analogies given
out, in order that Brahma Jnana may arise in thee, are for the
purpose of exemplifying the One Principle. The ignorant
assert that the formless and real Jnana is subject to no ana-
logics involving form and name (and hence should not be made
the subject of enquiry) ; but such a mischievous argument
will only be subversive of the good results of the intellectual
acumen arising from Jnna enquiry. Therefore, oh Rfima,.
thou shouldst not let thy mind take that groove of thought.
36 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
On the development of Jndna. " The sound of Atma
Jn&na will vibrate only on the strings of S&nti and
other qualities. Jnana and the above four good qualities
shine mutually in best relief only in juxtaposition. Both
these flourish well like a tank and the lotuses growing in it.
Should both these be developed pari-passu, then the result
will be the attainment of Brahman ; but if separately, no
results will accrue. A hearing of the (following) real stories
(and an acting up to them), will confer, on one, the virtues of
true renunciation, imperishable wealth, eternal bliss, the
glorification by the wise and a happy life. Moreover a mind
illumined thereby, will attain Moksha of immutable bliss."
UTPATHTHI PRAKARANA.
THE STORY OF AKA SAJA. THE SON OF AKASA.
Summary. Having initiated Rama, bent upon attaining:
salvation, (he, having developed the first three means before),
into the nature of the non-dual One and into the endeavours
that should be made in attaining that One, viz., through the
creation of pure Vasanas and, for their furtherance, the
development of &nti and other qualities, Vasishta, in order
that the self-cognition of Turya Jnana may dawn in the
Prince, now continues in four Prakaranas or chapters by
stating that the consciousness reflected in the Lila-Sankalpa
of Brahman which ever is, before creation, of the nature of
Sat, Chit and Ananda, is alone the origin of the universe, its
manifestation and its absorption and that the one Chaitanya
(absolute consciousness, vie., Brahman) which contains in
itself this Trinity and is its seat, is the Nirvanic bliss. Thus
in order to show that all is Brahman, the author in the
succeeding four Prakaranas, begins with Utpaththi Prakarana
(or the chapter treating of the origin of the universe or " I")
teeming with 9 stories, wherein it is sought to illustrate first
that all the universes, &c., are nothing but the first creations
of the Sankalpa of the mind proceeding from or the cosmic
Ideation of the one Chaitanya.
Atma is this universe, Jiva, &*c. In the preceding chap
ter, we expatiated upon the regular means of Mumukshus
(or aspirants after emancipation) which thou shouldst adopt
in order to attain Moksha. Now listen attentively as to how
the several universes were evolved. Our Jiva (ego) is
no other than the one Jndna which can alone be directly cog
nized through one s self and is dubbed, with different appella
tions, by different religionists. It rejoices in the appellations
of Kutastha,* Eswara of agency and the visible Chidabhdsa.f
* This term though applied to Paramatma is also applied here to
Jivatma (ego).
f The distorted consciousness.
^8 YOC.A-VA SISIITA.
Jt is Jnana through which the Jiva shines with the intelligence
that manifests itself as Akasa and other objects. Like the
vast waters manifesting themselves as waves, foam, &c., the
above mentioned Jiva alone shines as the earth and other
objects through the heterogeneous illusions of Sankalpas
(thoughts) and Vikalpas (fancies) which arise and die. The
causeless Satta-Matra (Absolute Be-ness) existing from
before creation, manifests itself through its (inherent) Lila
(sportive) power of creation, as this world composed of the
myriads of objects which are no other than our objective
vision (or ideation) and rests in its own all-pervading Jnana
like the fluctuating power in Vayu (air). The innumerable
quarters and time, being but the diverse forms (or aspects)
of the non-dual all-pervading Atma Jnana, is "That"
only from which they start. Know therefore, through this
means, that the universe, the illusory creation of Brahman
is one that has no other cause than "That."
The disappearance of the universe with Jnana. Atma-
Chaitanya alone evolves, in a moment, this universe into a
visible shape. The evidences of inference, &c. , are the means
(through which Jnana can be known). The reality of belief
in the diversified visible ohjects, constitutes bondage \
but a freedom from it, constitutes Moksha. We shall
put forth, to thee, things in such a manner as to relieve thee
from the attraction of all visibles. Please therefore hearken
well to the following.
At the end of a Kalpa, when all the visible universes are
annihilated like a dream in Sushupti, there remains the in
comparable Tatwa Jnana existing by itself alone, devoid of the
fluctuations of thought, form, name and others and without
the transcendant vast darkness of Ajnana and the light of
Vritti* or mental Jnana. This Supreme Principle is termed by
the wise, for the purpose of understanding it, Satya (Truth),
Brahman, Atma, Param (the Supreme) and such like ; and
manifesting itself as another in a mysterious manner, shines
with the title of Jiva; it becomes thereafter, subject to all
pains. Then this Atma which goes now by the name of Jiva
* There are two kinds of wisdom, Yritti Jnana and Swarupa Jnana.
The former pertains to Manas, the rcn soiling mind, and the latter, to
intuition or Buddhi.
THE STORV OF A KASAJA 39
and which is the Spirit of the latter, concretes itself through
the Sankalpa of thought into Manas (mind).
It becomes Manas. This ever-agitated Manas having
come into existence out of the ineffable Brahman creates the
world according to its own Sankalpa. This legerdemain
of the universe springs out of the Sankalpa of the Manas
(mind). The word, ornament signifies no other than
the gold (or other metal) of which it is composed : there
fore it is needless to apply the epithet " golden" to the word
ornament. Likewise the word universe means Brahman and
none else. The wise apply the many epithets of the painful
Moha (delusion), bondage, Tamas, Mala (impurity), Avidya,
Maya and Samsara to this universe which, though arising
out of the unreal mind, appears as real to it, like the waves in
a flitting mirage. Now if thou wilt hear from us the nature
of bondage, then thou wilt understand clearly Moksha. The
existence in men of the differences of conception of " I" and
" thou" is bondage. So long as this Sankalpa in the visibles
exists, so long is it difficult for them to attain salvation. Like
a tree latent in a seed, all the visibles will be merged in the
seer then without again manifesting itself. In the heart of
a banian seed as the cause, there exist the variegated differ
ences of flowers, leaves, &c. Like the marvellous potency
of creation which preserves everything potentially and
then brings them out, without in the least being injured
thereby, there arises, out of the womb of the all-pervading
Principle called Jnana-Atma, a sprout which naturally expands
itself into this universe of form, name, &c. Just as the seed
begins to germinate in its proper time and place, so also the
seer (the knower) appears as the visibles through the Sankalpa
of the mind the visibles being no other than the seer itself.
Upon hearing the adventures of him who rose out of
Jn&na-Akas, thou wilt easily understand the origin of the
creation of this universe replete with Tamas. Thou wilt
therefore hear this story. Once upon a time, in the race of
Brahman was born one, Akasaja (the son of Akasa),
having, as his cause, the Jnana-Akas itself. He rejoiced in
the possession of uninterrupted Samadhi, earnest regard to
wards all creatures and good Dharmas (or virtuous actions).
Having seen him live for along period, Kala (Time) soliloquised
40 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
to himself thus " How is it I am not able to encompass
this one, when I am able to devour the whole universe as a
mere paltry trifle. My powers are such as to annihilate
everything. I am led to infer my powers have been much
dullened of late, like the blade of a sword in poison. Persons
of determined efforts will never abandon their pursuits."
With these cogitations in his mind, he at once marched
straight to the habitation of the Brahmin (Akasaja) and entered
his gates when he was (bedazzled and) scorched by the in
tense glory of the BrAhmin s spiritual fire. Nothing un
daunted, Kala pierced through the spiritual glory and with
his tall and stalwart arms, 1,000 in number, seized hold of the
Brahmin but was disappointed in his efforts, as he was too
much for K&la. As Akasaja was immovable like one of the
forms (aspects) of Sankalpa (Divine will), Kala was unable
to overpower him and so returned from that place to go to
Yama* (or God of death) and consult with him. To Yama,
Kala related all that happened between him and the Brahmin.
Theadviceof Yama. At which, Yama said thus "This
universe which arose through Karmas will perish through
Karmas only. The weapons with which we can wield the
destruction of the universe are the former Karmas. There
fore try to take hold of those Karmas (in the life of the
Brahmin) through which means you will be able to overpower
him."
Hearing those words of Yama, Kala fished about for
the former Karmas of the Brahmin in different places,
such as the holy waters, tanks, the sphere of the earth,
quarters and others. But nowhere was he able to discern
any, in spite of all his tedious search. At last, he returned
and disclosed, to the wise Yama, the fruits of his vain
search. Thereupon Yama deliberated for a long time and
delivered himself of the following words " Born, as he is,
out of the pure Akasa, this imperishable Brahmin is no other
than Jnana Akas itself. And as he has no cause, instru
mental or material, he cannot be said to perform Karmas,
though performing them. There being really no cause at all,
the Karmas he performs do not really exist. The Sanchita
* KAla here refers to unconditioned time whereas Yama refers to
ibo conditioned one in the Rupa Lokas putting- an end to mortals, &c.
THE STORY OF A KAl^AJA. 41
Karmas (past Karmas in embryo) which will enable you to
put an end to him, do not exist in his case." So said the
fulfiller of Dharmas (laws), vfs., Yama, at which the noble
Kala quietly betook himself to his own place in great won
derment. At these words of Vasishta, Raghava having eyed
him said thus " From the story given out now by thy re
verence, I am led to conclude that the son of Jnana-Akas
is no other than Brahma, the self-create and the non-dual
one of the nature of Vijnana." Thereupon the immaculate
Vasishta said thus " We have known thus the words which
passed between the havoc-producing Kala and Yama. (We
shall describe still further what took place between them.)
When, at the end of a Manu, the never-idle Kdla who had
swallowed up all the universes rose up, he tried to over
power even Brahma (as stated before). Then the lofty Yama
delivered himself of the following words to the grieness
Kala " Will that thought of yours fructify, which aims
at destroying the incomparable Brahma that is of the
nature of the stainless and matchless Brahma-Akas, (or
Jnana-Akas) alone? The indestructible Brahma shines like
the above mentioned Sankalpa-Purusha of the form of pure
Akasa alone without being composed of the elemental forms.
It is the self-existent Para Brahm only which is Chidakas
itself, alone and without beginning, middle or end, that
manifests itself as true, like one having a body of dimensions
or an eternal Purusha ; but it really has no form (and is
unreal) like the son of a barren woman." So said Yama to
Mrithyu (or Kala).
At these words of Vasishta, Rama lifted up his eyes and
questioned him thus " While all souls possess two kinds of
bodies, viz., the lasting Adhivahya*and theflittingAdhiboutika
how comes it that Brahma possess the former subtle body
alone?" To which, Vasishta said thus "As all the Jivas
have two causes, vie., Brahman and the universe due to
Brahmic light, they have two kinds of bodies ; but as
Brahma who is not separate from Brahman has no other
cause than Brahman, he has the one Adhivahya body
alone. Then as this universe is nothing but a mode of the
* Adhivahya is the subtle body with which the soul lives while
separated from Adhiboutika, the physical body.
6
42 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
mind self-evolved from Brahman, the cause of the universe,
hence this all-pervading world is but consciousness itself." So
said the Muni lovingly, when RAma asked to be enlightened
as to why this illusory universe is but a mode of the mind.
The mind creating the universe. Vasishta continued
thus "The individualised mind which is Avidya-full, form
less and all-pervading though existing in name, has no form,
either externally or internally, like the Akasa permeating
everywhere. The mere manifestation in all objects of reality
(or non-reality therein) is the mind. Wherever there is the
Sankalpa, there does the mind exist. The form of the
mind is Sankalpa alone. Both of them are identical. The
multitudinous denominations of unreality, delusion, impu
rity, bondage, Avidya, Mdya, Tamas and others are the fit
synonyms of Sankalpa. With the annihilation of this
Sankalpa, all conception of the differences between the
seer and the seen will vanish and then the Reality of
Brahman will begin to shine unintercepted. Then this shadow
of all the universe moveable and fixed, will be found absorbed
in It in a non-dual state, though, in another sense, they
cannot be said to commingle with it. Then Consciousness
alone will shine without the reflections of a glass. If all the
heterogeneous differences of objects arising through the con
ception of the mythical " I" and "Thou" are controlled and
even a scintilla of the visibles be completely destroyed beyond
resurrection, then such a destruction is itself the certitude of
Kaivalya (or Salvation).
The time for the mind s destruction. Like a dream gene
rating another dream in it, the mind having no visible form
will generate non-existent visibles. Not resting on any object
firmly, it is characterised by an excessive fluctuating power.
It will fluctuate and be confused ; will flit away (from an
object) and then return to it ; will rejoice jubilant in vain and
be intoxicated with Ahank&ra (or egoism). But at the period
of Mahpralaya which alters the form of everything, Akawa
and others will be absorbed in their highest essence and there
will remain the solitary all-quiescence (of Jn^na). This is the
primeval Brahman, the one Reality which is the Sun of never-
setting Self-Jyotis (effulgence), limitless and not in the least
painless, which is the all and the evolutor of all, and is in all
THE STORY OF A KASAJA. 43
places and times and which is all-pervading. Though above
the reach of all words, it is yet dubbed with different illusory
appellations by the wise. The most intelligent Sankhyas
term It Atma ; the Vedantins of pure Jnana call It Brahman ;
the Vijnanis* say It is Vijnana ; the atheists give It the
pseudonym of Void ; and so on. (But this much may be said
of It, that) It is the light of Sun s light, illumines all and
shines as the (abstract) Light only. From this Principle
which is firmly tacked to the world and the body and yet is
not and which (seems to) talk, examine, hear, see, eat and
think, a Jnana-light arises like light from the sun. Now this
(light of) consciousness pervading the Akasa has the Manas
full of Vasanas as its root, the organs as the flowers, the
mundane eggs as the fruits and Maya as the ground on which
to take root. With these, It enacts its affairs in this Puri-
ashtakaf body, like a gem in a casket.
Atma s Nature. Being the immaculate Jnana, It is the
all-pervading Akasa itself. Whatever objects It contemplates
upon, those objects come into existence (at once). In that
Jnana, all the three worlds will arise and be destroyed, like
water in a mirage. Having evolved all objects, It will yet
be in its true state unaffected, as if disconnected with them.
The origin and absorption of the universe do not take place
from and into NirvikalpaJ Atma direct. If one should hold
communion with that Supreme Principle, devoid of mental
fancies and modifications, then the great bondage of the
mind will cease, all doubts will vanish, and all Karmas will
perish.
How all can enter into Brahman? Here Rama asked
Vasishta thus " I may rather believe the entire Mahameru
mountains to enter a mustard seed than the whole of Brahma s
egg to merge into Brahman which is (said to be) the atom of
atoms. To which, Vasishta of rare Tapas replied thus "This
doubt of thine can be removed only after a study of Atma-
Jnna Sastras and the association with the wise for a
number of months and not days. The conclusion of all
Sastras points to this only. Those who have with great
* Those who cognize it directly.
f Puriashtaka body is the body composed of eight principles as
the organs of sense, &c.
Nirvikalpa Atma Atma free from Vikalpas, &c.
44
pains understood clearly this abstruse account (of evolution,
&c.,) go into Sama dhi and who through it, attain a direct
cognition of the all-full Jnna, will reach the supreme state of
a Jivanmukta, devoid of this illusory universe, though exis
tent to others ; and then this Jivanmukti state is no other
than the Videhamukti state, the progress to the latter state
being a mere matter of course.
Then R^ma asked the Muni to enlighten him as to the
efforts that should be made by him to tread the path laid
down by the ^astras to attain the Jivanmukti and Videha
mukti states. Vasishta replied thus "Such persons, though
moving in worldly objects, do not participate in them like the
Chidakas, which though permeating all objects, yet appears
not to be so (to our visible eyes). Such Jivanmuktas are
persons of transcendental nature in the enjoyment of eternal
bliss. They are immaculate like Akasa and undefiled by
love and other desires, though associated with their modi
fications. Whether performing Karmas or not, they are not
enmeshed by them, as they have no egoism. Though acting
up to the worldly observances of life, they remain cool and
unaffected by them, like utter strangers. Notwithstanding
the possession of a full-shining mind and attention, they
have not the least of longings-for objects. The certitude
of their conviction is of such a nature that they neither sink
under any load of griefs nor rejoice at any pleasures. They
are in that undisturbed state of mental equillibrium when they
enjoy the JAgrata (waking) state in Sushupti or the Sushupti
state in Ja"grata, devoid of all Vasanas, Neither are they afraid
nor do they instil fear into the hearts, of any in the universe.
The great ones who conduct themselves thus, are called the
Jivanmuktas and do not break loose from the bonds of
Samsa ra though in possession of minds, since their minds are
above the worldly things.
On Videha Muktas. (Now about the Videhamukti state).
Should the above certain state be bridged and the body
perish, then one will attain Salvation in a disembodied state,
like the all-perrneating air in the immovable Akas. Its nature
is such that it is imperishable, unveiled, invisible, remote,
endless and fluctuationless. It is neither " I" nor any others
nor anything else (we know of). It is neither light nor dark-
THE STORY OF A KASAJA. 45
ness nor motion nor evidence nor gunas nor the heterogeneous
objects of the world compounded of the five elements.
Mayest thou, through they discrimination, cognize clearly
and unfailingly that Non-dual state \vhich is in the midst of (or
above the knower, knowledge and the known, being the all-
full reality, neither Rupa (form) nor Arupa (non-form), neither
Sat (being) nor Asat (non-being) and yet one.
On being questioned by radiant Ra"ma as to a clearer
elucidation of Brahmic Reality replete with Chidananda (con
scious bliss) in order that Jndna may develop in him to the
uttermost, Muni Vasishta went on thus " During the period
of Mahakalpa, the cause of all (imaginable) causes, vis., the
Brahmic Reality shines alone. If the modifications of the
mind which lean to sensual pleasures be destroyed, then Atma
divested of its Ahankdra (egoism) becomes the unnameable
Brahmic (or the all-pervading) Reality. The Jivic conscious
ness which does not regard (as real) the universe before it,
may truly be stated to be Brahman itself. A mind which,
though enjoying the diverse objects, does not yet enjoy them
may be stated to be Brahman itself. That consciousness which
is a witness to all thoughts of objects, the light of the Sun ?
&c., mind and the other visibles may be said to be Brahman
itself. This Principle may be said to be the long Yoga sleep
devoid of end, dream or non-intelligence. It is " that" from
which evolve and into which merge, the trinity of the knower,
knowledge and the known. It is the immutable. Jnana-Akas
and not the Bhuta-Akas (composed of the elements.) The
internal state of self-cognition devoid of the modifications of
*Manas, Buddhi and Chitta and being as imperturbable as a.
block of wood, may also be likened to that Brahmic Reality.
When Brahma along with Vishnu, Rudra, Sadasiva, Deva,
Indra, Sun and others are absorbed (during Pralaya), this
one Fount of Ommiscience, viz., the Brahmic Reality free from
the base Upadhis (or vehicles of matter, &c.), and devoid of
the desires of the universe, will alone shine effulgent, stain
less, all full and ever blissful.
* All these are aspects of Antahkarana, the lower mind, producing-
uncertainty, certitude and fluctuatingness.
46 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
THE STORY OF LILA.
Summary. Having shewn that it is Paramatma, the Self-
Cousciousness, which manifests itself as Jiva, Eswara and
Universe and which is identical with them, though appearing
different, the author deals in this story with the heteroge
neous actions of the Manas Maya arising out of the One
Consciousness and the means of arresting that Maya.
The Story of Padma. Now, oh Rama, in order to relieve
thee from this dubious predicament of thine and to attain qui
escence of mind, I shall relate to thee an archaic story which
thou shalt hear. There reigned, upon the earth, a king
named Padma. He rejoiced in the possession of Satisoaguna and
ripe discrimination. On his puissant arms rested Vijaya-Laksh-
mi (or the Goddess of Victory). His royal partner went by
the name of Lila and had the good qualities of strictly con
forming to her husband s mind. She lived inseparable from
him, like his shadow and mind.
Lilcts doings. In this state, a thought flashed across
her mind to adopt some means by which she could ever
perpetuate the youth of her lovely lord, free from dotage
and death and so enjoy his company always. For this
purpose, she consulted with the Brahmins well versed in
all the ancient four Vedas. They were unable to hit upon
any means of arresting death in this world ; Japas (utterances
of Mantras), Tapas (religious austerities) and others condu
cing to the mere development of Siddhis (psychical powers).
Thereupon Lila soliloquised within herself thus * If I should
pre-decease my lord, then I shall enjoy Nirvanic bliss unatten
ded by any pains. But if he should die before me, I can
be happy only in the event of his Jiva living in my house and
casting it s gladsome glance on me. To this end, I shall wor
ship the feet of Saraswati, the imparter of the Vedas and
eulogise her. So without apprising her lord of her intentions,
she strode the path pointed out by those great men, the
masters of powerful Mantras and Sastras and worshipped
the Devas and Brahmins. Having refrained from tasting food
for three nights together, she took a slight refreshment on
the fourth day and that only once. Thus she was engaged in
sweet Nishta (meditation) for ten months, when Sarasvati
THE STORY OF LILA. 47
overjoyed (at her meditation), appeared visibly before her
with the radiance of a full moon in the sky and said " Oh Lila,
what is thy desire ?"
Whereupon the spouse of Padma saluted her and ad
dressed her thus " Oh thou, who art like the moon s
rays which do not disappear before Agni (the fire) or like the
sun s light which dispels the gloom of mental grief, please
grant me the two boons (ist) of allowing my lord s Jiva
(ego) to remain in my house, even after his death, and (2nd)
of thyself appearing before me visibly, whenever I should
think of thee." Which boons, the noble Saraswati conferred
upon her with good grace and returned happily unto her seat.
Then the wheel of time rolled on rapidly with its nave of
Paksha (fortnight), month and Rithu (seasons, each of two
months), its spokes of days, its axle of years, and its axle-
hole of moments with all the vibrations. When thus Lila
had passed her days in the company of her lord in illimita
ble bliss, he suddenly in a short time died. Fearing lest the
elegant Lila should pine away under the fire of her excessive
grief, Saraswati stayed in the Akasa invisibly prior to the
separation of the king s Jiva (from his body) ; and in order
to dissipate her delusion, gave vent (on her husband s death),
to the following words "Cover up thy deceased husband s
body with flowers. Then the flowers only will fade and not
the body. The (king s) Jiva without quitting the body will
rest in the golden harem. Then resting on the arms of the
king, thou shalt assuage thy grief." So saying, Saraswati
vanished from view. According to the words of the " Voice
of Silence," vis., Saraswati, Lila buried her husband s body
amidst flowers. ^
Then fainting at the separation from her lord, Lila con
templated internally upon Saraswati who, no sooner appeared
before her than she addressed her thus " I can no longer
endure the parting from my lord ; thou shouldst take me
soon to where he is."
Thereupon Saraswati said thus " Of the three kinds* of
Akasa, vis., Chit-Akasa, (Chidakasor Spiritual Akasa), Chitta-
Akasa, (or mental Akasa) and Blmta-Akasa (or elemental Akasa),
* These three kinds of Akala correspond to the three halls or
bodies referred to in our books, vie., the Karana, subtle and gross.
48 YGUA-VA SISHTA.
Chittakas is that intermediate state in which the mind is,
when it flits from one object to another in the elemental
Akasa of objects. When the hosts of Sankalpas (in us) perish,
then it is that the light of Chit will shine in us which is
\ quiescent and immaculate and manifests itself as the universe.
If one becomes convinced of the unreality of the visible objects,
then, through that Jna*na, he will attain at once Chidakas.
Mayestthou attain through my grace that Chidakas." Through
this blessing, Lila went into Nirvikalpa Samadhi and was
able to escape, like a bird from its cage, out of her body which
is generally replete with stains and desires through the long
ing mind. There in the heart of Jnana-Akas (or Chidakas),
she saw, in a large town, a mucli beloved valiant prince six
teen years old, reclining on a soft cushion and surrounded
and extolled by innumerable kings, women of intense desires
and the four-fold armies* Having recognized him to be her
dear lord, she entered the king s synod which she found graced
on the eastern side by Munis and Brahmins well versed in
Vedas, on the southern side by handsome ladies, on the
western side by kings, and on the northern side by the four
fold armies and others. Then having visited many fertile
tracts of earth, hills, cities, towns, many holy rivers and
others, she, sparkling like lightning, returned unto her abode
and entered her body lying entranced in her harem, where she
contemplated with great love upon Saraswati of white com
plexion.
Having saluted Saraswati who made herself visible as
seated in her supreme throne, Lila questioned her thus
How is it that my lord even after his death, has subjected
himself to another Amurtha (formless) creation which is as
illusory and bondage-giving as the present state? Please
remove my doubts with reference to this, so that I may know
the real truth."
To which Saraswati replied thus " The original evo
lution of the supreme Brahmin differentiated out of the
one Jnana-Akas brought about in its turn through delu
sion of (mental) regality the Padma creation and thus it
is, a fresh creation arose. Similarly has thy husband now
a second birth as Viduratha. Therefore after giving thy
ears to what I am going to relate to thee, thou shalt
THE STORY OF LILA. 49
have thy doubts therein cleared by me. In the stainless
and immaculate Chiddkas, there is, on one side of it, a
Mdydvic dome. This vault is covered by countless pea
cock s feathers, viz., the immeasurable Akasa. On its
golden pillars, large and small, viz., Mahameru, are engrav
ed the picturesque beauties of Indrani and others, the spouses
of Indra and the regents of the quarters. On one side
of that dome are hillocks called (the elemsnts), Prithivi (earth)
and others as well as the tiles called the seven mountains.
It is the seat of the residence of the revered and old Brahma
surrounded by his sons,* Marichi and others full of desires. It
is ever reverberating with the songs of Devas, roving on their
beautiful vehicles which songs vibrate from the Vina (flute)
of Akasa. It is ever resonant with the buzzing sounds of the
gnats of Siddha hosts living in the Akasa. It resounds with
the never ceasing sound arising out of the strife between
Devas and Asuras, the mischievous imps of great egoism.
It is, in such an incomparable Mdyavic dome, that there was
a town called Girigrama in the midst of a certain tract on one
side and that, in a certain spot of that dome. That town was
a fertile tract boasting of the possession of hills, rivers and
forests. There lived in it a great Brahmin householder
who had sacrifical fire and was well versed in Sastras and
Dharmas, away from the reach of kings. He equalled Vasishta
in beauty, wealth, age, humility, actions, and education, but
could not be called Vasishta himself in real knowledge. In
name at least, this Brahmin may be called Vasishta. The
name of her who worshipped his feet (as his wife) was
equal unto Arundhati but had not her knowledge; yet she
passed by the name of Arundhati. The wife of Vasishta was
this lady on Bhuloka (earth) but the true Arundhati in
Devaloka. No compeers to these two ladies could be found
in all the three lokas.
"While this Vasishta, the lord of the above mentioned
Arundhati, was residing with her in the valleys, a crowned
king came to the forest there on a hunting excursion along
with his retinue. The Rishi saw them and reflected within
* Marichi and other Rishis are associated here with those of
desires, in accordance with the doctrine of " The Secret Doctrine"
which calls them as Barhishads yielding to humanity their bodies of
desires.
50 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
himself thus ( The wealth of kings is indeed beneficent
and enviable. When shall I be able to be the ruler of the earth
with retinues encircling me and with Chamaras (chowris)
waving ? When shall I be able to reign triumphant as a
monarch, having all under my sway and be locked in the
embrace of sweet females of beautiful breasts bedaubed with
red ointment ? From that day forward, Vasishta was seized
with intense desires and though, in eager anticipation of the
realization of such desires, he went on performing Karmas
regularly. Dotage having come upon him like the frost
upon a lotus, his lady implored me for aid like yourself and
was blessed by me with the similar boon of her husband s
Jiva not leaving her house. The Brahmin, Yasishta expired
thus with his longing after regality ungratified. Thus was
he of the nature of Jiva-Akas in his house.
"Through the Sankalpa of the mind which led, into
the pleasures of regality, Yasishta who was originally of
the nature of the Jnana Akas, he became a King. In that
state, after his wife found him dead who was a Brahmin of
great Tapas, there arose a two-fold thought in her of leaving
the corpse of her husband s gross body and joining him in
his subtle body. While the Brahmin s sons, house,
lands, forests, mountains, and others were thus (in the
gross state), his Jiva was living separate for about 8 days
and was of the nature of Chidakas in that very house.
In your former birth, this Brahmin of 1 your husband
was a king. Then you were his wife, going by the
name of Arundhati of peacock-like gait. Both of you who
reign here as husband and wife, like the loving fresh Chakra-
vaka* couples or Parvatif and Parameswara, living on the left
side of the earth are no other than Arundhati and Vasishta.
Therefore, oh Lila, who has a face like unto the waxing
third moon, the first creation as a Brahmin when regality
was longed for, which I described to you before is itself
illusory. Likewise is this Padma creation. Even the third
creation of Viduratha birth which you were a witness of, is
also unreal, like the reflected image in water." So said
Saraswati, the world s mother.^
* Chakravakas are a species of birds, f Siva and his wife.
THE STORY OF LILA. 51
On hearing these words, Liia questioned her thus 4 Oh
Goddess, thou hast uttered untruth only. How can thy words
hold ? Where is the Jiva of the Brahmin that lived in this
house? Where did we, who separated here, meet together?
How did those who were in the other world as well as its
hells, the ten quarters* and others join together and come to
this pleasant habitation of ours ? Is it possible to bind the
infuriated Indra s elephant within a part of a mustard seed ?
Will the Mahameru mountain enter a lotus seed and be
crushed by a small bee sitting over it? Will the lions be
vanquished in a war with the angry paltry gnats and then
enter an atom ? All thy words are as incredible as these and
will not fit in with truth."
To which the Goddess replied thus" I never told thee
an untruth. I will now explain thee how my words are true.
Persons like myself will never derogate from the laws of
Eswara but will hold to them as the true ones. The Brah
min s Jiva lives invisibly in his own house in the city. All
his kingdom and Padma regality are of the nature of Jnana-
Akas only. Now, Oh Lila, with eyes bedaubed with black
ointment, Vasishtaof the nature of Chidakas, when he became
overjoyed (with the sight of the king), saw all these things
in the Manas Akas. This old thought (or creation) of Vasishta
without manifesting itself as such to thee now appears to
thee as different (as Padma creation). Just as the many events
of the Jagrata (waking) state are not enacted in the dreaming
state, Padma creation and its thoughts do then predominate
without the reminiscences of the Vasishta state. Out of the
above mentioned all-pervading Jnana-Akas shining through
Sat which is its own power and form part essence of that
(JnAna)Akasa arose this terrible universe through the Sankalpa
of the mind, like an image reflected in a glass. All
the shining universes will be latent as light within the
Jnana Reality which is the illuminated supreme Atom. There
fore it is that the abovementioned earth and others of the
Brahmin will manifest themselvey in (and out of) Jnana.
Now thou shalt know all these directly." So said
Saraswati, when Lila asked her " It was stated by
* Besides the eight principal and intermediate quarters, the Nadir
and the Zenith are taken into account.
52 VOGA-VA SISHTA.
thee, that the Brahmin expired on the eighth day. That
period passed with me as milleniums. Please explain this to
me." Then the goddess continued thus "Just as space,
which, as mentioned before, is nothing but a play (or mode)
of consciousness, is not all-pervading and hence not real, so
also is time. As it is the Jnana light alone devoid of the
modifications of Maya, that manifests itself as time and
space, hence there is no such thing as the limit of time or
space. Through the illusion of death, the body became en
tranced for a moment and the Jiva parted from it. Becoming
oblivious of all the thoughts of its former body, it is filled
with the thoughts of this life only. It is only when the
Jiva revives from the fatal trance of such false concep
tions as I am greatly supported by these, * My body is
getting fat, he is my parent, I am going to die in so
many years, My relatives are augmenting in number,
* this is my beloved seat and so on it is only then that the
Jiva will begin to know its real state. Therefore thou
forgottest all about thy former birth, remembering only this
birth."
After Saraswati had finished these words, Lila said
" Having been blessed by thee with Divine vision, I have
understood all things truly. Now to gratify my desires,
please show me the abode of Vasishta and others."
To which Saraswati of the form of Vedas thus said
" This gross body of thine bred out of Karmas is an impedi
ment in the way of thy getting such knowledge. If thou
shouldst become entirely oblivious of thy body and know
thyself as distinct from it and then become of the nature
of Pure Bliss Enjoyer that is also Jnana light and Sat
after being cleansed of all Maya impurities, then thou shalt
be able to visit the hallowed Seat. Thou shalt then know,
with delusions off thy mind, that Brahman only is thyself
and all the universe, like one gold converted into many orna
ments. It is not the worldly desires but the pure Vasanas
that tend to develop the true Jnana. Thou are not yet bereft
of the easily performed (or the desires for) worldly objects.
Therefore it is not possible for thee to attain it. Persons like
myself can easily get into the pure Brahman. But those who
are like thyself, have a subtle (lunar) body of the nature of
THE STORY OF LILA. 53
mind, replete with desires and hence it, in turn, generates the
gross body. Just as a snow ball melts with the rays of the
sun and is converted into water, so thy gross body will be
changed permanently into the subtle body through develop
ment of the true Jnana and the abandoning of the Vasanas.
This is the Jivanmukti state. Then the all-full Jnana alone
will prevail in thee. Therefore thou wilt have to perceive
the former creation through thy original subtle body (of
Adhivahya), after stopping (or entrancing) then this body of
thine."
When Saraswati had blessed her thus, the latter asked
the former as to the efforts that should be made to realize
that end. To which Saraswati replied thus "Those only
can cognize experimentally the higher states who have deve
loped in themselves the processes of Sravana (hearing and
study of spiritual books), Manana (contemplation) and Nidhitya-
sana (reflection from all standpoints), uninterrupted bliss
arising through concentration upon that ancient (one) Princi
ple, renunciation of all, non- desires, and the intense reasoning
practice followed through the path of Vedas that this great
world is not ever-existent. Those only are in that path of
Brahman, who are ever engaged in the intense practice of
deriving bliss through the certain knowledge that the uni
verses, which are no other than "I" or "It", do not really
exist, as they did not exist from the very beginning and who
are engaged in liberation, through such knowledge, free
from the seer and the visual and from the enemies of love and
hatred. After one is convinced that that knowledge which
renders itself oblivious of all the visibles is the true one and
the obtainer of Atma, ceaseless endeavours in the certainty
of Brahman is alone Salvation. With such a practice, the
pure Jnana will dawn."
Saraswati and Lila who had thus conferred together that
night, went into Swarupa Samadhi free from the trammels
of their body and remained motionless. In this state,
Saraswati shining with her former Jnana body along with
Lila with her newly assumed Jnana one, rose up high in the
Akasa, as if 10 digits high. Having penetrated far into the
Akasa which is like an ever-ebbing great ocean at the time of
deluge, they observed there the following. In the immeasura-
l/
54 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
ble, transparent and subtle Chidakas replete with the bliss
arising from zephyrs, there were to be found the hosts of
Siddhas who journeyed fleeter than wind. In it whirled, in
all quarters, Rakshasas and Pisachas as well as successive
rows of innumerable yogins, having the faces of dogs, cows,
camels and asses. There were also the multitudinous Dakinis
(elementals), dancing about gleefully and the white Ganga
running with its speedy current. There the songs of Narada
and Tumburu were heard vibrating on their lyre in non-
immured space. Clouds, as at the end of a Kalpa, rained
down their currents without any noise like a painted picture.
To wit, they saw bevies of fair houris collected together.
Then they passed through diverse places for the immeasur
able 10 Ghatikas distance, some replete with petrified sable
gloom inaccessible to any and others, radiant with the lustre
of Agni (fire) or the Sun journeying on his swift car. Thus
waded they through the Akasa of the three worlds, wherein
nbode the myriads of Jivas created by Brahma buzzing like
ihe swarms of flies collected in a ripe fig fruit.
Then contemplating upon reaching their longed-for place }
they crossed Brahma s egg- and reached Girigrama in the Loka
where Vasishta lived. As the new arrivals were invisible to the
menials, relatives and offsprings of the Brahmin suffering from
dire pains, Lila, of Satya-Sankalpa willed that the inmates
of the house should see her and her co-mate. Thereupon
taking these two, who were like Lakshmi and Parvati, to
be some sylvan goddesses, the menials, &c., worshipped them
and paid them proper respects. Of these, the eldest son ad
dressed them thus " You should lighten us of the load of
grief under which we are groaning ever since the demise of
our parents. Oh ladies of great knowledge, are there any
results not attainable through the visits, of great personages
like yourselves?" Thereupon the effulgent, Lila touched
their forehead and relieved them of their grief. Then both
these disappeared from view, from that spot that very in
stant.
Now that we have accomplished our object of seeing the
different states of the universe according to our thought
please acquaint me with thy further wish. So said Saraswati
to Divine Lila, at which the latter asked the former. " How
THE STORY OF LILA. 55
came it that during our Samadhi, the persons seated in the
regal assembly were unable to see me whilst those in the
beautiful house alone were so able ?"
Saraswati replied "It is only through the development
of Jnana that all the dual substances in this world will become
non-dual. As thou wert in possession of Jnana (knowledge)
not freed from the thoughts of " I" (or individuality), the true
(or voluntary) Sankalpa did not arise in thee. Hence it was
that all those in the royal assembly were not able to see thee.
But then in the second case, with the possession of the
true Jndna divested of all thoughts of individuality, thou
created the conception of u I" through thy own Sankalpa
and it was only then that the sons, &c., did see thee."
Then Lila overjoyed gave vent to the following words
" Through thy grace, Oh Saraswati, I have known
all my former births as clear as daylight. I have cleansed
myself of all sins arising from the three gunas. After
being differentiated as a separate entity out of the one
Brahman, 1 have undergone different births in 800 bodies.*
Like bees in a lotus flower, I have been inhabiting
the many worlds created through Maya-Vikalpa (or the
modifications of Maya). I was born as a Vidyadhara lady
and then as a human being through the force of Vasanas.
In another loka of Maya-Vikalpa, I went through a series
of births in the different bodies of Indrani, a huntress clad in
leaves, a bird rending the snare it was enmeshed in, a king
of Sourdshtra country and a musquito. Thus have I been
whirling in many births, and having been tossed too and fro
in the clutches of Maya, like a straw in ocean waves, I have
now been landed safely on the shore of Mukti (Salvation)
through thy aid." Thus did Lila eulogise her and both then
mounted up the Akasa.
Passing through the Akasa by dint of Yoga power, they
went to where Padma was and saw his body. After that was
over, they went to where the king Viduratha was, who was
the second incarnation of king Padma. At this juncture,
both these peacock-like ladies observed the incomparable
king of Sindhu of tremendous prowess march against Vidu-
* The number above given tallies nearly with that given out in the
Theosophical literature by Mr. Sinnett,
56 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
ratha. A fierce war was waged between the two armies,
striking terror into the heart of Death even. Viduratha s
innumerable army was reduced by the enemy to an eighth
of its original number. Then the sun disappeared from
view, as if afraid of either this terrible war or the
mountain heap of carcases. With the setting in of intense
darkness, both the armies ceased to battle. With the dis
appearance from the field of the enemies hosts, king Vidu-
ratha returned with a broken heart along with the shattered
remnants of his army to his own palace. Whilst he rested
upstairs in sleep, Saraswati and Lila came up to where he lay.
Being quite refreshed by their Tejas (radiant effulgence) which
was like the nectary rays of the moon, his lotus-like eyes
began to bloom and beheld, before him, these two ladies whom
he saluted and eulogised.
Then in order to acquaint Lila with the glorious lineage
of this race, Saraswati willed that the minister lying hard by
the king should wake up from his deep sleep. Instantane
ously, the minister shook off his lethargy and seeing Saras
wati saluted her. At which she asked him to trace from the
beginning, the history of the king s family. The minister
then began thus In the race of ManuVaivaswata,* the most
esteemed of kings, there was born a king of the name of
Kumbaratha (or Kundharatha) who had a son Bhadra-ratha,
the king of kings. The last had in his turn Akhila-ratha
(or Viswa-ratha) as son and through him a grandson by
the name of Manoratha. This grandson brought forth
Vishnu-ratha who, in his turn, had as his offspring Brihad-
ratha. This last king, had, in his line of descendants, Sindhu-
ratha, Sailaratha, Kamaratha and Maharatha, till at last the
last king Maharatha begat, in this place, the present king of
kings, Viduratha. The mother who begat the present king,
went by the appellation of Sumitra. His father, having con
trolled his mind, abdicated his kingdom in favour of his son,
then 10 years old, and led the life of a recluse in the forest.
Now Viduratha, our king, reigns with perfect justice".
As soon as the minister had finished these words, Saras
wati, in order to enable the king to easily know the events
of his former births through his Jnana (spiritual) vision,
* The Manu of this Manwantara or Round.
THE STORY OF LILA. 57
touched lovingly, with the palm of her hand, the king s head
and blessed him with Divine vision. Whereupon the gloom
of Maya that had obscured his mind like a great antagonist
flitted away from it and he was able to recognise himself in the
previous body of kingPadma sporting with Lila. Then the plea
sant sensation of marvel and joy arose in him, the former on
account of the diverse workings of Maya, and the latter, since
the knowledge of Maya he derived through the grace of these,
the (world s) mothers. With these thoughts in his mind, he
wore their feet on his head and said "In the one day that
passed from the extinction of my former body up to now (as
seen through my Divine vision), 1 have spent 70 years with
this my present body. I have also known all the events
that transpired during that period. Whence are all these
curious anomalies of Maya ?"
Thereupon Saraswati of the form of Divine grace vouch
safed the following reply- -" The trance called Death is
always accompanied at that very spot and in that very
instant, by the great delusion of re-births (and vice versa).
Now the conception of the duration of 70 years arose only
through the delusion of the Karmas performed by thee, while
in life. Know therefore and perceive for thyself that when
thy mind was rendered immaculate like Akasa free from all
illusions, such conceptions of time vanished, (as all concep
tions of time arise through the vikalpas of the mind only).
They the events of 70 years) are only like long-drawn
dreams of many events enacted in one Muhurta (48
minutes). Even our life during the waking state appears
prolonged in diverse ways through the many unreal events
performed. To tell thee truly, there is no such thing as births
or deaths to thee. Thou art the true Jnana alone. Thou
art the eternal supreme Seat. Hence though seeing the whole
universe, thou seest it not. Being of the nature of all, thou
art shining through thy wisdom in the Atmic Reality. The
old adage runs to the effect that a non-lisping baby, which
is obsessed while in the cradle, will be freed from such pos
session in the crematorium only. Similarly is the Ajnana
(illusion) in man ; and to the ignorant full of this painful Aj
nana, the universe appears to be real. Persons ignorant of
gold will assert an ornament made of gold to be the former
8
58
alone and not the latter. Likewise, persons devoid of spiri
tual vision will maintain this universe to be the inert one only,
(and not spirit, the seer free from the seen). Know also
all the universes, arising through the egoism of " T" and
" mine," etc, to be nothing but a dream and the different
objects seen therein to be as illusory as things in a dream.
Such objects and universes are no other than of the nature
of that Jnana (Reality) which is all permanent Param-Akas,
actionless, full, vast and immaculate. It is the one reality
which, being all and having all with the different Saktis
(potencies), manifests itself, without being diminished
thereby, in different forms according to the fructification of
time and Karmas. Through Lila, I have initiated thee into
the mysteries of the true Jnana state. Thy mind has been
illumined through the undecaying Tatwa (Truth). Therefore
we shall depart."
After reflecting well upon the enjoyment (of bliss) into
which he was now initiated, Viduratha remarked thus "Even
persons coming to me for aid are accustomed to receive at
my hands whatever they long for. Therefore is it sur
prising for me to attain any object of my quest at the hands
of you both who are like fresh Chinthamani* ? When shall I
be able to resume my former body of Padma ?" To which
Saraswati replied thus " You will perish in this war
and with your death, you will resume your Padma body."
Here a herald came in with the following announcement to
the king. "An ocean of army is discharging showers of
arrows at us, and our town is reduced to ashes through the
enemy s flames. Oh puissant king, I have to announce to
thee these painful tidings." While the information was thus
being given to the king, his ears were deafened by the terri
ble sounds of the enemy s hosts which made the hearts of
all in the three worlds to quail. The cries of shrieking rov
ing townsman collided with those of the enemy and rent the
air like a thunderbolt. The hissing flames which were like
Vatava Agni, enveloped the whole welkin with its volumes
of smoke. Thus all eyes and ears ceased to function and the
whole town became nothing but a heap of ruins. All these
* This is a stone supposed to yield anything- the possessor of it
thinks of.
THE STORY OF LILA. t)
devastations were personally witnessed by Sarasvvati and
Lila, the king and his minister. At this time, the queen of
the king Viduratha, came to where her husband was with
great trepidation and giddiness. Her handmaids who
accompanied her, apprised the king of the fact that all the
damsels and wealth in the palace were being ravished and
ravaged by the foe. Hearing which, he entrusted his wife to
the custody of those near him and sallied forth for war.
Now Lila, the spouse of Padma was extremely surprised
to find Lila, the spouse of Viduratha, an exact counterpart
of herself, like an image reflected in a glass. Thereupon she
queried Saraswati as to how it was she was re-duplicated
afresh ? The moon-coloured Saraswati cleared her doubts in
the following manner " Actuated by an excessive love
towards thee thy husband Padma thought, at the moment of
death, of enjoying thy company without being ever separated.
Accordingly he was able to get thee here. Whatever is
thought of by one at the time of his agonizing death, that
will be realized by him afterwards. Will a glass reflect other
than that which is placed before it ? Inasmuch as death, birth,
mental delusion, the waking, dreaming and dreamless states
are all one, not being in another as its cause (or each of them
not having another as the cause), all things that are and that
are not, are of the nature of delusion only and hence increase
beyond number. Now the stainful enjoyments are of two
kinds. Please hearken to them. Some experiences arise as
the result of former ones. Others arise newly, being entirely
different from the previous ones. Hence, as in the former
case, the new Lila with all your former form, observances,
race and conduct of life, appeared not different from you like
your shadow. It was through the thought of the king, that
she was moulded unto her present form like yourself. Vidti-
ratha will perish in this war and then assume the body of
Padma."
So said Saraswati, when the new Lila submitted thus
" Oh thou, who seemest to be fearaswati herself whom i adored
in former times, please confer on me the boon that, in the
event of my partner perishing in this war, I may live in this
body of mine along with him wherever he is." To which
Saraswati nodded assent.
60 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
Again the old Lila questioned the Mother of Vedas thus
" How was I able to journey to the higher Loka and the
supreme Girigrama with the aid of Adibhoutika body
only and not with the Adhivahika body (while the new
Lila was blessed otherwise) ? * To which the goddess replied
thus " I never give anything (without any cause) k to any
person. People get all things according to (or as the result
of) their thoughts. You thought of (acquiring) Jnana before
and implored me for it and I gave you therefore the Divine
Vision longed for by you. This damsel, your shadow, promp
ted by excessive desire asked of me another boon which was,
as promptly, granted. All men through my grace get what
ever their minds long after."
With a terrible angry face, the valiant Viduratha mount
ed his car, marched into the field of battle with his multitu
dinous host and attacked his enemies so furiously as to drive
them into the path of Death. Both the Lilas of un
dying affection for their Lord and yet in anticipation of his
death addressed Saraswati thus * Oh mother, how comes it
that in spite of our Lord s dauntless courage and your grace,
our husband should die so soon in this war ?" Saraswati
replied " As the learned Viduratha longed after the higher
spiritual state, he has to merge secondless into the supreme
Seat. This king of Sindhu who has come to oppose him will
gain the day over Viduratha in accordance with my mandates
at his propitiation of myself and will become a king." Whilst
these were discoursing thus, the day broke and the battle
field on both sides became completely void of all its living
contents. Then both the kings alone survived and took up
their bows and filled the sun, the moon, the quarters and
the welkin with showers of arrows. The arrows hissing
flames everywhere, it seemed as if the end of the Yuga was
approaching. Then Viduratha was left alone without his
car and driver. His bow was unstrung ; his diamond armour
was shattered to pieces by his enemy s semi-circular arrows ;
all his limbs were rent asunder and thrown promiscuously ;
and then Vidiiratha s trunk came flat upon the ground.
Whereupon the new Lila addressed her of the white lotus
thus "My husband is about to breathe his last; please
allow me to join my husband," Saraswati having pre-
THE STORY OF LILA. 6l
pared the way for it, the new Lila became light and ascended
the Akasa. Having crossed one after another the Mandalas
(spheres) of clouds, Vayu, the hot Surya (Sun)and Nak-
shatra (stars) and then Satyaloka and other divine lokas
and then breaking open the Mundane egg and piercing
through the septenary veils of (Ap) water and others, she
reached soon the immeasurable and endless Reality of Chi-
dakas at last. There she went into the harem where Padma s
dead body was lying, after crossing the Jnana-Akas with
its Avarnas (veils) in the midst of the many mundane eggs
which are as innumerable as the fig fruits in a fig forest and
which are uncrossable even in a long time with the speed of
Garuda (eagle). Concluding that the dead body covered up
with flowers, was her Lord s and that some how, through
Saraswati s grace, she came ahead of him, she sat beside
his body and fanned it gently.
While so. the Jiva of king Viduratha was winging its way
in the Akasa and without noticing the two ladies of Saraswati
and Lila of Divine vision who were going behind it, reached
the recess where Padma s body was lying. There these two
ladies accompanied it and saw the new Lila before them. In
the golden dome, the Jiva of Viduratha was arrested in
its progress and prevented by Saraswati from getting
ingress into the body of Padma. Then the old Lila look
ed about for her former body and not finding it there,
asked Saraswati as to what became of it. The goddess re
plied thus When you fell into a profound trance of medi
tation, the ministers taking you for dead have disposed of it
by consigning it to flames. If you stay on earth with
Adivahika body, then it will only revolutionize the world
with wonder that the deceased Lila came corporeally here
from Devaloka. And as you have divested yourself of all
Vasanas in this your Adivahika body, it is but right that you
should abandon that Adibhoutika body of yours," Saras
wati then willed in her mind that the new Lila should
see her. Whereupon the latter was like one who had dis
covered the hidden treasure of a long lost personage and
then saluting Saraswati by falling at her two feet, eulogised
her.
62 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
The two Lilas* bearing thus the company of Saraswati,
the latter let slip the grip she had on the Jiva of Viduratha
which therefore entered into the nasal orifice of Padma s body
in the form of Prana and permeated the whole parched up
body. Whereupon blood began to circulate freely throughout
its fleshy tenement and the deceased king woke up, rubbing
his eyes. With a thundering noise, Padma asked the by
standers who those were, that were there. WTiereupon the old
Lila prostrated herself before the king and saw that she
herself was the wife congenial to him, that the new Lila was
the offspring of his mind which thought of a form similar to
hers and came to enjoy with him, and that the third person
age was no other than the immaculate Saraswati.
After she had pronounced these words, Padma fell at
the feet of Saraswati who, laying her beautiful hands on the
head of Padma, blessed him with a long life with his wives,
an exalted fame and an ever increasing wealth in order to
render people happy by extirpating vices and peopling the
world with the great wise men. With these words, Saras
wati withdrew unto her silent abode, when the king praised
her with the following words " May Saraswati. the Goddess,
who presides over the tongues of all men and the departments
of all knowledge, prosper long in this world." Then the Em
peror Padma along with his wives wielded the sceptre over
the earth for 80,000 years. With the blessing conferred by
Saraswati, he shortened then and there the seven kinds of
births and attained on earth the Jivanmuktt State. At last
he attained the state of Videhamukti which never perishes,
even though great Kalpas come to an end.
THE STORY OF KARKATI.
Summary. Having- shewn fully that the universe is
nothing but a diversity of Maya, being in its true state but
Chaitanya (consciousness) per sc, which fact can be perceived
through Divine Vision, the author in this story gives out the
play of that Chaitanya in the present state.
* It is thus clear that the two Lilas represent no other than the
astral and the physical bodies of beings which are counterparts of one
another.
THE STORY OF KARKATI. 63
Now that thou hast heard the story of Lila which
removes all belief in the reality of the visibles, know that
Brahman alone is that which is the non-dual one and which
is Sat, Chit and Ananda, but which manifests itself as this
paltry universe. Therefore shake thyself free from this terrible
burden of a universe subject to destruction. Know also that
the eternal supreme Jiva is no other than theLight of Brahman,
shining steady and quiescent like a lamp in a windless place
or an ocean without waves and being, like Brahman, above
speech, all-pervading, all-full, transcendant, immaculate and
indescribable even by the cognizers of that Sat. Like small
pieces of wood, which by attrition generating a little fire, ex
pand into a vast flame, Jiva through its manifold experiences
of many objects generates in itself the differentiated concepts
of * I," &c. Through its Sankalpa, Ahankara, is engendered,
and by virtue of this Ahankara, different names such as Chitta,
Manas, Prakriti, Maya and others have been super-imposed,
by the wise, upon this all-full Jiva. This Manas which ex
pands through Sankalpas and Vikalpas is generated thus
with Brahman as its cause. All the universes which appear
only through Manas are no other than its modes. Alone the
ocean of Jnana shines with its countless grand waves of
Vritti-Jnana (or mental modifications). The universe appears
to be real through Manas only. This reality is only like a
dream extending over a long period.
Like the conception of a thief, arising out of the
want of true knowledge, in a log of wood (lying by the
wayside in a dark night), the conception of the reality of the
universe arises in the absence of the knowledge that all is
Brahman. Just as there is no difference between Jiva and
the imperishable Brahman, when one forgets all about them,
no difference at all there is between Jiva and Chitta. Simi
larly there is not the slightest difference between the epheme
ral Manas and the universes. Now hearken to the story of
a powerful Rakshasa woman who lived in days of yore and
questioned another through her ripe intelligence and then it
will relieve thee from all thy doubts.
She lived on the northern slopes of the Himalayas and
was called Karkati. Being a Rakshasa lady, she was large-
mouthed, crescent-teethed and lightning-eyed. It seemed as
64 YOUA-VA SISHTA.
if the sable rocks themselves yielded their contents to frame
her hands and legs wherewith to move and act. Her smile was
like a thunder clap. Her eyes whirled in their sockets, like the
finny creatures that circle round and round but do not run
away. Her two thighs which were like big date trees sup
ported a huge cumbrous body. Her nails able to pierce the
clouds were of adamantine density. She afflicted the minds
of all creatures on the face of the earth with her insatiate
gastric fire of hunger which was blazing day and night like
the Manwantaric flames. Even should all creatures ofjambu-
dwipa fall a prey to her capacious stomach, she would yet
find them a scanty meal, like an ocean in spite of its receipt of
river-waters, and crave for more. Her gastric fire would be
but slightly appeased like an autumnal heat with slight show
ers. Now she wanted to appease this fire without any injury
to herself and so made Tapas by propitiating Brahma for aid.
For this purpose, she resorted to the Himalayas and having
bathed, stood on one leg on the ground and concentrated
her eyes upon the sun shining in the sky. After she
had passed thus a painful Tapas for 1,000 years, the
Lotus-seated Brahma appeared visibly before her. Are
there any objects which cannot be acquired in this
world even by the vicious through the performance
of rare Tapas r" With the arrival of Brahma before
her, she made obeisance to him mentally without stir
ring from her spot and reflected thus" In order to assuage
my ever-increasing fire, if I transform myself into the form
of an iron-like Jiva-Suchika (living needle). I can enter into
the bodies of all in the world and consume as much food as I
require." Whilst these thoughts were revolving in her mind,
Brahma asked her the object of her wish. Karkati replied
thus "Oh Lord that favorest those, thy devotees who con
template upon and praise thec. thy servant wishes to be
come a Jiva-Sfichiku."
Thou shalt become Suchika having the prefix Vi attach
ed to thy name and hence be called Vishiichika*. Thou
shalt afflict those who feed themselves on unwholesome
food, who betake themselves to vicious courses, who are
* Vishuchika is the desease called cholera. The word is com
pounded of Vi and Suchika. Stichika is from SCich to make known.
THE STORY OF KARKATI. 65
Ignorant or ferocious, who live in insanitary places, and who
are wicked. Thou shalt commingle with Pr^na Vayu in the
heart and afflicting people with the diseases Padma, Pleeha*
and others shalt be (the disease) Vishuchika. Thou shall
enter both Saguna and Nirgunaf people. But in the case of
entry in Saguna men, to remedy the above disease, the follow
ing Mantras^ will have to be uttered, viz.,
aft, sf. tr. ^. if. f^Rfft. 5whfwn%.ftpT!R ^
. T3T3. WTO. ^^F^q 3RR1&. fl
The reciter of the above Mantra should write it on the
ieft hand (with the left) and should pass it (the left hand) over
the body of the diseased person. Then he should contem
plate upon Karkati, who is crushed with the pestle of the Man
tra and hence angry, as having departed for the Himalayas.
Then he should regard the diseased person as bathing in the
ambrosia of the moon and as free from diseases, mental or
physical. Being pure and having duly performed Achamana
(sipping water) with all his senses under perfect control,
he will destroy all Vishuchikas through the due performance
of the above mentioned means."
So saying Brahma vanished from view, whereupon this
mountain-sized personage reduced herself to the size of a
Jiva-Suchika and entered into the minds of the ferocious as
well as the timid in order to make them perish. Having
entered in the form of Vyu within all Jivds in earth and in
Akasa, she fed upon all their lives in the form ofjiva Suchika
and Vayu-Suchika. Surfeited with such an enjoyment, she
exclaimed " Whirling and making me despondent, my de-
* These are splenetic diseases.
f Saguna men are the wise while Nirguna are the ignorant.
J This is the Mantra to arrest cholera. Excluding the Beejaksharas
such as Oin, &c., the meaning of the Mantra is thus Oh Vishnu S akti,
fit to be worshipped, prostrations to thee ; please come here, take
her, take her (Vishuchika) ; burn her, burn her ; kill her, kill her ;
cook her, cook her ; churn her, churn her ; destroy her, destroy her ;
drive her, drive her ; Oh Vishuchika, go away to the Himalayas ; oh
the essence of Jivas, you are ot ( r g to ) the sphere of the moon,"
9
66 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
sires do make even the needle to wear away and making me
giddy, do destroy me. Away with these desires of mine ! With
a cruel heart. I have afflicted many lives in vain. Therefore, I
shall divest myself of all desires and perform Tapas in the
Himalayas " So saying, she gave up all fluctuation of mind,
devoid of any longing- for objects. Thus a thousand years
passed, purifying her of the two-fold Karmas, (virtuous and
sinful).
While thus, she was engaged in spiritual contemplation
with an illuminated mind, free from all the pains of love and
hatred and slighting this universe, the all-full Jnana dawned
in her mind and therefore Brahma came voluntarily to her and
imparted to her the following truths : (< Thou hast attained
the Jivanmukti state. Thy mind has been quite illumined ;
yet thou shalt be in thy old form of a Rakshasa lady and sup
port thyself on earth in the bodies of persons without Jnana
as well as the cruel and the base. Happiness thou shalt en
joy thus." With these blessings, Brahma disappeared.
Contemplating upon Brahman alone as the non-dual one
and as the All, she rested in the actionless seat of <( That. "
After remaining thus in Nirvikalpa Samadhi for a very long
time, she returned to the normal state and with infinite bliss,
commingled herself with her mind. Instantaneously the
thoughts of her old hunger revived. And as the conception
of " I" is incidental to this body so long as it exists
in the universe, she resolved upon tasting flesh, the food
peculiar to Rakshasas. Then exulting as nectar in the
consumption of the body of the ignorant as directed by
Brahma, she retired to the slopes of the Himalayas and
reached the country of the hunters. While she was dwelling
in the forest there, a king chanced to go to it along with his
just minister. Then the night was enveloped with such an
intense gloom as not to be dissipated by the light of even
sun, moon and Agni (fire combined together. Fearlessly
did they perambulate together on such a night, scaring away
PisAchas and other mischievous imps.
So soon as Karkati saw these two passing in the forest,
she reckoned upon a good repast in them. At first, she
thought that they were ignorant persons without true JnAna
and as such were productive of pains both in this and the
THE STORY OF KARKATI. 67
higher worlds as also everywhere. On further reflection, she
soliloquised to herself thus " According to the direction
of Brahma, those who are not content with any things that
come in their way are of weak minds only. On the other
hand, will any one be so foolish as to injure those who are
of illuminated mind and good qualities? Besides, will such
virtuous persons suffer thereby? Such Illuminatii will be of
undying fame, long life, and impartial bliss, worthy of being
venerated by all. As they are more endearing to one another
in their ranks than even their own lives, they will, even at
their own risk, protect another amongst themselves. They
have even the power to make their devotees get into the
good graces of Yama and thus overcome him. While even a
Rakshasa lady like myself goes the length of worshipping
the wise, who else will not do the same, like a fond dog ?
Like the full moon which protects this earth (and makes it
appear gay), the wise will gladden the hearts of those visiting
them. Persons not associating with such wise men will de
base themselves and be but as men dead ; otherwise they
will attain the good effects of Moksha and others." Thus
therefore she came to the conclusion of testing them as to
whether they were Jnanis or not.
With this purpose, she roared aloud (unperceived) in
the Akasa outvieing the thunder-clap with the following
words " Oh ye who resemble the sun and the moon in the
ineffable forest of Akasa, showering rain like clouds, Oh ye
who are like the countless hosts of vermin writhing and
perishing underneath the dark and terrible stone of Maya,
have ye come here simply for the purpose of falling a prey
to me this very instant ? Ye seem to me to be the wise ones,
and yet it strikes me ye belong to the other class also. To
which class then do ye belong r 1
At which the king thus addressed her " Oh Rakshasa
lady, ever prone to injure all creatures, hear me. But where
are you now ? We listened to all the sounds you uttered like
the buzzing of a young bee." Thereupon the lady exclaimed
" well done" and laughed aloud, standing before them.
The king, observing her large form through the intense lustre
of her large teeth, was not in the least appalled at the sight and
said to her thus " Do not open wide agape your capacious
68 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
mouth like the Minaka (mountain) and afflict yourself thereby.
Whatever may be said by persons, who do not long after the
fruits of actions, that such fruits are baneful and do not really
exist, the light-minded are ever engaged in such light ones
only ; but the wise of great quiescence are" bent upon the
transcendant spiritual actions through their subtle intelli
gence. Our valor is such as to blow away, like musquitoes,
persons of vicious proclivities like yourself. Therefore
abandon all your impetuous foolhardiness. Please apprise
us of your real intentions. We are able to confer, even in
dream, any objects begged of us through intense desire by
any person approaching us then."
At these words of the king, the lady came to understand
that they were persons of unlimited Jnana, knowledge, power
and quiescence of mind. Then in extreme marvel at their
noble words and stainless truth, she muttered to herself thus
" A stainless mind can be judged through speech, face and
eyes. Through those expressions, can their opinion also be
well gauged. Those whose doubts (about the higher spiritual
path) have not been cleared along with the love of wealth,
should be classed under the inferior class of the ignorant."
Then addressing these two grandees, she queried them as
to who they were.
The minister replied thus to the questions put by Karkati
"(Pointing to the personage near him), he is the King of
hunters and I am his Minister. Nightly do we patrol every
where to punish the vicious and protect the virtuous. On
that mission it is, we have wended our way thither."
Whereupon Karkati said thus " With the counsels of
a wicked minister, a good king too is turned into bad ways ;
even a bad king becomes virtuous, if counselled by an honest
and virtuous statesman. Conversely, a wise King generates
a good minister. Therefore when a king is counselled by a
statesman of great discrimination, what blessings will he
not achieve ? As is the king, so will be his subjects. Those
only are qualified to be kings or ministers who have deve
loped nobleness of disposition, equal vision over all and a
profound study of Jnana works. Otherwise they are not
worthy of discharging such duties. Therefore, if you are
not well versed in these Jnana books, you will have to reple-
THE STORY OF KARKATI. 69
nish my stomach and thus forfeit all chances of enjoying
your youth. I will now enmesh you both, who are like
two lions, in the cage of my questions. Now try to unlock
their portals with the keys of your discrimination. Else, you
will not be able to outlive that period." On the King asking
her to state the questions, the lady rained her queries on
them both like ambrosia. Muni Vasishta continued Oh
Rama, listen attentively to the questions proposed by the
Rakshasa lady. They are the following :
(1) What is that atom which is the cause of the origin,
preservation and destruction of the myriads of heterogeneous
universes springing up like so many bubbles on the surface
of the ocean ?
(2) What is that which is Akasa and yet is not ?
(3) What is that which, though it is unlimited, has yet
a limit ?
(4) What is that which though moving, yet moves not ?
(5) What is that which, though it is, yet is not ?
(6) What is that, which manifests to itself as Chit (con
sciousness) and is yet a stone (or inert) ?
(7) What is that which pourtrays pictures in the Akasa?
(8) What is that atom in which are latent all the micro
cosms, like a tree in a seed ?
(9) Whence do all things originate, like volatility in
water, being non-different from that cause like the tidal foams
in the ocean ?
(10) And in what will these two (volatility and water)
become merged as one ?
" If you are able to solve these riddles through your
intelligence, then you can aspire to a seat on my head, like
fragrant blossoms gracing my locks. Otherwise, if you
muddle yourself over these questions through your obtuse
head, you will but serve as a fuel for the gastric fire blazing
in my stomach."
Thereat the minister replied thus " Your questions
point but to the non-dual Brahman. Being above the reach
of mind and the five Indryas (organs), it is the endless abso
lute Jnana more subtle than Akasa and the Supreme Atom
of atoms (Paramanu). Out of that Atom, all the former Mun
dane eggs arose and into It were (or will be) all absorbed.
70 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
Question (2). As there is no such attribute as exterior
(or interior) to this all-pervading- Brahman, it can be said
to be Akasa itself ; but yet it is not the Akasa of the
elements, as it is pure Jnana itself.
Question (3). As there is no abode for it to abide in, it
is not limited ; and yet it abides in them ever as the Absolute
Sat.
Question (4). Through its relationship with many ob
jects, it moves about ; and yet it is devoid of motion, as it
has no space outside of itself to move.
Question (5). As it is not possible to be known by being
pointed to (as this or that), It is not, and yet It w, as It is
Be-ness itself.
(6) As it is the self-shining Light, it is consciousness
per se, and yet it is like the inert stone, since it has not the
power of knowing, (being itself the All) (also since It is that
which manifests itself in the two aspects of intelligence and
matter.)
(7) This is it that depicts the pictures of the series of
universes in the Chidakas which is very subtle, immaculate
and self-existent.
(8) (10) As the heterogeneous universes are but the light
or manifestation of that One, therefore nought else is but
That ; yet all the different worlds arising- out of the conception
of I, Thou, &c. , are inseparable from It, being but Its aspect.
So replied the intelligent courtier standing by the side of
his king, when Karkati became overjoyed with him and
then addressed the king for a solution of her questions, in
order to sound his depth of knowledge. The king there
upon said thus " It is indubitably certain that this universe
is not and it is also as certain that the partless One alone is.
Now thou shalt hear an account of the nature of that one
vis.) Brahman. The mastery of Brahman can be effected
through the mind alone after abandoning its Sankalpas and
Vikalpas. The origin and dissolution of this universe (which
is nothing but a mode of consciousness), take place with the
complete origination and destruction of the Sankalpas of the
mind. Such a process is the real seat (or import) of the
holy sentences in the Vedas ; but yet it is exterior to them,
as it is through self-experience alone that such a process can
THE STORY OF KARKATI. 71
be developed. It occupies a seat intermediate between Sat*
(being) and Asat (non-being) and is the real state of the
two. It is this Sankalpa of the mind that brings into play
this world with all its moving and fixed creatures. Thou
hast in thy questions referred to Brahman only which,
manifesting itself as this universe, is yet theimpartite plenum
of Jnana through its being the non-dual Principle from of
old. This is the one Reality cognized by men of true love."
At these words of the king, the Rakshasa lady felt her
whole body cooled as if showers of nectar were rained on it.
Having steadied herself after her exultation was over,
she gave vent to the following words: "Do not all men
wear, as their crown, the feet of such holy personages like
yourselves who have rare intelligence, like unto a
Jn^na-sun, which has neither degree nor stain, nei
ther setting nor rising? Will despondency ever rise in the
breasts of those who associate with Atma Jnanis, being, as
they are, invincible conquerors of Moksha-loka ? Despite
your acquisition of all things through Atma, please lay your
commands on my head, so that I may serve you in some
respect ?"
To which the king said thus 4i Oh wench, that is like
a poisonous fruit in the forest of Vishadhruma (or the poi
sonous trees) of the Rarkshasa race, desist from thy massacre
of all lives in this world." The lady having nodded assent,
the king queried her as to what such a carnivorous person,
as she was, would do to appease her hunger. The lady said
that she would resort to Nirvikalpa Samadhi as she did be
fore to alleviate her gastric fire. She remarked further that
she would thus pass a long time in the state of Jivanmukti,
tasting the ambrosia flowing within and then reach Vidheha-
mukti. Then she promised on her honor not to hurt any
creatures, now that she had developed Jnana.
While she was meditating upon beating a retreat, the
king said " We have encompassed our object very smoothly.
If you will choose to accompany us to our palace and there
remain as one of our family, we will bestow upon you plent-
* Here Sat and Asat mean existence and non-existence or Purusha
and Prakriti. Whereas Satta is applied to Parabrahma which is Be-
ness as opposed to being- or non-being-.
72 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
eously the bodies of those villains who betake themselves to
murder and other crimes. So long as this body endures,
thoughts and other pains incidental to it will not bid adieu
to it. Therefore you can devote yourself to Nishta (medita
tion) after quenching the fire in your stomach with the vic
tuals supplied to you in the form of the bodies of the vicious.
Thus shall you act in this world with true love."
Thereupon the lady with great exultation walked along
with the leonine King and his minister to their golden palace
when the sun rose. In six days after their arrival, three
thousand wretches were handed over to her by the King.
Discarding during nights the resplendent form of Lakshmi
with which she shone during the day in that palace, she trans
formed herself into a Rakshasa woman and piled upon her
shoulders the ignorant suicides. Then having taken leave
of the King and his counsellor, she fled for meditation to the
golden Himalaya mountains. Even to this very day, both
the King and *Karkati are thus moving friendly towards one
another. So said Vasishta to Ramachandra.
THR STORY OF AINDHAVA THE SON OF INDHU
OR THE MOON.
Summary. The author, having in the previous story
shewn that the light of Brahman alone is Jiva and others
now gives this story to exemplify the fact that its (Brahman s)
manifestation, z;z>., the mind alone is the universe.
From the foregoing story it is evident that Brahmic
Reality which is the one Truth alone is. All the visible
objects do not really exist. The mind alone shines as the
cause of all the manifold created objects. To illustrate this
(last proposition that it is the mind which makes the uni
verse), I shall relate to thee, Oh Rama, a story which thou
shalt presently hear. Thou shalt then be impressed with
the firm conviction that the potency of Jnfina alone manifests
itself as this universe. This puerile Manas which ever rises
and falls with the ebb and flow of desires, fancies this illusory
universe to be true through its ignorance ; but if it should be
informed of the real nature of this world, then it will cognize
* Karkati means a snake in one sense.
THE STORY OF AINDHAVA. 73
it to be Brahman itself and pains will bid adieu to such a
mind. Should the mind be subject to the trammels of the
heterogeneous modifications of love and other desires, then
it tends to rebirth, but a freedom from their thraldom is
emancipation.
Once upon a time, Lord Brahma rose up at dawn of day
wishing to generate afresh a new creation, after having
been refreshed by his sleep over a night (of his), when the
whole creation was merged in the one Fount. For this pur
pose, he surveyed the Akasa which began to prevade every
where through his mind ; and lo, that Akasa became filled
with all kinds of motley creations. Marvelling over the event
and longing to know its author, he pointed his finger at one
of the suns therein to approach him and inquired of him as
to the authorship of himself and all the universe. Where
upon the sun paid due respects to Brahma, and said thus
** If even you Brahma, the cause of this endless uni
verse, do not know it, I shall try to give it out as far
as I can. There is a noble country answering to the ap
pellation of Suvarnathala* in a part of the extensive Jambhu-
dwipa situated on the Kailasa hills. It abounds with crea
tions that are all thy offspring. In it, there lived a noble
Brahmin rejoicing in the name of Indhu (the moon) and trac
ing his lineage to Kasyappa, the Rishi. Not blessed with any
offspring, he and his spouse with an agitated heart resorted to
Kailasa, the abode of Parameswara and underwent severe
Tapas, tasting water alone and being as fixed asatree. Where
upon Paramasiva was greatly pleased with them and having
approached them, demanded of them what they wanted. With
head prostrate on the ground, they entreated to be blessed
with ten erudite sons to free them from all pains. The boon
having been granted, both the husband and wife lived in joy
and were blessed with 10 goodly babes. These babes grew
up with age, well versed in all departments of knowledge.
In course of time, the parents died and their sons retired to
the Kailasa hills where they began to soliloquise within them
selves thus " Shall we, to relieve ourselves from this in-
digency which is afflicting us, become a leader of men ?
As even this situation is but a paltry one, Jet us become a
* Lit golden seat.
IO
74 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
king" or rather an emperor ruling over all worlds. Even this
is insignificant, when compared with the status of Devendra,
the lord of nine wealths. This too will not suffice us.
Therefore let us become the lotus-seated Brahma wherein
we can enjoy all kinds of stainless wealth." With this fixed
resolve, all the ten personages seated themselves in Padma
posture and with one concentrated and same purposed mind
were engaged in a non-fluctuating meditation thus "We
alone are Brahma; all the creations are out of ourselves
only." Thus did they pass long asons of time, oblivious of
their body and immovable as a wood. When thus their
mind s thoughts (were perfected and) concreted them
selves (into a solid mass), all the ten became Brahma
himself. Then the ten lokas* were created. Ten kinds of
creations were generated by these ten personages in their
Manas-Akas. Out of the ten creations of ten Suns. I am
one." So saying, he (the sun) vanished out of sight.
Said Vasishta to Rama As all the visible universes are
existent only through the expansion of this crass mind, the
swan-seated Brahma created, in accordance with this law,
all the worlds through his mind only.
THE STORY or THE DECEITFUL INDRA.
Summary. Having shewn that the universe is nothing
but the mind manifesting as such only through the potency
of Brahman, the author now proceeds to illustrate, in this
story, the fact that the body with its organs, &c., is no other
than mind.
The creator of the incomparable worlds and the slayer of
Atma (the Real) is the mind only. The actions of the mind
alone are, indeed, actions ; but not so, those of the body.
In the previous narrative of the ten Brahmins related by
the sun, they became Brahma after performing Tapas in
Padma posture and created the worlds. Who else than
Brahma can easily and truly understand the wonderful poten
cy of the mind ? The mind contemplating upon the body, be-
* This stands for the 3 worlds of" Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra be
sides the 13hu, &c., up to Satya or for the ten solar systems.
THE StORY OF THE DECEITFUL IXDRA. 75
comes the body itself and then (enmeshed in it), is afflicted
by it. The all-full Jnanis through the contemplation of Brah
man within, are never affected by the pains assailing this
body of nine gates. So indeed were, in days of yore, Indra and
Ahalya who were guilty of incest.
Here Rama asked Vasishta as to \vho these two were.
On which Vasishta continued thus In former times, there
lived a King by the name of Indradyumna reigning over the
country of Magadha. The lady that ministered to his enjoy
ment like his Prana, was called Ahalya. In that town abode
a person named Indra. True to the tradition of the incestu
ous intercourse which occurred in former times between the
once Ahalya and Indra* which the present couple of the same
name had heard, the living couple began to have criminal
intimacy with one another. Like two lovers who come in
contact after long parting, she passed some days alone in the
enjoyment of the company of her paramour. The King s
subjects who were eye witnesses to this scandalous affair
reported it to the just King. On hearing which, he waxed
exceedingly wroth and caused the stray couple to be sunk into
deep waters. Finding that this did not affect them in the
least, he caused them to be subjected to many ordeals, such
as trampling them with rutting elephants of fierce tusks,
bathing them in flames of fire and beating them with hammers,
&c. In spite of the infliction of all tortures, they did not
evince the least symptoms of pain but merely laughed at them,
eying one another with one-made mind as they sat opposite.
Extremely bewildered at the marvellous manner in which
they baffled all his attempts to make them feel pain, he asked
them the why of their being proof against all tortures. At
which, the exulting pair breathed the following words " Oh
thou of Atlantean shoulders, as our eyes are regaling them
selves with the lunar ambrosia of one another s face, we revel,
within, in unimpeded bliss and hence are entirely oblivious of
our body. While so, is it possible for us to (feel any pain or
see our body)? We never experience the slightest pain,
even when the body is ripped open. When the mind
* It may be remembered that, in Ramayana, Ruma revives Ahalya
from the state of stone to which she was cursed by her husband Gau-
ama.
7b YOGA-VA SISHTA.
is intense!} fond of anything, there will be no percep
tion of pain, even when destruction awaits the body.
When the mind is completely drowned in any object, who
else is there to observe (and feel from) the actions of the
body ? Even the curses of Munis and the many Karmas will
not be able to divert that mind from its beloved seat within.
There is no end to the bodies which perished, beyond number,
but in vain (in the many previous births.) All these bodies
have their seat in (or originate from) the mind only. With
out water, can a forest exist ? It is the mind which transacts
all business and is the highest of bodies. Even should this
gross body be dissolved, the mind will assume fresh bodies
to its liking, as speedily as actions done in dreams. Should
this mind be paralysed, then the body will not evince any
intelligence." So said the adulterous couple, on hearing
which, the King eyed them with pleasure. Muni Barata close by
him remarked that the two gave vent to words of wisdom,
notwithstanding their minds being under the thraldom of
passions. Therefore he banished them both from his realms,
so that they might enjoy themselves in foreign lands.
THE STORY OF MANAS (MIND).
Sum?nary. After having shewn that the mind manifests
itself as the external world in the shape of pains or pleasures,
the author now illustrates the fact that the mind subjectively
is consciousness while objectively it is this universe.
Thebliss enjoyed by the adulterous couple in the previous
story was given out for the purpose of giving a faint idea
of Brahmic bliss. All persons have two bodies, a subtle
one suitable to the mind and a gross one. The mind performs
all actions very speedily in this mental body and fluctuates
thereby. But the gross body knows not anything and is
inert.
At these words of Vasishta,Rama asked to be enlightened
as to the nature of this inert and formless body of the mind.
To which, Muni Vasishta of the nature of Jnana replied thus,
in the words cf Brahma " The form which the endless
Atma of all potencies assumes through Sankalpa is Manas
THE STORY OF MANAS. 77
All conceptions associated with actions arising out of that
(real)state which is intermediate between the powerful Sat
and Asat are nothing but the forms of the mind. No matter
whence that mind proceeds or what form it manifests itself
with, if it is made to tread the path leading to Moksha or
to merge into Atma, then it will be conducive to its
progress.
Now hearken to an archaic story related by Brahma of
old. There was a great forest of dire illusion, terrific to be
hold and replete with dire pains. A fractional part of its utter
most limit measured many myriads of Yojanas.* In that
forest lived a Purusha (personage) with eyes and hands un
told. He had a Chitta (mind) which flitted everywhere. He
had the all-distending form of Akasa. Armed with many car
ved sticks of great speed on his person, he scourged himself
with them, and then smarting under those pains and setting
up a vociferous yell, he would run in all directions without
having any mastery over himself. Dashing himself against
all objects in intense gloom, he would precipitate himself
down the deep and desolate well of terrific sins and there
would be eking out a life of misery. Then emerging out of
that well, he would, as before, lash his body and scream out,
whirling ever on his heels. In his impetuous haste, he would
entangle himself in a forest of trees full of long brambles and
being perforated all throughout the body, would flutter like
the moth in a flame. Then running to a fine plantain garden,
he would run to the other extreme of intense exultation.
Again and again would he recur from this pleasurable gar
den to the previous thorny forest and thence into the well
and back again, finding pleasure in none.
Seeing him reel thus giddily many times, we (Brahma)
caught him under our grip to free him from all fears and
questioned him thus. * Who art thou that thus art groan
ing under pains ? what art thou about here ? and what is thy
intention r"
To which that person replied thus "All persons having
the concept of * I (and other differences) are non-existent to
me. I have not been able to find any actions for me to per
form in this world. I am quite pained by the heterogeneous
* Yojanas are reckoned by some to be 10 miles ; by others, 7 or Smiles.
78 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
differentiations set up by thee. Thou art my enemy, though
paltry. It is only through thee, that I have identified myself
with the pains and pleasures, I have been suffering from."
Having said so, he cast a survey over his body. His heart
began to melt and he cried aloud with a thunderlike sound.
Desisting, in a moment, from his loud wails, he again cast
his eyes over his beautiful form and laugUed aloud for a long
time, as if to burst open his belly. Then, in my very presence,
he freed himself from the many fat bodies he had assumed
(in the many births).
Though the force of dire destiny, another person was
born in another spot. Like the former person, he appeared
before us in a plight similar to the other and scourged him
self, when I consoled him as previously. Then this wayfarer
passed along his path and gave up that body. Again did he
come in another guise and in this life of his, he fell into that
deep unfrequented well. We did not see him emerge out of
that well for a long time. Then there appeared on the stage
of this ever perturbed forest (this person as) another who,
though he was greatly checked in his path and shewn the
road to true knowledge by us, spurned our advice and still
persisted in his obstinate course of lashing himself as he
went along. Even now do such ferocious persons exist
writhing under great pains and dwelling in such dire forests
replete with sharp-pointed thorns and enveloped in such
a thick gloom as to instil fear into all hearts. But wise
men, even should they live in the midst of a fiery burnt-up
forest, will regale and rejoice in it as in a cool flower garden
wafting sweet odors.
Here Rama asked Rishi Vasishta to give the underlying
meaning of this story. At which the great Muni thus conti
nued. (i) The interminable forest referred to in the
story is nothing but this Samsara (mundane exis
tence) which is devoid of beginning, middle or end, is asso
ciated with Maya (or is illusory) and is lofty, dire and replete
with excessive Vikalpas. (2) The Purusha (personage) resid
ing in this forest of the universe filled with the vapor of fiery ire
stands for the mind whirling with pains. (3) He who checked
the impetuous passage of the mind represents the incomparable
discrimination. (4) The mind attained through its enemy of
THE STORY OF MANAS. 79
discrimination the quiescent state of Para Brahm. (5) The mind
at first turned its back upon discrimination and hence entan
gled itself in the folds of Vasanas of objects. (6) The well
into which the egos sink after macerating their bodies is
Naraka(hell) ; (7) but the plantain garden symbolises Swarga-
loka (or Devachan) full of enjoyments. (8) The forest of trees
abounding with thorns is this Bhuloka (earth) filled with the
two sexes of beings of excessive passion. (9) Then the fact of
that personage who, after toppling down into the well, was
not able to rise from it for a long time and then (in another
incarnation) entered the city, stands for the mind not yet
freed from its sins. (10) The long-pointed thorns represent
the males and females of this world full of passions, (n) The
words Thou art my enemy though paltry and It is only
through thee that I have identified myself with the pains and
pleasures, I have been suffering from are the outbursts of
the mind in its last gasp of death through discrimination.
(12) The cry set up is when the desires are sought to be
annihilated. (13) The bewailings and the invocation for aid
are through the pains which the mind with half-developed
Jnana feels when it relinquishes all desires. (14) The final
cool joy and the laugh consequent upon it, is the bliss arising
from the mind merging into the stainless Jnana. (15) And the
real bliss is that one which arises when the mind, divested of
all desires through the eternal Jnna, destroys its subtle form.
(16) The bridling of the mind through excessive power,
refers to the concentration of the same through initiation into
Jnana. (17) The scourging of the body refers to the pains
created through the excessive misconceptions of the mind. (18).
The peregrination of the personage over a vast field is the
roving over the world, unconscious of the Reality that can be
attained only through the mastery of the perishable Vasanas*
Hence it is that all the Sankalpas and Vasanas, which a
man generates, enmesh him as in a net. All become subject
to bondage through their own Sankalpas and Vdsanas like a
a silk-worm in its cocoon. Having delved into your mind
through your stainless mind and thoroughly sifted it, may you
destroy your stainful mind. So said the illuminated Yasishta
to Rama of clear mind.
8o
THE STORY OF A BA LA (LAD).
Summary. Through this story, it is sought to be shewn
that persons without Atmic enquiry will see, as real this world
which is nothing but of the nature of Sankalpa.
The stainless mind of Jnanis is no other than the ever-
imperishable Brahman that has all 6aktis potencies and is ever
full. Nought else is but that One. There is nothing which is
not found in this Brahmic Reality. This indescribable Reality
manifests itself as the many. Out of the infinite potencies
in it, arises at one time one potency. This Jnana Sakti of
the stainless Brahman then manifests itself as in the
perishable bodies. The different Saktis producing fluctua
tion, hardness, heat, voidness, moisture and destruc-
tiveness in Vayu, stone, fire, Akas, water and Pralya are no
other than the one Brahmic potency latent in Brahman like
trees in seeds. They appear multiform like the plants, &c. ,
on this earth variegated by dint of time, space, &c. It is only
the Brahmic Reality that is always and everywhere. It is
only that Brahman which manifests itself as Manas through
contemplation or as the Jivatma subject to bondage or as the
emancipated Paramatma as well as the universe and the many
Saktis in it. All the Vikalpas of the world seem to be as
real to men as to a fickle child that in an old story is reported
to have heard, as if true, all that her mother had narrated to
her.
At these words of Vasishta, Rama of lotus-hands who
was like a cloud raining his bounty upon all, wished to be
acquainted with that story. Whereupon the Rishi of rare
Tapas began thus this story of mind s illusions.
A certain lad that had not yet attained discretion prayed
to his mother to tell a tale for his diversion. Whereupon she
related, as if true, the following entirely mythical story. Once
upon a time three princes of unflinching bravery and good
qualities resided in a city called void. Of these three, two
were never born and the third never went into any womb to be
generated. These triumvirs bent upon the acquisition of all,
rested in the forest of Akasa, full of countless fruits and having
allayed their keen hunger by feeding themselves upon the
delicious fruits therein, went on their way up- There they
THE STORY OF A SIDDHA. 8 1
witnessed three rivers with dashing waves, winding their
way on the out-skirts of that forest. Of these three rivers
with speedy current, two had no water in them, while in the
third the dry white sands were quite visible on its surface.
In this last river they bathed and drank its waters. At sun
set they retired to a town to rise thereafter (and not then in
existence) and there built three houses. Of these three houses,
two did not at all exist. The third one did not rejoice in the
possession of any encircling- walls or wooden superstructure.
The three princes went to reside in these three contiguous
houses without any wall (or support). These three persons
who abode in the three buildings in an invisible town in the
Akasa, found three golden vases by them there. Two were
tiles only, while the third was a mere pulverised one.
They deposited, in this formless vessel, a quantity of rice
equal to 6 measures minus 10 measures and cooked the
same. Having done so, they meted it out to innumerable
mouthless Brahmins. After the Brahmins had thus filled
their stomach to the brim, the three princes partook of the
remaining meal as a God-send. Then delighting them
selves with hunting and other pursuits, they spent their rime
most joyfully therein." When the mother thus concluded her
story, her innocent child rested in the profound conviction of
the genuineness of the mother s tale. Similarly do the
ignorant conceive and observe this world to be really existent.
The expansion of this mind alone isSankalpa; and Sankalpa,
through its power of differentiation, generates this universe.
Therefore, Oh Rama, may you divest yourself of all Sankalpas
and be a Nirvikalpa.
THE STORY OF A SIDDHA.
Summary. Having shewn that persons who have not
cognised the seer believe the visual to be real, the author now
proceeds with this story to exemplify the fact that time is but
a mode of the mind; the visible though illusory being nothing
but a manifestation of Chit.
AjnAnis (the ignorant) will fluctuate greatly in mind
through their Sankalpa ; but Jnanis will never do so through
ii
82 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
the Jnana of Atmic enquiry. May you, after clearing, through
your discrimination, your mind free of all illusions cognize
the pure Truth. Do not be appalled at the idea that you are
under trammels, while in fact you are not so. Is it possi
ble for the immaculate and indestructible Brahmic Principle to
be bound ? While Brahman alone is that which is not subject
to the limitations of Time, Space and Substance, is non-dual
and is Absolute Consciousness devoid of all heterogeneity,
what is there in this world to be bound or to gain salvation ?
All are nothing but the expansion of Sankalpas (and Vikalpas).
The expansion of the mind s thoughts (towards objects) is
bondage ; while the abandoning of the same is emancipation.
Through the play of the mind in objects, proximity appears
to be a great distance and vice-versa. Through the force of
the mind, a Kalpa is reckoned by it as a moment and vice-versa.
There is a story current which illustrates this idea well.
Thereby it will be quite apparent to you that this legerde
main of the world is enacted by the mind and the mind alone.
Vasishta continued A King who traced his lineage to
Harischandra ruled over the country of Uttara Pandava. He
commanded the eulogies of Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth)
and Saraswati (the goddess of knowledge). On his arms rested
Vijaya-Lakshmi (the goddess of victory). This personage,
who bore the appellation of Lavana, was once seated on his
throne bedecked with the nine gems and encircled by his
sagacious statesmen. Into that stately synod, stalked in
majestically one who was well versed in the art of Indra-
Jala (psychological tricks). Having paid due respects to and
eulogised the King, he entreated him to witness his feats.
So saying, he waved his bunch of peacock s feathers dotted
with moon-like eyes. Like Maya which, through the im
maculate Para Brahm, deludes as real men with the varie
gated creations of the world, this Siddha played several feats
before the King by waving the large circle of peacock s fea
thers, which the Kins: no sooner saw than lo ! before his mental
vision he saw the following events enacted. A messenger des
patched by the king of Sindu entered upon the scene with a
high mettled charger like unto Indra s, and said that that
victorious one was intended by his master for the king
Lavana. Whereupon the Siddha asked the king to mount
THE STORY OF A SIDDHA. 83
upon the same, since no other horse could vie with it. In
obedience to the words of this great personage, the king
stared like a statue intently in the direction of the horse and
lay entranced for a Muhurta, like yogis in Samadhi. Then
those assembled before the king, became seized with doubt
and surprise with their faces contracted like lotuses with
closed petals. After the courtiers were thus in a state of
mental perplexity and fear for about four Muhurtas, the
king s body relaxed its rigidity and began to fall prostrate
before the throne, when those hard by propped it up.
Then the king gradually recovered consciousness and the
obedient ministers asked him as to how it was his pure mind
had lost its equilibrium. After shaking off his stupor fully,
the king replied thus When the Siddha revolved the circle of
peacock s feathers and uttered some words, I got giddy and
noticed a horse which I ascended with full memory and jour
neyed on speedily a long distance on account of chase. Like
Ajnanis who wallow amidst their painful wealth through a
non-discriminative mind, I entered, on horseback, a desolate
waste with a seething heat that scorched all things and even
the senses. There I and my charger became quite jaded
through our peregrinations in the forest with despondent heart
and ceaseless pains, till the sun set in the west. Like a
Jnani who frees himself from the load of Samsara and pro
ceeds onward in his path, 1 after crossing the waste
reached a delicious forest teeming with many kinds
of trees such as Jambu, Kadamba and lime and rever
berating with the songs of feathered songsters. Whilst I
was thus riding on the horse, a creeper high up in a tree
twined round my neck and immediately the speedy horse bolt
ed out of my sight, like sins from a bather in the Ganges,
leaving me rocking to and fro aloft in the air with the creep
er encircling my neck. Thus dangling down, my body be
came stiffened with the cool winds blowing on it and my mind
became paralysed. Without bath, worship, meditation or
food during the day, I saw night approach with her grim
attendants of darkness, pains and extreme shivering which
set my teeth against one another."
" At dawn of day the glorious orb arose, dispelling that
darkness like Jnanis driving away their mental gloom. Then
84 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
I cast my eyes around and cut asunder the creeper that twin
ed round my throat and then having descended from there,
looked about for some living person but in vain. After an
hour and a half had elasped, an outcaste girl quite an alien
to me arrived on the scene, like darkness facing the moon.
This girl, who had a dark skin and sable vesture, approached
me with some nectary viands in her hand. Unable to control
my hunger, I entreated of her thus * Oh Swan-like one,
please bestow on me that which thou hast in thy hand. But
I paid the penalty of all those poverty stricken persons who
go and beg of another in haste through their extreme hunger ;
for this girl did not vouchsafe to give it to me, as if I had not
earned the right to get it through my Tapas, and took to her
heels. Then ensued a chase in which I hunted her through
out the forest and after getting at her, piteously complained
to her of my extreme hunger. To which the dark skinned
one replied thus * I am an outcaste and it is not meet that
thou shouldst taste the food I have. But if thou deignest to do
so, thou shouldst first promise to wed me in my own place
before my parents and live with me there. If so, I will give
thee this very instant what I have in my hand. To which
I nodded assent reluctantly ; and instantly she handed to me
with great avidity what she had. After having partaken of a
moiety of this nectar and tasted the juice of Jambu fruits to
quench my thirst, my sharp appetite was appeased. Then
she took hold of my hand, saying I was a good fellow and
led me on to her parents, like the subtle body of a person
conducted to the terrific hell. There she asked leave of her
father to bestow her hand upon this lover of hers. Finding
no obstacles in the way on the part of the father, the pair
left this forest laden with ghosts, and were taken over to the
village by this dark Neecha (outcaste) of a father who was
like Yama s servant the village which was redolent of the
stench of flesh. In order to celebrate their marriage, he
killed for flesh the bodies of monkeys, horses, fowls, crows
and pi^s and dried them like festoons in the strings of nerves.
Birds were pouncing upon them as they were exposed.
Swarms of flies were buzzing in the pieces of flesh held by
boys in their hands as they trudged along in the streets.
In this hamlet bespattered with blood and bones, a pan-
THE STORY OF A SIDDHA. 85
ddl (shed) was erected with plantain trees as the four
pillars."
" Then with great hilarity, the marriage festivities began.
The old hunch-backed grand-mother of the house surveyed,
through her large fleshy eyes, me, her son-in-law and was
greatly pleased with the choice. All the out-castes being as
sembled on the occasion, the drums were caused to be bea.
ten. Toddy and flesh were distributed freely among the
audience. Like sin which produces a Yathana-sarira vbody
of suffering) for men in hell, the Neecha father gave me this
girl in marriage. As usual with these low-caste people, the
wedding lasted seven days.* After it was over, I passed eight
months in the company of this lady who was as if all
sins had solidified themselves in her. Through my union
with this lady of budding breast, a child was born like
pains, the offspring of dire accidents. The complexion
of this child was like that of a burnt brand and it
grew up like the minds of the ignorant. Then in the course
of three years she bore me a son, like birth generating ignor
ance. Then again another child was born of her through
me, as if human miseries arising out of excessive desires in
carnated in the form of that child. With these, spouse and
children I lived for a long time. Then what with the cares of
Sarnsara and the pains I and my family had to undergo, my
body became old and emaciated. And when I was thus
enfeebled through dotage, the whole earth near the base of
the Vindhya mountains, became parched up through drought
and all lives about there palpitated through hunger. The
verdant foliage of trees with long branches, creepers, grass
and others were not to be met with there, The whole air
was saturated with volumes of dust raised through heat.
Then one by one began to perish my new relatives, and a few
that were alive fled to foreign dominions."
" In order to survive this shock, I and my wife abandoned
my country under the scorching rays of the sun, myself
bearing two of my children on my two shoulders and the
third on my head. Having crossed my country I saw a big
palmyra tree under the shadows of which I dismounted my
* Among 1 Brahmins it lasts 4 days generally.
86 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
children and rested myself along with my wife for some
time, like one who, having crossed the terrible hell of vicious
deeds, enjoys the happiness resulting from his past good
deeds. There my wife expired in the very embrace of her
children, having been quite jaded through dotage and the
efforts of a long travel under a tropical sun, though to
all appearances she was like one, faint or asleep. At this,
my heart gave away. One of my younger children mounted
on my lap without a wink of sleep and weeping incessantly
with his two eyes ever trickling down tears, demanded of me
flesh and blood to eat, as he was unable to endure his hunger.
Unable to find out any means to appease the hunger of him
who was greatly distressed with it in my very presence, I was
like a lifeless carcase ignorant what to do. Thus did the
piteous and incessant weepings of my boy break my heart and
the misgivings about his life rise to a certainty in m?. There
fore I resolved to put an end to my life, by rearing a great
forest fire and falling into it. Thus I approached the flames
and rose up to fall into it, when I tumbled down from the
throne here and woke up to see you, courtiers, uplifting me
and pronouncing the words Jaya, (victory to thee) Jaya
(victory to thee) and to hear the sound of musical instruments
herein. Thus did I find myself here not as a Neecha but as
the king Lavana. I lost my senses only through the fasci
nating power of this Siddha. Now did I learn that the ego
of man has different states of experiences to undergo."
Whilst he was saying thus, the ministers in Court enquired
as to who this Siddha was, whereupon Sambarika, the Siddha
disappeared from view then and there, in the twinkling of an
eye.
Vasishta continued. This personage is no other than the
Divine Maya, sent here to illustrate clearly the fact that this
universe is no other than the mind itself. Know also, oh
valiant Prince, the wise say that the self-light of Para Brahm
alone is, appearing as mind or this universe.
THE CONCLUSION OF UTPATHITHIPRAKARANA. 87
THE CONCLUSION OF UTPATHTHI-PRAKARANA OR THE
CHAPTER ON ORIGIN.
Summary This chapter summarises all that was said
in the previous stories as to the origin of the mind and the
universe.
It is the actions of the mind that are truly termed
karmas. True liberation results from the disenthralment
of the mind. Those who have freed themselves from the
fluctuation of their mind come into possession of the
supreme Nishta (meditation). Should the mind be purged of
all its impurities, then it will become as still as the milky
ocean undisturbed by the churning of Mandara hills ; and all
our Samsaric delusion attendant with its birth and deaths
will be destroyed.
Muni Vasishta continued The poisonous tree of the
great Maya s illusion flourishes more and more, out of the
seed of the mind s modifications full of Sankalpa, in the soil
of the variegated enjoyments of the world. The panacea
prescribed by the wise for the removal of the diseases of the
mind can be got at very easily through the mind alone. Now
hearken to what I say. Those who without longing for ob
jects avoid them, can be termed the subjugators of their
Manas (mind). Those who do not develop the painless
Vairaggya inhering in one s Self and that with great facility
and happiness, are at best but vermins in human shapes. If
the mind be divested of the Sankalpa of "I," then through
the meditation of Atma after being initiated by a guru and
having known the real significance of the Vedas given out by
Lord, the mind can be turned back from the pains generat
ing externals into the internals where it can be made happy.
Like one iron shaping another iron, the pure mind of a person
which makes efforts in the virtuous path, should correct and
mould his impure mind. To lovers of Moksha in whom the
invincible desires take a tangible shape and who try to win
their way up to Salvation through their own efforts, the easy
abandonment of their dire mind is itself their transcendental
path and they then feel as if a great load were off their heads.
No other path is truly beneficial.
If the mind which flits from one object to another, is
slain with the sword of non-Sankalpa, then will, the self-
88 VOGA-VA SISHTA.
shining Principle which shines as the all and permeates them
all, be cognized. May you, Oh Rama, tread this path and
destroy, through your Jnana the much-longed for mind ; and
after attaining Atma Jnana through the renunciation of all,
devoid of Samsara and Vikalpas, know your Reality wherein
the mind is merged. May you rest in the self-existent Brah-
mic Seat which is neither Sat nor Asat. after developing
with great difficulty the process of Sravana and others and
destroying the mind. It is only through dauntless energy
that the painless wealth of Moksha can be acquired. With
the destruction of the mind, * all the three periods of time
vanish into nothing. If all objects which have an enchanting
appearance become eyesores and present the very reverse of
the former feelings, then is the mind destroyed.
If all doubts vanish through the discus of spiritual know
ledge arising through the meditation of Jndna in the heart,
then it is the mind will be destroyed. All the excessive afflic
tions will cease with its destruction. The (ideas of) differen
tiations of that or this person, or " I" or " Thou" or that or
this object are (or do pertain to) mind only. May you put an
end to that mind with the sword of Abhavana (non-thought).
Like thick clouds that are dispersed through stormy gales,
the mind will get absorbed into Chit (absolute conscious
ness) through the extinction of Kalpanas (thoughts). If one s
mind is destroyed, then will one not suffer from pains even
though, as at the end of a Kalpa, the fierce winds, the Pralaya
ocean with its furious bubbling waves and the twelve Adityas
(suns) smelting even the earth with their heat should all
combine together to simultaneously play their havoc on the
surface of the earth ? If the (lower) mind is done away with
through the (higher) mind alone, then will one become his
own Self and perennial happiness will flow therefrom as in the
case of the Universe. Then will you be in the full acquisition
of Moksha and reach the Brahmic seat of surpriseless bliss.
Now the enemy of Atma is this impure mind only, which is
replete with the wealth of excessive delusion and hosts of
thoughts. Lest this enemy of mind should spoil you in diverse
* The destruction of the mind does not mean an annihilation of the
self ; but the Vedantins divide the mind into the higher and the lower,
of which the lower one leading- to desires is asked to be destroyed.
THE CONCLUSION OF UTPATHTHI-PRAKARANA. 89
ways through the enjoyments of the many pleasures in this
world, slay it in the hope of getting contentment in the long
run which will pave your way towards spiritual illumination.
Then will the immaculate, cool and all-full Bhava (state),
dear unto the wise never be affected by the idea of "I."
Though this all-full Bhdva, which is neither capable of increase
nor diminution, the Brahmic Seat free from births and confer
ring supreme bliss, becomes the imperishable one. It is
indeed rare to find a mind that is not affected by its contact
with fluctuation. Like heat inseparable from fire, fluctuation
which debases the mind is inseparable from it. The power
of fluctuation or motion of Jnanais the mind itself. And this
fluctuating mind alone is this universe ; devoid of this fluctua
tion, the mind ceases to exist. It is this certain conviction
that constitutes a Tapas without a desire of its fruits, the
underlying meaning of all Atma-Jnana books and the imma
culate Moksha or the illuminated One Principle. This fluc
tuating power of the mind is dubbed with several names such
as Maya, the impure Vasanas and others. The flitting mind
is no other than the fluctuating Sakti itself. It is this
fluctuating potency of the mind that you should destroy through
ceaseless Atma-Jnana enquiry.
Elysian bliss will flow from the renunciation of all attrac
tions towards the much-longed for paltry objects. The mind
which occupies an intermediate state between Brahman that
ever is and the universe that is not, ever oscillates gravitating
towards the one or the other. This mind becomes of the
nature of Jnana through dint of the efforts towards spiri
tual direction ; but becomes of the nature of the universe
through Ajnana. Through its own efforts, the mind assumes
the shape of any object it concentrates itself upon. There
fore you should, through your Atma-Jnana mind, avoid the
mind which runs in the direction of objects ; and progress
ing higher up, should, without any despondency of heart,
accumulate wealth for that imperishable Supreme Seat. Like
an emperor who brings under his sway all kings on earth,
the fluctuating mind should be brought under the perfect
control of the non-fluctuating mind and then the latter reaches
its own state which is the Supreme one.
12
90 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
In this ocean of Samsara, those only find a safe asylum
in the vessel of their mind who are conscious of their being-
whirled about in this Maelstrom of life with the grip of the
crocodiles of desires fully upon them. Let not your heart
give away under your trials ; but having- done away with the
impure mind through the pure mind, befriend the latter and
make your Atma rest in its blissful state. Will your mind
progress through any one else ? Certainly not. Whatever
pains or impediments to progress arise in the mind, there at
the very moment they should be crushed out of existence;
then is the destruction of Maya accomplished. Having
divested yourself of all longings for enjoyments and con
ceptions of heterogeneity as well as the two, Bhava (existence)
and Abhava (non-existence), may you enjoy Elysian bliss
without any the least stain. Should all longings for visibles
cease, then such an abnegation of mind is itself the destruc
tion of Ajnana or the mind. Desires of objects are them
selves pains ; but non-desires are themselves Nirvanic bliss.
Such a bliss is generated through one s efforts only. The
knowledge of the ignorant which makes them conceive the
world to be real, while it is illusory and exists but in name,
is dissipated as unreal when they cognize all things to be Con
sciousness per se.
At these words of Yasishta, Rama queried him thus
" How can this ignorance which fructifies out of the wealth of
Avidya in this world, be effaced clean off from here? Please
favour me with your elucidation on this point." To which
Vasishta of powerful Tapas replied thus. If the eternal Atma
is hurled on the slopes of the hills of dire re-births, beset with
the sharp thorns of excruciating pains, and if Maya which is
associated with the Atma there be seen as real, then it is
certain that no Tatwic Vision (or vision of the Reality) will
arise. If the all-pervading transcendent Reality,after the Avidya
of re-birth is crossed, should begin to illumine a person, then
it is he will perceive objectively that desires are the form of
perishable Maya and that the mere extinction of Maya is
Moksha. With the extinction of the base Sankalpas, there is
the extinction of Avidya. With the drawing of the sun of
Jnana in the heart, the sable gloom of Ajnana resting therein
will at once take to its heels,
THE CONCLUSION OF UTPATHTHI-PRAKARANA. 9!
Here Rama interposed and said <( Thou wert pleased to
say that all visible things are but Maya ; also that Maya will
perish without any hindrance through Jnana or Atmic medita
tion. What is Atma ?"
To which Vasishta of immeasurable Tapas replied thus
It is the transcendental Jnana of Brahman which does not
manifest itself objectively in the visibles, is the Plenum, and
the one that is, possessing no name. All the things in the
world that are pointed out as this or that are no other than
the eternal Brahman of the nature of Jnana. The illusory
stainful mind is not. All things such as birth and death in the
three worlds are not really in them ; nor are the six changes.*
But the non-dual Absolute Consciousness which can be
known by its pervading nature is alone objectively existent.
Out of that Jnana-Atma which is absolute, self-shining
imperishable, immaculate, all-pervading, impartite with
Jnana alone and without the least pains and quiescent,
and which commingling with all objects is yet unaffected by
them, arose through its own power an intelligence generated
through its desire of Sankalpas. This Jnana generating
countless Sankalpas permeates all. This intelligence consti
tutes the mind of Brahman itself. In this Brahman are infi
nite Saktis. In this fleeting mind which pervades equally
in all without a second, arise the diverse supreme Saktis
like waves in water. Now this mind which arises through
Sankalpa perishes through it alone like a flame of fire which,
though fanned by wind, is yet extinguished by the same.
The non-cognition of oneself as Brahman which is the Laya
(neutral) centre of all, is itself the bondage of the mind ;
but the firm cognition of oneself as Brahman is itself Moksha.
The conception as real of I, Ajnana, pains and the forms of
bodies having limbs, &c., and the conduct of life in accord
ance thereto, generate desires and bondage ; but if such
thoughts arise in persons as " I am not these inert objects, I
am neither the flesh nor nerves, nor bones nor ulcer water,
&c.," and if they identify themselves with Brahman which is
beyond all bodies, then only they disentangle themselves
from the folds of Maya and become the knowers of their own
Self. The base Maya of Ahankaric conception which arises
* The six changes growth, &c.
2 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
through the identification of " I" with bodies and others is
gifted with a living reality only through the fancy of the
ignorant, but to the wise this Maya is non-existent. Like a
minister obeying a king, the five organs of the body act in
accordance to the dictates of the mind. Therefore you should,
through your own pure mind and proper efforts, eradicate
the V^sanas of desires for objects. All the Vdsanas which
are generated in one through his identifying himself with his
sons or wealth or creating the differences of I, he, thou, this
or that, do wax more and more like Indrajala (psychological
trick) which is as ephemeral as lightning. Having become the
beneficent knower and relinquished all Ajnana qualities, may
you abandon all thoughts of the visibles. Why should you
pine like the ignorant, being bewildered in the illusions of son
and others who are not your Self? What is this body which is
dull and inert? Who is that "you" which, on account of
this body, is drowned amidst pleasures and pains and is ever
chafing therein without the least avail ? Truly a wondrous
riddle is it ? You have not cognized these diversified things
in their true state of unity. While the self-shining Brahman,
which is non-dual and true, is pervading everywhere, this
painful and illusory Maya, though uncreate, yet manifests
itself. Like a crystal which, though tinged by the five colours,
is yet unaffected by them, you should perform all actions by
associating with them and yet be untainted by the desires
therein. So said at great length Rishi Vasishta.
Valmiki said " Oh Baradwaja, hearken to what passed
between Sri Rama replete with good qualities and with
his heart like a full-blown lotus and Rishi Vasishta."
Rama remarked thus " Really passing all belief. How is it
possible for the universe to be affected with manifold pains
through this illusory Maya, like a series of hills bound and
crushed by the filament of a lotus ? I can rather believe a
straw to assume the density of adamant than this universe
to become concreted into its present shape, through the
power of Maya which is unreal. Still another doubt has
flashed across my brain. Whence the pains of King Lavana
previously mentioned by thee."
Lavana s mental Yajna. Vasishta answered his queries
thus As Lavana performed actions through a stainless mind,
THE CONCLUSION OF UTPATHTHI-PRAKARANA. 93
his body did not share in their fruits. This King was one
day spending- his time solitarily in his pleasure garden and
then began to fall into the following profound reverie.
He thought of performing mentally the Raja-Suya* Yajna
which his ancestor, Harischandra had done with his phy
sical body. Through his Sankalpa, he willed the existence
of ploughs and other utensils and things necessary for
Yajna and entering the place of Yajna according to Vedic
recitals and observances, appointed and worshipped Munis
for the same. Then rearing up a large fire and having
invoked the Devas through the chaunting of Vedic Mantras,
he conducted the worship of Devas, Tapaswins and Brahmins
for one year by feeding them and justly distributing to them
all his wealth. Thus did he conclude his Yajna and awake,
from his intense reverie, to find the night approaching.
Therefore you should gather from this episode that it is the
mind alone which brings on pleasures or pains to itself and
enjoys them through its excessive inclination towards any
single object.
Now I will here supplement to you some information
about Sambarika, the Siddha. When he appeared before the
King Lavana seated in a conclave of his courtiers, he deluded
the King with his Indrajala and then disappeared. I formed
one of the group and witnessed all these things. Being
questioned as to the mysterious disappearance of this Siddha
by the powerful King and courtiers as well as others, I dived
into my heart to probe into the three periods of time and
gave the following explanation. Oh Rama, as it is a rule
that all persons who perform Raja Suya Yajna have to under
go dire sufferings for a period of twelve years, Lavana had to
suffer from his merited suffering after the completion of his
mental Yajna. So it was that Indra sent a messenger of
his to afflict the King with pains. This celestial messenger
assumed the guise of a Siddha, meted out rare pains to the
King and departed back to his realm.
Jnana and Ajndna. Well, Oh Ramachandra, I have
to impart to thee here some piece of instructive information.
* This is a sacrifice done by Emperors as a mark of their undis
puted sovereignty over the whole world.
94 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
There are two states Jnana and Ajnana. Each of them
is septenary in its nature. Both these paths or states corre
late with one another. They are also mutually inter-depen
dent. Infinite are the sub-divisions of paths, which overlap
one another in the septenary* divisions of both these states.
The Jnana path which enables one to cognize perceptively
the one Reality is Moksha, whereas the other, which makes
men detract from the one Reality and identify " I " with their
bodies, &c., is bondage. Thus briefly have I described to
thee these two states.
Now about the leading characteristics that go to differ
entiate a person who has cognized the one Reality from ano
ther who has not. Those are immovably fixed in the Jnana
Reality, the eternal Absolute Sat, who have conquered all
passions, anger and delusions, but in the case of those who
are not truly illuminated, they will be but the slaves of their
passions, &c. The intelligence of one who dotes on the body
and its organs, leads him but off the track of the one Reality.
The intelligence of men which makes them swerve from the
path of Atmic Reality, is itself Moha or delusion. There is
really no other than this, which deserves the name of Moha,
in all the thre-e periods. (The one) Reality can be defined to
be that Jnana which exists without Sankalpa, in a state in
termediate between the conception of an object and that of
another. This Jnna is devoid of fancies and fluctuation and
of the Vritti-Jna"na of (Swapna) the dreaming state or the
Ajnana of (Sushupti) the dreamless sleeping state. That non-
fluctuating certainty of mind, wherein it is of the nature of
bliss and when all the conceptions of the identification of
" I " with the body, as well as all differences between Jivatma
and Paramatma (the two Selfs) are annihilated, is the true
nature of Atma-Jnana.
The seven Ajnana States. Now listen to a detailed
explanation of the 7 states of Ajn&na, I gave out before.
They are called Bindu-Jagrat, Jagrat, Maha-Jagr^t, Jagrat-
Swapna, Swapna, Swapna-Jagrat and Sushupti. These 7
different states do interpenetrate one another and receive
different appellations. As the one Jnana, which is name-
* This corroborates the Theosophical doctrine of the septenary
division.
THE CONCLUSION OF UTPATHTHI-PRAKARANA. 95
less and stainless, is the substratum and the generating
Bindu (or the seed) of all those which pass under the
names and actions of Manas, Jiva and others evolving and
flourishing, hence the first state is called Bindu-Jagrat.
This is the first or primary state. After the incipient
manifestation of Jiva, the feeble conception of the dif-
erences of "I and He" and "Mine and Thine" which
arise then, they not having existed in it before, is the
second or upper Jgrat state. Then the third state is induc
ed, when, after repeated births, the conceptions of the hetero
geneity of man and the universe do concrete in the individual.
Jagrat-Swapna is that state in which the mind holds undis
puted sovereignty over the things of the world in the Jagrat
state through previous effects, and overpowered by such
objects, whether seen or unseen before, revels in delight
in them. This Swapna state is enjoyed in the Jagrat or
waking state and is of various kinds, through the experience
of various delusions, such as the misconceptions of water in
a mirage, silver in mother-o -pearl, two moons and others.
Then in the fifth state of pure Swapna, a review is made of
the innumerable events which one passes through in a moment
as if in a dream or reverie, and the individual remembers
them in his normal Jagrat state. The sixth state is Swapna-
Jagrat in which one in the waking state, in trying to recollect
things long past has that Swapna consciousness, which makes
the past things to be clearly in recollection now, not as in
Swapna but as in the Jagrat state. A Jiva after crossing
these six states, reaches the Sushupti state in which its
intelligence, finds all these Avasthas (states) to be but inert
and beset with sore pains. All the worlds will seem to be (or
are) generated out of and perish in the mist of Maya in these
Avasthas or states. These 7 states of Ajnana have countless
ramifications, each being divided a hundred-fold. Thus are
the seven Ajnana-Bhumikas (or states).
The seven Jndna states. Now to the seven Jnana-Bhumi-
kas. Disputants hold to infinite divisions of these Jnana
states. In my opinion I prefer to classify them thus under a
septenary head. The cognition of the real nature of these Jna
na states is Atma-Jnana. The goal of all these is the imperish
able Nirvana. The seven stages are Subechcha, (spiritual
96 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
longing after the bliss given out in the Vedas), Vicharana
(enquiry therein:, Thanumanasi, (the melting of the mind in
enquiry), Satwapaththi, (the passage of the mind in Truth)
Asamsakti, (being without Sankalpa), PathaYtha Bhavana
(knowledge of Truth), and Turya. Persons who have known
these states will never welter in the mind of delusions.
As Moksha arises therefrom, there will be an end of alj
pains. Of what avail to us is the wretched Moha ? That
desire which ever arises in one to enjoy directly the Jnana-
essence through the path of indifference to objects after a
study of Atma-Jnana Sastras and association with the
knowers of Brahman is Subechcha. The second or Vichirana
is the mastery of the good qualities of the wise and of Atmic
contemplation with the rise of spiritual desires in one. When
after these two states are fully developed in him, he abandons
the natural desires and his mind is concentred on one object
at its will, then it (the mind) is rendered lean like Thanu (fine
thread) and the third stage is reached. All desires being
eliminated from the mind through the above three processes,
Tatwa Jnana is developed and this is the fourth state of
Truth. Beyond these is the fifth state when he disconnects
himself from all Sankalpas by merging into the blissful enjoy
ment of true Jnana without association with objects. When
these five states are fully developed in an individual, he is
drowned in the Elysian bliss of Atma-Jnana and then he loses
all affinities for objects. After the ripening of these five states
and the development of quiescence through merging into
one s own Self of Atma-Jnana, all perception of objects, exter
nal and internal, is lost and the person, if at all he has any
perception of objects, has it only through sheer external
compulsion. This is the state called Pathartha-Bhavana.
Then the Turya, the seventh state is reached, when,
having rendered objective the hitherto latent Atma-Jnana,
he firmly stays in his own Self, having completely divest
ed himself of all conceptions of heterogeneity which arise
through his experiences on earth. This is the spiritual
path of the stainless Jivan Muktas. Above this Turya
state of Jivan Mukhtas, is the Turyatheetha* state of Videha
Muktas. This state is one that can be attained only by those
* The state beyond the fourth.
THE CONCLUSION OF UTPATHTHI-PRAKARANA. 97
Mahatmas (great souls) who have known their own Self
through Atma-Jnana.
Such Jivan Muktas, as have reached this imperishable
Turya state, will never be affected by the pairs. They will
automatically perform karmas at the instance of their disci
ples or others, simply to maintain their body ; and like a per
son in brown study or just awake from sleep, they will not
be the actors of their present karmas, though performing them
and will enjoy Nirvanic bliss. These Jnana Bhumikas can be
cognized only by those who have fully developed Jnana.
There is no doubt that if a person masters these seven states,
he becomes an emancipated person whether he animates beasts
full of Ajnana, whether he conforms to the worldly observan
ces or not, or whether he is associated with body or dies.
Tatwa-Jnana is the release from the trammels of one s
own mind. Such a release alone leads to the attaiment of
Moksha. If the illusions of the world are considered as un
real as a mirage in a desert, then the Ajnana in the man will
bid adieu to him. If this Avidya or ignorance be considered
unreal, then it will be annihilated. Those transcendentally
holy personages who have cognized all the true Jnana states
through Samadhi which leads to the realisation of their own
Atma, do truly deserve the worship and meditation of all.
Those who have subjugated their long standing foes of the
sensual organs and have reached thereby the supreme state
in which they are reverenced by all and do regard, as insig
nificant, the position of even Devendra and emperors are the
knowers of these seven states. But those who have not so at
tained these septenary states are simply drowned in the ocean
of births. The proper means to subjugate the mind is Jnana or
the development of spiritual wisdom. And it is done only
through the path of (the realisation of) these Jnana Bhumikas.
Without the aid of these transcendent Jnana Bhumikas, the
noble Brahmic Seat can never be attained. That Self-shining
principle is non-dual which has not the heterogeneity of con
ceptions such as thou, I, or one self or another, &c., which
is differenceless, stainless or causeless ; which is the surprise-
less bliss, the quiescent Jnana and the one, without destruc
tion, name, highness or lowness, being, or non-being, begin
ning or end, affinities, positive or negative (attributes),,
13
9<S YOGA-VA SISHTA.
diversity, light, Jnana (wisdom) or ignorance or any like, which
is in Chidakas, all pervading, the all, non-existent (to us)
above the reach of Manas and speech, the bliss of bliss and
the Plenum of all bereft of all desires. This is that Brahman
to which you can reach, through the septenary Bhumikas.
Now hearken, oh Rama, to the marvellous effects of
Maya. After the great King Lavana had recovered from his
trance, he saw, through his mirror of mind, the forests on
the slopes of the Vindhya Mountains, and consulted with his
courtiers as to whether it was possible for him to go and see
thosesit.es through his physical vision and witness (if true)
the events enacted therein ; and being resolved upon trying
the experiment, he started with all his suite towards the
south and came in sight of the Vindhya hills, like a King bent
upon extending his conquests in all directions. He roved
about in all quarters except the north but all in vain. But
all at once (in the northern direction), he saw the forest he
had lived in formerly, as if his thoughts had taken a tangible
form.
There he scrutinizingly observed the several places and
towns in the forest he had passed in as Neecha (outcaste) which
were like unto the city of Yama. To his great surprise, the
King of Kings observed, without fail, all the huts of Neechas
of both sexes who were tenanting them then ; and his heart
began to give way under the grief caused by his old associa
tions. At this juncture, a troop of old Neecha dames turned
upon the spot with their minds full of racking pains, eyes
trickling down tears, and bodies emaciated to the last degree ;
and one of the group, unable to overpower her grief, opened
her mouth wide agape and gasping, gave went to a long
and loud wailing, wherein she thus recounted the incidents
connected with her children and others who had died on the
previous date " oh my darlings, who have forsaken my lap
and embrace to only perish in some foreign land, whether have
you gone through your bad Karmas ? how distressed will you
be at the sight of strangers faces ? Oh my daughter, my
daughter, when will you too return to alleviate my scorching-
fire of grief with the cool embrace of your arms bedecked with
scarlet garlands. Oh my son-in-law of a King, who came
to us through our previous Tapas, like a treasure newly dis-
THE CONCLUSION OF UTPATHTHl-PRAKARANA. V)9
covered, and led to the hymeneal altar my daughter after
having 1 abandoned his harem containing ladies like unto
Lakshmi herself, have you forgotten us ? Will you again
present yourself before us with your moon-like face in this
very spot ? Or are you estranged from us through any paltry
venial offences committed by my daughter like Lakshmi ?
Being caught in the snare of Karmas in the great ocean of
dire births, you abandoned your regality, accepted my daugh
ter s hand and degraded yourself, a lord of men, into the most
degraded condition of an outcaste through such an alliance.
Our lives of re-births flash like lightning and are as imperma
nent. Dire indeed are the decrees of destiny." So saying she
wailed more and more.
The King, having heard her weep, told his handmaids
to go and pacify the old dame and return with her,
The old lady having approached him, he accosted her
thus "Who are you? who is your daughter? And \vhc
are your children ? Relate to me all without omittlnsr any
incident." At which she replied " In this hamlet of Pariahs
lived an outcaste who was my lord. Through him, I beg.it a
daughter. She lived as wife with a king who came to this
forest like another Devendra. Through her good fate from a
long time, she bore three children to him and lived happily ;
to make amends for it, the fates become perverse and my
children were subjected to misfortunes and died. After my
daughter and others were living happily for a long time, the
clouds became relentless and shed not a drop of water ; there
was a drought all throughout the land and the outcastes
flew in all directions and lay dead in piles of carcases jet
black as Yama. We have survived all these shocks only to
be alone, and to surfer all the more." Whereupon the king
wearing lance, eyed his ministers with great marvel and
ordered them to furnish the Neecha ladies with all necessary
things, relieve them of their pains and conduct them to his
kingdom. Having returned to his city, he reflected over the
situation and becoming convinced of the see.ni.ngly real
nature of the universe created by the potent power of Maya,
he sought initiation into the mysteries of Brahman at our
hands and attained quiescence in it. Oh Ramachandra of
fate bounty, this great Muya generates such dire -delusions
100 10GA.-VA SISHTA.
as are indeed uncrossable. Through the power of this Maya,
Sat will appear as Asat and vice-versd."
So said Vasishta when Rama questioned him thus " Oh
guru of my race, how came the things enacted in the regions
of the perturbed mind to objectivise themselves in the physi
cal world ?" To which the Rishi replied thus " You will be
able to better understand the heterogeneous manifestations
of Maya, later on, in the story of Gadhi, wherein Maya is
shown as producing diverse objects. Like the coincidence
of the fall of palmyra fruit on the perching of a crow
thereon, the wise of great knowledge say that the mind
will merge unto itself through Vasanas. Therefore King
Lavana saw as true, on the subsequent day, that illu
sion which Sambarika, the Siddha imposed on the previous
day through his Indra-Jrda on him (the king) as a
Chandala (outcaste) and so on. That illusion which was
wrought on the king s brains in his Jagrat-Swapna state,
the Chandalas, living on the slopes of the hills, saw to be
real through their own intelligence. Now what happened
was this. That which dawned on the king s mind (as Jagrat-
Swapna) was reflected on those of the Chandalas as Jagrat
for waking reality) ; and that which happened among the
Chandalas again reflected itself on the mind of the king (as
the same Jagrat reality). If this is the work of Maya, who
will be able to gauge its tremendous powers ? It is only to
Jnana light that all the visible Mayavic objects owe their ex
istence in this world. Likewise are all objects observed
through the five organs, non-existent except through Jnana.
Jnana-Atma occupies a state intermediate between the knower
and the known. Hence Moksha may be said to^be that state
wherein are not to be found the objects, their knower or the
knowledge but which is yet the source of all these three. May
you be ever impartite in that Chidananda wherein are uni
fied "that," the Brahman and "thou," the Kutastha, which
is the neutral state of the mind when it passes from one ob
ject to another, and which is without name, intelligence or
inertness. May you rest in your innate self in an illuminated
state, having enquired thoroughly through your subtle mind
and having eradicated all the conceptions of your mind which
THE CONCLUSION OF UTPATHTHI-PRAKARANA. IOI
makes you falsely believe yourself to be under the trammels
of Samsara.
Now, Rama, you should rend asunder, through enor
mous efforts on your part, the long rope of Vasanas tied to
the vessels (of men) whirled on waterlifts. All the univer
ses with their heterogeneity, though really Atma-Jnana,
shine as worlds only through our illusory mind like the blue-
ness in the sky which is really non-existent. If with the ex
tinction of the pains-producing Sankalpa, the mind is also
destroyed, then will the thick frost of Moha (delusion) affect
ing us from remote periods dissipate itself. Then like an un-
obscured sky in the autumnal season, Brahman alone will shine
resplendent, blissful, imperishable, non-dual, formless and
without birth or death.
STHITHI-PRAKARANA, OR THE CHAPTER
ON PRESERVATION.
THE STORY OF SUKRA VENUS.
>o
Summary Having in the previous Prakarana given out
the Ajnana stages to shew that the play of the mind, arising
out of Chaitanya, constitutes this universe, as also the 7
Jnana stages to relieve one from that universe, the author
begins with this Prakarana of five stories to show that this
universe shines as Chaitanya only, even after its rise and
during preservation.
Without the aid of a painter or a canvas or any other
materials of painting, the picture of the universe appears
depicted on the stainless Chidakas. Having itself appeared,
it is ever seeing- itself, (as there is none else for it to see).
Therefore this universe is like a Swapna in Jagrat and not
Hke the state of Sushupti (sleep), when all conceptions of or
gans are lost. The reflections of all the universes in the non-
differentiated Atma-Jnana which is witness, all full, immacu
late and all-pervading is like that of the image in a glass*
They shine through Brahman without any relationship of
cause and effect. Their true nature can be said to be the
reflection itself* May you, oh Rama, through painful endea
vours contemplate, as one, upon the eternal Brahman
which is partless, the Atma (Self) of all, the all-full Jnana and
the alKpervading Chidakas. Should you firmly master, such
a certitude of mind, you will be rid of all fluctuations of mind
mid become of the nature of Atma-Jnna itself. Just as one
stone has in it carved many pictures, so in the one Brahman
<dlo manifest themselves the motley worlds. Since to consti
tute a second there is no cause or effect associated with It
(Brahman), there is really nothing to be called the universe.
Atma-Jnana alone is. All the universes are nothing but the
reflections in the one certitude of Brahman.
THE STORY OF SfKRA. 1C>3
Now to exemplify the truth of my remarks, thou shalt
hearken to the story of (Venus) Sukracharya. In days of
old, Muni Bhrigu was engaged in the performance of an
immutable Tapas on the slope of the lofty and ancient moun
tain called Mandaragiri. His son who rejoiced in the name
of Sukra was a remarkably intelligent person and shone like
the moon. He never used to part from the feet of his father.
He was in that great Laya (neutral) state which is inter
mediate between the incomparable Chit and Achit states.*
Whilst he was thus in an intermediate state unaware of them
both, like King Trusankuf who was left in the middle
of the sky without being able to go higher up or come lower
down to the earth, his father was in Nirvikalpa Samadhi.
Then the son who never used to part from his father, remain
ed separate and looked up through the pure Akasa where he
saw a Deva (celestial) lady approaching him. Her graceful
tresses were bedecked with Mandara flowers, the odor of
which was gently wafted by the zephyrs as she trudged
along with the gait of a she-elephant. Having eyed her fully
before him, he became quite enamoured of her ; and then
closing his two eyelids, he revelled in the vast fields of his
mental region, through the over-powering desire in him.
Coming to the conclusion that she belonged to Devaloka, he
resolved upon going to that Loka (world), when lo ! he saw
that Loka before him and Indra, the lord of Devas shining in
it like lightning-flashing clouds and seated on his beautiful
throne, eulogised by the Devas therein. Thereupon formal
courtesies were exchanged between Sukra and Indra. Whilst
Sukra was living there amidst luxurious enjoyments, the self
same Deva lady, whom he had before seen, emerged out of a
bevy of houris living therein and presented herself before him
with budding breasts peeping out of her fine petticoat.
Then the two eyes of Sukra gleamed with inexpressible
delight at the sight of this fair creature who, in turn, returned
* The state of Brahman is said to be that neutral state which is
between or above the (Chit) intelligence and (Achit) matter of the uni
verse.
t This King- it was who applied to Vasishta to be transported
physically to the heavens but he was refused ; and hence he applied to
Viswamitra who unable to take him up to Swarga, the heavens left him
in the Antariksha, the intermediate space.
104 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
the same glances. While thus their hearts and eyes were
melting into one with love, Sukra who never failed to bring
into existence whatever he willed through his Sankalpa willed
that sable darkness should envelop the space. With intense
gloom enveloping therein as at the end of a Kalpa, all who
were there fled to other quarters panic-struck and thus cleared
the field for the pair. Then the celestial houris came under
the embrace of Sukra, beneath the foliage of the beautiful
Kalpa tree of Paradise. Thus passed the pair, 8 Chatur-
Yugas* in sensual enjoyments without any let or hindrance.
Then fearing lest all his Dharmas should be wasted thus, he
descended to Bhuloka (earth) from Devaloka. It was here (on
earth) that he forgot all about his pristine reality. In his
descent from Indra loka, Sukra s Jiva commingled itself with
the soft rays of the full moon and became the cool snow.
This snow falling on paddy fields converted itself into paddy.
The rice arising from the fertile stalks was cooked and eaten
by a Brahman of Desarna country and was converted into the
seminal fluid in him. Sukra, who was thus in the form of
sperm in the Brahmin, ultimately came out as his sonf out of
the womb of his spouse. Associating himself with Tapaswins,
he performed a rare Tapas for the period of a Manu, in a
forest encircling the golden mountains of Mahameru. Then
Sukra bore an offspring of a man through a hind. Through
the Ajnana[(5gnorance) with which he was enslaved to the
material things of the world, through his fond love to his off
spring, he fell off from his true state. Passing through a
series of incarnations subject to births and deaths generated
by his illusory Vasanas, he at last incarnated in the body of a
Tapaswin, as the son of a Muni on the banks of the holy
Ganges.
Let me turn to the former body of Sukra which was lying
entranced by the side of his father and from which life had de
parted. The rays of the sun aided by the wind had reduced it
to a mere skeleton. But it remained intact on earth without
* Chatur-Yugas are otherwise called Mahay ugas. Each Maha-
yuga is composed of the 4 Yugas, Krita, Treta, Dwapara and Kali.
f This shows clearly that Venus stands for the egos of human
beings. This describes the general pilgrimage and incarnation of
egos.
THK STORY OF SUKRA. 105
being" assailed and destroyed by birds or beasts, as they were
instinctively afraid of doing away with it through the glory
of Bhrigu sitting hard by. Having passed many divine years
in Nirvikalpa Samadhi, Bhrigu opened his eyes only to find
the shrivelled carcase of his son with mere bones which look
ed the very incarnation of poverty and misfortune. Then
this Muni of rare Tapas and renunciation became quite dis
consolate in mind at finding sparrows chirping in the nine
avenues of his son s body and frogs squatting and playing
within his stomach. Without trying to dive into the cause of
all these occurrences, he concluded that his beloved son was
dead. With the flaming anger of Rudra riding on his bull,
he began to vent his whole anger against Yama and began to
curse him, in order to destroy him, on account of the prema
ture death of his son caused by the latter. At which, Yama
quailed with fear and having assumed a. body composed of
the five elements, appeared before the disconsolate Bhrigu
with 6 faces, 6 hands, blade, noose, pendants and the diamond-
hiked armor of protection and surrounded by his enormous
hosts.
Then this All-devourer, in order to explain the real situa
tion to the Muni, softly addressed him thus "We who are
only administering the laws of Eswara will not but extol you
who have immeasurable and noble Tapas. Therefore it is
not meet that you should spoil your all-full Tapas through your
dire anger. Even the fire at the period of Pralaya, will
not consume me, much less your words. Indeed many
are the Rudras and the large lotus-eyed Vishnus that fell
a prey to me, having been enmeshed in the snares of Sam-
sara. There is none in this world of pains, who ever van
quished me. All came under my jaws. It is the unaltera
ble and eternal decree of Parameswara and not myself, that
I should be the cause of the destruction of all created lives.
This law ever endures. In the immaculate Jn^na introvision,
all the differences of actor and enjoyer are lost, but in the
Ajnana vision of people, these exist in concrete shapes. All
creatures arising through the force of their Karma are born
through Sankalpa and perish at the end of a Kalpa. Then
at the time of Pralaya, where shall we find the Jnana- Vision
developed through a recitation of the Vedas ? Where will all
io6 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
your firmness of will then be? Where will your glory then
be? Where will be then all your present despondency which
trembles like a person full of mental darkness, ignorant of
the path laid down by the Great ? Are you justified in cursing
me through your anger, without trying to understand the
present situation of your son brought on by his own Sankalpa?
(Mind you now what I say). It is the mind alone that (in esse)
is Atma and none else. The mind s acts (and not the bodily
ones) are alone the true acts. Through its life in this world,
it is called Jiva. It is called Buddhi, through its certainty of
knowledge. It is called the direAhankara when the conceptions
of "1" and "mine" assert themselves with the signs of anger,
&c- And it is this mind alone, that is the universe through
the conception of excessive differentiations. Whilst you
and your son were engaged in Nirvikalpa Samadhi, your son
abandoned his fleshy tabernacle through excessive desires and
mentally joined, in the Akasa, a Deva lady by the name of
Viswavasu. Then he incarnated -on earth in the country of
Desarna as the son of a Brahmin. He went the round of lives
as a King in the country of Kosala, a hunter in an extensive
forest, a swan on the banks of the Ganges, a great King in the
Solar family ruling over Poundra country and the Guru of
the Solar race in Salwa country. For the long period of a
Kalpa, he passed his life as the King of Vidhyddaras ;
he was the intelligent son of a Muni of great Tapas ; a
chieftain in Souvira country with large tanks with fishes
playing in them ; the Guru of Sivites* in another country ;
a bamboo cluster in another country, full of fragrance ;
a stag in a decayed forest ; a firece-looking boa-con
strictor in a spacious forest. Thus did he pass through
various, wombs; going through births high or low, with
a stainful mind and under the influence of Vasanas and
was at last born as the incomparable and true son of a Rishi
on the banks of the Ganges. In this birth, he got the mastery
over his weak foes of the illusory organs and wearing matted
locks, &c., and going by the name of Vsudeva, has been
engaged in Tapas for the last 800 years. If you, through
your love for your son, wish to behold the series of illusory
* Followers of Siva.
THE STORY OF S UKRA. IOJ
births which flitted across your son s mind like a whirling
dream, you can do so now through your divine vision." So
said Yama when the Muni of great culture observed in a
moment, through his introvision, all the events of his son s
lives reflected in the transparent mirror of the pure mind,
which in its turn manifested itself out of the transcendent
Jnana-light. Then this Muni of non-desires returned from
his trance (at the end of which he was) by the river Ganges,
to his normal state by entering and animating his tenement
of body lying in Mandaragiri. Greatly astonished, he asked of
him many pardons (for his conduct) and addressed him thus
** Oh ommiscient Kala (time), thou art the foremost dispenser
of Law; thou art the only one thoroughly acquainted with the
three periods of time. Persons like myself are mere tyros in
Brahma Jnana."
Then the ever-ending Yama took hold of Bhrigu s hand
and led him out of the caves of Mandaragiri to where the
divine river Ganges flowed. There the Rishi saw, with in
tense delight, his son who there passed under the pseudonym
of Vasudeva. So willed Yama. Again when Yama willed
that Vasudeva should come back from his Samadhi state and
see them, the latter accordingly did and seeing them before
himself saluted them. Thereupon all the three noble souls
seated themselves upon a stone with true love towards one
another. Then the son eying these two, remarked thus
"Through your presence here, I have been cleansed of all the
delusions arising from stainless Tapas, Yajnas and wealth.
Even copious draughts of nectar will not yield such a bliss
as your advent here." Thereupon Bhrigu saw him endear
ingly and blessed him thus " May bliss ever increase in
thee, mayest thou possess Jnana fully, and may Ajnana fly
from thee." Then closing his two mutilated* eyes, Sukra
reviewed all his past lives through his Jnana-Vision. Thus
was he freed in a moment from future births.
After observing all through his divine vision, Sukra
remarked in wonder thus " Passing strange is it that the
dire delusion called Prakriti (matter), having transformed
itself into this universe, flourished friendly in my mind. I
* The eyes of S ukra were mutilated at the time when Bali ac
ceded to the request of Vishnu as Dwarf.
io8 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
have known all that should be known I have seen all
that should be seen. I have been released from the pains
incidental to the many re-births. I have been whirling
in them for a long time. I have attained Atma-Jnana,
the good effects of all. Therefore, sirs, let us here
after betake ourselves to Mandara hills and see the body
lying there. Do not think that I have either love or hatred
towards objects, albeit my intention is to visit the skeleton
of my body due to Karma and derive happiness therefrom."
After Vasudeva spoke thus, all the three started for Mandara
hills and reached it in a moment. When these triumvirs who
had known the extent and true nature of the whole universe ar
rived at the spot, Vasudeva surveyed, with unmingled plea
sure, his former body as the son of Bhrigu and then casting
his glances at his father, asked him, whether it was that
bony body which he had reared up as his son s. Then con
tinuing, he said " Oh father, this body you brought up be
fore with rare happiness, being without pains, desires, doubts,
or sense of gain or loss was in a state of immutable bliss
with mind destroyed. Is there any happiness to Jivas (egos)
other than in the state when the mind is destroyed ? This soli
tary body had then attained the bliss of those who have got
by the All-pervading Jnana wherein one is drowned in the
one ocean of the great bliss, or the extreme quiescence or that
Atrnic certainty, wherein the Jnanis are free from all pains.
It is only through dint of my rare Tapas, I have been able to
witness the miracles I have seen here."
So said Vasudeva, when Kala (Yama) who was by in
terrupted him with these words. " Now sir, enter this
body like kings, their cities. And there be administer
ing the duties of a guru* to the Asuras who need cor
rection/ Having given these orders to ukra, he bid
adieu to them both and instantly disappeared from the very
spot where he was standing. At his departure, the father
and son were greatly grieved. But $ukra of great prowess
abandoned the conception of Vasudeva and then entered his
former body according to Yama s injunction. Thereupon
the matchless Bhrigu bathed with the waters in his
bowel purified through Vedic Mantras the body of Sukra
* If Asura means egos, Sukra (Venus) is their guru.
THE STORY OF D A ATA, VYA LA AND KATA. 109
into which the son had to enter through sheer fate. With
this application, the Nadis (nerves) in his body became pliant
and allowed the Prana to circulate freely over them
throughout his body. Then Bh&rgava(the son of Bhrigu) rose
up in that body and having paid due respects to his father,
stood by him. Thus did the father and son utterly rout their
enemy of the stainful mind and pass their days in the Jivan-
mukti state like a waveless ocean. Thus said Vasishta of
great Jnana and erudition to Rama of true grace like the
clouds.
THE STORY OF D A MA, VYA LA AND KATA.
Summary. Having shewn that the universe shines as
Atma Sankalpa, the author illustrates in this story that the
conception of the reality of the universe will increase with
contemplation upon Non-Atma,
The true nature of " That" will truly dawn with surprise-
less bliss in the hearts of those only who are engaged in
ceaseless enquiry (after Atma) j who are freed from the base
thoughts of the mind or Sankalpa ; who are ever in the
enjoyment of (spiritual) bliss ; who have known the true
nature of Sachidananda which destroys the unreality, inert
ness and pains of the visible objects, that are the result
of Sankalpa ; who have cognized their Atmic Reality, the
seer after giving up all conceptions of non-Atma, the non-
seer ; who, though alive, do enjoy the Jagrat (waking) state
in the supreme Tatwa of Jnana ; who are quite dormant,
so far as the paths leading to re-births are concerned ; who
have cut themselves asunder from all Vasanas of good
or evil, through their fully developed non-desires and who
after destroying the snares of Vasanas, relieve their minds
from their bondage. In such minds only, will there be
the illumination of the true Jnana, like an adulterated water
cleared of its sedimentations through clearing-nuts. It is
only when the mind, being divested of all its desires, is
indifferent to pleasures or pains and is not attracted by any
objects that it will be rendered pure, free from the grip of the
great delusion like a bird freed from its cage, and roaming
YOGA-VA SISHTA.
freely the Akasa ; and then without any doubts, will ever be
without any particle of desire. Then it will be Plenum itself
and will shine like a full moon. Persons in tliis state will
even bless (and aid) the Trumurtis (Brahma, Vishnu and
Rudra), the highest of deities,
The Supreme principle should be attained through firm
enquiry. The tumultuous delusions of re-births will be envel
oping us like a mist, so long as there is no firm enquiry about
the nature of the universe and of the "I" in man. Those
only are the cognizers of Tatwa (or Reality) who do perceive
objectively, through their non-fluctuating Jna"na-Vision, that
all the countless universes and egos of men are none else but
the light of the imperishable Jaana. Those only are the
cognizers of Tatwa who perceive objectively that it is
the immeasurable Atina Jnana alone which manifests itself
as all potencies and yet is non-dual (in its innate condi
tion) and which is the latency of all possible ideations. Those
only are the cognizers of Tatwa who perceive objectively
that Brahman alone is, as being the laya centre between
being and non-being and that in it there is nothing, as
apart from It, such as the knower of " I" or the known
of the universe.
Like a wayfarer who, as he travels along, sees things in
the different quarters without any longing for them, the
stainless knowers of Brahman, even though their minds
are immersed in sensual enjoyments in the performance
of actions, will never be affected by them. Even thieves
will become their friends, since they will derive Brahmic bliss
from material enjoyments. The wise will regard the worldly
enjoyments in the same light as a traveller meets unconcernedly,
in his way, a host of men bound on a marriage. Those who
have mastered their minds will look upon even a scintilla of
desires in their hearts as a great evil and therefore will not
long after them. A kins: released from prison after great
difficulties will estimate greatly his kingdom ; but an emperor
who has won much laurels and wears the great sword, will
care two straws for the whole earth over which he reigns. The
conquerors of mind should previously have mastered it through
theirmindjlike thehand with hand, thelegs with legs, the teeth
with teeth, and so on with reference to the other parts of the
THE STORY OF DA MA, VYA LA AND KATA. Ill
whole body. There is no other vessel on this earth to wade the
ocean of re-birth than the mastery of the antagonistic mind.
Those only will reach the world of Moksha who have control
led the serpent of mind replete with the venom of its actions
in the hole of their heart. Even pure and virtuous men as
well as the famous and the greatly intelligent will wear, on
the crown of their head, the lotus-like feet of those Great
Ones who have, under their control, their minds. Therefore, oh
Rama, may you quell your tremendous foes of the organs,
accoutred in this world of many cities with the weapon of
excessive desires and riding upon the elephant of sins gene
rated through your former enjoyments which elephant is
ever rutting with the three, passion, anger and delusion. If
you will only destroy the painful Ahankara of the mind and
conquer the foes of organs, then will the ever-waking Vasanas
subside like a forest of lotuses enveloped by snow. So long
as one through the mastery of his mind is not convinced of the
reality of the non-dual Principle, so long will the anguish of
his mind not cease like the (conception of) ghosts inseparable
from intense gloom. This mind whirling through pains is
sometimes stated to be a clever statesman, as it enables Jnanis
to cognize their own Self through the discrimination of
Tatwas. It is also dubbed with the appellations of " crafty
general," or a " menial," through the different functions it
fulfils, of annihilating its enemy of organs or itself performing
any actions it chooses through its own volition. In the case
of true Jnanis, their pure mind for which there is no choice
of discrimination (between the two paths of virtue and vice)
constitutes their better half, as it enables them to enjoy un
alloyed bliss. It can, at the same time, be stated to be their
father or true friend father on account of its protect
ing nature ; a rare friend through the true counsels it imparts
in the way of obtaining the higher g oaL
The mind of the wise will but tread the virtuous paths
through the study of the beneficient Atma-Jnna Sastras,
will contemplate upon Atma and having attained the true cog
nition, will destroy its own form. Like a true father, such
a mind will confer, upon one, Jnana Siddhi. If one should
see, unimpeded within himself with true illumination, immo
bility and stainlessness and be also initiated into the All-full
ii2 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
Jnana, then will his stainless mind shine with the lustre
of a gem through its being of the nature of his own Self in the
Akasa of the heart. This pure jewel of the mind gets stuck
in the mire of the weak Vasanas of heterogeneity J and hence
is invisible to all. But if it be bathed in the waters of Jnana
and thus cleansed of all its impurities, then the shining
Moksha wHl disclose itself to all. Now, oh R&ma, you should
through dint of discrimination understand the true Jnana
and having worshipped it, should master the organs along
with Ahankara and thus liberate yourself from all trammels
of re-births. Through such a course all the certain ideas of
differentiation existing in man, such as He, I, &c., will cease
to be. Having given up all these differentiations of thoughts,
may you find asylum in the one Reality which is other than
these things and resting in your Atma, the seat of " That,"
perform all actions as you list. Then the objects being en
joyed by you with a false* mind will no longer be a bondage
to you.
Now, Rama, do not follow the path trodden by the three
Asuras D ama, Vyala and Kata but free yourself from all
pains of existence by going in the footsteps of the other
three Asuras, vis., Bheema, Bhasa and D rudha.
Here Rama of great Jnana interrupted the Rishi with
the question as to who these three Asuras were. To which the
great Rishi replied thus, blessing the king with Nirvana into
the secrets of which the Rishi wished to initiate him u An
Asura by the name of Sambara roamed throughout the regions
of Patella, living therein. He was an adept in the manifold wily
arts, of Maya (illusion) and rested in Maya itself. Once this
Daitya subjected to ignominy Devendra, through his power
ful ocean of an army. Thereupon the Devas became infuriat
ed and began to harass and destroy in all manner of ways
the Asuras whether asleep or travelling in different directions.
Observing this dastardly attack of the Devas, the chief of the
Asuras despatched, against them, a large army headed by
Mundika, Anka, Dhruma and others. The Devas availed
themselves of an opportune occasion to foil their enemies
and so did away with all of them. Hearing all these,
the irate Sambara marched to Devaloka. The Devas having
* False in its higher sense.
THE STORY OF D r A r MA, VYA LA AND KATA. 113
heard him approach who was well-skilled in Maya-Vidhya
(the science of illusion), were struck with terror and hid them
selves in the caves of the great Meru mountains. There
upon 6ambara shed flames everywhere in Devaloka like the
Tripuras (three cities) set on flames by Parame^wara (Rudra)
and returned from there to his own place, rendering it a regu
lar void and leaving the Deva ladies wailing in the streets.
Finding the coast clear, the Devas returned in numbers to
their place. Hearing which, the Asura despatched through
Maya-Vidhya armies after armies without any intermission.
But these were repulsed and killed completely by the Devas.
Sambara became greatly infuriated at these disastrous results
and so created through his Mayavic power D ama, Vyala and
Kata. These had " Atlantean shoulders fit to bear the weight"
of Mahameru on them. . They were not subject to the bond
of Vasanas and were devoid of desires or egoism. They
knew neither death nor life, neither pleasures nor pains, neither
victory nor defeat, neither waging war nor retreating. They
were therefore incapable of defeat and were able to put an
end to their antagonists through the discharge of arrows.
Fully convinced of their invulnerability, Sambara living in
Patala, gathered together all his hosts living over hills, ocean
and earth and sent them along to reinforce these three
Mayavic personages. The countless hosts sent by Sambara
sallied forth like so many hills walking on their legs or as if
the ocean full of fishes overflowed the land or the Kalpacame
to an end. Similarly did the Devas march out in great
numbers. Both the armies came into direct rencontre like
wind facing fire. Thus it seemed as though the next Kalpa was
already come. Weapons breathing flames Came into contact
with human bodies which at once dropped down dead and
began to accumulate like a mountain. Even mountains be
gan to be tossed to and fro in the scarlet ocean of blood ooz
ing out of the lifeless bodies. The angry and deceptive
Asuras approached close their enemy and drove them away.
All the Devas fled the field with a despondent heart. But the
three Mayavic personages mentioned above went in quest of
them in all quarter:;. Not being able to trace them to their
places of concealment, the victorious triumvirs returned from
Devaloka to where their leader was.
ii4 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
Meanwhile all the Deva hosts, ignorant what to do, re
sorted for aid to Brahma seated on his lotus seat. Having,
with true love, paid the homage of due respects to him, they
related to him the atrocities committed by ambara flaming
like fire and their utter rout at the hands of the three persons
created by the Asura. Thereupon Brahma meditated and
pacifying them, gave vent to the following words " After
the lapse of a thousand years, Devendra will kill the Asuras
in the war between himself and &ambara who is now over
powering his enemies. Till then, we shall advise you thus.
From to-day forward, you go to D ama and others and ap
prise them of your intention to war with them. Having
made a pretence of fighting with them, withdraw when they
make onslaughts on you. If you conduct yourselves thus,
repeating it over and over (for 1,000 years), then the VAsana
of Ahankara, will begin to reflect itself in the minds of the
three Asuras like a shadow in a glass. Then if this idea of
11 1" gets firmly rooted in their minds, then they will be in
bondage, like birds caught in a trap and can be easily dis
posed of. It is desires that, like Yama (death), bring
on manifold pains to persons in this world ; devoid of
them, there is bliss unsullied with pains. All creatures
in this world being bound by the cord of pains are greatly
affiicted thereby. With tight bonds, pains are generat
ed ; freed from them, pains also cease. It is only through
desires that persons, whether they be stainless or omniscient
or all-puissant, do get trammelled in this world. Even
persons, who are in a high state, fall low through their
desires, like a lion in a cage. Therefore do not be disheartened. 1
With these words, Brahma instantaneously disappeared at
the very spot where he was.
The Devas having heard these words of Brahma, while in
the full possessions of their five faculties of organs, departed
for Devaloka and there caused large kettle-drums to be
sounded for war so as to reverberate through earth and the
rest of the whole universe*. Having heard these sounds,
the Asuras rushed with great ire from Patdla to Devaloka and
hurled at their enemies all kinds of destructive weapons-
The latter, who were bent upon merely eking out the time
according to Brahma s injunctions, made the pretence of
THE STORY OF D A MA, VYA LA AND KATA. 115
fighting and retreating again and again. Thus did a long
period of time elapse, the war being waged in divers ways,
when the insidious desire of " I" otole into the hearts of the
three Asuras through such a process of warfare, and their
minds got trammelled. Then fear was generated in their
hearts and all kinds of delusions took firm hold of them.
Being drowned in the pain-giving Mya and emaciated
through pains, they were at a loss what to do. Then in
order to preserve their body from deterioration, they began
to deliberate upon the many means of enjoying happiness
through the illusory worldly things. Being ever engaged in
this thought, their minds got enthralled and unsteady. On
the battlefield, consternation and depression of mind arose
in them and they were appalled at the idea of death- Hence
they were greatly agitated in their hearts and looked about
for a safe asylum. Being completely denuded of all powers,
they were not able to face even an antagonist, should he
face them. Were there no fuel, will Agni (fire) be able to
consume anything and offer oblations to the Devas ? To
cut the story short without many words, the three Asuras
fled away panic-struck and died.
Now R&ma, we have related the story of the Asuras,
D ama and others in order that you may attain Jnana thereby
(through not falling into their wrong path). If the minds
of persons should sportively associate themselves with
Ajnana (or worldly things) without any impediment, then the
pains of existence arising through such Ajnna, will never
affect them. Therefore you should not follow the path pur
sued by the above three Asuras.
Here Rdma questioned Vasishta thus. " How did the
three Asuras arise from Parabrahm" ?
To which Vasishta replied thus The fearful D dma and
others had their bodies as only the manifestations of the
Supreme. Like D ama and others who had their bodies as
mere appearances, we who are here are no other than
Chidakas itself. Therefore, thou redoubtable warrior, the
conceptions of "I" or " thou" or D ama and others are no
other than untrue. The Brahmic light manifesting itself visibly
as the All-pervading Atmic (Sakti) potency -became agi
tated through the potent thought of the A sura, $ambara. It
n6 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
then assumed the three forms of D ama and others and be^an
O
its sportive pilgrimage in such forms. Therefore neither
these persons having- the above attributes nor we are really
existent anywhere (as such). That which really is, is Para-
brahm which is the knower of all as the witness, the know
ledge itself, the immaculate, the all and the quiescent without
heterogeneity or dawning or setting. The Chit (Sakti)
potency of that All-full Principle is this universe. All the
heterogeneous visibles, perceived through the organs of sense,
are only unreal ; but that which is real is the one Brahmic
Principle. May you rest happy in it.
THE STORY OF BHEEMA, BHA SA AND D RUL-HA.
Summary. Having given out in the previous story that
the three Asuras were defeated through Ahankara, the
author gives out this story to show that success will result in
the case of non-Ahankara.
Not even an iota of benefit will accrue to those who dote
upon their sons, lands and other worldly possessions as their
own. Pains will not in the least affect those men of large hearts
who regard, as a mere paltry bauble, all the imperishable
(objects of the) world, like a stag that does not care for pre
cious objects but contents itself with mere hay.
Those, who have cognized in their hearts Brahman full
of all potencies, will ever be protected by the guardian angels
of the eight quarters just as the vast universes are. Those
only can truly be styled Men who are possessed of true love,
bent upon a ceaseless enquiry and ever engaged with true
efforts for the realization of "That" which enables one to
discern Truth. The rest of mankind are brutes merely.
Though sore pressed by dire afflictions, one should
never perform actions which ought not to be done. In drink
ing even nectar through ways forbidden, Rahu* had to
suffer greatly from it. But in the case of the wise who have
reached a high state through their good qualities, all things
impossible before of subjugation are now encompassed by
* Rjlhu, the serpent and one of the two nodes had to suffer in the
churning of the ocean by having his head cut off.
THE STORY OF BHEEMA, BHA SA AND D RUDHA, I 17
them ; all dangers flee from before them and they are in
possession of all incomparable acquisitions. What is there
that cannot be encompassed easily by those stainless men,
through their ceaseless efforts, their intelligence and a study
of the supreme spiritual books? If only the readers of Atma-
Jnana works who do take delight therein, will not be hasty
in longing for the fruits at once but will meditate regularly
and gradually upon them, then the mind will by degrees be
ripened and at the end the endless Atma will be reached.
May you, without pains or fear or sloth or egoism, walk
in the path laid out by Atma-Jnana books, without heeding
to the illusory voices of any one. Do not court destruction
(by treading a wrong path). All our properties are but
futile. All our wealth land us but into dangers. But non-
desires take us into Elysium. Fame, longevity and acquisi
tions as well as Brahmic seat are involuntarily attained, like
a soft tendril in spring, by those wise men who, walking in
the right path, do not in the least long after material plea
sures productive of the pains of SamsaYa. Having prostra
ted at the beautiful feet of those great persons, one should
free himself through their aid from the trammels of re-births
which cannot be avoided through mere Tapas or pilgrimage
or study of spiritual books. The Great persons are those
who have minimised greatly the bootless delusion of " I" and
anger and treading the virtuous path, live out their lives
according to Atma-JnAna books. Those who have not cog
nized Brahman, the true significance of " I," cannot be said
to have seen Chid&kas ; but those who have cognized Brah
man, can be said to be Chidakas itself. If the cloud of Ahan
kara called " I" do screen the sun of Jnana-Akas, then the
lily of Brahman which is * Non-I," will never bloom. The
original sprout of the painful Ahankara with its tender stem
of re-births at length ramifies itself everywhere with its long
branches of " Mine" and " thine" and yields its unripe fruits
of Naraka (hell). This tree can be destroyed to its root by
Jnana fire only.
Here Rdma queried the Rishi thus what is the nature of
this Ahankara (the ideation of I) ? How can we master it ?
What are the results of such a mastery by a person, whether
he is associated with the V&sanas of the body or not ?
n8 YOGA-VA SISHTA. >
To which, Muni Vasishta replied thus " In the three
worlds, there are three kinds* of Ahankaras. Of these, two
kinds of Ahankaras are always beneficial and one always
condemnable. That Jnana which after discrimination enables
us to cognize that all the worlds and Paramatma are our
selves, that the self (or I) is eternal and that there is no other
to be meditated upon than our self is the Supreme Ahankara.
That Jnana which makes us perceive our own Self to be
more subtle than the tail-end of paddy and to be ever-exis
tent, exterior to (or above) all the universe, is the second kind
of Ahankara. These two kinds of Ahank&ras will certainly
be found in Jivan Muktas and will enable them to attain
Moksha after crossing Samsara ; but will never subject them
to bondage. That certain knowledge which identifies the
" 1" with the body composed of the hands, feet, &c., is the
third kind of Ahankara, This is common to ail persons of
the world and dire in its results. It is the cause of the growth
of the poisonous tree of re-births. It should be destroyed at all
costs. Dire, very dire are its effects. Through this dire
Ahankara, myriads of souls have been deluded and bereft of
all intelligence. The more you soon annhilate this Ahankara
through the above mentioned two kinds of Ahankara, the
more will the Brahmic Principle dawn in you. Endeavour,
through the higher two kinds of Ahankara, to attain Brah
man : then if you are firmly seated in that Seat where even
these two kinds of Ahankara are given up, one by one, then
such a state is the ripe Brahmic seat. The non-identification
of " I" with the visible body (or the visibles) is the Nirvana
proclaimed by the Yedas.
Now hearken well to the characteristics of these Ahan
karas. After the utter annihilation of the above mentioned
Asuras, D ama and others, Sambarsura who was well versed
in MAyavidya became greatly incensed with the haughty Devas
and having reflected in diverse ways upon devisfng means
for their destruction soliloquised thus "The three Asu
ras, D &ma and others, whom I created before were devoid of
Atma-Jnaiia; and hence seized with the unreal conception of
* The 3 Ahankaras rise in reference to the three bodies of man. In the
second kind of Ahank&ra, their direct experience is they are like the
tail end of paddy or the thumb and not this body.
THE STORV OF BHEEMA, fcHA SA AND D RUDHJL 119
^ I" and " mine," succumbed to the Devas in fight. There
fore I will again create, through my Mayavic power, Asuras
of Jnana, well read in Atma-Jnana Sastras. Possessed of
the true Jnana, they will not be destroyed through the illusory
Ahankara."
With this determination to overpower the D6vas, S am-
bara willed into existence, through his stainless mind, three
Asuras who arose through Mdya like bubbles on the surface
of the ocean encircling the earth. They were omniscient
and through their own wisdom, knew themselves to be of the
nature of Jnana. They had not the taint of Sanchita Karmas
or love or hatred. They were able to firmly be in whatever
state they wished to be. They were so illuminated as not to
have any doubts. These pure personages cared not a straw
for the whole Universe ; their names being Bheema, Bhasa
and D rudha. Being asked by their maker to wage war with
the Devas, they marched straight against them and fought
terribly with them for countless years : whenever the idea of
" 1" and "mine" flitted across the minds of these Asuras,
they would probe unto their hearts for the origin of "I"
through their subtle Jnana enquiry. And then this manifes
tation of "I" and "mine" vanished at once like the wealth
of non-charitably disposed persons. Those who have divested
themselves of this ever-waxing Ahankara through Atmic
enquiry in diverse ways will never be touched by the fear of
births and deaths, will be stainless and content with whatever
objects they can easily get and will look equally upon all
through their present Jnana-vision existing from a remote
period.
Therefore in the war with Bheema and others, the whole
host of Devas chose rather to fly away from the field like the
wealth dissipated by a rake in a short time and to hide them
selves in different quarters. They then went to Vishnu for
asylum and prostrated themselves before Him who strode the
tarth with three strides.* Having assured them of his aid and
told them not to be afraid, Vishnu marched to the battlefield
in great anger and waged a rare war by flinging at the three
Asuras the weapon, discus. The three Asuras were burnt
* The three strides are in Vamana (Dwarf) Avatar.
I2O TOGA-VA SISHTA
by the flames issuing out of the said weapon and were
carried at once to the Loka called Vaikunta wherein resides
Vishnu wearing on his neck the Tulasi garland.
Thus through Vasanas, bondage is caused ; with the
disappearance of the former, the latter also vanishes. There
fore, Oh Rama, you should know well all things through your
discriminative Jndna. Through such a knowledge of Tatwas,
there will be an extinction of all Vasanas which form the
medium of enjoyments. With the extinction of all Vasanas,
the undaunted mind will get quiescence like a gheeless lamp.
THE STORY OF DHA S OORA.
Summary Having explained that the renunciation of
Ahankdra tends to the attainment of Atma, the author again
illustrates in this story the theory that Atmic Sankalpa makes
this universe to shine and constitutes it.
The best means of disposing of this great danger of
Maya involving all in pains is the destruction of the mind*
Oh R&ma, may you hear from me and not slip from your
memory the true significance of the perfect Tatwa-Jnana.
The longing after the stainful material enjoyments is itself
bondage ; the renunciation of the same is Moksha of the
nature of Brahman. Of what avail are other paths, such as
the study of Sastras and others ? You should, without the
least suffering of mind, walk in this path of renunciation of
desires. Now oh RSma, you should consider as fire or poison
all objects which are said to be pleasant or otherwise. Repeat
edly should you be enquiring into all the painful worldly
enjoyments, differing in degrees ; and without letting your
mind crave for them, if you enjoy them lightly, you will
never be affected thereby and will find them pleasant. The
concretion of the powerful mind in objects is itself the des
truction of Atma ; but with the destruction of the mind,
Atma begins to dawn. In the case of Brahma Jnanis, their
minds are extinct ; but the stainful mind of Ajnanis proves
their fetters. The higher minds of JnTinis are with neither
bliss nor non-bliss, motion nor non-motion, Sat nor Asat ;
nor are they in states intermediate (between these pairs).
THE STORY OF DHA s OORA. 121
Here Rama asked Vasishta to be enlightened in extenso
as to how this universe is in the one Tatvva and the eternal
Atma-Jnana which is above all the universes. To which
Vasishta replied thus " Like the one Akasawhich, though per
meating all objects as inseparable from them, is yet through
its subtle nature distinct from them, so the homogeneous one
Jndna Reality, though all-full in all objects, is yet distinct from
them) and never affected by the changes which such objects
undergo. Atma-Jnana which is without the vain Sankalpas,
name, destruction or heterogeneity is (to give a rough des
cription of it) as subtle as one-hundredth part of the all-
pervading Akasa. It is this which is dubbed with different
beneficent appellations of Atma and others and which is the
Jnana in Jnanis. It is this which though manifesting itself
as Ajnitna producing Samsara is yet non-dual in its nature
and is the Jnfina which makes one to know his own Self. It
is this which, though it is the one Jnana having none else to
compare with it, yet manifests itself as identical with this
universe of the nature of Satta (Be-ness) with all its
ocean of waves encircling it. To the ignorant who have not
known their Atma, their ceaseless cycles of pains-producing
re-births reduce them to abject slavery and suffering ; but in
those who have known their true Self, the Jnana light will
dawn and all objects will be known as one. And through the
enjoyment of their own Self the three, actor, action and
instrument will shine (as one) in their Self. All that they con
template upon then, will be of that (Jndna) essence alone.
Those who are in enjoyment of (this) immemorial wealth will
ever be so.
Jnana is that in which are not found such acts as dawning
or setting, rising or standing or going to a seat or returning
from it and which may be said to both exist and non-exist
here at the same time. It is in this that the stainless imma
culate Atma is. It is this Jnana which through its inherent all-
pervading potency shines as this heterogeneous universe in the
above-mentioned manner. It is this Jnana which through its
power of becoming light and darkness, and one and many,
abandons its real state of all-full Jnana and gradually becomes
of the nature of Jiva through the heterogeneous conceptions of
" I", " he," " thou," &c. Then through its conception of being
16
122 i OGA-VA SISHTA.
caught in the meshes of SamsAra, it is subject to the dualities
of Sankalpas and Vikalpas, existence and non-existence,
attractions and repulsions, &c. Being thus in a differentiated
state, it, through its manifold Sankalpas creating this
body composed of eight principles, is yet not its author. The
very fluctuation (or motion) in this state produces ever the
septenary graduated states of existence, locomotive and fixed.
Though its incomparable Brahmic potency, it generates all
and destroys them again. Therefore this universe appears to
be everywhere through the Sankalpa of the mind like the
mirage manifesting itself in the unreal Bhuta-Akas (or ele
mental Akas).
Just aa one through his excessive giddiness, thinks him
self to be another, the one impartite Jnana appears to be
unreal. Know, Oh Rama, that to be the above Jnana which
enables one to perceive sound and other objects. Know also
that this Jn&na is no other than the all-pervading Parabrahm
which has manifested itself as all this universe. The pseu
donym Brahman* expresses very aptly this idea. Nought else
is but this one. Can the waves, &c., of an ocean be said to be
other than water as mere dust ? Similarly, the incomparable
Brahman alone does truly exist ; but not Akasa and other
things which exist but in name. Like heat inseparable
from fire and identical with it, so the universe which is of the
nature of Brahman is identical with it.
This identity should be taught only to those who have
developed the four means of salvation and have perfected
themselves in Charya (acts of service to the Lord), Krya
(acts of worship towards Him) and Yoga. After having
first gauged the merits and deserts of the disciple, he should
be initiated into the mysteries of the identity of one s Self
with Brahman. But if this be imparted to those wallowing
in c usires, it will but fling them into the tortures of Tophet,
never to return. It is only to illuminated minds like yourself
untinged with the desires of the ever-agitating wealth, that
this, grand Truth will become self-evident. The disciple
who, in order to free himself from existence, approaches,
without the least doubt and under great self-sacrifice, a Guru
of powerful knowledge should satisfy the above conditions.
* Brahman from Fnh to Expand,
THE STORY OF DHA S OORA. 1^3
Just as in the presence of a lamp, sun or flower, there is
produced light, day or odor respectively, so in the presence
of Chit, there will arise this universe. Its mere appearance
will be the form of the universe ; but it really is not. At
these words of Vasishta, Rama remarked thus " All the
words of your holiness which are unfathomable through their
loftiness (of conception), like the milky ocean cool and im
maculate, have struck surprise in my heart. Through them,
my mind has sometimes been cleared of, and sometimes en
veloped with, doubts, like the autumnal clouds which produce
alternately heat and cold in an instant. Oh Muni of great
truth, how did these actions arise in Atma-Jnana which is end
less, one and manifold, of undying power, immeasurable and
of noble characteristics ?
To which, Vasishta replied thus Know that 1 can prove
experimentally and without the least contradiction the esoteric
truths of the holy sentences in the Vedas. I have to affirm
that all I have said are nothing but the emphatic truth. If the
true Jnana- Vision is developed by you and (your) higher in
telligence expands, then will you be able to judge for your
self as to whether it is easy or difficult to realize, as in the
palm of the hand, the truths of my statements.
The stainless Jnana can be attained through the Supreme
Avidya only after expelling its darkness which annhilates
one s own self (or Reality). You should destroy Ajnana
through itself alone like likes by likes, such as arrows by
arrows, poison by poison, enemy by enemy, or excessive dirt
by itself alone. Through patient enquiry and reflections, you
will find that it will fly away and with its disappearance,
Brahmic bliss will be attained. If you have Jnana and a
cognition of its reality through the unification of Jiva and
Eswara, then will you be able to understand the true nature
of Avidya. Till the blissful Jnana dawns in you, you should
hold fast to the words of mine that the terrific Maya really is
not. Those who have cognized directly through themselves
that all are but the immaculate Brahman, can be said to have
attained Moksha.
The knowledge of diversity itself constitutes Maya. At
nil costs, should this Maya be overcome. The other bank
of the river against which lash the waves of Maya, can never
124 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
be perceived without gaining Atma-Jnana. If that is clearly
seen, then such a stainless seat is itself the imperishable
Nirvana. Please do not rack your brains now as to the origin
of this Mdya ; but enquire into the means of its destruction.
If it is destroyed, then will you be able to know how it arose.
Then will you be able to know whence it arose, what is its
nature and how it perished. Therefore, Oh Rama, should
the dose of medicine called Jnana be administered to you,
suffering from the malady of Ajnana fruitful of all pains, then
you will not be drowned in the ocean of the baneful re-births-
Like Vayu which having its source in Akasa yet pervades it?
so the Chit-Sakti arising out of Brahman, the Atmic Be-ness,
shines as this universe. It is only through a slight motion in
the immaculate Jnana-ocean, all the hosts of Jivas and Eswa-
ra shine. Having cognized without doubt through your
divine vision that the one Brahman alone is partless, may you
drown yourself in the Jnana-ocean.
Through a slight motion in the one Jnana, the Jnana-
Sakti in it becomes transformed in a moment into various
Saktis of many powers when they are associated with the
three (Saktis) potencies of Space, Time and Karmas. Though
resting in its eternal seat of Brahmic Reality, this Jnana-
Sakti will contemplate upon itself as conditioned. While
contemplating upon itself thus, there will come upon it, in its
train of ideas, the conception of the limitation of names and
forms. Associated as it then is with excessive Vikalpas, it
is bound by the conceptions of space, time and actions. It
is at this stage that the Jnana Reality passes under the
appellation of Jiva. This Jiva generating manifold pains be
comes tinged with Ahankara This never-bending Ahankara
manifests itself as the stainful Buddhi leading to certain
knowledge. Then this Buddhi suffused with illusions becomes
the Manas of thought. This Manas of great fancies becomes
gradually the Indryas (or organs). It is these ten Indriyasof
hand, &c , that are termed this body of flesh. Thus it is that the
Jiva through its association (with the universe), gradually de
bases itself, being bound by the cord of Sankalpas and enmesh
ed in the snare of pains. Thus is the mind, which was original
ly the one reality itself, bound by desires through its Ahan
kara like worms caught in their own chrysalides. Through the
THE STORY OF DHA s oOKA. 125
Tanmatras (rudimentary properties) produced by itself, it is
bound by the snare of its own internal (mental) actions and
will ever be afflicted at heart like an undaunted male lion in a
forest bound in fetters. Thus has the one principle been
dubbed by the great ones with different appellations of Manas,
Buddhi, Jnana, Karmas, Ahankara, Yatana (suffering) bodies,
Prakriti, Maya, the base Mala (impurity), Karma, Bondage,
Chitta, Avidya, desires and others.
Hence all these diverse things of the world which have
appeared as many in different places through the bondage of
our desires, do not confer even the least iota of benefit to the
(real) mind in the heart. All these things are like a huge
banyan tree with its long branches, &c., latent in a banyan
seed. The mind will ever be tossed in the ocean of desires,
being scorched by the fire of pains and devoured by the boa-
constrictor of anger. Losing all equilibrium through its in
tense sufferings, it becomes quite oblivious of its own reality.
It is this mind you should try to lift out of Maya, like an ele
phant sunk in mire. Oh Rama, the very incarnation of Grace,
those are Rakshasas in the guise of men who do not relieve
their minds reeling under the fiery poison of the terrible births
and deaths as well as in the presence of their two enemies
good and evil.
Thus have the Jivas, which are nothing but a disport of
Chit, arisen through Bhavanas (thoughts) as separate enti
ties out of the one Brahman, as countless as drops of water
trickling down from the Meru heights. Some of them
have subjected themsslves to one, two or three births. Some
of them have undergone more than a hundred births. Some
have attained births beyond number of Kinnaras,* Gandhar-
vas, Vidyadharas or the hosts of Uragas. Some are born as
the sun or the moon or Varuna : some as Brahma, Vishnu
or Siva ; some as Brahmins or kings or Vysias or the ser
viceable Sudras ; some as beasts, birds or reptiles ; some as
tendrils, unripe fruits, fruits, roots or straw. Some monads
are born as the mountains, Mahendra, Sahya, Meru or
* Kinnaras Elementals of Buvarloka or intermediate space having
the body of a human being and the head of a horse. Gandharvas Ele
mentals of the same regions which are musicians, and hence preside
over sounds. Uragas Serpent Elementals. Vidyadharas are elemen-
tuls of another order.
126 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
Mandara ; some as the trees, Kadamba, Lime, Palmyra,
&c. ; some as the grand septenary seas of salt, curd,
ghee, milk, sugar-cane-juice, honey or pure water* ; some as
the different quarters or rivers and other objects, high or
low. Like a ball tossed to and fro by the hand, these Monads
are played about by time, enter various bodies and attain dis
crimination through repeated fluctuations ; but the ignorant
subject themselves to the ever-recurrent cycle of re-births.
It is only through the illusory Maya which is in the one Rea
lity of Brahman like the waves of an ocean that the whole
universe expands itself, being created and preserved through
this Ajnana.
After the all-illuminated Vasishta had concluded thus,
Sri Rama questioned him as to how this Jiva though associ
ated with Manas is yet able to secure the name of Brahman.
To which Vasishta replied thus " Having heard my reply
to this question of yours, you will be able to also know the
means by which all the worlds came into existence. May you
be blessed with discrimination on hearing from me all these
The imperishable Atma through the force ot quarters, time,
&c., assumes to itself bodies made up of the above quar
ters, &c , through its Chichakti (Chit-Sakti) in order to
disport itself therein. Then at once through dint of the Vasa-
nas synonymous with this Jivatma, the stainful fluctuating
mind is generated. Then this potency of mind which was in a
neutral state with Karmas and non-Karmas commingled, now
becomes active ; and the moment it becomes at first imbued
with the Bhavana of the Tanmatra of Akasa, viz., the
subtle sound, it immediately through such fluctuating power
becomes dullened with the nature of Akasa. Then imbued
with the Bhavana of the Tanmatra of Vayu, vis.j the subtle
touch, it through the fluctuating power of Vayu becomes of
the nature of Vayu. Though commingled with Akasa and
Vayu, it pursues the same process lower down and imbued
with the Bhavanas of the Tanmatras, form, taste and smell,
it becomes of the nature of Agni, (fire), Ap (water) and Pri-
thivi (earch), respectively. Thus does this Atma appear as
of the nature of this all-pervading universe, being envelop-
* This refers to the 7 seas by which the seven Dwipas are stir
rounded.
THE STORY OF DHA S OORA. 127
ed with the ideations of the five Elements and live Tanmatras.
It alone manifests this body (of ours) in the Akasa like a
flitting tire-spark. It shines in the heart lotus of all, mani
festing itself as this eight-fold body composed of the five
Tanmatras with Ahankdra and Buddhi (and Manas making
it eight). Through excessive Vasanas is it, that this body
is generated through thought. Chitta having become con
crete, it engenders the gross body like a Bilva (Bel) fruit.
Then with the radiance of a spermatoza darting into womb,
it shines with a form by its own power with a head above, feet
below, hands at its sides and a belly in the middle.
Through the potency of the primeval time, an externally
visible form arises gifted with intelligence, cleverness, power,
nobleness, true Jnana and wealth. Such a one of form is the
illuminated Brahma called Viswa. This Brahma first beheld
his own person which was very lovely and transcendent.
Endowed, as he was, with the imperishable good gunas and
able to dive into the three periods of time, he looked into the
Param-Akasa which is non-dual, illimitable and of the nature
of Jnana to see what existed before. Then he of stainless full
Jndna-Vision saw the rise (and tall) of myriads of previous
evolutions, of which he himself was the author. Therefore
knowing all (the previous) Varnas (castes), race, Dharmas,
&c., he again created them anew as if in sport. In the
same manner, did he also bring into existence innumera
ble Veda Sastras to enable all Jivas to attain salvation Jivas
who arose through Sankalpa like an ephemeral Gandharva
city. Through this Brahmic mind, all the creations of the
five subtle elements blossomed out into physical ones, like
buds blooming in spring. All the heterogeneous Devas and
men fell into cycle of births through their own Sankalpas. If
persons in this world should know thus their origin and then
annihilate their Sankalpa, then they will not be subject to the
trammels of birth, like a lamp without the ghee (or oil). Akasa
and other kindred ones arise in vain through Sankalpa merely.
Therefore, oh Rama, you should, in your waking state,
observe as in a dream this world. Strictly speaking, this
world cannot be said to arise or perish at any time or place.
From the standpoint of the one Real Jnana, all else are but
illusory.
1 28 YOGA- VA SISHTA .
Being firmly convinced that this load of Samsara which
is but the hole wherein crawl the great serpents of desires, is
wholly unreal, may you, oh Rama, sever quite the bonds of
Samsara and live immutably in the immeasurable Seat of
Brahman. What does it matter to you whether the Gan-
dharva city (of this world) which seems beautiful to behold,
does exist or is destroyed ? Will it be for your good or
evil ? What boots it to you, whether (your) wife, issues,
&c., who but forge the bonds of Maya, prosper or not
in this world ? The increase of longing for wife and
wealth does but enchain you ; but if it is curtailed, who
else than such a one will be able to reap the harvest of
such a subjugation ? The very enjoyments which are the means
of fanning the desires in an Ajmini and making him reel under
them, thereby suffering from dire pains, serve a powerful
Jnani to make his mind desireless and unobscured when he
contemplates upon their sufferings. Through this beneficial
course, when you are amidst the karmas ot Samsaric bond,
you should perform them, enjoying things that you come by
and not repining for things that do not fall to your lot, and
thus reach the Jivan Mukti state. Not having an object at
present, they will never think of enjoying it in the future ; nor
will they disregard as stainful an object at present obtained.
Oh lotus-eyed one, this is the true nature of full Jnanis.
The bond of Maya will never affect those omniscient
adepts who have eras5d off their minds all Vasanas, being
convinced of the visibles as illusory. Having planted firmly
your intelligence in the immaculate Seat of Brahman which is
the neutral state between Sat and Asat, do not let it, oh
Rama, be attracted or expelled by the universes, both exter
nal and internal to the body. Being without love or hatred in
all actions, Atma-Jnanis will never let their minds be affected
by such actions, like water on a lotus leaf. If your mind,
oh Rama, will but firmly abandon all the so-called pleasures
arising from the sensual objects, you will then be a knower
of Atma-Jnana, cross the Samsaric oceans and liberate your
self from re-births.
If you long for the Supreme Brahmic Seat, you should
through the true Atma-Jnana destroy the mind of Vasanas
like a flower losing its Vasanas (or odor). The enjoyment
THE STORY OF DHA s OORA. 129
without fear of (Brahmic) bliss constitutes the vessel which
enables safe landing to those who are drowned in the Samsa-
ric ocean full of the waters fluctuating with the base Vasanas.
Those in whom Atma-Jnana has dawned directly will follow
the worldly avocations and yet not be tainted by them. They
will not refrain from the worldly actions and will not long
even for the flower garden in Swarga. They will not feel
pain even in deserted or desolate places. Like the sun, they
will ever tirelessly perform their appointed duties and will-
never derogate from the ordained Law. The supremely wise
will never flinch doing all their duties. Therefore, oh Rama,
you should conduct yourself thus." Thus said Muni Vasishta.
Valmiki said " Here me attentively, oh Baradwaja.
At this description of Brahmic Seat by Muni Vasishta, Sri
Rama became stainless with his mind annihilated ; his heart
ivas rendered cool with the ambrosia of the incompara
ble Tatwa-Jnana and was Plenum itself like the wax
ing full moon." Then Vasishta again continued At one
period, all the universes Siva creates ; at another period,
Brahma; at another period, Vishnu; then Munis, and so on.
Sometimes Brahma is born in a lotus ; sometimes in water ;
sometimes in the mundane egg; sometimes in Akasa. In one
creation, the powerful trees will alone exist in this universe ;
in another, man alone ; in another, the several mountains;
in another, the earth alone ; in another, stones alone ; and
in another, flesh alone, and in another creation, gold alone.
Thus will it be in diverse ways. During the several crea
tions, the foremost is sometimes the Akasa, sometimeg
Vayu, sometimes Agni, sometimes Ap and sometimes Pri-
thivi. Herein I have but briefly described to you the creation
of one Brahma. The order of evolution will not be the same
in all yugas but will vary with different yugas. Krita* and
other yugas will again and again recur. There is no object in
this world which does not again and again cycle round many
times. Therefore in order to understand truly the great
Maya of intense gloom in its glowing colors, you wilt have
to hear, oh Rama, the story of Bhasoora well versed in the
rare Vedas.
In the country of Magadha where the gentle zephyrs-
* Krita and other yugas the four ytig-as.
7
I^O YOGA-VA SISHTA.
breathed their cool fragrance in the flower garden?,
the loveliest of all spots on earth, there lived a noble
Muni by the name of Dhasoora on a pleasant mountain abound
ing with plantain trees emitting camphor odor, Kadamba
and Areca trees. This Muni was the son of Saraloma who
was like the son of Brahma, being in the possession of Tapas
fitting one for Moksha. He was like Kacha, the son of the
Lord Brihaspati (Jupiter) in Devaloka ; among the mortals
he was the supreme of men ; and in Tapas was unrivalled.
After Saraloma had passed many yuj?as in the forest on these
mountains along with his son, he extricated himself from his
body, like a bird out of its cage and assumed Deva (celestial)
form. Being left alone in the forest, Dhitsoora the son wept
bitterly over his dear father s death like a nightingale parted
from its mate and forgot to perform, with the purificatory
water, all those obsequies that are ordained in the case of
pure Brahmins.
Whilst he was thus of a dejected heart at the separation
of his parent, the sylvan Devata (goddess) commissera-
ting greatly his pitiable condition and without making
herself visible to him, addressed him (as a voice in the
silence) thus Oh thou son of a great Muni, being thy
self a Muni of an illuminated mind, do not despond through
thy pains like the ignorant. How is it thou hast not, ere
now, been impressed with the unreality of this ephemeral
Samsara ? With birth, death is inevitable. Are there per
sons in this world who are so insane as to maintain that the
sun which rises in the East does not set in the West ? Do
not play the woman and afflict thyself with grief. So said
the sylvan goddess unobserved by him.
Having heard these words, the Muni shook off his sorrow
and performed all ceremonies in water according to the Vedic
injunctions and then longed for the Tapas leading to Moksha.
Therefore he began to indulge in a love for the performance
of religious ceremonies according to the mandates of the
Veda to which he belonged. Being without full Jnana, he was
not satisfied with the purity of the many spots of the
earth he came across and so contemplated in his mind
upon performing Tapas, like birds upon the top of a
tree, as if such Tapas alone could conduce to real purity.
THE STORY OF DHA s OORA. 13!
For this purpose, he reared a large fire, invoked the Deva
hosts and so performed a Yajna by cutting into parts his
body and offering them to the fire. Thereupon the resplend
ent God, Agni finding that the flesh of the learned Brahmin,
such as the throat, shoulders, &c. t was being offered through
itself to the Devas and wishing to know its reason, appeared
before the Brahmin and questioned him thus " What is
thy intention ?"
To which the Muni with folded hands eulogised him and
said thus " As I am not able to find any pure place on this
earth, please favor me with a seat in a tendril on the top of
a tree."
At which the God Agni granted the boon and dis
appeared like the waves of an ocean- There was a Kadamba
tree in the forest which reared its head high aloft in the
Akasa, outstripping the sphere of clouds even. It was on a
tendril on the top of this tree that Muni Dhasoora seated
himself and performed a rare Tapas without any the
least doubt of mind. Surveying first all the quarters in
an instant, after seating himself in Padma posture, he
controlled his mind from them even. Being not able to
attain Brahma Jnana directly, he performed (religious) Kar-
mas alone ; but then with a mind that did not long for the
fruits of actions, he performed Yajna for 12 years and offer
ed oblation to the Devas (celestials). As all the Yajnas were
performed without any obstacles, strictly according to the
Vedic injunctions, such as Gomedha*, Aswamedha and
Naramedha, his mind became steady, clear and full and at
once the priceless Jnana took possession of it and pervaded
it quite.
This great personage becoming freed from the obscura
tions of re-birth and having eradicated to the root all Vasanas
was thus spending his days in the tendrils of a branch, teem
ing with bee-hives, when one day before his pure eyes the
sylvan goddess appeared visibly, clad in full-blown flowers
whom he questioned as to who she was.
To which the Goddess replied thus " I have known that
persons who are greatly devoted to the wise can without
* Gomedha the sacrifice of cows, Asv/amedha that of horses,
Naramedha that oi men.
13 2 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
doubt encompass very easily things otherwise difficult of
achievement. Oh Jnana conferring Muni, I have to inform
you that I am the Goddess presiding over this forest. I
always love to reside in the exquisite arbor of plants teeming
with the blooming flowers. In the month of Chaitra (April-
May) when the moon shines with 13 Kalas ^on the i3th day),
I was in the group of sylvan goddesses, who had assembled
together on the occasion of the grand festival of Kama (the
.god of Love). All my companions rejoiced in the possession
of sons ; being childless, my mind greatly gave way. While
you, Lord, are here like a Kalpa tree yielding anything to
those persons that long for it, why should I bewail over the
want of a child, as if having no protector. Therefore please
bless me with a son : else I will enter the flames through the
grief of childlessness."
At which the Muni laughed and handing over to her a
flower, said thus Oh Swan-like one, thou wilt in the course
of a month be able to easily get a son ; but as thou im
plored for a son through the vow of entering the flames in
case thy request were not granted, thy begotten son will
attain Jnana, undergoing dire probation.
Thereupon the moonlike face of the Goddess began to
shine, radiant with lustre, in the prospect of begetting a son
and asked permission of the Muni to sit at his feet and
abide by his orders. The Muni being unwilling to abide by
her request, she returned to her abode and there gave birth
to a son who shone with the splendor of a full-moon. After
the child had passed 12 years, the mother with her offspring
went to the Muni and addressed him thus " Oh thou God
who having perceived Truth confers it upon all, this my son
whom I begot through thy grace, became through my instruc
tions well versed in all departments of knowledge ; and yet
he has not attained Atma-Jnana. He is tossed about in this
ocean of re-births. Please therefore bestow upon him that
Jndna by which he may know his own Self.
To which the Muni said " Leaving thy son under me as
my disciple, hie thee home."
Accordingly the Goddess returned home leaving her son
there. Thereupon the loving disciple prostrated before the
two feet of the Guru and remained there steadfastly, Then
THE STORY OF DHA s oOKA. 133
this Muni initiated his disciple into the All-full Jnana by
giving out the clear spiritual stories, the several evidences,
the rationale of the Puranas and the underlying meaning of
the sacred sentences in Vedanta as well as the many paths
that lead to Jnana.
While I was journeying on in the Akas incognito to
bathe in the River Ganges, I one day went from the region
of Sapta Rishis* to the Kadamba tree where the Muni
Dhasoora was initiating his disciple in the night and heard
the following from the Muni s mouth which I shall now
communicate to you.
" Now shalt thou hearken to the present story in order
that thou mayest rightly understand the true nature of the
Brahmic Reality. There was once a great and noble Em
peror named Swottha (or that which arises of itself) who re
joiced in the possession of immense courage and fame. Even
the many protectors of the perishable universe would wear his
commands over their heads, as if they (the commands) wereso
many rubies and would be weighed by him according to their
true deserts. This Emperor was a lover of Truth and wrought
many wonders. One may rather count the ocean waves than
the myriads of countless actions which he performed produc
tive of good or evil to persons (good or bad). Neither sharp
instruments nor wind nor fire was able to affect him in the
least. How can the two hands of a person seize and affect
the Akasa which is all-pervading ? Not even the eternal
Trumurtisf who are ceaselessly engaged in all actions as if
In sport, can out-strip this Emperor (in his efforts).
Three persons there were, who formed the bodies of this
great personage able to bear up any burden. These persons
transcended even the powerful universe. They went by the
names, Utthama (high), Madhyama (middle), and Adhama
(low). This king abode in the Jnana- Akas out of which he
arose and was triple-bodied in person. In this city of Jnana-
Akas, there were 14 long streets. All things being triple in
their nature, there were in that city Elysian pleasure gardens,
groves, sporting resorts, tendril-like gardens, 7 tanks and
* Sapta Rishis The seven Rishis corresponding in Astronomy
to Ursa Major.
t The Hindu Trinity Bnihma, Vishnu and Rudra.
134 YOGA-VA S1SHTA.
two lights which were both hot and cold (at the same
moment). Tents were pitched, whirling in all the three worlds
of the city filled with all things the three worlds, Swarga
Madhya and Pfitdla. Three massive pillars upbore these
three worlds. It was intertwined with the trees of bones.
It was coated over with soft skins filled with blood and
thickset hairs above.
This king created, with Maya which never is, big halls;
each of them had nine windows through which the zephyrs
played. It shone with the beautiful lights of the five Indryas
(organs). External to it, appeared the two arms. The
ghosts of Ahankara, extremely nervous at the approach
of Brahmic meditation guarded and protected it. Having
like a bird pent up in a cage, amused himself with the ghost
of Ahankara in a number of halls and sported gleefully in
diverse ways, the king migrates from one hall to another
created by him and there dances ghost-like everywhere as he
passes along. The moment he thinks of quitting one from
another, he does so accordingly ; the moment he contemplates
upon death, he puts an end to his existence. With his mind
ever whirling, he will ever subject himself to the cycle of
births and deaths. But the seat of all is Jnana-Akas alone.
Though dead once, he will again recur like the waves of the
ocean. This triple-bodied king will live pleasantly in his
city shining like a Gandharva city and being ever
oppressed by the ever-surging actions, will sometimes
droop, sometimes rejoice ; will sometimes be carried away
by the love of Self and sometimes reel giddily or be clear in
mind ; will sometimes exclaim * Oh, I am poor, I am low, I
am high, I am base, I am noble and so on. Oh, how
can I describe the state of the mind of that person which is
tossed to and fro, like a light object in a stormy ocean."
At these words of the Muni, the son asked his father as
to what he meant to symbolize by the Emperor mentioned in
the above story. To which Dhasoora replied thus Should
you know truly the real nature of the King, then you will also
be a knower of the unreality of birth and death. In the story
related above, I but emphasised upon the illusory character
of births and deaths in this mundane existence which has
spread itself far and wide through the paltry Sankalpa. It
THE STORY OF DHA S OOKA, 135
is only Sankalpa that incarnated in the Param-Akas in
the form of the King Swottha. It will of itself evolve and
disappear at stated times. With the growth of the paltry
Sankalpa, there will arise the universe ; with the extinction
of the former, the latter also will disappear. Even the
primeval Trumurti and other Gods are but the inseparable
parts of the bodies of this Sankalpa. This Sankalpa, viz., the
meditation of Brahman which arises in Atma through the
budding up of intelligence in it, first creates in Jnana-Akas
the town of three worlds : the deities presiding over the several
quarters are the 14 Manus : the 14 streets in the town do
stand for the 14 worlds; the pleasure gardens, groves, &c., do
symbolize the pure earth : the mountains of sport in that
city do stand for Mahameru, Mandara, and other mountains ;
the two lights that will never be quenched by the wind are
the sun and the moon ; the pearl garlands do stand for the
many rivers full of water : the 7 tanks in that city do repre
sent the 7 oceans rendered into lotus-like forms through
Valava-Agni. In such a great city of the universe, the
abovementioned King of Sankalpa assumes different bodies
through his Karmas. And these bodies are symbolized in
the story by the spacious Halls. The bodies of Devas are
located in the higher regions ; those of Nagas in the nether
regions ; those of men in the middle ones. Such bodies
made of fleshy earth move about through the terrific Prana
(life) currents. Migrating in the diverse halls of bodies, the
King will consider as true the unreal ghosts of Ahankara
which impede his progress in Atma-Jnana. Then when he
flirts with them, they will sometimes be and sometimes not.
The bodies composed of flesh called here Grahas (houses) will
appear and disappear like the waves of the ocean. Moving
in the different Grahas, this King of Sankalpa will sometimes
die, the moment he comes into possession of them through
his Sankalpa. And so long as he is in the clutches of San
kalpa, he will be greatly afflicted. Without enjoying happi
ness in the least, he will greatly repine at his lot. With the
contemplation of * I," all the train of the ideas of the
universe will set in ; otherwise all the universe will vanish as
instantaneously as darkness before the sun.
To this Sankalpa-Purusha who is sunk in the enjoyments
1 36 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
he contemplates upon, there are three bodies, the high, the
low and the intermediate. The three Gunas are his three
bodies and form the substratum for the three worlds. Of these*
Tamasic-Sankalpa breeds pains through the actions of Prakriti
(matter) and is base like Patala worms. The pure Satwic
Sankalpa leads to good Dharmas, Jnana and salvation, shin
ing like an emperor. The Rajasic Sankalpa leads persons
naturally into the mundane existence. Having divested your
self of these three Sankalpas, if you are Sankalpa-less, then
you will reach the immaculate seat very easily. Having freed
yourself from all desires in the visible objects before you
and having made your impure mind firm and steady through
your pure mind, may you eradicate quite the Sankalpa aris
ing both within your heart and without it. You may un
flinchingly perform a stainless Tapas for many myriads of
years ; you may be able to travel at once through the three
worlds, Svvarga, Patla and Earth ; but never will you be able
to reach the stainless Moksha, except through the firm path
of the annihilation of Sankalpa. Therefore endeavour, as far
as possible, to destroy this Sankalpa and thereby attain
Brahmic bliss devoid of pains and heterogeneity. In the
string of Sankalpa, all our countless thoughts are strung like
so many beads. If the string be severed to pieces, then you
may infer, oh son, what will become of the illusory thoughts
which are strung in it.
I hope you will be performing those Karmas only that
present themselves before you without the dire Sankalpas
(which make you to choose between them.) Should
Sankalpa bid adieu to you, then your Jnana will not pinion
itself to the visibles. Having reached the Brahmic seat, may
you enjoy the supreme bliss in that non-dual state, being free
from the heterogeneities of the universe as well as misconcep
tions and that in the pleasurable Sushupti state.
At these words of Dhfisoora, his disciple asked him thus
What is Sankalpa ? How came it into existence ? And how
does it flourish and go out of existence, decreasing gradually ?
To which the Muni replied thus. " The mere manifes
tation, as the visibles, of Atma-Jnana the supreme, the
true and the universal is Sankalpa. Rising from a small be
ginning, this Sankalpa is the primeval seed. Gradually and
THE STO-RY OF DHA s OORA, 13 J
regularly increasing, it begins to obscure the one clear
Paramatma, like the thick clouds, in order to generate firmly
the conception of inertness. Oh my son, when the v:: .
gence views the visibles outside, then it differentiates thi
from itself. Then Sankalpa reigns supreme. 1 he seed oi
Jnana is no other than the sprout of Sankalpa. This
Sankalpa having- considered itself as different from
others, will generate itself as well as increase prodigi
ously. Such a procedure is for its evil only and is in
no way beneficial to it. Therefore do not dream of walk
ing in the path of Sankalpa. Do not for a moment con
template upon the things of the universe. Through such a
contemplation, there will ensue to you supreme happiness.
You need not exert yourself too much to rid yourself of this
Sankalpa. With the checking of all thoughts, one s mind
will perish. To crumple a full-blown flower in one s hand,
taxes a little effort, but even that little effort is not needed
to do away with Sankalpa. Sankalpa is destroyed with the
control of thoughts. Having firmly annihilated the external
Sankalpa through the internal one, and having destroyed the
impure mind through the pure one, may you rest firmly in
your Atma-Jn&na. If only this path is faithfully followed,
then there is no doubt that the highest goal can be achieved
through the extinction of Sankalpa in the short space of time
required for a black gram to roll from the side of a pot. It is
nothing impossible. Take my word for it, it will really happen.
As Sankalpa arose only through the misconception of Ajnana
only and is not ever existent, it resembles the universe and
Akasa. Though the husk is natural to rice, and the rust, to
copper, yet the former disappear through efforts made.
Similarly Ajnana which clings to Atma can be made to dis
appear through Atmic enquiry. Having cleared yourself of
all doubts, you should endeavour to walk in the spiritual path
through the aid of the spiritual illumination imparted by
your Guru. All the visibles seen by us are in vain. Alone the
relationship of a Guru and his disciple should be known and
worshipped as the torch of light leading to Brahman. *
Having heard all these words of Dhasoora Muni, I went
to the Muni there ; and having paid him due respects with a
good heart, I passed the night with him on the tendril of the
18
158 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
tree he was in. As in the case of two libertines, the whole
night was passed, as if in a second, in the recitation of many
true stories. Then I took leave of Dhasoora and reached the
banks of the Ganges. Thus, my son, is this universe as in
the story related before (by Dhasoora).
THE STORY OF KACHA.
Summary Having shewn in the previous story that
it is Sankalpa which manifests itself as Jivas, Eswara and
the universe, the author shows in this story that these are
no other than Chit itself.
In the long periods of eternity, a hundred years will not
count for even a second, albeit we consider them along
period and afflict ourselves with the never-ending excessive
desires. Endeavour to make your mind not perch upon
desires by not allowing it to roam at large upon the
objects of sense. May you live in that state in which you
(originally) were, whilst you were devoid of desires. Like
beautiful gems which emit a dazzling radiance without
any desire or volition ori their part, the universe which is
but Sat shines in the one Brahman (and should not be
longed after as different from it). Hence in the non-
dual Brahman, there are not the dual conceptions of the doe r
(of actions) and the non-doer. In the absence of desire?
there is the uncreate idea of non-doer ; but with their
presence, the idea of doer arises. Besides these two, there
arises not any other conceptions in Atma. Of these two,*
whatever conception suits you best, in that shall you stay.
Having swallowed this evergrowing mind of yours, may
you rest incomparably firm in your own Self. Whether you
mean to be a Kartha (doer) or not, this path of annihilation
of your mind will be most beneficial to you and will never
generate the least of pains.
If you wish to be the Akartha (non-doer), then you
should conduct yourself according to the ways of the world.
* Here are disclosed the two paths where one identifies himself
with all the universe as the doer and where one thinks he is not the
doer. There is also the third path where he is neither of these.
THE STORY OF KACHA. 139
As there is not the conception of another, there should not
exist the idea of separateness in the heart. The moment the
conceptions of mine, I, * you or I did it or not arise in one
there is sorrow engendered in him. Will persons be so foolish
as to identify their self with the body ? Such a conception
is tantamount to (the raising up of) 21 hells (in them).
Even with the visitation of dire pains (in the body), do
not confound the " I" with the body. The wise of certain
knowledge will be as loth to identify their " I" with the body
as flesh-eaters are unwilling to taste dog s flesh. It is only
through the stain of the identification of" I" with the body
that the true Jnina-vision does not arise ; but should the
stain be dispelled at a distance, then the Jnana light will
shine unobscured like a moon-light in the absence of the
sable clouds enveloping it. Through such a vision, you will
be able to land safely on the other beautiful shore of the
ocean of re-births. Having contemplated upon the fact that
you are not a Kartha (or doer) of any and that there are no
such differences as I, thou and others, may you be the Akar-
tha with your mind very firm.
Then there is the other course. You may contemplate
thus " I am the Kartha of ail. All the countless hosts of
objects are no other than myself." With this contemplation
you should rid your mind of all fluctuation and make it im
movable. If these two methods do not commend themselves
to you, then you should contemplate upon yourself as being
neither of these two and as being that one which is beyond
speech and mind. You should rest in that seat of your own
Self which is the supreme of all seats. The wise, who have
cognized the non-dual supreme seat, do abide in their own
Self. All the enveloping Vcasanas tend towards bondage ; but
the extinction of them leads to Moksha. Having first des
troyed the impure Vasanas which do cling to the mind
associating with sound and other objects of the sense,
you should eventually abandon even the pure Vasanas
which tend to Moksha. And then you should cease to
perform even those actions which tend to produce the
stainless qualities of love, charity, contentment, amity with
all and indifference. Having first cultivated the Vasanas
tending to the incomparable Chinniatra (the absolute cons-
140 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
ciousness) through the destruction of internal actions, having
gradually destroyed even the Vasanas along with the internal
organs (lower mind) and having ceased to put forth the efforts
required for accomplishing the above, if you are in a quiescent
state as free as Akasa completely denuded of all Vasanas,
mind, action, Jnana and Ajnana and free from Chidabhasa
(distorted conception), the fluctuation of Prana and their
causes, then you will be truly that which you are in fact.
Those who are in that immovable state when they are
without Vasanas and the attachment to the world, are Jivan
Muktas. Such Jivan Muktas will become the Supreme Esa,
(Lord). It matters not whether they are engaged or not in
Karmas or Samadhi ; they yet are Jivan Muktas, having
abandoned all Vdsanas. Inasmuch as there is no taint
of desire in their mind, no fruit of actions arise to them
through their commission or omission. The Sastric know
ledge is not indispensable in the case of those whose minds
have been emptied of all Vasanas, having for long periods
been concentrated in one groove. There is no other bene
ficial state than that Mouna (silent) state which is void of
all V&sanas.
Extremely meagre in number are those who having
known that which should be known, after setting their face
against the worldly things in which they were whirling, do
always worship that Reality which is the goal of this archaic
universe; all others do but reel in the illusions of the world.
All in this world do perform actions herein through the sight
of their body and not Atma. Search where we will, either in
Devaloka or Bhuloka or Patala, there exist five elements
onlv and not six. Those who have reached that firm state in
which they are able to free themselves from delusion will never
be attracted to anything. To the ignorant who have
not the advantage of real experience, the cycle of re-births
is like the tepid ocean at the time of deluge ; but to those
who are not subject to delusion, it (re-birth) is as harmless
as the footprints of a cow. The mind of the painless wise,
the sensual pleasures will never affect. Of what avail to
persons living in towns, are the low females living in barren
tracts and incapable of yielding pleasures to any? In the
spacious and pure ocean of Brahman, mountains are but
THE CONCLUSION OF STHITHI PRAKARAXA. 141
foams. Before the sun of Brahman, the earth encircled by
the oceans is but a false car. These knotty points were once
propounded clearly by Kacha, the son obtained by Brihas-
pati through a boon.
Now hearken to that story. Once upon a time Kacha,
after having returned from the supreme Samadhi he was in,
exclaimed thus with an exhilarating heart and a voice that did
not know how to find its expression through its ecstatic
enjoyment. What is it that I shall have to do ? To which
quarters shall I fly, (there being none for me now) ? What
shall I cease to perform or abstain from ? Like the flood of the
deluge, my Self alone pervades everywhere in this world.
Whether in body or out of it, in the quarters or Akasa or in
the earth or any other place, my Self alone pervades. There is
no object which is not found in my own Self. The Self-shin
ing one is no ether than my own Self and this Sachidananda
alone shines (or is).
THE CONCLUSION OF STHITHI PRAKARAXA.
Summary Having shewn in the previous chapter
that all shines as Brahman, the author summarizes the five
previous chapters of Sthithi Prakarana.
Persons born with rare Satwaguna live on earth with
Brahmic effulgence like unto the moon shining in the Akasa.
They will never groan under the load of pains. Will ever the
golden lotus fold its petals with the approach of the n:ght ?
They will concern themselves \vith nothing else but their
present actions only. They will tread the path of the superb
wise men of rare intelligence. With a non-fluctuating mind,
their hearts \vill be full and bent upon noble thoughts. They
will rejoice in the possession of amity, grace and other good
qualities. Persons of such innate good qualities will be in
different to high and low stations of life. They will look with
an equal eye upon all and be virtuously disposed. Like the
(ordinary) ocean, they will never go beyond their bounds.
They will be without delusion and like the sun will never tres
pass the strict Law.
142 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
What is fit to be taken in and acted up to is the quality
of the stainless ; what should be shunned is the path of the
stainful. After having enquired into the nature of the uni
verse, one should consider it as an object of indifference. He
should thoroughly sift the nature of " I" through the aid of
his Guru and his own intelligence and become clear minded.
Utmost pains and efforts should be undergone in the path of
knowing Atma. The mind should be perfectly controlled in
the due acting out of worldly affairs. Association should be
contracted with the virtuous. The object fit to be gulped out
is the idea of " 1". That which should be shunned is the
delusion caused by this body composed of boney, muscles, &c.
But that which should be seen (and worshipped) is Para-
Brahm which permeates all bodies. From the sun journeying
in the car drawn by his green horses down to the vermin of
the earth, Jn&na alone shines. Through our own efforts?
we can acquire different births in which one of the three
gfunas, Satwa, Rajas or Tamas predominates. But it is only
though Satwic actions, that the Supreme Moksha is reached."
Thus did Vasishta address the transcendent Ramachandra.
tf.
UPASANTHI PRAKARANA.
THE STORY OF KING JANAKA.
Summary Having- shewn in the previous chapter the
play of Chit (consciousness) alone shines as this universe, the
author through the nine stories stated in this Prakarana, shews
that this universe as universe, ever is not.
According to the abovementioned words of Muni Kacha,
son of the Deva Guru (Jupiter), all these universes are of
the nature of Atma-Jnana only. The delusion of birth and
death will only haunt those persons who have Rajas and
Tamas gunas and will abide in them as firmly as a dome
supported by strong pillars. But persons of powerful Satwic
tendency like yourself will ever be free from the fear of births.
Such Satwic men will liberate themselves from the tram
mels of Maya, like a serpent giving off one by one its sloughs.
Having contemplated that all are Brahman and the * I
is that Brahman only, you should destroy the idea that the
* I and the universes are different. All the created objects
arising out of Brahma Jnana the cause, do not really exist,
like the foam in an ocean. There are really no such thing s
as pleasures and pains, birth and death, or persons whirling-
in the vortex of birth and death ; but one only Principle, that
always is, endures.
Having tasted all things through experience and in
ference, do not grieve for them. Do not think of the past or
of the future ; but remain in that non-dual state with the
transcendent Satwa-Guna and without the dualities of desire
and hatred and others. With an equal eye to all, with the
certitude of conviction in Atma-Jnana and a powerful Jnana,
and with extreme quiescence and a mind silent to all worldly
objects, may you, Oh Rama, relinquish all pains with a mind
as transparent as crystal. In the closing birth whereafter
there is no more re-birth, Atma-Jnana will dawn in one
easily. Will the resplendent bamboo pearls be found in other
144 YOGA-VA SISIITA.
than bamboo clusters? In such persons, who will no more be
re-born, are found nobleness, benevolence, love, clearness of
intellect and all the qualities of a Jivanmukta and an Atma
Jnani. The good qualities of these great persons who walk
in this amiable path will attract all persons unto themselves,
like the melodious tunes of a bamboo flute enrapturing the
hearts of even cows.
Now to those persons who, through these qualities, are
able to arrest all at once the seven births. There are two*
kinds of paths leading to Moksha. Now hearken to them.
If one should, without the least fail, follow the path laid down
by an Acharya, delusion will wear away from him little by
little and emancipation will result, either in the very birth of
his initiation by his guru or in some succeeding births. The
other path is where the mind, being slightly fortified with a
stainless spontaneous knowledge, ceaselessly meditates upon-
it ; and then there alights true Jnana in it, like a fruit falling
from above unexpectedly. Now listen attentively to a
story that I shall now relate to you, in which Tatwa-Jnana
arose in one like a fruit in the Akasa, as in the second of the
two paths mentioned above.
Over this universe, reigned once a King of kings wha
never at any time labored under any fear from his foes. He
was exceedingly wealthy and liberal. He wielded the sceptre
over a country called Videha which had not the least taint of
jealousy or envy. This king going by the name ofjanaka
rejoiced in the possession of good qualities transcending the
ocean and befitting him to protect his subjects like Vishnu.
In the beautiful season of spring, this king with a great joy
of heart stepped into his Elysian garden redolent of sweet
smelling flowers, whilst his courtiers, armies and others were
stationed outside the garden. Perambulating the garden
alone, the king heard the songs of Siddhas whose minds
had attained to the one Chit. Now, oh Rama, listen
attentively to the songs containing the experiences of the
Siddha hosts residing on the fragrant hills and withdrawing
themselves from all pleasures of the visibles and heard
by Janaka. They are " That Jn&na-bliss which arises out
* In the two paths to Jnana, a person is guided by a Guru in one,
and in the other, he is guided by himself.
THE STORY OP KING JANAKA. 145
of the commingling of the knower and the known is of Atma-
Jndna. And it is this Atma-Jnana bliss, that should be long
ed after." So said one Siddha. Another Siddha said " After
eradicating the seen and the visual with their Vasanas, one
should contemplate upon Atmic Reality which is the primeval
Light to the eagle vision (of high spiritual personages).
Another Siddha remarked : "After having become all-
pervading like that One which occupies the neutral centre
between Sat and Asat, we should ever be contemplating upon
Atma-Jnana, that eternal Light which illuminates all other
lights. "
Another Siddha remarked: "We will contemplate
upon that effulgent Atma-Jnana which always calls itself I
in all Jivas. "
Other Siddhas also remarked thus " To look for the God
without, relinquishing the God within, is like going in quest
of conch shells after giv ing up the Kousthubha* gem on hand.
Atma can be attained only by those who have destroyed
completely the forest of the lilies of desires. Those persons
who, in spite of their knowledge of the non-existence of
happiness both in the past and the present in the baneful
objects (of the world), do yet entangle themselves in them
with their thoughts clinging to them, deserve the appella
tion of an ass, if not a worse one. The serpents of Indryas
(organs) which ate hissing again and again, should be slain
in the seat of the mind by the rod of firm discrimination,
just as Indra reduced to dust the mountains through his
adamantine Vajra (thunderbolt). A mind, devoid of pains,
which has developed an equal vision over all, through
quiescence, will attain the state of its Atmic Reality which
is the plenum of complete bliss. This is Moksha." So said
many Siddhas. Having heard clearly these indubitable
words of sage counsels emanating from the Siddhas, Janaka
became panic struck like a serpent stunned at hearing the
sound of an angry and overwhelming Garuda (eagle). There
fore he left his cool pleasure garden for his mansion and
dismissed his minister and other attendants.
Having closeted himself alone in a cool mortared room
in the topmost story of his mansion, he began to contem-
* This is the Gem said to be shining on the breast of Vishnu,
19
146
plate deeply upon the true significance of the words given
out by the Siddhas. Observing the actions of the world where
men and others ever flutter like birds always on their
wings and then perish, he could no longer contain himself
and cried out the following words Being much hem
med in on all sides and whirling in different conditions
in this fluctuating world, I am ever whirling with delu
sion and afflicted with pains, like dusts of sand floating in
the midst of a large stone. Now reflecting upon Time
which is eternal (in its true nature), T cannot but term,
as a moment, the 100 years of my life. While so, how is it
I estimate my life greatly and fall into all sorts of despon
dencies through my powerful desires ? Who is there so
debased in life as myself, who am spoiled through my gross
mind ? Fie, on this uneven life which cannot be considered
as of any moment. Comparing this earth over which I rule
to the countless universes, I cannot but consider it as an atom.
It is really surprising that I should rate high this universe
full of pains. Indeed I am unable to find one object in this
archaic universe which is uncreate and sweet and benefi
cent for one twinkling of the eye at least. While so,
it is really marvellous to see the heterogeneities of the
universe. Even the greatest of persons will in course of time
become the lowest of the low. Oh, my mind which fancies as
real the ephemeral wealth of this world, whence these illusory
thoughts of thine r" All enjoyments, great men and their
kindred have appeared in former times. Where then is the
certitude of existence of all objects now ? The innumerable
earths with their rulers and their wealth, have all perished
like fine sands ; the Devalokas with their Indras and wealth
have all disappeared like fish in the sky above ; no limit can
be Imposed upon the number of universes, Brahmas, mun
dane eggs and Jivas that have come and gone. Oh afflicting
mind, where then are all the objects that have vanished out of
sight? Where then is the permanency of your existence? It is
only by bestowing my desires on the illusion of the long dream
of bodily delusion in the sable night of the unreal Ma"ya that
I have debased myself to this ignorant state. Enough,
enough with all the deaths I had undergone in previous
times. I have never been able to find that beneficent Kala
THESTORY OF KING JANAKA. 147
(time) which does not put an end to any object. Not one be
neficent object exists on this earth, either in the beginning,
middle or end, Are not all created objects coated over with
the varnish of destruction ? The ignorant, every day of
their lives, enact with their body dire sinful acts, painful
deeds and illimitable vices. In youth, they will be enve
loped with Ajn&na ; in adult age, they are entangled in the
meshes of women ; in old age, groaning under the burden
of Samsara, they die. Being thus always occupied, when
will they find time to devote themselves to the commission
of virtuous deeds ? How came this Maya to play and dance
in this world ? This ghost of my mind dances in the theatre
of this universe to the music of the organs.
Asat is perched on the crown of Sat. Similarly Adhar-
ma or pains is ever seated on the crown of the illuminated
Dharma in this universe. If pains are seated on the crown
of (or are the necessary accompaniments) the stainless plea
sures, how can we discriminate between them and find out the
stainless? If in the opening and the closing of the eyelids,
many Brahmas are created and destroyed, what am I, a puny
self, before them ? A rare marvellous wealth becomes a
source of pains with the affliction of the mind ; even an object
of infinite danger is the source of great happiness through the
mind rightly directed. It is only the dire Samsciric life that is
the source of all pains. How can happiness be generated in
those lives that are drowned in Samsara ? The mind of de
lusion constitutes the root of the tree of Samsara of Ajnana
which ramifies in all directions with branches full of flowers,
tendrils, fruits, &c. It is this mind which is called Sankalpa.
With the destruction of Sankalpa, the mind will be also des
troyed easily. The baneful root of mind being destroyed, the
tree of birth and death will also be destroyed. Oh, I have
detected the thief who robbed me of my Atmic Jewel, viz.,
my Self. His name is Manas (Mind). I have been long suffer
ing through this villain. I will now gibbet him and make
him die.
Till now I have not been able to bore a hole in this
pearl of mind. Now I will do so and make a rosary of it by
stringing it in the string of experience and wear it on my
person. I have learnt it all through the omniscient Siddhas,
148 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
as my Guru. I am now in the enjoyment of that bliss which
pertains to the pure Brahman. I have gradually dispelled
from my mind such unrealities as I, you and other differences
of conception. 1 will never hereafter bring them back to my
mind. I am now victorious in the conflict with my great
adversary of the mind which spoiled my Atma-Jnana. I have
completely divested myself of all the pains which afflicted me.
I have attained the life of quiescence. Oh, discriminative
Jnana which uplifted me to this lofty state, I adore thee."
Thus did king Janaka remain statue-like in Samddhi,
after having destroyed all fluctuation of mind. After being
in it for a long time, he returned from it and then surveyed
the universe through his quiescent mind, his impure one
having been destroyed past resurrection, with the following
remarks: ; What object is there in this world for me to
encompass? What is illusory? To my present scrutini
zing eye, all is pure Jnana only. I cognize nothing but the
one immaculate Atma-Jnana my own Reality. I will never
long for any object, I do not come across ; nor will I evince
any aversion towards any object that I do not come by. I
will remain immutably fixed in my own Self of Atma-Jnana.
Things will happen as pre-ordained." So saying the king
was absorbed with Brahmic bliss in the non-dual state.
Just as the effulgent sun in the Akasa causes days, &c., to
happen without any volition or desire on their part, so also
Janaka contemplated upon performing, without any longing,
all actions of his life which crop up spontaneously every day.
So never for a moment ruminating upon the past or future,
productive as they are of evil, he began at once to transact
his present actions with a full heart. Only through the
Atmic enquiry created by the words of the Siddhas, did
Janaka attain quiescence of mind and Atma-Jnana. Oh lotus-
eyed Ra"ma, the supreme seat of Atma-Jnana can be attain
ed only through the stainless and beautiful Atmic enquiry
and not through the actions done by the low-minded with
out a guru. The worldly-inclined do long after other
goals than Atma ; but the longing after the extraordinary
enjoyment of spiritual bliss is only through previous Atmic
efforts. Therefore one should destroy Ajnana, the seed of
THE STORY OF PUNNYA AND PA VANA. 149
the previous tree of existence on this earth productive of fear
ful dangers and surrounded by the ocean of pains.
To the non-agitated Jndnis. the precious Jewel of Jnana
locked in the casket of their heart will fetch, in a moment,
whatever they think of, like the Kalpa tree (of Devaloka).
Desires, hatred, &c., will not affect those in whom the (Atmic)
bliss enjoyment has arisen through Atmic enquiry after the
annihilation of Ajnana, just as persons clad in diamond ar
mor are proof against arrows. Then the dense mist of
Ahankdra, which having screened the Sun of Brahman ob
scured the intelligence, will be dispersed piece-meal by the
whirlwind of Jnana. Should one aspire for the supreme
Brahmic Seat, he should previously have killed out all desires
in his mind. Is not grain obtained, only after previously
ploughing the field on this firm earth r
THE STORY OF PUNNYA AND PA VANA.
Summary. In this story it is sought to shew that spiri
tual experience arises after many births only and that with
great difficulty.
The non-dual Atma-Jnana will, if developed, cause to
perish Ajnana which is the cause of the growth and increase
of the poisonous plant called Moha (delusion) and identifies
the " I" with the body and others, the seat of the sovereign
s\vay of the serpent of pains. Those who are acute enough
to always discern the unreality of this universe will, like king
fanaka, cognize through their subtle intelligence the non-
dual Pararnartha (Reality) at the proper time. But such
cognition will not take place through wealth, men, (religious)
actions or celestials. Those who are afraid of being born over
and over, should take refuge in their own efforts alone. If
with every day the base conception of the differentiation of
he, I, &c., be gradually destroyed, then the expansive Jnana
which is all this universe will arise stainlessly. With true
discrimination arising more and more in the mind, it will be
able to cognize its own Atma-Jnana.
When attraction and repulsion (towards objects) be*
come of the nature of the mind (and commingle with it), it
150 YOGA-VA IISHTA.
alone is bondage and nothing else. Having: avoided all
desires and pains arising through the ripened love and hatred
towards objects, may you be immovable, devoid of attrac
tion or repulsion towards them.
The abovementioned qualities will find their asylum,
unaccompanied by any pains in those wise persons free from
the longing after release or non-release who are without
delusion, non-permanency, Ajnana, pains, actions to be done
or omitted, confusion, Vikalpa, fear, contraction (of mind),
enmity, blemish, baseness, direness or deceptive words.
The great Vasanas are the net composed of the string of
powerful thoughts to catch the fishes of delusion in the
ocean of existence. Having cut asunder, with the sword of
Jn&na, the net of Vasanas, may you be with your mind as
still as the clouds unaffected by the winds. After having
destroyed the impure mind through your pure mind like a
tree felled by an axe, may you be firmly seated in the supreme
Paramapada (supreme seat).
Having firmly convinced yourself of the illusory character
of the worldly actions, such as going and returning, waking
and sleeping, standing and sitting, &c., abandon quite all
the desires of your heart. The ever-fluctuating mind goes
after Jnana through its natural Vasanas, like a cat following
a tiger through the flavor of its flesh. Again just as through
the intrepidity of a lion a cat feeds itself on what it gets, so
also the follower of the mind gets hold of the sensual objects
through its intelligence. If the mind is thus engaged in the
visibles, then it will never be destroyed. Hence there arises
no freedom from bondage. But if the visibles are removed,
then destruction of the mind will ensue and thereby Nirvana.
May you rest as firm rooted as Mahameru without the
conception of the difference of " I" and these (objects). May
you, after rendering your mind as immaculate as the stainless
Akasa, unintermittingly be in the cognition of your Atmic
Reality, the Jnana which shines above in the midst of the
knower and the known that are, from the standpoint of the
beneficent mind, respectively Atma and the universe. May
you be of the nature of the one Reality after having enquired
fully into the one Bliss which shines in the midst of the
blissful object and enjoyer, having 1 rid yourself of both these.
THE STORY OF PUNNYA AND PA VANA. 151
May you without desires cling to and rest in " That," which
ever is, in the midst of the enjoyer and the enjoyed.
It is indeed impossible, for persons beset with the corro
ding desires, to continue their life in this world ; but not so
persons bound by a mere cord. Therefore you should cut
asunder the bond of desires through the destruction of San-
kalpa. Having severed the Idea of 4 I with the sword of
non-I, may you, oh Rama, contemplate upon Atma and
reach Moksha devoid of the seven births and in a state of non-
fear to any.
At these words of Vasishta, Rama remarked thus " Thou
wert pleased to say that 1 should destroy the desires
arising from the ideation of I in actions pursued. These
words, when 1 ponder over them, are too deep for me. I can
rather destroy this body, the causer than the Ahankaric con
ception. With the annihilation of !, the body will perish
like a tree felled to its root." Vasishta thereupon replied
"Men versed in the sacred lore state that there are two paths
by which the Ahankdric Vasanas can be destroyed. Instead
of thinking with certainty as we do now we live for objects
or the objects live for us ; or in the absence of these invalua
ble objects, the * I does not exist or these objects do not
exist in the absence of I, one should, through pure enquiry,
differentiate himself (as separate) from the objects, with the
idea the 1 does not belong to the objects or the objects do
do not belong to the I ; and his mind should give up all
Vdsanas with no faltering certitude and should perform all
things, as if in sport. This is what is called Dheya-Tyaga (or
the renunciation of that fit to be given up), oh Rma showering
grace like clouds. Then having destroyed the Vasanas and
looking with an equal vision over all, if one should abandon
this burden of the body, then such an extinction of Vasanas
constitutes the stainless Jneya-Tyaga (or the renunciation
of the Known). Those only are the wise who have given
up all the Vasanas which have concreted themselves into the
tangible shape of the body of Ahankara.
Those sturdy persons who come under the first category
are called Jivanmuktas ; while those who come, under the
second heading, after destroying to the root all Vasanas and
actions and rendering their mind completely quiescent, are
152 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
called Videhamuktas. Oh victorious Rama, these two kinds
of renunciation resemble one another. They pertain to Jivan-
muktas and Videhamuktas respectively. They lead one to
Brahman, free him from the trammels of pains and enable
him to attain Moksha.
Those only whose minds do neither sink nor float amidst
the pleasures or pains by which they are environed are Jivan-
muktas. Those whose minds have not experienced (or
are not affected in this life by) exultation, fear, anger,
poverty, stains or pains which arise in them through their
previous destiny, are Jivanmuktas. Those who are ever in
a dreamy state of abstraction with a mind rendered, while
performing actions, as quiescent as in Sushupti and whose
company is ever courted after by the wise, are fit to be
termed Jivanmuktas.
When the attraction towards external objects ceases,
then there yet remains the internal craving which is called
Trishna (thirst).
But when the attraction towards objects external as well
as internal ceases without any veil, then it is termed Mukta
(freed) Trishna. The mere thought of longing that such and
such a thing should arise to oneself is Trishna. It is this
strong golden chain of Trishna that you should unshackle
yourself from, without the least hindrance. May you be
in that immaculate and transcendent Atma-Jnana Reality,
after allowing all conceptions of yea or nay not to transcend
their limits, becoming of full mind freed from all desires and
giving up completely all desires for salvation or bondage as
well as pleasures and pains.
May you, Oh Rama, be immovable like an ocean without
foams or waves. Listen attentively to what I am now
going to give out to you. In the case of the stainless en
quirers after Atma, there are four kinds of certitudes. The
first kind is that where the " 1" identifies itself with this body
from head to foot and thinks itself to be no other than the
one generated by the parent. As this idea is not real, this
certitude leads to dire bondage. The second kind of cer
titude arises when the " I" finds itself to be above and
other than all (gross) objects and to be more subtle than the
tail end of paddy. This certitude when attained leads to
THE STORY OF PUNNYA AND PA VANA. 1 53
Moksha and arises in the case of the wise. The direct cogni
tion within, without doubt, that all the universes are no
other than the modes or aspects of I and that the I is
indestructible is the third kind of certitude. This is the
Moksha lacking nothing. The fourth kind of certitude arises
when the perishable universe and the knower are cognized to
be unreal and all the IV ever are, like the Akasa pervading
everywhere. This is the incomparable and supreme Moksha.
Of these, the first kind of certitude is ever associated with
bondage generating Trishna. But the other three being
associated with the emancipated and pure Trishna, is to be
found in Jivanmuktas only. Of these, if one is impressed
with the incomparable certitude that all things are no other
than the I/ then the mind will never be affected by pleasures
or pains. (All being one), the Void, Prakriti, Maya, Brahma, the
Light of Chit, Intelligence, the stainless Purusha, Atma, Esa
(Lord) and Siva all these can be termed Parabrahm it
self. It is Brahmic Sakti (potency) that sporting in the crea
tion of this universe brings about the differentiations of the
numberless divisions in it. This incomparable Sakti re
siding in the non-dual Brahman exists through the impartite
nature in it and then flourishes (manifold). Therefore, oh
Rama, banish from your mind all thoughts of differentiations
of " I" or " thou," birth or death, or pleasures or pains in
objects or actions. Those persons who, being above all,
concentrate their attention uponlhe supreme Seat with a cool
mind unaffected by pleasures or pains will never subject them
selves to the trammels of re -births. Those persons following
the footsteps of the ancients who shew the same leniency and
mercy towards both their friends of virtuous deeds and their
enemies of vicious deeds will never render themselves liable
to the trammels of re-births. Such persons will never think
of nobility or lowness ; will never have love or hatred ; will
not have actions to do or not to do ; will not associate them
selves with re-birth. Shining with divine effulgence, they
will speak lovingly to all. Having known the true proper
ties of all objects, they will be ignorant of re-birth.
Therefore, oh Rama, ever sport in this world attaining
the Atmic Reality in a state of Jivanmukti when the Dheya
Vasanas are given up and the illuminated vision takes place-
20
i$4 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
Ever dally, oh Rdma, in this world as you list, acting up to
the external observances of life while internally you are
Chidakas itself, devoid of these false desires, attractions of life
and Vasanas. Amuse yourself, oh Rama, in this world creating
commencement (or end,) only in the external actions of the
world but not in the solitary mind, thus seeming to perform ac
tions in the world while they are not performed within. Amuse
yourself, oh Rama, in this world according to your free will,
after having differentiated " I" from the body and destroyed
thereby all Ahank&ric ideas, and rendered the mind as im
maculate as Akasa without stains and the diverse characteris
tics. Amuse yourself freely oh Rama, in this world with per
fect liberality of spirit without undergoing the difficult obser
vances of life but yet trying to understand the rationale of all
things by following the easy ones. Oh Rama, amuse yourself
ever in this world with acute intelligence and non-desires,
full within but seeming to be hot and impetuous without, as
if prompted by Karma in the performance of actions whilst
you are cool within.
Do not in the least contemplate, oh RaTna, upon such
un-realities of distinctions as friend or foe, thou or I. Such
is the case with those only who, having the paltry impure
mind, are engaged in fruitless endeavours. But to the wise,
this whole world is their inseparable kindred. It is only
through the delusions of birth that persons consider one as
their friend and another as their enemy. Thus is man s delu
sion which rejoices every moment (with this or that). But
through true vision, all the universes become, at the same
time, his friend and enemy.
To illustrate this experience, I shall relate an ancient
story which thou shalt hear. In days of old, there lived on
the banks of the Ganges two persons, sons of a Rishi named
D eerghatapas (of long continued Tapas). These two sons who
went by the names, Punnya (Virtue) and Pavana (Purity),
abode by the side of the incomparable Mahendra mountains
and were well versed in the four vedas, performing great
Tapas. Whilst they were performing Tapas on the banks
of the Ganges along with their father, the virtuous per
sonage Punnya attained Jnana in course of time through
the performance of actions, not being actuated by the
THE STORY OF PUNNYA AND PA vANA. 155
fruits thereof. But his brother Pavana having attained
but partial Jnana was fluctuating in his mind like a rock
ing cradle, without true Jnana and with excessive ignor
ance, his mind rolling everywhere. The father of great
Tapas after giving up all desires for sensual objects, became
indifferent to the love of mundane existence and abandoned,
on the hills by the side of the Ganges, his body which formed
a nest for the birds of Ahankaric actions to nestle in. Like a
carrier who, bearing a burden, takes it to a certain destina
tion, he (the father), being free to unshackle himself from his
body on account of the absence of desires, reached Brahmic
bliss which is like the fragrance of flowers permeating the
whole atmosphere above.
As soon as the body of this Satwic Muni who had reached
his Atmic Reality which is actionless, without the pains of
the universe and seat of the dawning of the ancient Jnana,
expired, his consort at once breathed her last like a beetle
deserting a lotus flower. The eldest son Punnya, finding dead
both parents who were like eyes unto him, began to devise
measures for the performance of obsequies in accordance with
the established usage, while his brother Pavana began to
reel in the ocean of sorrow, exclaiming * Oh my dear mother,
Oh my dear father, how shall I bear this burden of grief ?
where shall I go ?" Having grown quite fidgetty and unset
tled like a person treading the flames, he roved about all
throughout the forest. He was not able to control his grief
even in the presence of his calm brother and became quite
enfeebled in mind. But the eldest brother who was not even
a little dispirited, being quite convinced that it is but natural
for even lightning like (subtle) bodies to fade away, perfor
med all the funeral rites without the least flurry.
After all the Vedic rites were duly conducted, Punnya
of full Jnana addressed his brother who was yet yell
ing aloud with his mouth wide open, in the following
manner " How is it, my boy, you have not as yet
overcome your grief which harrows you quite. Now
hearken to my description of the transcendent seat,
which our father and mother have secured for them
selves. It can be called that stainless Moksha which is in
capable of either repletion or depletion, which is its own
156 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
place and which is its own Self, It is the goal to which all
tend. It is the Tatwic Reality of all Jnanis. Is it wise, my
brother, for you to wail at your parents attaining their own
Seat ? Is there any limit to the number of fathers and
mothers or of wives and sons that you had in the many in
carnations you underwent previously like the countless pitfals
in a river-bed. One may rather count the number of fruits
yielded by the trees of a vast forest in the fruit-bearing
season than the many relatives which one had during his
previous innumerable births. And if we begin to bewail on
their behalf, do you think, brother, a Kalpa will suffice for
exhausting our grief on that score ? The torrent of mirage-
waters (undulatory waves) meandering in the season called
Visanas over the valley of mirage which is the formless Ajnana,
sweeps along its current the hills of pleasures and pains and
dashes without limit or differences. This universe which has
arisen in the form of wife and other relatives, foes and kindred
love and hatred, nobleness and lowness as well as other pairs,
exists and expands by virtue of its name (and form) only and
none else. Think of one as a good friend of yours and there
the thing is created as a reality. Think of him as your foe
and then also the mind perfects the thought into an actuality.
Like the properties of the murderous poison or the rejuvena
ting nectar which accomplish their desired ends, so also if
once the bondage-giving thoughts are completely destroyed
by one, then they will never resurrect from their grave. How
can we attribute enmity or friendship to the intelligence in
diverse forms arising from the one Atma ? If we begin to
enquire, as to who are in the tabernacle (of body) which is
nothing but a net work of bones filled with flesh, blood and
skin and which, though non-existent, deludes us with its
existence as real, then what remains is this " I." Then
contemplating still further with the mind, we find through
the stainless Brahmic Vision gradually developed, that neither
you nor I nor Punnya nor Pavana nor anyone else exists but
the one Jndna which then shines alone. In the many Dwipas
(islands) long passed out of existence, the births you under
went are incalculable. In the great Dwipa called Jambu, you
were born as a cuckoo, as beasts, clouds, hills, trees, reptiles
and birds ; the series of births you had in them and in each
THE STORY OF THE GREAT BALI. 157
of those sub-divisions are indeed indescribable. Such being
the case, why do you not now grieve over the deaths of those
who were related to you in those many incarnations ? Nay
this is not all. Listen again to the repeated births you had
in other countries. In the countries of Kosala, Desarna,
Poundra, Gurjara, Tushara, Konkan, Bosala, Kaikeya and
Salwa, you were born as King, monkey, vermin, stag, water-
crow, birds, serpent, ass and others. Now then why do you
not bewail over the death of those departed relatives also
whom you created then through your Vdsanas? In lieu
of counting the parents of many individuals born on this
earth, we may rather reckon the number of dried leaves with
ering from a large forest tree which rears its head aloft in the
skies. Therefore there are no grounds for you, my boy, to
grieve. Without a faltering heart may you, my boy, attain
without any obstacles your AtmicReality which is without ex
istence or non-existence, birth or death and cognize it firmly
through your mind. Having freed yourself from all pains
and Ajndnn, may you cognize, through your intelligence, your
AtmicReality perse. In that spiritual introvision, many
kinds of desires will spring to retard your progress. Free
yourself from their trammels, make the lotus of your heart as
pure as possible and cognise through your (higher) mind
your own Reality. Then all illusions will vanish completely
and you, my brother, will attain Nirvanic Bliss."
So said Vasishta to Sri Rama.
THE STORT OF THE GREAT BALI.
Summary. Having in the previous story shewn that the
concentration of the mind from the visible upon the seer leads
one to cognize his own Reality, the author illustrates through
this story the fact that, through the performance in this world
of Nishkdma-Karma, even sensual bliss is transmuted into
Brahmic bliss.
The heart of Pavana became illumined with the Jnana
into which he was initiated by his brother, the Muni Punnya,
like the universe beaming with light at sunrise. Then both
these Siddha-Purushas having attained Atma-Jndna were liv-
158 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
ing in that forest. Disporting themselves in diverse ways at
their sweet will and pleasure, they passed a long time and at
last reached that quiescent state of Videhamukti that state
which a light attains to, when it is divested of its wick and
ghee. Similarly is the fate of all Jivas after they die in
this world.
If one person in his many incarnations is related to all,
where then is the necessity for loving or hating any ? There
fore the best course is only to give up the load of excessive
desires and not to enlarge them. If desires are allowed to
grow, then they become the fuel for the fire of Chintana (or
contemplation). With the passing away of the fuel of desires,
the Sankalpas do also perish. This is perfectly a true
statement (and not a mere theorizing).
Oh puissant Rama, mount up the great car of Deya-
Tyaga and behold, through the much-eulogised transcendent
spiritual vision, this paltry universe palpitating with ex
cessive desires and then you will not lack anything. This
state is the certain truth of Brahman that is without
impurity, delusions or disease (of Ajnana). If this state is
attained without doubt, then persons will not be subject to
delusions, though they are without much intelligence.
Therefore, oh Sri Rama, lead your life thus.
With the intimate friendship (or development) of good
intelligence and nice discrimination, all pains will cease.
Even though one may find an asylum in a person (who is a
Guru), it is only through his own energy and will that he
can destroy all pains arising from association with diverse
objects and kinsman. Having labored hard through Vai-
raggya, Jnana books and the noble good qualities of benevo
lence, &c., if your mind is made to lead the Atmic life, then
all pains will cease. Not even the happiness arising from all
the collective wealth of the three worlds, will in any way
bear comparison with the bliss of a mind that has reached
Kaivalya (emancipation).
Like a shoe worn on the foot that is able to protect it
wherever its wearer goes, so also the mind fills the whole
universe with ambrosial bliss wherever it becomes all full.
A mind filled with the ponderous non-desires will never sink
into desires ; but a mind filled with desires, will never have
THE STORY OF THE GREAT BALI. 159
its grievances redressed completely. Compared to a desire-
less mind which yields pure thoughts as easily as Muni
Agastya sipped* in one breath the waters of the ocean, even
the full moon does not shine so bright ; nor is the milky
ocean yielding bliss so full ; nor will the radiant face of
Lakshmi residing on the fragrant lotus bestow (upon her
devotees) such a boon (as this desireless mind).
The ghost of desires will spoil the lustre of the pure
mind, just as the clouds envelop the moon or the black stains
tarnish a polished white mortared floor. Moksha means
nothing but thed Destruction of the impurities of the mind
which mind is developed only when all desires and fears of
re-birth are destroyed. If this is not possible (viz., of con
trolling your desires, &c.), thou shalt, oh Rama, be able to
attain Jnana through the path followed by the great Bali
through his intelligence. Such a course is beneficial."
At which Rama asked him to be enlightened as to the
nature of that course. To which Vasishta of rare Tapas re
plied thus. " There once lived a matchless king of Asuras
named Bali who reigned over Patala as an emperor over it.
He made the whole word tremble underneath his potent arms
and was able to overpower and humiliate even Eswara,
Vishnu and others. He was the son of the noble Virochana
and reigned powerfully for ten crores of years. Having as
cended the topmost story of his palace teeming with windows
and bedecked with gems brought from the Mahameru heights
surrounded by guards, alone he gave vent to the following
train of reflections with a mind disgusted with material plea
sures and contemplating upon Samsara (this mundane
existence). Of what avail to me is this undisputed sove
reignty of mine which has enabled me to enjoy from a
long time the wealth of all these three incomparable worlds ?
When I begin to contemplate upon the pleasures of wealth
which flit away at once, wherever and whosoever enjoyed in
the past, I find I am but repeating the same actions as yester
day, yielding but momentary happiness. Enjoyed things do
recur again. Things seen yesterday do again present them-
* When Indra wanted to conquer his enemy Vrittra who was screen
ing himself in the waters of the ocean, Agastya sipped the whole waters
at one sip,
160 TOGA-VA SISHTA-
selves to-day. Ornaments worn with exultation yesterday,
are again donned by us. And yet we find that even intelli
gent persons do not become disgusted with them and are not
ashamed to enjoy them again and again. Like ignorant
children that do taste again and again sweetmeats which im
part sweetness for the time being, we are also afflicted, ig
norant of the true path. Days, fortnights, months, years
and yugas do cycle again and again as formerly and
nothing new crops up. In spite of the performance of all
my duties, how have they in any way improved my life a
whit ? Through what shall I be able to come into the in
dubitable possession of that, after which I shall be action-
less ? What is that path which will enable me to go higher
up to " That" which is free from the illusory sensual ob
jects ?"
Then in order to find out that path, which leads to that
Principle which is indestructible and alien to objects, he
reflected deeply in his mind and then with full-blown eyes
under well-knit brows, he was beside himself with joy at the
solution that instantaneously flashed in his mind and then
burst out with the following words :
* Formerly I enquired of my father, the omniscient
Virochana in this very spot and about this very point. He
then explained to me the manner in which I can remove my
doubts. I questioned my father thus what is that in
comparable seat where all the illusions of pleasures and pains
and other heterogeneities fade away ? What is that seat
where the mind s delusions will wear away ? What is that
seat where all desires are eradicated to their root ? Please
enlighten me with answers to these questions. Again what
is that quiescent seat which is free from desires and mental
despondencies ? What is that seat which is permeated right
through by Absolute bliss ? Please, oh thou, who hast
cognized the Supreme, throw light upon the means by which
I can free myself from the pains and excruciating doubts I
am suffering from."
To which my father replied thus Now listen to my
words. A beautiful country there is which is illimitable, all-
pervading and without any precincts. That is the source
from which all mundane eggs arise and into which all are
THE STORY OF THE GREAT BALI. l6l
absorbed. In this country, there exist neither the grand five
elements, nor hills, nor forests, nor holy places, nor the pure
Devas, nor the other ancient souls. Great Luminosity is the
name of the king existing therein alone. He is omniscient,
all-pervading, the cause of all and stainlessly quiescent and
all full. He is Silence itself. He will without fail cause all
acts to be performed through the minister appointed by him.
The moment the minister thought of a thing, such an idea
though non-existent, arose instantaneously as a tangible
thing ; it, though existent, disappeared as mysteriously. This
minister has not the power to enjoy any thing through his
own right; nor does he know anything through himself. As
he acts always in concert with the king, he is able to do all
things. Though the minister does all acts in the presence of
the king, yet the latter is always alone." So said the father
to his son.
At which the son heard with an exulting heart all that
his father had told him and then questioned him thus " What
is the nature of the resplendent country which is without
mental disease and all-pervading? What are the means
by which it can be reached ? Through what, can it be
attained ? Who is the imperishable king in that country ?
and who the minister ? And who is that potent king with
his minister that cannot be controlled by my puissant
arms which brought under my subjection, as if in sport, all
the earths in this universe ?"
To which the father was pleased to reply thus " Who
will be able to over-step the rigorous law of the speedy and
powerful minister ? Even should countless hosts of Devas
and Asuras league together to over-power him, they will
never be able to do so. Even though such rare weapons as
discus, spear and others be hurled at him, their powers
will be deadened like flowers aimed at a stone. When
overpowered by the King, the minister will pay obeisance to
him. Otherwise one can more easily move the mountains of
Mahameru than this person. He will never be completely
subdued otherwise than through an intelligence of much
experience and skill. If you long to get at the minister, he
will hiss at you like an angry serpent and burn you. In order
to remove the doubts under which you are laboring, I will
21
l62 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
now proceed to state what the king, his minister, country,
&c., do symbolize. The country in the story aforemen
tioned, stand for the incomparable and eternal Moksha.
The king mentioned therein is the Atmic Reality inseparable
from Moksha and shining with the lustre of a stainless gem.
The creation of his, vis., minister typifies the mind (or intelli
gence). The real supreme skill lies in the thorough eradi
cation of sensual pleasures and the complete development of
Vairaggya. When the mind is overpowered by non-desires,
then it resembles a ruttinir elephant caged within Keddhas.
Persons unacquainted with the true Jnana-books, main
tain that out of the four parts into which they divide (the
actions of) mind (or time), two parts should be devoted to
sensual objects, a quarter, to a study of Jndna-books and the
remaining quarter, to the worship of the really blessed
AchArya ; and that if so done, Jnana will shine in them after
the removal of the darkness of Ajnana. But the partially-
knowing maintain that if, out of the four parts above-
mentioned, one should devote two parts to the con
templation and worship of Acharya, a quarter to the
meditation upon the truths contained in Jnana-books and
the residue in the actions of the organs, Jnana will prevail
in him so as to cognize the Supreme Truth ; while the
third class, vis., persons of full Jnana affirm that Moksha
will be easily attained by those who, dividing the mind
into four parts, devote it to the four purposes of a study of
the Jnana-books treating of the path of Atmic Reality, of
non-desires, of self-cognition and of the pursuit of the path
of the worship of Acharyas. May you through your
excessive intelligence and enquiry always master Atmic
worship and the subjugation ot desires simultaneously.
Through a determined subjugation of desires, Atmic enquiry
is induced ; and this Atmic enquiry breeds again renunciation
of desires. They are both mutually dependent upon one
another, like the full ocean and the clouds. Having earned,
in proper ways, wealth for relieving one s kindred and
others without violating the rules and observances of a
country, one should through that wealth resort to the wise
of rare Satwaguna and there attain their Vairaggya through
which he should develop Atmic enquiry. When thus he is
THE STORY OF THE GREAT BALI. 163
illumined with true Jnna through Atmic enquiry, then
Moksha is attained."
Thus did my father enlighten me before. Through
divine grace, I have been able to remember now all that
my father told me and attain Jnana thereby. Having been
freed from the longing after enjoyment and coming into the
possession of the wealth of non-desires, I have been
rendered cool with supreme bliss, through the ambrosia of
the quiescence of mind. Oh, I have been in complete ignor
ance of this, my present blissful enjoyment for so long a
period. How shall I describe it in words ? This is the seat
where all thoughts are absorbed and where all persons suffer
ing from the effects of pleasures and pains do find an end of
all their sufferings. This is the seat reached by all those who
lead their lives in Atma. This is the glory of all-quiescence."
Having soliloquised within himself thus, he began to
cogitate in his mind over the questions who am I ? and
what is my real nature ? Then he reflected for a moment
and concluded that if he should invoke and salute his guru
Sukracharya (Venus) who had cognized the Reality and having
enquired of him, should meditate upon the truth, then all
Ajnana would cease. Therefore with closed eyes* and true
affection, he meditated intently upon his Guru. Thereupon
Sukracharya, whose form was the true Sachidananda Akasa
only, appeared before Bali wishing to attain Atma. With
an enraptured heart, the king saluted him and having wor
shipped him with a handful of precious gems and good
flowers said the following " Please deign to hear my
words prompted by the advent of thy grace and bless me ac
cordingly. What is there now ? what is there beyond ? what
is that which is limited ? who am I that speak ? who are you
that hear? what is this stable universe? please favour me
with adequate replies so as to remove all my doubts."
Having heard all things, he analysed them and explain
ed them clearly to the king in the following manner : " 1
came here, on my way to speedily journey to Devaloka con
taining the immortal Kalpa tree. Of what avail is it to waste
my time in unnecessary words ? In fine, I have to tell you
thus. All the manifestations here before us are Jnana
* Here SukrAcharya was summoned by Bali by mental will.
164 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
only ; all that are now external to us (or above our present
perception) are Jnana only ; that which is conditioned is
Jnana ; that which is not conditioned is Jnana also ; 1
that speak am Jnana ; you that hear are Jnana only ;
and all the universe is nothing butthe all-full Jnana only.
This in brief is the Truth. Being impressed with this firm con
clusion in your mind, may you meditate upon the one Reality
of Jnana with the intelligence that is requisite for it. If
without any modifications of the mind, you cognize and per
ceive it, then you will attain your goal of the supreme seat.
Now have the Sapta-Rishis of rare Tapas entered newly upon
a divine mission (or into a new seat). Therefore we shall
pass." So saying Sukra retired.
Thereafter, the king fell to meditating upon the universe
and became convinced of the truth of the words of his
Acharya exclaiming thus "This supreme earth is no other
than Jnana ; the three Lokas are Jnana ; my real nature is
Jnana ; all the ordained Karmas are Jnana only. I have
now become that resplendent Brahmic One which shines
in its real nature, devoid of the visibles and the visual.
I have now become that all-full Principle which, being of
the nature of Jnana without any objects to bind it, pervades
all objects at one and the same time and is the quiescent
Jnana-Akas and intelligence, itself." Then contemplating
upon {or uttering) Pranava (Om) mentally which is the real
significance of the Absolute-Jnana, he entered trance-like into
Dhyana (meditative) state and then freed from Sankalpas,
karmas, the three kinds of desires (for wife, sons and wealth),
doubts, contemplation, intelligence and objects as well as
their substratum the knower, he was statue-like in Sama-
dhi for a long period. Thus did the Emperor Bali remain
immobile like the light of a lamp in a windless place. And
.since he shone as the Absolute Sat without the stains of love
and hatred and with a replete mind, such a state can best be
likened to a clear sky in the autumnal season, when no
clouds mantle it.
When the Emperor passed thus his days in Samadhi, the
courtiers serving under him repaired to the topmost story of
the king s mansion in search of him There they found him
in Nirvikalpa Samadhi. After a long time, he awoke and
THE STORY OF PRAHLA DA. 165
began to perform the regal duties with a mind free from
desires and egoism. Through his stainless mind, he was
never flurried in adversity or prosperity ; neither did he sink
nor swim amidst pleasures or pains. Thus was he with an
equal eye over all.
However unlimited were the armies of good and bad
thoughts that cropped up unceasingly in his mind, however
countless were the objects, imaginary. and real that manifested
themselves before him, yet he was able to control them all in
one centre. So also, shall you, oh Rama, pinion your mind,
roving amidst the pleasures of this world and the higher, in
the centre of your heart. In whatever places your mind tot
ters like a child and sinks into sensual objects, from that
place shall the mind have to be lifted up to the part.less
Jnana and be made to attain it. Having reduced this
to a regular practice, may you bind this terrible elephant
of mind so as to be untrammelled by pains and enable it to
reach Moksha through discrimination.
THE STORY OF PRAHLA DA.
Summary. This story illustrates the theory that through
the grace of Eswara also, will the higher spiritual state be
attained.
Now hearken again to another story. One going by
the name of Prahlada also attained the true Self of Jnana
through his intelligence. We shall now proceed to describe
it. After his father Hiranyakasipu*, the King of Danavas,
expired, the sore-grieved son gave vent to the following
words with a palpitating heart. " Countless were the num
bers of Danavas born in my race, such as my father and
others. They had bodies which cast into insignificance
even Mahameru itself. They were able to do or undo even
the lotus-born BrahmS. with his powers. But before Vishnu
wearing the Tulsif garland, they fell easy victims to his
* He is the son of Kasyapa and Diti and subjected his son Prahlada
toUmtold cruelties for which he was torn to pieces by jVishnu as Nara-
simha Avatar.
t Tulsi the holy basil.
1 66 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
fiery ire, like cotton before the wind. Such Danavas in
numbers exceeding the countless fine sands of a river,
perished like hills pulverised by the fierce gales of the wind
at the end of time. There is none now who is not afraid of
Vishnu. There is only one means of conquering the efful
gent Vishnu, my enemy, wearing the discus. Think however
we may, there is no higher goal than this. The real refuge
can be sought only in Vishnu residing in the ocean of milk*
Therefore let my mind from this moment seek an asylum in
the seat of Narayana (Vishnu). May I through devo
tional meditation, be " He" and inseparable from Him. May
the grand Mantra * Narayana namah*" which confers upon
its devotees whatever they long for, be inextricably inter
woven and commingled within me, like the Akasa pervaded by
the wind. Those who salute and worship Vishnu will be able
to attain their desired results of emancipation, only when they
contemplate upon Vishnu as themselves. Otherwise such
results will not accrue. Following that path, I will worship
and meditate upon Vishnu as myself. This body is no other
than the form (or manifestation) of Vishnu. He who is bound
by this body in the form of Prana-Vayu is Vishnu, the
supreme of the supreme. That which goes before Prana-Vayu
abides externally as the second Vishnu. Therefore collecting
mentally all articles of worship, I shall always worship Vishnu
as above. With this purpose in view, he created, through his
mind, rubied vessels, incense, lamp, waving lights, golden
cloths, rubied ornaments, unfading golden flowers, nectar-
like food and other innumerable articles of worship and then
worshipped with them, Vishnu as resting in the lap of
Adisesha (serpent) both within and without, with true
love in its divine place. From that time forward, be
began to ever worship the feet of Vishnu, the one partless
Brahman. Thereafter, all the Danavas bearing axes began
like Prahl&da to be the slave of Hari (Vishnu), abandoning
all their bad qualities. Are not thus the qualities (good or
bad) of a king imbibed by his subjects ?
On hearing which, the Asuras, sons of Diti.f and
*This is called the 8 lettered Mantra, "Om Namo NAruyana."
f Daityas, sons of Diti and Danavas, sons of Danu are both Asu
ras, through Kasyapa their father.
THE STORY OP PRAHLA DA. 167
their king- Prahlada after giving- up their anger against
Vishnu became his devout followers. Indra and the other
Devas marvelled with fear at this unprecedented event and
were sceptical as to how these vicious personages were able
to secure the love of Vishnu. Therefore they went to Vishnu,
sleeping his long (Yoga) sleep in the sea of milk and having
seen and eulogised him, addressed him thus :
" If all the Daityas of fiery nature after meditating upon
thee become merged in thee, then there cannot be but
Maya everywhere. The murderous tendencies of the
powerful Daityas are diametrically opposed to the extinction
of re-births in Samsara or devotion to Vishnu, as any two
opposites are. To say that extremely wicked persons merge
into the virtuous qualities is nothing but empty words. Oh
all-permeant Vishnu, will it be possible for all Chand^las
(out-castes) to be filled with devotion towards thee ?"
These words of the Devas were replied to by our Lord
Vishnu thus, " Oh Devas, do not be afraid. The victorious
Prahlada has rendered himself no more liable to re-births^
Freed from his murderous propensities, he has reached Moksha
through his Tatwa Jnana vision. Therefore do not suppose
that there is any deception practised by him. If good persons
incline their minds towards vice, then manifold evils will
ensue ; but if the vicious incline towards the virtuous path,
then incalculable good will result. Therefore may all
of you fare well." With this blessing, the great Vishnu disap
peared at that very spot. Thereupon all the Devas left the
Milky ocean full of surging waves for Suvarloka and there be
came quite friendly to their antagonists, the Danavas. With
unceasing devotion towards the Lord, the cooling effect of
which infiltrated deep into his marrow, Prahlncla was filled
with a rapturous and ever-increasing love and always worship
ped Him. Through the steady application of his whirling organs
in such a worship supreme discrimination, bliss and indiffe
rence towards objects, etc., were greatly developed. With the
development of the four means (of salvation), &c., all his
mind s attractions towards sensual objects ceased. Will a
pearl encased in the mother-o -pearl be attracted and blurred
1 68 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
by the mud in which it lies ? Therefore his mind became
quiescent, without sinking into sensual objects.
Finding that the mind of the beneficent Prahlada was
oscillating like a cradle between the cognition of the all-full
Reality and the enjoyment of sensual pleasures, Vishnu the
lord of the three worlds manifested himself in the solitary
worshipping seat (viz., the heart of Prahlada) from which
prayers were offered through his mind and acquainted him
with his visit, when the Lord of the Asuras doubled his
worship to the Primeval Cause of the Trinity and eulogised
him thus with true love "Oh thou, the original seat of
all rare things in the incomparable mansion of the three
worlds ; Oh thou, the ever-resplendent Brahman without the
dawning and the setting of the sun in thee ; Oh thou who art
the eye of mercy to all thy votaries, salutation, salutations,
a thousand salutations to thee. Oh thou who art Jnana itself
with Lila (thy consort) by thee to create the world ; Oh thou
beneficent Principle, who dost not depend for thy existence
upon the 14 worlds;* Oh tjjjou who slept the sleep of
yoga on the banian treef; Oh thou who art the Tatwa
(Reality , the prototype of all grace and the lord of all earths,
salutations, salutations, a thousand salutations to thee.
Oh thou, who art the blighting frost to the lotus con
taining the petals of malevolent Asuras ; O : thou, who
art the sun to the full blown lotus of Devas walking in
the path of the Vedas ; O thou, who art the bee in the grand
lotus of the heart of those who have destroyed all ideas of
heterogeneity; Oh thou, who art the Lord of all souls, salu
tations, salutations, a thousand salutations to thee."
At these various eulogies of Prahlada, Vishnu with a
gladsome look deigned to speak thus * Oh Prahlada of
true love, thou art free to demand of me a boon which will
not make thee be subject to the trammels of re-births."
To which Prahlada said thus * O thou Supreme Principle
who residest in the hearts of all, please vouchsafe to confer
on me that bliss wherein there are no pains."
* Besides the 7 lokas Bhu, Buvar, &c., there are the 7 Talas, Atala,
Vitala, &c., up to Patala.
f Allusion is here made to Vishnu arising on the waters on the
banian leaf at the beginning 1 of a creation.
THE STORY OF PRAHLA DA. 169
Thereupon Vishnu blessed him by laying his lotus-like
hand upon his head with these words : ** May the final
Atmic enquiry arise in thee in order that thou mayest attain
quiescence in the Brahmic bliss of the pure Parabrahm,
after thy mind is freed from the delusions of the world."
Thereupon the immaculate Vishnu retired from the spot
at which Prahldda of great discrimination paid him respects by
eulogising him and showering on -him flower. After Puru-
shothama (the supreme of all Purushas) disappeared like a
wave in the vast ocean, the king of Danavas seated himself
in Padma posture and after having uttered the praises of the
Lord, soliloquised within himself thus The incomparable
Lord has deigned to bless me with the Atmic enquiry enabling
one to overcome re-birth. Let me cogitate upon the ques
tions, whom am I? What was I before? What is the
nature of this " I" which identifying itself with the parapher
nalia of this world (and body) stays and runs, cries and
laughs, exults and is afflicted ? I am not this diverse world.
How can this inert world be called the "I, "as the former
is external to the latter and is composed of hills, stones,
preity things, earth, trees and others ? Neither can the
ephemeral body be called the "I," as the former proceeds from
Asat only, is inert and has locomotion through Prana Vayu.
Nor is the property of sound this "I," since this property
is impermanent, issues out of the void, has no form or
intelligence and feeds the ear with its paltry food.
Nor is the property of touch this " I," since the former
cannot be perceived except through the skin, perishes in a
moment without any real existence, and is itself without any
intelligence, being guided by the all-pervading Jnana. Nor is
the property of taste this " I," since the former is ever
fluctuating, inert, full of desires, perishable in a moment, the
food of the tongue and arises out of material things. Nor is
the inert property of form this " I," which dies in the
"knower" who though acting in this perishable world and
sight is yet no participator in it. Nor is the property of odor
this *!," since the former is perceived through the inert
inclined-nose only and is inert. Now have I cognised my
Reality as shining both within and without, as the one pure
Jnana of pure Sat and without re-birth, being freed from all
22
17 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
ideas of "1" and "mine," from all Sankalpas and from all
the delusions of the five organs, without the least despondency
of heart. This is perfectly certain. Ha, Ha, now have I
known my true Self. Is this the Atmic Reality which shines,
in the path of spiritual knowledge, in the intelligence of one
divested of all diversities? In the one Tatvva Jnana which
is no other than the " I" pervading everywhere without
fluctuation, all the universes from the sun down to a pot shine.
Like sparks of fire which shine through the heat in the burn
ing fire, so I find, in my present illuminated state, that all the
organs performed diverse actions through me only. All
Jivas from Brahma downwards will shine as my Reality alone
in the one space at the end of a Kalpa when all the universe
goes into Pralaya; how then can exist the ideas of "I" or
" he" which pertain to the mind ? How can " I" which now
shines as the one full Jnana throughout this illimitable
universe, possess the modifications of this reasoning mind,
with a seat allotted to it in the body. Therefore my spiritual
vision of quiescent Jnana which is eternal, blissful and in
comparable is in all the worlds. All the manifested appearances
are only the spiritual vision of the one subtle ideation. As all
Jivas are no other than " I", the invisible Jnana and Pratya-
gfitma that has no other object than itself to lean upon, I
offer salutations to them all on account of (their non-divisibility
from) my own Self.
Out of the differenceless Jnana which has no thoughts
other than its Self, which is pure, equal in all, without differ
ence, beyond and without the three divisions of time past,
present and future arose the diverse transcendental ($aktts)
potencies, Nought else is but the non-dual Jnana without
attractions to any, which is equal unto itself alone. As it is
above all words, a principle equal unto Atma cannot be found
in words. If the imperishable non-desires should become
replete in one, which are invisible and pure and yet like the
illusory worldly things, then there will remain equal vision
overall, like a waveless ocean. But a mind whirling in actions
associated with activity and passivity will be bound, like a bird
caught in a net. Therefore all persons who are afflicted with
love and hatred and are thereby dizzy in mind, cling to this
earth like vermin.
THE STORY OF PRAHL.VDA. 171
O thou illuminated dweller in the mind of all souls, 1 have
been able to attain Thee only after a very long period. Who
ever was able to come by this all-full beneSt except those who
have attained Thee ? Thou art fit to be enquired into through
the holy sentences of the Vedas and Gurus. Thou art the
identity of Kutastha and Brahman. Thou art devoid of
all differences. Thou shinest as of the nature of SachidiU
nanda. Many salutations to Thee who art "That" into which
all things merge. Thou art the Eternal Jn&na wherein " I"
am " thou" and "Thou" art "I". Prostrations to thee my
Lord, the Paramdtma who is self -existent and the Lord of
Devas in this mundane egg. Prostrations to thee of the
nature of light, unobscured by low thoughts, like a full
moon without clouds to bedim it. Prostrations to myself
which has attained its Reality, shining as itself in a blissful
state and as the one Chidakas without the obscuration
of thoughts. Though seeming to be mobile or immobile or
quiescent, it is yet without such actions. Though performing
all actions, it is yet without desires therein. Like the breeze
fanning the soft tendrils, this Jnana-Atma causes Antah-
karana (the lower mind) having Manas, &c. r to move. Like
a team of horses led by a charioteer, It alone will ever goad on
the painful organs to work. It is He who is sought
after by the bodies and organs. It is He who is- praised by the
organ of speech. It is He who is meditated upon by the mind.
It is He who causes birth and death to-be bridged over. It is
He who can be easily attained to. It is He who can cog
nise all. It is He who is the bee producing the humming
sound* in the heart-lotus of all creatures. I have no love
or hatred towards sensual enjoyments. Let me attain
those things, I am destined to get; let me not long after
those things, I am not destined to get. Originally I became
oblivious of discrimination and other blissful things through
my inimical Ajnana, but now I am in possession of them,
through Jnana, Having destroyed my mind sunk in SamsSra
with my discrimination that had labored hard in the
Sastras, having freed myself from all the painful Ahanka"ra,
having annihilated all conceptions of duality by meditating
* This is said to l t be the AnAhata Sabdha or the sound said to arise
from the heart as stated in our Upanishads,
172 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
upon non-duality, I am now the incomparable Kevala (soli
tary one) in an immovable state. My reality is the Kevala
and all-full Jn&na-Atma comparable only unto itself, without
mental actions, egoism, Manas, or any other actions. Where
has that solitary mortal bird of Ahankara flown to, freeing itself
from the trammels of desires, and flying out of the cage of
this body. According to the holy sentences which postulate
that Thou art 1 and T am thou , there has been
again an identification brought about between thou and
4 I. Though possessing the whole world s wealth, thou art
yet devoid of it. Therefore thou wilt never shine to (or be
cognized by) those persons who are like the blind unable to
perceive the rapturous beauty of a fair damsel. Victory to
thee, imperishable God. Victory to thee, the seat of final
quiescence. Victory to thee, beyond the reach of all Vedas.
Victory to Thee, the source of all Vedas. Victory to thee,
the cause of creation. Victory to thee, the causeless cause.
Victory to thee, the perishable cause. Victory to thee, the
imperishable cause."
Thus did the noble son of Hiranya meditate through
his pure mind and enjoy bliss in the supreme differenceless
Nirvikalpa Samadhi of great omniscience. As he seated him
self statue-like in Nirvikalpa Samddhi for 5000 years and
remained steadfast in one vision (or thought) only, there
prevailed anarchy in the world of P&ta!a of which he was the
the king and all the Asuras in it were, like shoals of fishes
in a muddy pool preyed upon by vultures and other birds of
prey.
While so, Vishnu, the protector of all worlds and its
laws, awoke from his yoga sleep in the ocean of milk and
began to contemplate upon the safe concerns of the world
in his heart of protection thus "The whole, creation
of Brahma has begun to decline through Prahlada going
into the quiescent state, wherein no difference exists. The
stainful D^navas who are the night-rovers bearing axes
having ceased to exist, all the Devas will be deprived of war
in their absence and will become quiescent and attain
Moksha. With the quiescence of Devas, all the Yajnas
done on earth in their honor as well as Tapas, &c., will be
barren of results, and therefore fade away from earth. With
THE STORY OF PRAHLA DA, 173
the cessation of the laborious performance of these Yajnas,
and other actions, the universe will have to come to a stand
still. And then all created objects will cease to exist.
Should all the created objects such as the sun, moon, &c-,
disappear, then we shall have to give up this form of ours
and reach the non-differentiated state of * That. Were
all the archaic universes to perish before their allotted time,
then no real benefit (or law) will reign in this world. To
remedy the defect, we have to resort to the following
expedient. May the Asuras prosper long. In their longevity
only lies war*. With the opportunity of war, Devas will
rise in great numbers. With their advent, Yajnas and
Tapas will be performed. With their performance, the
incomparable mundane existence will arise. May therefore
Prahlada, the lord of Asuras live, until the end of the Kalpa
in this his present garb of body, inasmuch as the whole
creation will cease to exist with the extinction of the Asuras,
&c."
Therefore in order to continue and maintain the divine
law of justice of the great Lord (Parameswara), the red-
eyed Vishnu quitted his serpent couch and approached
Prahlada in his world of Patala which was like unto Satya-
Lokaf itself. Seated on his vehicle of Garuda (eagle), $
having on his right hand Lakshmi of red arms waving the
chowris and saluted by the Munis and Devas and accoutred
on both sides by the five weapons, the beneficent Vishnu
caused his Panchajanya (conch) to be sounded in order to
intimate to Prahlada his arrival. Through the terrible
reverberating sound which pierced the earth, the skies and
the quarters, Prahldda who was merged in the primal seat of
"That", slowly recovered consciousness on this plane. The
Chaitanya Sakti (or consciousness potency) issuing first
out of Brahmarandhra pervaded, as before, the Nadis to
all the parts of his body and when it got to the nine
apertures of the body, Prahlada became conscious of this
* This shows that in the opposition of the two principles, Devas
Asuras in the world, lies the preservation of the universe.
t Satyaloka the 7th, viz., Brahmaloka.
Garuda stands for a Manwantara.
Brahmarandhra is the Brahma hole through which salvation
is reached.
174 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
(physical) plane. Then his Chaitanya (consciousness) began
to perceive material objects, only alter it shone as the
reflection in the glass of the internal Prana. Hence that
intelligence of his which manifested itself in objects, may
be compared to the reflected image in a mirror and thus
assumed the attributes of Manas. As he recovered con
sciousness little by little like a lotus unfolding its petals
gradually, his beautiful eyes opened. Then the beneficent
Prana and Apna began to percolate all throughout his
Ndis fnerves) and organs, thus producing a complete
perception of the world. Like a lotus fanned by the mild
zephyrs, Prahlada began to move in his position. In ..he
twinkling of an eye, his mind became gross and his
eyes, mind, Prana and body began to glow with life with
their respective functions. Then this patient personage ap
peared in sight of Vishnu of rare grace. Descrying, with his
full-blown eyes, Vishnu before him, his mind became all-full
(with self-satisfaction).
Thereupon Vishnu eyed, with great grace, Prahlada
and blessed him thus "Oh immaculate Prahlada, go and
look after your wealth which is praised and coveted by Indra,
the lord of Devas. Also look after your body. Why do you
think of abandoning this, your body at such a premature
period as this ? So long as you are not haunted by the San-
kalpa of attraction and repulsion towards objects, what mat
ters it whether your body exists or not ? Now get you up
from Samddhi. May you, O Prahlada, be in the Jivanmukti
state. May you, until the end of this Kalpa, administer due
justice in this world with this body of yours in the Jivan
mukti state, but yet without groaning under the load
of Samsara. Why do you now in vain die (or disappear
from this world), when neither the fires nor the twelve
suns burn the universe out of existence (and the Kalpa
has not yet closed) ? Is not death welcome to those
only whose minds, being pampered by the bondige-giving
desires, do ever travel in that path and get agitated under
the load of Sams<ara? The lives of those only are blissful,
who, having mastered egoism and desires, do cast their
eyes equally upon all, which vision confers infinite bliss.
The lives of those only are blissful who, devoid of love and
THE STORY OF PRAHLA DA. 175
hatred and having rendered their minds cool, are witness to
all actions, though performing them. He who is attracted
towards objects as well as the objects themselves are both
bondage-giving ; the severance (of the mind) from objects
constitutes quiescence. It is only when this quiescence is
mastered that Moksha is attained. Now inasmuch as you
have reached that state, you should seat yourself on your
victorious throne (of the quiescent mind) and reign over your
kingdom. You shall presently be invested with the regal
diadem in the midst of the reverberating sound of conches
and of the auspicious acts and praises of the Devas. May
you reign till the end of this Kalpa."
So saying he ordered auspicious waters to be brought
with which he anointed the king ; and then with his hands
adorned with conch and discus, he decorated the king s head
with a precious rubied crown in the midst of the eulogies of
Devas, hosts and then addressed the king thus " Mayest
thou live and reign, so long as the immoveable Mahameru,
the earth, the sun and the moon endure and then enter the
supreme state.
With these words Vishnu disappeared in a moment with
all the Deva hosts, like the instantaneous disappearance of
a false Mayavic creation.
At these words of Vasishta, Rama questioned him thus
" How did the king of the Asuras, after attaining Jnana
and becoming merged in the true Brahman, return (unto
the normal state) at the conch-sound of Vishnu ? In the
case of all Jivanmuktas without the load of Samsara in
whom the pure Vasanas are like a burnt seed, such a seed in
their heart will never be productive of re-birth. But these
pure Vasanas inasmuch as they are pure, all-pervading, sub
ject to manifestion, origin, &c., associated with Satwaguna,
full of the pure Atmic-Dhyana (contemplation), and without
beginning will always be in Jivanmuktas like Vasanas in
Sushupti. Even after the lapse of a thousand years, so long
as the body is in existence, the pure Vasanas will be latent
in the heart and will melt away gradually. It is only through
these pure Vasanas that Jivanmuktas are awakened to an
external perception of objects."
176 TOGA-VA SISHTA.
THE STORY OF GA DHI.
Summary In this story it is sought to show the nature
of Maya through the cognition and avoidance of which Atma
can be cognized.
It is indeed impossible to describe the grandeur and in
finite potency of Maya which is but a synonym for birth and
death. The mastery of the terrible Manas leads to its des
truction but not otherwise. Now listen with an attentive mind
to the story I am going to relate to you of the marvellous
potency of this powerful Maya of the universe. So began
Vasishta addressing himself to R&ma, the prince of the solar
dynasty.
An excellent Brahmin, by name Gadhi lived on earth in
the country of Kosala. With some object in view, he
abandoned his relatives for the forest. There whilst he was
performing a goodly Tapas for about eight months by stand
ing throat-deep in the midst of the waters of a tank, the
gracious Vishnu deigned to pay a personal visit to the
Brahmin and asked him to state the object of his Tapas.
Thereupon the latter quitted the waters and having
reached the bank, fell prostrate at the feet of Vishnu and
praised him thus " Oh Parabrahm that is inseparable from
the lotus heart of all souls, Oh Achyuta (the indestructible),
Oh Ananta (the endless), I wish to merge in the immaculate
Brahman. Therefore be pleased to enable me to visit (or know)
directly the true nature of Maya which thou hast created and
which has wrought the miracle of these universes full of birth
and death." To this request Vishnu acceded in the follow
ing words " Thou shalt.be able to see Maya. Thou shalt, after
personally seeing it, be able to free thyself from its yoke."
With these words, Vishnu disappeared at once like a
Gandharva city. Thereupon the Brahmin was filled with
a perennial bliss at having come in contact with the incar
nation of the divine grace and spent some days in Tapas in
that forest when there recurred to his memory the blessed
sentences of Vishnu on his way to the lotus-filled tank to
bathe. Dipping his head into the water, he forgot to per
form the recitation of the Vedic Mantras and Dhyana
(meditation) which it was his wont to do, while in the process
THE STORY OF GA DHI. 177
of bathing. And lo ! he saw himself dead of a disease in his
own house with his relatives gathered together, weeping
by the side of his body, whilst his wife cried bitterly at his
feet ; and his mother prompted by sheer maternal love was
embracing her son, as if she was again suckling him and
writhing with pains, drooped senseless like one who had
trodden the fire. In this state of affairs, the weeping relatives
by began and finished the subsequent post mortem rites and
kindled the funeral pyre for cremation. The body was dis
posed of in the burning ground by being soon reduced to
ashes. Thus did Gadhi, in the midst of the waters in the
tank, see through his mind the illusory actions that were per
formed by himself through himself.
Now Rama, listen to what subsequently transpired. Then
Vasishta continued thus " This life being over, Ga"dhi found
himself reincarnating in the womb of a lady like a jet-black
picture who belonged to the degraded caste of dog-eaters.
With great travail, she brought him out into this world as a
male child. After being fondled as a baby, he grew up to man
hood with a body quite sable like a cooled charcoal. With none
to equal him in the degraded caste he was in, he married a girl
of the same caste and with her lived in great union and joy.
Whilst they were living harmoniously like life and mind,
over hills, forests, and other fine places, their union blossom
ed forth in the birth of issues. Some time elapsing, dotage and
excessive grayness set in upon the husband who constructed
a house of leaves at a distance from his place and there dwelt
in it as a great Tapaswin. The children too advanced in life
and became old. Whilst they were afflicted at dotage having
laid its hands upon them all, Kala (Death) stepped in to re
lieve all of them except the husband.
Being tired of incessant wailing and solitude, the sur
vivor s mind became dizzy ; he became sick with desires and
began to rove through different climes. At last he reached the
country called Keera where justice was administered duly and
was passing through one of the golden streets of that city
where its king had died. As he left no heir, the people in ac
cordance with the immemorial custom of the choice of a king,
bedecked the state elephant with gold and precious gems and
let it loose to go its own way and select a king. The tusker
23
178 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
in search of a person to rule the kingdom, found opposite to
it this Neecha, its kindred in color and raised him upon its
temples with its long proboscis like Udyagiri (hills) at the
dawn of the sun amidst the din of many musical instruments
and the exclamations from all the eight quarters (vis.} " Vic
tory be to thee, Victory be to thee." Thereupon all the fair
ladies of the palace lavished all their skill in adorning their
newly-made king. The old courtiers and the conimander-in-
chief began to obey his behests. Gavala was the name as
sumed by the king befitting his position as the wise and just
protector of the earth. He reigned over his earth, seated on
the splendid bejewelled throne loved by all the court ladies
shining with their scarlet lips.
After 8 years elapsed thus, the king one day doffed all his
ornaments from his person and alone was perambulating on
foot the street beside his palace with all the appearance
of a true Neecha, when he saw before him a group of out-
castes of the caste of dog-eaters of sable complexion travelling
along and playing upon their stringed Vina(musical instru
ment). The oldest of the throng of blood-shot eyes and black
colour, having observed the present king of Keera and recog
nised him, approached him with true love and addressed
him with the old familiar name thus Oh Katanja, where
art thou in, my old relative r In what place dost thou now
dwell ? It is only through good Karma that J have been able
to see thee here. So saying, he clearly traced his whole genea
logy, (many degrees back) and gave out other particulars. At
this, the king slighted his words, since his low status was
being brought to publicity and having loudly scorned him off
his presence, he at once withdrew into his palace.
Meanwhile the ladies of the harem were observing from
the balcony all that had passed between the king and the low
caste men ; quite surprised, they apprised the minister who was
then staying in the palace, of the occurrences thus " This lord
of earth, our king, belongs to the lowest class of Chanda*las.
How shall we act now ?" Unable to find any way out of the
scrape, they were stunned, perplexed, and morose. Where
as the king, nothing daunted by all these, seated himself on
the throne as before, as if nothing fresh had transpired. But
the ladies, courtiers and others who had before approached
THE STORY OF GA DHI. 179
him, stood immoveably at a distance from him like a carcase
unfit to be touched by the hands. The sad present plight of
the king who was alone, even in the presence of innumerable
subjects, can only be likened to a forlorn traveller left in a for
eign country without knowledge, wealth or any other means.
Then all the subjects held a solemn conclave in which they came
tothefollowingconclusion "We have contaminated ourselves
with gravesins through association with this Neecha, our king.
No amount of penances will expiate this stain of ours.
Therefore we shall all purify ourselves by entering into fire."
With this resolution, all the subjects from the eldest down to
babies flocked together, and fell into a large fire-pit reared
up for the occasion, like swarms of flies buzzing in a Cham-
paka flower. Thereupon the king became afflicted in heart
and with a collected mind soliloquised within himself thus
Through contact with me an outcaste, all my country
men became degraded and therefore perished in the flames.
It is perfectly useless on my part to outlive them. I shall
follow the same course. With this purpose of giving up his
life, he allowed himself to be devoured by the flames.
While the body of Katanja was being burnt by fire, like
tender leaf exposed to the flames, the body of Gadhi that
had taken its plunge into the waters of the tank began to
palpitate and quiver. In four Ghatikas, Gadhi s mind became
cleared up of all obscurations of Maya and began to rumi
nate upon who he was, and what he saw and did in that
state. Then came he from the waters to the bank of the tank ;
and then after having meditated upon the similar manner in
which all Jivas in this world run about greatly agitated in
their mind, like an angry tiger ever chafing in a forest, was
(temporarily) relieved at heart, (in spite of his lingering
doubts).
With these thoughts in his mind, he passed some days in
his hermitage, when there came upon the spot a guest who
was heartily regaled with honey and fruit. At the time of
Sandhya when the sun set in, they both performed their daily
Karmas and returned to their respective seats of rest, where
they were engaged in Atma-Jnana stories. At this time,
Muni Gadhi enquired of the stranger the cause of the extreme
emaciation of his body.
i8o YOGA-VA SISHTA.
To which the guest replied thus At the request of my be
loved relatives, I spent a month in the famous and wealthy
country of Keera situated on the north of this earth. Whilst
I was recouping 1 my health there, I chanced to come in con
tact with a person therein who related the following anecdote.
A king ruled over that country without any split or dissen
sion for about eight years after which the true status of the
king as belonging to the lowest class of Neechas, the dog-
eaters, was brought to light. With this discovery, all the
Brahmins and others went into the fire ; and the king fol
lowed suit. Hearing that horrid fate of the Brahmins, I quit
ted that country and took a pilgrimage to Prayaga (Allahabad)
of waters with seething waves in order to wash off all my
sins. There I, in accordance with Vedic rites, underwent
penances and Chandrayana* Vrata and got emaciated thereby.
At these words of the guest, Muni Gadhi was surprised
and internally convinced that it was his own history that was
referred to by the stranger. Therefore to verify for himself
the truth of the events of his previous Neecha life, he travel
led to and entered the Huna-Mandalaf where he saw his
birthplace and the other places he dwelt in. All being there
as he saw(before in his Samadhi), he shook his head in sur
prise and after surveying all the diverse creations of Brahma,
he proceeded still further to the Keera country where he saw
without any, missing, his former palace and other familiar
resorts of his, as well as heard the events of his life related by
the people there. Is this the Maya that Vishnu acquainted
me with ? Through the wonderful seed of my intelligence,
have I been able to observe all these.
With these thoughts in his mind, he at once reached the
slopes of a great hill and became an incomparable Tapaswin.
A rare Tapas was there performed by him to gladden
Vishnu, with a handful of water as his food. After the
lapse of a year spent in such a Tapas, Vishnu appear
ed personally before him in his hermitage in the form of a
* Chandrayana Vrata This is an observance in which beginning
with 15 morsels of food on a full moon day, a person lessons them one by
one till he reaches the new moon day when he increases it one by one
daily.
t lit. the country of Hunas or the lower caste men.
THE STORY OF GA DHI. l8l
dark blue cloud* and addressed him thus. Thou hast seen
the glory of Maya in its true colors, What more dost thou
want ? Why dost thou perform this true Tapas on the
hill side here ?
The Muni became frantic with joy like the bird Chataka
at the sable clouds high up in the sky, and then poured forth
praises, prostrations, and salutations to Vishnu. Then look
ing at Vishnu of graceful vision, he questioned Him thus.
* I have known vividly the nature of Mya, the result of
Karma, as thou wert pleased to show me. But I am yet
ignorant of Maya in its latent innate state. How came this
delusion to manifest itself as real ?
Vishnu replied thus Oh Brahmin, this earth and other
things of the universe, have for their substratum the mind and
do not exist at any period apart from the mind. Almost all
persons in this world, walking in the path of this universe of
dreams, delusion and egoism look upon it as real and enjoy it.
It is only in Chitta (the flitting mind) that the universe rests.
Why shouldst thou be surprised, if this mind of thine, which
contains (potentially) in itself all the Universe, should bring
into objectivity thy life of a Neecha (which is but an insigni
ficant part of the whole). The excessive (Ekagrata) one-
thoughtedness (or ideation) of thy mind reflected itself in the
life of a Neecha which reflection was then known. This
reflection was caught up by the guest who came in subse
quently and saw as real all these delusions. Like the analogy
of a crow and palmyra fruitsf, the ideation of the Neecha s life
reflected itself also in the minds of all who lived in Huna-
Mandala and Keera-MandalaJ. Thus did these two kinds of
ideations lend increased Reality to the minds of all creatures.
Truly marvellous are the effects or manifestations of the
mind, like the analogy of a crow and the palmyra fruits. Thus
do diverse persons view the one dream (of the universe) in
various ways. With one sport, many boys divert themselves
in different ways."
* Dark blue cloud was the form in which Vishnu appeared before
Muni Gadhi.
f Just as the cause of the fall of ripe palmyra fruits is wrongly at
tributed to a crow which perches upon the tree at the time of their fall,
so the universe is thought to be real though it is merely the creation of
the mind.
I lit. the country of Keera or Kashmir.
1 82 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
In similar manner was theNeecha born inHuna-Mandala
in the habitation prepared for him by the mind. Likewise with
the death of his relatives, he reached a foreign country. There
he reigned over the country of Keera with his white victori
ous parasol overshadowing his subjects and there allowed
himself to be devoured by flames. It was only the ideation
of your supreme mind thinking about the Neecha s life that
brought about the reflection which afterwards assumed a
reality. The ignorant who are impressed with the idea of
the differentiations of He, thou, 1, this, that, mine, &c., will
ever be sunk in the mire of pains ; but those who have cognised
earth and other things of the universe as no other than " I "
will never despond under grief. With a mind distinct from
and having no longing towards all the things of this earth,
their firm intelligence will never cling to desires. Knowers
of Tatwa Jnana will never render themselves liable to the
delusions of Ajnana. As thou hast not cognized Jnana fully,
thou hast not rid thyself of all thy mental delusions and
quitted them all as degrading. Therefore it is thou hast com
pletely forgotten thyself in a moment through thy delusions.
To this wheel of the grand Moha (delusions), Manas is the
axle. If by dint of discrimination, thy mind be destroyed,
then Maya will not afflict thee. Now rise up from here and
retire into the caves of this hill and perform Tapas there for
ten years. Then will the eternal and true Jnana dawn in thee
fully.
With these words, (the abovementioned) manifested
form of Vishnu disappeared at the very spot where it appear
ed. Thereupon the stainless Muni Gadhi, freed of all dire
delusions, was devoid of attachments and underwent a rare
Tapas. After a course of ten years, he lived replete with
true Jnana. Then having attained the incomparable Seat
of Sat, devoid of fear, pains, and longing for objects and
shone in his real quiescent state as a Jivanmukta ever of
the nature of bliss and with a mind as full as the full moon.
THE STORY OF UDDHA LAKA. 183
THE STORY OF UDDHA LAKA.
Summary. Having shewn in the previous story that if
Brahman, which enables one to visit personally Maya of the
nature of mind, be visited, then all ideas of the universe vanish,
the author narrates the present story to illustrate that this
degreeless bliss arises through Samadhi consequent upon
Atmic enquiry.
Thus you will find that Maya pervades everywhere, hard
to be mastered ; and generating- different degrees of illusions
high and low, has as its substratum Parabrahm. Therefore
1 have to declare to you that whoever is not ever in the
Brahmic Reality, will be drowned by the Gunas* of Maya
into pains which are ever seething like the billows of an
ocean.
I solemnly affirm that the fell disease can be removed only
through the divine panacea of the mind-mastery and not
through any other means. Oh, Rama, the wise will perform
duly all actions arising, out of their castes and orders of life,
every moment of their lives during their present period, but
will never concern themselves w r ith actions, past or future.
If every moment of your life you try to abandon all Sankalpas,
desires and past actions, then this itself is called the absorp
tion of the mind. That Jnana which is associated with the
destruction of the mind is the Jnana of the partless Pratya-
g&tma. Such a Jnana is without the mental modifications
and being, It is without the Vikalpa of the mind.
The entire freedom from the bondage of Manas leads to
the unveiled cognition of truth, the auspicious (or Siva,) the
Brahmic state, the omniscient, the all-full bliss and the stain
less. May you, my child, after destroying Ajnana, associate
your mind with the stainless \vLse and Atma-JnaiKi books with
a true exultation of heart and a certitude of conviction ; and
live with bliss without any care or worry as the Absolute
Consciousness itself, though ever engaged in all actions such
as talking, renouncing or taking to, opening or shutting the
eyelids and others. May you live in your Atmic Reality as
Brahman itself, severing mentally all your connexion with
* The three Gunas of MAya, being Satwa, Rajas and Tamas.
184 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
the visibles, purging your mind of all stains and destroying
the weeds of bondage-giving desires. May you live as
Brahman itself, the quintessence of all Jnana without being
invaded by love or hatred producing fluctuation of mind or
by the poisonous pest of desires for objects, pleasurable or
otherwise. May you, O Rama live immutably as the absolute
Sat and Chit by attaining quiescence through the meditation
that there is non-dual Parabrahm alone without the countless
conceptions of I, he, it and other diversities. May you cognize
personally that non-dual state of Atma-Jnana like an adaman
tine pillar denuded of all conceptions of duality or meum
and tuum. The moment you rest in that stainless and all-
full Jnana without any conception of separate existence, that
moment will all conceptions of duality, the root of all delu
sions of re-birth, be effaced off your mind. If you cognize
personally that real state yielding the blissful essence, then
even the rare Ambrosia will be to you tantamount to a fatal
poison. If you allow your (lower) mind to get pampered
(with earthly things), then the never-drooping true Jnana will
recede to a great distance from you. Will the full-moon
appear visibly to us, when sable clouds intervene between it
and our eyes ? So long as there is the centering of affec
tion on this body which is non-Atma and the mistaken identi
fication of it with Atma, so long will the mind grow fatter and
fatter in its association with the Samsara of wife, children,
&c. The mind waxes stronger and stronger also through its
egoistic sports (or actions) and the dualities of conception
arising through Ahankara. O my son Raghava. with every
birth, the mind grows through the mental disease (of
objects) getting more and more prevalent in it and the
consequent tenacity of mundane existence and efforts directed
towards the gain or loss of objects in the same. Of course,
when women, wealth, gems, and other objects are longed after
and acquired, such gain or the greed arising out of the gain
produces for the time being pleasure and seems to be produc
tive of good to him. But such good tends only to glut the mind.
Having quaffed the milk of vicious desires, this serpent of
mind will be invigorated and crawl about everywhere, breath
ing the atmosphere of the long standing enjoyments. Now
Rama, attend to what I say. Like Muni Uddhalaka of old,
THE STORY OF UDDHA LAKA. 185
having pulverized all the five Bhutas (elements), thou shalt
set about enquiring- through thy non-painful mind.
At which, Sri Rama asked Vasishta thus " How did
Muni Uddhalaka, manage to destroy the five Bhutas (elements)
and to introspect within himself?"
Vasishta replied ** Though Atmic enquiry, Oh graceful
Rama, did Muni Uddhalaka conquer the five Bhutas and
reach Brahman, the non-dual state. His story I shall now
proceed to relate. This Muni lived on the slopes of Gandhama-
dana hills teeming with forests of flower-bunches redolent
of camphor. He was a stainless Muni of great intelli
gence and enquiring spirit. But he had not yet reached that
quiescent Plenum in which all pains are destroyed, though he
had purged his mind free of all impurities. With the follow
ing of a virtuous course, the due performance of a Nish-
kama Tapas (or a Tapas without the longing after fruits), a
right understanding of the significance of the spiritual books
and a proper observance of Yam a* and Nyama, an unsullied
discrimination set in upon Uddhalaka s mind and he began to
meditate thus-wise.
" What is that seat which is the safe asylum without
pains P What is that imperishable state without the pang of
re-births? Is it not this, that above all should be soon sought
after? When shall I be able to secure and rest for a long time
in that non-dual immaculate Brahmic seat without any
Sankalpa of the mind, like clouds in the top of Mahameru ?
When shall I be able to rid my mind of the wealth of
material enjoyments, which mind after having exhausted
one, yet craves for another in an agitated state? When
shall I be able to cross, through the instrumentality of the
vessel of my intelligence, this ocean of my desires with its
seething billows of the mind with its egoism ? I shall there
fore ever exult in the seat of the Light within my heart with
out actions or inactions, attractions or repulsions towards
objects. I shall therefore remain in Nirvikalpa Sama dhi as
immovable as a rock in the caves of a mountain, having
merged in Atma without any Sankalpas. When shall F,
through my one pointed and deep concentrated) Dhyana
* Yama and Nyama or forbearance and religious observance are
the two first parts of Yoga,
24
186 VOGA-VA SISHTA.
(meditation), become oblivious of a bevy of birds building
their nests on my head with the hair on it and inhabiting it ?"
Thus did Uddhalaka contemplate in his mind and be
coming ecstatic within, resolved upon the mastery of Brahma
Dhyana. But the monkey of his mind perched speedily
from one branch to another of sensual objects ; and therefore
he was not able to master Samadhi which lands one in the
ecstatic realm of Keality. In forests, he roamed without any
settled mind : at another time being freed from all external
vision, his mischievous mind went into Samadhi with great
difficulty. Thus was he whirling his days in various ways
in the mountains. That cave* in which no creature exists
and which is hard to be reached by all is called the seat
of Moksha. Into such a cave did the Muni enter alone ;
and- having spread a deerskin on the sylvan kunja leaves
and having through his discriminative mind lessened the
actions of his mind, he began to contemplate like Buddha.
With his face towards the north, he seated himself in Padma
posture and saluted Brahman ; and having concentrated his
mind whirling through Vasanas, began to meditate thus, in
order to develop Nirvikalpa Samadhi. -
1 Oh, my ignorant mind, of what avail are all your illusory
lives ? Will the wise ever involve themselves in actions
generating pains P Those who, not caring for the insatiable
nectar of quiescence, long for material objects, resemble per
sons who give up an Elysian garden of Kalpa trees breathing
good fragrance in favour of a poisonous and hot oasis. Whe
ther Brahma-loka or Patalaloka is reached by one, he will
never be able to attain Nirvanic bliss without this supreme
nectar of quiescence. All these vain actions which are of the
nature of the mind within, are productive of intense pains and
are never pleasurable. Oh ignorant and idiotic mind of mine
which squats like a toad in sound and other properties, why
dost thou reel in vain ceaselessly r Why hast thou subjected
thyself to pleasures or pains ? Why is it, thou art not able to
immutably fix thyself in the ever nectar-like equilibrated state
of quiescence ? Oh my ever-expanding foolish rnind, do not
die. like the deerf, through associating thyself with sound, the
* Viz., the cave of the heart
t Kuranga is also stated to he a species of bird attracted by and
perishing through sound.
HE STORY OF UDDHA LAKA. 187
property of the organ of hearing. Neither shouldst thou subject
thyself to pains by running after the property of touch arising
from theskin, like amale elephant going in amorous quest after
its consort. Nor shouldst thou, O mind, associating thyself
with form, the property of the eye, singe thyself to death, like
a moth in the light of a lamp. Nor shouldst thou, O mind,
associating thyself with taste, the property of the tongue,
perish like a fish caught by a bait. Nor shouldst thou, O
mind, be bound by odor, like bees in quest of honey, through
associating thyself with breath proceeding from the lotu:.-
like heart. Hence the deer, elephant, moth, fishes, and bees
(which here do stand for the mind as compared above)
do each die through sound, touch, form, taste and odor
respectively. But if thou art afflicted with all the five com
bined together, then where is true bliss to thee ? In order
to bind thee, the Va,sanas are the woven net. Oh thou
stainful mind, if these Vasanas of objects are mastered,
then thou hast scored a tremendous victory. What for do I
address thee thus r In those wise persons in whom Atma-
Jnana enquiry is fully developed, there exists not the (lower)
mind. How is it possible for the all-pervading eternal Jnana,
subtle as it is, to exist in the mind ? Can an elephant enter a
Bilva fruit ? Notwithstanding the analysis and examination
in diverse ways of this body from top to toe, k 1 does not
pertain to this body. The ideation of I pervades every
where. I shall look upon this universe as the supreme
Jnana itself, pervading all the quarters, being invisible with
out fluctuation and self shining. In that Jnana, I do not find
names or forms, dualities or non-dualities, smallness or great
ness or any other characteristics. As I am myself the true
Jnana, thou alone, oh mind of mine, that hast generated all
differences in this world art the cause of pains. I shall
promptly destroy thee through the dint of Jnana developed
through discrimination. This thou shalt presently witness.
How can I be the flesh, blood, bones, Prana composed of
Vayu or any other thing pertaining to this body P In this
body flesh, blood, bones and Karmendyas (organs of ac
tion), Jnanendryas (organs of sense), <fec., are different and
separate. While so, how can * t be applied to them ? How-
can * 1 be applied to the eyes, skin, fat ears, nose or the
i YOGA-VA SISHTA.
moist tongue ? The I is all-pervading 1 . Not even in the
slightest degree can I exist in objects? This is the true
vision (of knowledge). There is no other path ; Oh ignorant
and artful mind of mine, thou hast beguiled and intimidated
me in all manner of ways me who am the stainless Jnana
itself, like wild dogs frightening a cow s calf. I have,
through divine laws, now discovered that villain of Ajnana
who purloined out of my hands the Atmic jewel. Never
hereafter shall I have to do anything with him."
14 The five organs, though free from Vasanas, do yet in
cline towards their respective external objects. The Vasanas
are not the cause of ail the organs. Therefore, oh ignorant
five organs, if after purging the stains within you should
perform all actions, no pains of any degree will begin to fix
their habitation in you. Like a silk-worm which having spun
a web out of its mouth dies in its meshes, thou, oh child
of the organs that play in all visibles, wilt share the same
fate. Oh thou mind, the seat of all Indryas (organs), mayest
thou cognize the Reality of Jnana with the Indryas perfectly
under thy control. Mayest thou permanently attain Jnana
of non-dual Nirvanic bliss without any attractions (towards
objects). Having without any the least stains given up all
Vasanas of 1 which is attended by its poisonous disease
of objects and having overcome re-births through the means
of the Mantra of non-desires, mayest thou, oh mind, be
come of the nature of the Lord and reach that state
from whence there is no return. I shall disport myself
in this long Jndna state, having disentangled myself from
this forest of I, wherein Sankalpas are the trees and
desires are the plants. Amusing myself according to my free
will and pleasure, I have now reached the Brahmic seat. I
am alone. I am a victor. I have here become of the nature
of Moksha. I am actionless, differenceless and seatless.
Spiritual illumination, excessive intelligence, Tatwic know
ledge, Jnana, the inseparable Satya, the noble bliss, quies
cence, a true exultation in the performance of good Karmas,
all-fulness, nobility, good qualities, an unveiled vision, a
bountiful heart, an undiminished lustre, the qualities leading
to the oneness, fearlessness, homogeneity these are the vir*
THE STORY OF UDDHA LAKA. 189
gins which though associating with the mind of myself that
has attained its Atmic Reality, do not agitate it."
Then he began (to calm himself and) meditate power
fully through his all-pervading mind now brought into
subjection without any fluctuation ; seated in Padmasana
with his eyes partially opened like a half-blown lotus, this su
preme personage uttered Pranava (Om) without any difficulty
and with its appropriate high-sounding intonation. Then
Muni Uddhalaka who uttered Pranava of the nature of Jnana
began to cognize Brahman. But when he intoned the first
part or Akara of Aum which is of 3^ matras and raises one
by itself without any support to the transcendental Jnana
that is all-pervading and stainless, all the noble Pranavayus
shone with effulgence in his body, producing and raising
sound in it. Then did the process of Rechaka (expiration)
arise in the whole body exhaling the Pranavayu without.
Like Muni Agastya who sipped with one sip the whole ocean
and rendered it void of water, his whole body was rendered
void of Pranavayu which lifted itself up to the regions of
Brahmdkas of partless Jnana essence. The great Agni of
the heart (or Jnanagni) pervaded the whole body and burnt
it up (within). This is the first stage of Pranava. This stage
of Rechaka shines or (arises) not through Hatayoga. For
does not Hatayoga generate dire pains ? Then in the equil-
librated stage of the second, viz., Ukara of the noble Pranava,
the immoveable Kumbhaka (cessation of breath) was induced
in the Pranavayus which pervaded the whole body, The non-
agitated Pranavayus were then full both externally and inter
nally, high and low and in the quarters and the Akas, like bellows
stuffed with air. In an instant, the Agni which burnt the body
in the previous stage was now extinguished, like a flashing-
lightning. The body became snow-white like the burnt white
ashes, thereby revealing within it bones, muscles and other
things in regular order. All the net- work of bones appeared in a
regular gradation, as if sleeping in a bed of camphor. With
Vyu, these white ashes were raised up in the air and in a moment
permeated the whole Akasa. All these collected themselves in
one place like wintry clouds. Thus was the second stage of
Pranava attained, wherein he was till his longed*for required
time. This stage was developed not through Hatayoga ; for
190
YOGA-VA SISHTA.
does not Hatayoga generate endless pains Y Then in the third
quiescent stage of Pranava, vis., Makara, the Pranavayus
reached the stage called Puraka* on account of their Purna
fullness). In that painless stage, all the Pranas entered the
nectar of intelligence. All the Pranavayus which were cool,
as if drenched in snow, became the Mandala (sphere) of the
moon in the midst of the Akasa, like the evaporated smoke in
the atmosphere transmuted into the cool clouds. Then the
PrAnas laden with the nectary showers descended down from
the Akasa and soaked the bodily ashes lying below. The
strong resplendent body of Muni Uddhalaka glowed like the
form of Vishnu with the four arms and the lustre of the moon
stainlessly through the ambrosial draughts as of the divine
Ganges flowing from the head of Siva All the Pranas satu
rated with nectar, permeated the whole body and saluting
Kundilini Sakti (in the navel), circumambulated it.
Thus did the Muni Uddhalaka seated in Padma posture
render his body proof against destruction: and then forcibly
controlled his mind which whirled like an intoxicated bee.
Preserving silence, he calculated the speed of the soft
Pranas and Apanasand gradually controlled them. With great
difficulty, he separated the Indryas (organs) from the objects
to which they clung He severed himself completely from
all external objects. With a iirm mind free from all attrac
tions, he rendered non-existent all objects that arose in his
mind through his firm vision. In order to prevent the exit of
Pranavayu, he closed first the primal avenue and thereby
all the nine avenues of the body just as a house, when its
front gate is closed, prevents ingress into the minor gates
within. Then he pinioned his mind in the supreme heart
Aka.sa in a state verging upon death.
Having thus captured and stowed away his mind like a rut
ting elephant in a mountain pitfall, his mind became as clear as
a placid sky and was devoid of all Vikalpas which are but the
reflexions (of the Truth \ Like a champion killing with his
sword his foes who rise against him again and again, he
destroyed, a< they arose, all thoughts of objects. With the
extinction of all Vikalpas, he destroyed through his discrimina
tion that (mental) darkness which intervened between him-
* Inspiration.
THE STORY OF UDDHA LAKA. igi
self and the spiritual Sun in his heart as sable as collyrium.
With the internal disappearing-, he saw before him a radiant
light which the Muni tided over. In that stage, the mind of
the Muni began to whirl and daze away as in the dead of
night. This dizziness being over, void Akasa was known by
him, and then came Moha (delusion). Even this Moha was
dispelled off his mind by this Muni of blissful vision, like dark
ness disappearing at the approach of the sun in this world.
Passing thus through the stages of darkness, light, sleep,
and Moha, the Muni at last reached the stage of Nirvikalpa
Samadhi when his mind enjoyed .quiescence for one moment
(at least). With freedom from all pains, he attained the real
Jnana shining everywhere as all forms, like water which when
clammed up fills up all the previously unfilled spots. Through
long practice and cognition of his true Jnana, his mind became
of the nature of It, like gold converted into an ornament.
Being deprived of its attributes of hardness, it became Chit
(Consciousness) itself, like a pot amidst clay. Being divested
of all visions of objects, it contained Consciousness proper,
like an ocean in its ordinary equillibrated state without the
disturbance of waves, &c. The Muni freed from all attrac
tions towards objects, became of the nature of Prana Akasa
pervading everywhere and being the substratum of all the
mundane egg. He was drowned, as in an ocean of nectar,
in the practical enjoyment of the great bliss where the
seer alone exists without the visual or the sight. He reached
that Jnana-state which is above all and in which nothing but
truth exists and became the ocean of eternal Jnana and the all-
pervading Absolute Consciousness. The (Hamsa) swan of
intelligence of this Brahmin began to disport itself in the per
manent pool of spiritual bliss. Thus did the Muni enjoy him
self in his Atrna, like a tull-moon in an autumnal sky or a
lamp shining in a still atmosphere or an ocean without waves
or the form of a picture or a cloud pregnant (or laden) with
water without showering its contents.
Perceiving the Muni in Brahmic state in this great world,
Siddhas, Devas, and others began to encircle him. Deva
ladies flocked to him in great numbers. Devendra offered
to the Muni his Devaloka which the latter disdained to accept
along with other objects offered him. The Muni was too
192 YOGA-VA S1SHTA.
deep-thoughted to succumb to the wily charms and amors of the
divine (celestial/ ladies, he being like an innocent lad to them.
So being without the idea of sensual enjoyment, he shone
resplendently in his house of bliss, like the sun in Uttarayana
(northerly course) for a period of six months. Thus did the
Muni rest in Jivanmukti state, wherein the supreme Trinity,
Devas, Siddhas and others abide which state is above all,
being ever full and replete with bliss. This state can be
stated to be both with full bliss and without it. Whether
the wise rest in that Brahmic state for one moment or a
hundred years, they will never afterwards long for the sight
of objects which are the generators of re-birth. After six
months, the Muni awoke from his Samadhi in which he dis
carded all longing for pleasures of Swargaloka (Devachan).
Awaking he descried the Siddha hosts before him, who eulo
gised him thus "Please see this vehicle of ours. It will
take thee up to Devaloka. Gladly mount it. In all the other
worlds, there is no bliss to vie with that in Swargaloka.
Thou wilt be able to enjoy, till a Kalpa s end, all its fruits.
Oh Lord, all thy Tapas is only for the attainment of Swargic
bliss."
Opening his eyelids, he took them to be great person
ages and paid them due respects ; and then being one with
an unwavering mind that neither longed after nor hated the
Swarga pleasures, he asked the Devas to depart and was bent
upon the performance of his own actions. Then the Siddhas too
finding it useless to wait any longer in anticipation of Uddh-
laka s mind returning to their Swargic pleasures, vanished off
the scene. But the Muni enjoyed Nirvanic bliss as long as
he willed, in this forest and amidst the company of the
true devotees of the Lord. He would spend in one sitting
days, months, and even years in deep Samadhi and then
would wake up. From that time forward, he was ever
engaged in Nirvikalpa Samadhi, when his mind reached the
non-dual state. He was full everywhere, like the sun s rays
pervading the whole world. Through the long unintermittent
practice of merging in the Chit SaTnanya (or the one
Universal Consciousness), he reached the Satta-samanya
(or the Universal Be-ness). L T ddhlaka who was thus unlike
the sun in the month of Chaitra (April May) appear-
THE STORY OF UDDHA LAKA. 193
ing and disappearing in this world, became of a quiescent
mind through the attainment of Jivanmukti state, and of the
nature of Jmina which is the one true Self-light without birth
or doubts or stains, like a pure autumnal sky.
Here Sri Rama interrupted Vasishta with the question
" what is Satta-Samanya ?" To which Vasishta replied thus
41 When one s mind being denuded of all false thoughts,
becomes of the nature of the all-pervading Chit-Samanya,
and when all thoughts are lessened gradually, then this
Chit-Samanya is itself Satta-Samanya. When all the visi-
bles vanish away from one s mind as unreal as the horns of a
hare, and when Vritti-Jnana (the actions of the lower mind)
is merged into Atmic Consciousness, then this Conscious
ness is itself Satta-Samanya, When all external and internal
objects as well as diverse things and bodies are annihilated
(off the mind) and when the mind exists as Consciousness
itself, then this Chit-Samanya is Satta-Samanya. Without
any thought of the visibles though they appear before him,
if one dies (or withdraws himself) into Atma like the head of
a tortoise in its carapace, then such an ego is Satta-Samanya.
That supreme vision in which the transcendental Jivanmuk-
tas and Videhamuktas are, is the Satta-Samanya. It is also
termed the state of Turyatheetha*. This divine vision arises
in those who have developed Samadhi through knowledge
and discrimination or arises voluntarily in persons through
the memory of previous workings ; but not in the case of
the ignorant. Such a divine vision is inseparable from Jivan-
muktas like the wind and atmosphere or the earth and odor.
It is this divine vision that the Trimurti and other Devas
attained as well as Rishis Narada, &c., myself and others. It
is this Satta-Samanya, the abode of the world that Uddhalaka
lived in, as long as he liked, free from all variegated states.
With the lapse of a long period, this Muni resolved upon
becoming a Videhamukta and abandoning his body in the
beautiful caves of Gandhamadana hills. So he seated him
self again in the beneficent Padma posture. With his eye
lids half open, he blocked the front gate of the body and there
by all its nine internal avenues. Then he reduced through
his mind, organs and objects into one and meditated upon
* Tnry&theetha -the slate beyond the fourth state.
194 YOGA-VA SISIITA.
his all-full Jnana as still as an ocean without waves, having
previously controlled the speed of PranaVayu with his body and
neck erect and thrust the tip of his tongue below the base of
the uvula.* His face began to radiate with lustre with his
eye and mind diverted from all objects, external and internal,
high arid low as well the void Akasa. The speed of Prana Vayu
being arrested with his two rows of teeth closely set, one
over another, his body grew impregnated with Jnana; and
quite exhilarated with joy with his hairs standing on end in his
body, he became through practice the Chit-Samanya itself,
and through it, Brahmic bliss reigned in his mind. After
quaffing fully the ocean of Brahmic bliss, he quitted the
Chit-Samanya stale for Satta-Samanya seat which being
itself infinite is the substratum of all. In which state he was
completely quiescent and free from all the pains of mind.
Through this grand bliss far above all measurable bliss, his
face was blooming like a fresh lotus. Having reached the
stainless state, his hair ceased to stand on ends in his body,
his mind gradually melted away, all delusions of birth wore
away little by little and he became pure Satwa itself. Like a
statue and a full moon in a cloudless sky, he commingled for
sometime in his Reality and at last became one with the
Brahmic Light, like the verdure of the trees scorched by the
rays of the sun.
THE STORY OF SURAGHU.
Summary. This story is intended to prove that the results
of quiescence of mind, &c., which were developed through
Samadhi as in the previous story can also be obtained through
Atma-Vichara (Atmic-enquiry).
I.layest thou, Oh Rama, attain quiescence in the endless
All-full Seat by cognizing through thy mind the knower and
treading this path and moving in the world. Oh lotus-eyed
Rama, so long as thou attainest that Seat through the inces
sant practice of the mastery over the visible objects, thou
shalt ever be engaged in the enquiry through thy mind into
thatboundlessTatwa-Jmina which is inculcated by thy virtuous
* This is called the Kechari Mudra.
THE STORY OF SURAGIIU. 195
Guru and the Jnana-Sastras. The supreme seat can be
attained through Vairaggya (indifference to sensual objects)
the means of averting visibles, the true signification of Jnana-
books, one s own intelligence, the initiation by a Guru and
the performance of Yama and Nyama ; or it can be attained
through one s intelligence alone. Even should one be devoid
of other means, he will get Moksha, provided he gets the
initiation of a Guru and has a subtle and stainless intelligence.
At these words of Muni Vasishta, Rama interposed
thus (Of the personages named by you), one class frees itself
from all pains and attains the non-dual Jnana by going into
Samddhi, while it is in the performance of worldly actions.
Another disconnects itself altogether from all worldly actions
and retires into Samadhi. Which of these two is the superior ?
Please enlighten me clearly on this point.
Vasishtacontinued In Samadhi therearises that coolness
which arises in the hearts of those wise persons who have
cognized this world of three gunas to be non-Atma (or inert).
Some will remain in Svvarupa-Samadhi* without in the least
concerning themselves with worldly actions and without any
longings for objects. Other will go into Samadhi in the
midst of the performance of worldly actions. Should both of
these preserve a cool mind, then there is no difference between
them. Such a coolness of the mind will generate all the in
calculable fruits of a great Tapas. The mind of one who is in
this state will never be affected with pains, though engaged in
actions. In this illuminated state, the serenity of his mind
towards externals can be compared to that of an idiot. But
if the mind of the idiot be deprived of all its vagaries (or
internal pains), then such a state might be termed Sama
dhi. In trying to find out the difference between Jnanis who
retire into a forest and those who are amidst excessive worldly
actions, there will be found none. Both are equal to one
another and will undoubtedly reach Moksha.
With the extinction of Vasanas, all actions performed
will be as if not done, like the mind of a person who, when
he is deeply engaged within, does not hear the sounds uttered
by bystanders. But if the gross mind, though it has ceased
to perform all actions, has yet its Vasanas clinging to it,
* Swarupa SamAdhi Meditation of the Atmic Reality.
i9 > VOGA-VA SISHTA.
then it performs actions in Swapna (the dreaming 1 state) when
the whole body is paralysed, like persons falling- headlong
from a precipice down below. Know that when the mind
though performing all actions is yet free from them, that
state is termed the blissful Samfidhi, the non-fluctuating
Nirvana and the transcendent bliss. The fluctuation of the
mind and its steadiness are the inseparable causes of the
two kinds of vision, non-Dhy.ina and Dhyana (non-medi
tation and meditation). Therefore you should destroy all the
attributes of the mind. It is stated that Dhyana is the firm
mind itself, devoid of Wisanas which are of the nature of
Chinthana (thoughts). Quiescence and Kaivalya are (or per
tain to) this mind only. On account of this Nirvanic seat, all
internal pains should wear away gradually. A mind which is
never with its worries, will reach the Nirvanic Seat devoid of
actions through the extinctions of Vasanas. The Vasanas
generate never-ending pains arising from mental actions.
.Therefore they should be made to gradually wear away.
After destroying all conceptions of ** I" in the hosts of
visible objects through the mind, it matters not where you
live, whether in a house or hills or any other place. The
abode of those householders who are of quiescent mind and
not tainted with Ahankara can \vell be termed a forest with
one of a solitary (or renunciatory) mind. Persons who stroll
through a bazaar street without any longing for the things
therein are like those who have sojourned therein. Similar
ly to persons in full spiritual beatitude, cities and wood will
constitute no difference. Though successively performing
the functions of sleeping, waking, reading, going, &c.,
those who consider as forest their permanent abode, city
and country through their spiritual introvision, are the most
intelligent ones. Through this stainless introvision, all will
become (to them) JnSna-Akas itself. Oh thou equal unto
Prfma itself, if thy mind become cool and thy heart full, then
all the universe too will be cool.
Should the mind wax warm with the illusions (of the
world), then the universe too will appear burnt by the blaze
as of a forest fire. In all Jivas, whatever arises internally
will manifest itself externally. The ambrosial Swarga-loka,
earth, VAyu, Akasa, mountains, rivers, quarters and other
THE STORY OF SURAGHU. 197
objects surrounding us are so many external manifestations of
the Antahkarana (the lower mind) with its parts. He only will
ever enjoy Samudhi who takes delight in Atma-Jnftna, per
forms actions on account of Indryas (organs) only and is
unaffected by pleasures or pains. He only is the seer
(knovver) of all who regards all lives as his own and who,
spurning all wealth as mere tiles, sees the world in its real
state and not through any fear of it.
Whether death visits them now or at the end of a Kalpa,
such wise persons will never be stained in their minds, like
(a lump of) gold stuck in the mud. Having reached the
quiescent state of the All and the Divine vision, such person
ages are predicated by the Vedas with the characteristics
of non-duality, mere bliss, light and non-universe without
destruction, beginning or end. AH the characteristics given
out before are for the purpose of cognizing Jnana. Of what
use are well-expressed words^in the conception of Parabrahm).
Therefore all names might well be simplified into the one Pra-
nava (Om) to describe Brahman.
Oh beneficent Rama, to illustrate this kind of experience,
I shall relate to thee, a story of old, The history of Suraghu
who belonged to the low class of Kirathas* and lived by the
slope of a hill is indeed marvellous. A class of hunters
surnamed Hemajata lived in the Kailasa hills on the sum
mit of the Himalayas who were adepts in archery. Over them
reigned the hero of the present story who was an undaunted
warrior. Whilst he was administering regal justice in his
-kingdom with strict impartiality, protecting the virtuous and
chastising the vicious, a train of ideas ran in his mind to the
following effect " If through my legal powers, I afflict my
people, are not their pains mine ? But if I fail to mete out to
them the punishments according to Dharma Sastras, then
all my subjects will die in vain without a protector. Oh, this
ruling over a kingdom is indeed a difficult task." With these
thoughts rocking in his mind, he became afflicted at
heart. At this juncture, Muni Mtindavya appeared upon
the scene. Thereupon Suraghu having paid him due respects
and eulogised him, addressed him thus "Oh virtuous Muni,
with thy advent my heart has been filled with complete
* A low class of people who live by chase.
198 YOGA-VA SISKTA.
happiness. I am glad to see that I have found a place in a
corner of the heart of good men like thyself. As thou, Oh
Lord, the cognizer of all Dharmas, hast long been free from
all despondencies of heart, I hope thou wilt clear the doubts
of myself who am involved in manifold Karmas. There is
nothing in this world so tormenting to the mind of an indivi
dual as doubt. My mind grows dizzy with the pains or
pleasures my subjects undergo in this spacious earth of mine
through my favour or disfavour like an elephant before a
he-lion. Please bless me in such a manner, so that equality
of vision over all may set in upon my mind, like the sun shin
ing everywhere."
To which Muni Mandavya replied thus "The stains of
the mind will be washed away by Atmic enquiry, like fogs
disappearing with the rays of the sun. If you will unceasing
ly be engaged in the cogitation of the questions who am I ?
whence came the universe ? How came birth and death ?
you will be able to gain the higher seat. If you will render
Atmic enquiry habitual in you, then your mind will be made
subservient to your will and will quit its state devoid of
pains. In the eyes of a cool mind free from its ups and
downs, all worldly actions appear (as trivial) to it, as the foot
prints of a cow to a huge elephant. Though trivial in the
eyes of the wise, these actions are insurmountable (in the
case of others). For is not the water enclosed in the cow s
footprint an ocean of incalculable area to an old musquito?
The farther and farther you are removed from the universe (in
thought), the more and more will the divine Light of Para-
matma radiate in you. So long as you are not freed from
(all objects), so long will the true Principle not be cogniz
ed by you. All visibles vanishing, the residue will be Itself.
Paramatmic Light will not shine when the dualities of
the mind are not destroyed. How can Atmic Reality
be cognized when the homogeneity of gold and other
objects is not perceived ? Therefore in order to attain Atma,
all longings for objects should cease. If all should be given
up free from all pains, then what remains is the indestructible
Moksha the supreme Brahmic Seat. Oh famous king of
hunters, if after destroying your mind ever surging through
the Vasanas of Ajnana in this world of objects replete with
THE STORY OF SURAGHU. 1Q9
its cause and effect and co-eternal with it, you then give up
even the Vasanas of body, then will the stainless beneficent
Principle be attained." So saying Muni Mandavya of great
Tapas returned to his own abode.
Thereafter the king of hunters withdrew into his solitary
crypt and there began through his subtle intelligence to ever
enquire into the origin of " I." It is rather ludicrous to apply
the epithet " I" to this body from head to foot. Let me see
what this body is. It is composed of flesh, bones, &c., and as
such is inert. Hence " I" is not this body. Again the ten
Indryas are other than " I" (from the epithet of my Indryas)
and are inert. Hence I am not the ten indryas. If " 1" is not
this body with Indryas, &c., then what remains is Jiva. Even
this Jiva is known by Pratyagatma. Therefore Jiva which is
known by Pratyagatma Chaitanya, cannot be termed the
Atma-Tatwa. Hence I shall free myself from the Jiva state.
Shall I become "That" fit to be known ? That full Jnana
which is immaculate and remains without any Vikalpas is my
Reality alone. This supreme Jnana pervades, like a thread
running through round pearls in beads, through Vishnu, Brah
ma, Rudra, Devendra, Yama and other seats. This supreme
Jnana-potency of Atma-Tatwa is without the disease of worldly
acts, has a terrific incomparable form, pervades all quarters,
is full in all objects, subtle and without existence or non-
existence and permeates all up to Satya Loka where Brahma
lives. This Chit-Sakti is the abode of all other Saktis (or
potencies). It is only owing to a motion (or fluctuation ) in
this Jnana that all the diversified objects in this world are due
and to nothing else."
Having given up all objects without shackles of Vasanas
and freed himself from delusions which follow a person even
in his seventh re-birth, Suraghu maintained equality of vision
over all, like one fixed immovably in his Sushupti state. Being
freed from all through living firmly in his Atma-Tatwa,
he reached the Brahmic state through certain true discrimina
tion, like Muni Viswamitra of rare Tapas attaining the status
of a Brahmin. Thus did Suraghu reach that Sushupti state
wherein all actions cease to function, and was immovable
like a picture-flight represented with its flames. In that state
he was, without the dualities of blessing or curse, love or
2OO YOGA-VA SISIiTA.
hatred, association or non-association, intelligence or non-
intelligence. Vasishta continued Oh Rama of mountain-
like arms, hear also what took place between Suraghu of
non-dual cognition and a Raja Rishi by the name of Parnadha.
Suraghu had a friend by the name of Parigha of the race of
Pfiraseeka who was also a king. Finding that his subjects
suffered greatly on account of drought in his realm for
10 years and died in great numbers, the latter s heart gave way.
Therefore quitting his country for the forest, he gave up all
desires for food and performed Tapas, feeding himself upon
dry leaves. Thereby he was surnamed Parnadha.* Through
such a Tapas he attained Atma-Jnana, since none could vie
with the Tapas of this king-recluse. This Muni who could,
at his will, roam throughout the three worlds as if in his
house, went and appeared before King Suraghu. Both reci
procated their affections with true love and began to dis
course upon their respective experiences.
Suraghu began thus "My heart has been filled to the
brim with exquisite bliss at the approach of thy venerable self.
Parnadha said I have also been elevated (through thy
sight) to that Jnana state into which thou wert initiated by
Muni Mandavya. Oh King, art thou able to transact thy
worldly business with a clear mind and a noble and equal
vision over all? Has thy body, affected by the changes of
times, been free from the trammels of diseases, mental or
physical ? Art thou able to preserve thy equilibrium of mind
amidst the excessive pleasures of wealth ? Hast thou been
able to merge into Samfidhi without any Sankalpas, by
following the path of extreme serenity and Kaivalya (isola
tion), without any the least fluctuation of mind ? Whether
one performs actions or not, an Atma-Jnani will never be
free from Samadhi state. Persons of Jnana mind will always
be in the Samadhi of true Nishta (meditation), albeit
engaged in worldly actions. Oh liberal-minded brother,
persons without full euen-mindedness will never be able
to go into Samadhi, even though they may comply
with the formalities of sitting in Padma posture and
offering- salutations to Parabrahm. It is Atma-Jnana alone
which forming the Agni (or fire) to the fuel of desires consti-
* Parnadha from Parna meaning leaves.
THE STORY OF BHA SA AND VILA SA. 2OI
tutes the noble Samadhi. If the mind, being: destroyed
through concentration, cognizes Tatwa-Jnana, such a Jnna
is stated by the wise to be Samdhi. The intelligence of the
wise not bound by illusion, though mindful of the worldly
actions, will not forget even for a moment their Atmic Reality
(eternal) like time. Like Vyu blowing freely in every direc
tion it wills to take, a Jnani s intelligence will always follow
the path of the differenceless Atma-Jnana. The wise of equal
vision who are emapport with the partless intelligence, having
abandoned all conceptions of duality which exist but for
worldly purposes, can be said to have attained the Brahmic
Seat. Therefore those intelligent men who do not waste
their time over the bodily actions, whether one or many, but
who have sharpened their intelligence through the holy
sentences (of the Vedas), will be everywhere. Thou hast
cognized that Intelligence which is differenceless and wond
rous. Thou hast attained the Brahmic Seat. Thy mind has
been reduced cool like a full-moon. Thy heart has been
liberated from the pains of Ahankara and from all stains
and therefore is all full. Having the firm certitude of Atma,
thou shinest everywhere as thy Self." So said ParnAdha to
Suraghu. Suraghu then said " Of what avail are circuitous
expressions ? To express it in short, it is this. When all
longing for the fruits of actions ceases and the mind looks
upon all equally, being directed within itself, then Brahmic
bliss arises and the matchless JnAna-Vision is developed and
the firm Atma-Jnana alone shines."
THE STORY OF BHA SA AND VILA SA.
Summary Through this story, it is sought to show that
manifold pains will arise to the mind in the absence of
Samadhi which leads to Brahmic bliss.
Thus did Suraghu and Parigha enquire into the nature of
the world, evincing true love and respect towards one another
and perform their respective functions. No pains will afflict
those who are ever engaged internally in Adhyatma-Jndna.
and taking delight in the same, ever enjoy Ataia-Jnana, Oh
valiant Rama, the bull of Jiva sleeps its long sleep under the
20-J, - YOCA-VA S1SHTA.
large .umbrageous shadows of Aloha (delunionj ii: .the dire
forest of Samsara, weltering in the mire of sinful actions,
goaded, by the goad of Ajniina and lashed by the whip of
the stainful enjoyments, while it is bound by the strong
cords of desires and is ever and anon startled by the flea-
bites of rare diseases. Power, if it can be called real,
lies in lifting, through unintermittenc efforts, this bull which,
groaning under the heavy load of pains and being quite
lacerated through ceaseless motion backwards and forwards,
has fallen into the deep pool of numberless births. With the
contraction of friendship with the wise, disciples should
devise means for crossing this Samsara, like passengers
crossing on their vessels,
Whatever place there is, which is not inhabited by Atma-
Jna"nis whose very presence is like cool topes full of juicy fruits
and fragrant flewers will be but an oasis full of venomous
toads (though abounding with cool flowers, &c). Are not
persons who dwell therein but Ajnanis ? Wealth, friendship,
Sastras, kindred actions and such like are not the (real)
means (for Moksha); but a well-trained mind alone constitutes
the means of reaching the higher state of Atma. Jf the mind
only is made friendly (to the higher influence) and spiritual
enquiry is thereupon set afloat in it, then it will reach a
higher life. If a ripe mind regard this poisonous tenement
of .flesh in the same light as a fuel or a tile, then there is no
doubt that the all-full Jnana, longed after by the Devas, will
be attained. Should the unobscured Turya (fourth stage)
vision be developed in which Jnana-light shines with its
flames stainlessly and immovably that Jnana-Light which
is like the great ocean above all words, incomparable,
altractionless and alone, then such a state has not its pa-
ral.lel and can, best be described by Sushupti which rs its
nearest approach and is but a poor simile. This Turya
state is all-pervading like Akasa which contains potentially
in itself all forms. If the Ahankara ot the base mind dies,
then the mind will shine as the Brahmic bliss in all objects
and as the Paramatmic Reality. The evidence for its charac
teristics can be found only in one-self like iSushupti. No
/ ords can describe it. It can only be experienced by each
one within himself only. All things limide^s arc of the,,
THE STORY OF n)l\VsA A\b VILA S.V.
nature of Atma only. If this mind of excessive differentiations
is absorbed without parts, then the Reality of Brahman -the
stainless Deva of Devas who manifests himself as these
moveable and fixed objects, external as well as internal 1 , -will
shine in his own nature. It is only after this experience
that all Vusanas for objects will cease; that the light of thfe
differenceless Principle will dawn; that through an -equal
vision over all, the destruction of heterogeneity will take plack
as a matter of course. It is this experience that Maliatmas*
are alwavs in. If after having" destroyed the materially-mincf-
ed Manas through the discriminative (or higher) Manas, one
does not visit his Atmic Principle, never will the Sams&rrc
pains cease. With the extinction of the mind, bliss will arise
and then Atma^Jnana will shine.
To illustrate this experience, I will narrate to thee, OH
sweet flower of thy (viz., Solar) race, a story. So said
Vasishta to Sri Rama and then continued "Two Munis
lived in the hermitage of Miini Attri of great Tapas on thd
hills of Sahya as hrs two noble sons. rThey went by the appefc
lations of Bh4sa and Vil&sa and \vefe Very friendly towards
one another, which good feelings waxed day by day. "Tlre tf
minds were so united with one another, as if they were off
shoots of one and the same. trunk. With the death of their
parents, they sorrowfully went through all the necessary
ebsequies. Then grief-struck and in great tears tlirougli their
mental bondage, they bid adieu to one another and parted fif
different directions. After they had abode for a long tirhe iir*
the woods and emaciated their bodies through extremeTa pas,
they completely denuded themselves of all desires. Tlien*
they again-met together.
With his mind "and eye glowing, with love, Muni Vilasa 1
Opened the conversation first in- the following manner. -^-< My-
true kinsman in this ever-growing worW, -thou -hast -xrotne Icr
me as my Prana. Where hast-thou been living -all this whiFer^
Hast thou be-eri freed- from- thy mental pains ? Hast " ; th f du :
cognized thy Atmic Reality 1 as common ini afl P^ilasf thotr
acquired- ftttl jnuna?. Oh Bh^sa, aH thbu- haprJy 1 ? : To which
Bh^sa looking at the face -Of-iii*; brd\her wfio- bad a mind of
ripened truth, replied- Ihtis-^^Oh- rH\* kinsrnan ! who rjc- as
* Great Souls.
TOGA-VA SISHTA-
denr as my Prann, through the sheer force of my destiny
have 1 been fortunate enough to visit thee. My mind has
been rendered quite cool. How can I who am whirling in
this stainful Samsara obtain the noble happiness ? How can
the absolute good arise in me, so long as I have not known
all that should be known, so long as the mind is not destroyed,
so long as the wheel of births is not arrested ? How can the
transcendental happiness arise in me, so long as the seed
of desires in my mind along with its strong root is not des
troyed like a tree felled by an axe, so long as Jnana is not
cognized directly, so long as the homogeneous state is not
attained without the myriads of differences, so long as
B.rahma-jnana is not attained ? Till then, pains alone will
accrue to a person. In persons who have given up all the good
results of Atma-Tatwa which forms the panacea for the cure
of the disease of Ajnana, the poisonous disease of dire re
births will wax in strength more and more. All the hosts
of Jivas whirling in this world being entangled in the midst
of pleasures and pains and fluctuating in the tips and downs
of births and deaths will never make true progress, like
parched up leaves.
THE STORY OF VEETHAHAVTA.
Summary. In this story it is sought to show that mental
abnegation and control of Prana are the two requisites for the
control of the mind, which control leads to its quiescence.
In course of time, as the above two personages were living
together engaged in enquiries into their respective experiences
within themselves, the true Jnana which brings about Kaivalya
happiness dawned directly in them. There is no other path
to destroy the dire re-birth of the pain-giving mind bound by
the cord of desires than Jn&na. A stainless mind without
attractions, though engaged in the worldly acts, will never be
bound thereby. A mind with attractions though engaged in
innumerable Tapas will ever be in bondage. A Jiva which
without internal craving (or attractions) is prone to good
actions alone, will never have the characteristics of actor and
enjoyer. whether il performs external actions or not, through
THE STORY Oh VKKTHAHAVYA. 2O$
At this, Sri Rama asked thus * What is meant by attrao
lion (or association) ? What is that attraction which leads to
Moksha? and what to bondage ? How is this bondage to be
annihilated ? To which Vasishta replied thus "Belief in (the
permanency of) the body without discriminating- between the
body and its presider and contemplating 1 upon the body alone
is what is meant by attraction. Such a course leads to
bondage. The conception that all is Atmic Reality and that
there is nothing for one to love or hate (in this world) is non-
attraction. Such a non-attraction arises in the body of those
Jivanmuktas who have been freed from all pains. That state
of non-attraction of the mind when neither I nor any other
self exists for it and when, at its will, it doffs or dons the
pleasures of the world, should be known as the path leading
to Moksha. Such persons will court neither actions nor in
actions ; abdicating all fruits of actions, they do not care
which of the above two courses they will adopt. The wise say
that these are persons without attractions. Know also that
there is no attraction in one, if he renounces all fruits of actions
through the endeavours of the mind and not through the
(abdication of the) Karmas themselves. Through it, all the
stains of the ever-growing actions will cease and Moksha will
be gained. It is through this attraction that the long c!tain
of births as worms, bees, &c., has been undergone, disappear
ing at every stage like bubbles on the surface of the ocean.
This attraction is two-fold. One is called Vandhya (fruit
less) and the other is called Avandhya (fruitful). The former
pertains to the ignorant while the latter is the ornament of
all those who have cognized the Atma-Tatwa. It is this latter
which generates Atma-Jnana and discrimination and through
them arrests re-births which gradually arose in Jong eons of
time. The former brings on the ever-recurrent cycles of
existence in this world through the absence of Jnna and the
devotion to worldly objects. Know, my son, clearly the true
nature of the two kinds of attractions. The red-eyed Vishnu
wearing discus and conch, protects through his grace all the
universes without in the least being disconcerted by the
manifold actions done by him through his Avandhya attrac
tion. Similarly are Siddhasof true Jndna, the protectors of
thi* earth, by sporting on this earth through the above
attraction. The mind, mistaking- thing s bad for good and
attracted by the glossy enjoyments, wallows in them, like a
vulture preying upon a carrion; To those who are immersed
in the evils of Vandhya attractions, all the hells are their
dwelling places. With this fuel of Varidhya attractions,
they feed the flames therein. But when the JnAna-vision of
one is diverted from the visibles of M&ya and the mind is di
vested of all its attractions towards material desires, then
is the Jivanmukti state attained.
Now hear the true nature of the mind of a JivanmuktA
who will be always in different Avasthas (states), who will
be in the minds of all creatures and who will perform all
actions. Without in the least attaching themselves to actions,
thoughts, objects, Akasa, ups and downs, quarters, external
enjoyments, the five organs, the internal Pranas, head, face,
tongue, eyes, nose, brow, Ahankdra, Jiva, the Ak asa of the
heart, the waking state, the dreaming state, dreamless slum
ber, the five colors beginning with white, the diversified colorsj
fluctuation, or steadiness, beginning, middle, or end, proxi
mity or distance, the limbs of the body, the many substances, 1
Atma, the Tanm&tras (rudimentary properties) beginning
with sound, the much boasted-of bliss, going and returning
and the attributes of time, the mind of a Jivanrttukta will be 4
quiescent in Jnana and enjoy Brahmic bliss in a state- of
Vairaggya, though associating with the visihles. Suchr Jivan-
m uktas who, having no material attractions, do not associate
themselves with the distorted consciousness of the world
should and ougfht to perform their actions in this world. The
effects of actions whether performed or not by a Jivanmukta,
the enjoyer of -bliss will never affect him, like sable clouds
never sullying the Akask above. : Such a Jiva will commingle
with Atma as pellucid as crystal, becoming replete with
Jnana and quiescence after attaining the end of all objects.
They will be great men, full of Jn^na bliss and reat* intelli
gence and will float in their organs like peacocks feathers.
Their minds will never falter like the mountain, Mahameru.
With the , mental) refrarnment from sensual objects, the
mind will be destroyed/ Such a state can be called the
Sushnpti of Jagfat^ devoid : of all : actions / -With the ceaseless
practice in this stale", the AViSe s aV : th*t Trie fart less irtfd
THE STORY OF VEETHAHAVrA.
state, is induced. Through firmness in this Turya State, thati
one. above all bliss (Anandatheetha) is reached, which state
of bliss is indescribable and pertain:; to one s Self. The
Ananddtheetha is the great bliss of JnAnatheetha. A person
in this state is he who can be called the secondless Yogi. This,
state is also called Turyatheetha. Freed from the bondage-
giving" re-birth as well as from the diverse kinds of self-
identification with objects arising out of Tamo-Guna, the
supreme bliss (of Jiva) will merge itself into its imperishable
Reality of Sat, like salt with water.
Brihadaranya Upanishad and other Srutis treating of
the true path, deal, oh Rama, with the solitary Reality of
Para-Tatvva which occupies the neutral centre between inert
ness and intelligence. When objects and Jndna are absorbed
into one another, then is the Paramdrtha (real) state attained,
wherein is the direct supreme experience of the happiness
achieved. This itself may be stated to be the Brahmic essence
itself. When the seen and the sight merge into one another(in:
the seer), then is the experience of Ananda (bliss). Bondage
is so called because of the subjection to objects ; otherwise
Moksha ensues. That state of direct experience, when the
seen and the sight merge into one another is unattended by
pains. Therefore let the mind have always this state as its
beacon-light This state is called Jagrat-Sushupti. It is
also the, Turya state. Then Atina is neither gross nor
subtle, neither perceptive nor non-perceptive, neither intelli
gent nor inert, .neither Sat nor Asat, neither 1 nor -any other,
neither one nor .many n.or the universe ; but it is: the seat:
or source of mind, Indryas - and others. As it is above all.
states, it is not conditioned.. tmt.it is the. All. ...
That which is called Moksha is neither in Devajoka nor
PatAla nor earth.. "When -all- desire s -are- destroyed, the-
extinction of the expansive -mind alone is Moksha. If at any
time there arises in- the mind, within,, any longing to attain
Moksha, then it will begiu-to revive again. "VVith th increase
of the. Manana (or the- meditations) of the mind, births -a-n-d
deaths will not cease -and bondage will firmly take its .root, r
If Atma-Tatwa is attained- which is -above- all-.and pervades : -
aU .objects, where then, will be- bondage,-? Where tjjen Ayrll be.-
Mukslia, the resultant: of good iiction-s ?. Therefore -destroy )t :
2o8 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
the root mind and its thoughts. Those who, through their im
maculate and all-full mind, have attained quiescence and
known their own Self will never in the least long for anything 1 .
This non-desire is the axe with which the forest-trees of acci
dents are felled, and is the seat of Brahmic bliss and the
flower-bunch in the tree of contentment and quiescence. With
the development of non-desires, all weaknesses of the heart
will fly away. Jn the eyes of those who have decorated
themselves with the ornament of non-desires, the whole earth
is nothing but a cow s foot-print, even Mahameru is but a
paltry seed, all the quarters are but a bird s nest and the
three worlds are but a trash only.
Those who have worshipped their Atmic Reality which
is other than the body, will not be conscious of the existence
of the body, through working in it. Like a sugar-candy
which, though exposed to heat or any cutting instrument,
does not lose its taste, an illuminated Jnani will never lose
his centre even amidst the many illusions of the world. Like
a lady who performs her household duties, whilst her mind
is engrossed with her paramour at a distance, a Jnani will
always centre his mind upon the Brahmic state. Through
the absence of desires for objects, the quiescence in the mind
will produce Moksha. This Moksha will be of use to those
great men only, who have bid farewell to their desires, whether
they are associated with their body or not. Those whe are
happpy in the relinquistiment of their material desires (while
in body), are the blissful Jivanmuktas ; but those who are
trammelled therein are bound : while Videhamuktas are far
above these two classes of persons.
Such Jivanmuktas will always transact their present
duties. They will neither long for things in the future nor
ruminate upon (and be affected by) things of the past. They will
be performing all Karmas. Their minds will neither be
attracted towards men bound (by the worldly pleasures) nor
will be affected by grief. They will appear as devotees
amongst devotees : will conduct themselves disguisedly
amongst men of duplicity : as children amongst children ;
as old men amongst the old ; as the puissant amongst the
puissant ; as youths amongst the young, and grief stricken
and in sympathy with the grieved. They will eniof bliss
THE STORY OF S IKHIDWAJA. 289
necessary trouble ? Now, when the gem appeared to him,
shining with the lustre of the moon, he, without bringing it
under his grasp, : thus soliloquized : I fear this is not Chinthd-
mani, but only some paltry stone. Can it be otherwise
attained than by long and tedious search and when a man s
life is nearly spent and his body debilitated by the search ? Sin
ful persons like myself will never attain it, though they sub
ject themselves to all kinds of hardship. The virtuous and
some of them only will come by it. Shall individuals acquire
things readily by mere repining, and without regard to their
respective Karmas ? I am but a man ; my Tapas is very
significant, and my powers small. In short, I am poor in all
respects. Therefore can it be possible for poor me to behold
the rare Chinthamani before me ? I will proceed to make
further search for it. And thus saying, he let slip the golden
opportunity, and the real Chinthamani vanished from his
sight. Shall good ever accrue to the ignorant ? Thus did he
again go in search of the gem, with great pains. After thus
wandering in a perturbed state for some days, some Siddhas
(persons possessed of psychic powers), intending to befool him,
screened themselves from his view, and let drop in his path a
broken piece of earthen bracelet, which he no sooner saw than
he picked it up. Then, this deluded man, mistaking it for the
true Chinthamani, began to exult in its discovery and to mar
vel over it. Being in possession of this burnt gem, he re
nounced all his wealth, fully believing that the gem would
fetch him anything he wanted, and that his present posses
sions were superfluous. Therefore, he gave up his country
and retired to the forest, believing that happiness could only
be obtained there apart from the men of depraved tendencies
in his own land. Thus did this man, who had anticipated the
enjoyment of real bliss through this stone, subject himself to
all kinds of hardships, ahd degrade himself to the lowest level.
Hear from me another story which will be of great help
to you in the improvement of your knowledge. In the heart
of this ancient forest, there lived an elephant, the hugest and
loftiest of his kind. Certain Mahouts of the forest associa
ted with, and entrapped, this elephant whose tusks were ex
ceedingly long, sharp and strong, and fettered it with strong
iron chains. Becoming infuriated with its painful fetters, it
37
290 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
shook itself free by the aid of powerful tusks in two Muhurtas
(48 minutes). The Mahout, in the howdah above, seeing this,
became giddy, and fell to the ground. The tusker, finding
him upon the ground, passed by without hurting him. But
the driver, picking himself up with unappeased passion, went
again in quest of the elephant, which he found in the midst of
the forest. There he dug a trench, covering it up with dry
leaves and grass. The elephant, after roaming through the
forest, came at length to the place where the trench was,
and fell into it. Instantly the Mahout made it fast. Thus
again was the elephant subjected to torture. Had this crea
ture, which was like unto the great (king), Bali, when guard
ing his own mansion, dashed out the brains of its enemy at
the time when the Mahout lay prostrate before it, it would
not again have fallen into the trap, nor have been thus again
agitated. Likewise, those who make no enquiry concerning
the good and evil of the future, will come to grief.
When Kumbha-Muni had related this jstory, Sikhidwaja
asked him to give the reason why he had narrated the inci
dents concerning ChinthAmani and the elephant ; to which
Kumbha-Muni, of steady mind, thus replied : * By that person,
who, though acquainted with all the Sastras, yet without the
beneficent Tatwajn&na went in search of Chintha"mani, I
meant only yourself. For, although well-versed in all book-
learning, you have not yet developed an undisturbed equili
brium of mind. What I intended by the story of Chinthii-
mani is this : In order to attain true renunciation devoid
of all pain and hypocrisy, you have forsaken your regal office,
your wife, and other relatives, wherein there was the true
Chinthcimani, and have betaken yourself to this forest.
While the true renunciation was developing itself little by
littb in you although in the world, your mind was led astray
by undue zeal to a wrong conception of renunciation, and
was enveloped by that delusion as by a dark cloud which
obscures the sky.
This renunciation of yours is not the true one, generating
real happiness, which you lost track of, because you thought
that this one of yours, if persisted in sufficiently long, would,
at length, give rise to the true one. Having lost the gem of
true renunciation, which is in the proper path of life, you have
THE STORY OF s lKHIDWAJA. 291
been misled by the false idea of the burnt stone of Tapas
through your faulty vision, and have, therefore, been greatly
afflicted. The wise say that those who reject the happiness
accessible to them in their daily lives, and allow their minds
to search after imaginary and strange things without limit,
are only self-destructive and of corrupt thought. Through
the idea of Tapas as the means of bliss, your mind in no wise
acquired that peace it desired, even when the graced and
priceless Chinthamani was before you ; nor was there any ad
vantage in the discovery of the bit of earthen bracelet.
Now hear about the elephant. The epithet "elephant," I
applied to yourself. The two long tusks are Vairaggya (indiffer
ence to pleasure and pain), and Viveka (discrimination). Your
Ajnana is the driver who sits aloft upon the elephant and
goads it on. Your Ajnana afflicts you in many ways. You are
now palpitating with the pains inflicted by Ajndna, like the
elephant bound by the Mahout and led by him. The iron
chains and fetters are the bonds forged by desires, and you
have been bound by them. Know that these desires are
stronger and more durable than iron itself. Iron chains wear
out in a length of time, but the desires which prevail grow
more and more. The breaking loose of the elephant from
its strong bonds stands for your late relinquishment of all
desires and going into the forest. The fall of the driver from
the howdah represents the destruction of your Ajnana through
your Vairaggya. If once we free ourselves from desires, shall
Ajnana and the necessity for re-births exist ?
Should the delusion of wealth be abandoned through sheer
asceticism, Ajnana will only be hovering about like a ghost
in a tree when it is being felled. But if the delusion of wealth
be destroyed through the action of Viveka, then Ajnana will
take its flight like a ghost from a tree already felled. With
the relinquishment of Ajnana, all its retinue will bid adieu.
As soon as you reached this forest, all your Ajnana was
levelled to the ground like nests of birds in a felled tree. But
you did not chop off the Ajnana with the sharp sword by un
interrupted renunciation of all. Inasmuch as you did not
do so, you again began to groan under the pains arising
therefrom. Now the excavation of the trench by the ele
phant-driver refers to the generation of pains in you through
2 9 2 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
the growth of Ajnana. Again, the leaves and dry
grass spread upon the pit-fall, refer to your actions during
your very painful Tapas. Thus are you suffering from the
restraint of your Tapas like the powerful Bali with a fateful
sword, but imprisoned in the lower regions of Patdla. Why
do you grieve and not listen to the words of the delicate
Chudalai of infallible utterances ? Why have you rejected
the true renunciation of all ?
To this the King replied as follows : I have given up
my kingdom, my palace, my wealth, and even my dear wife.
Do not all these actions constitute a perfect renunciation ?
What more would you have me renounce ?
Kumbha-Muni replied : Though you have given up
your kingdom and the rest, that will not constitute the true
renunciation. You have yet desires in all objects. It is only
by entire rejection of them that you can hope to attain the
Brahmic bliss of the wise. Then the King said : If you
are pleased to say that the giving up of the many worldly
things does not amount to renunciation, and that I have yet
desires in me, then what I have left is this forest alone.
Therefore do I now renounce my longing for the forest full
of hills and trees. Hence I suppose I have made the true
renunciation. Kumbha-Muni then said : Even the aban
doning of this hilly and luxuriant forest does not effect the
true renunciation. You have yet the painful desires in
themselves. Only when they depart from you, can
you obtain and enjoy the Supreme happiness. To which
the king replied that, if this was not enough, he would lay
aside his cloth, Rudrdksha (garland), deer-skin, earthen ves
sels, and wooden-bowl. So saying, he consigned them all to
the fire, and rejoiced in his entirely new appearance. Then
turning to Kumbha-Muni of eternal Jnana with the comment
that he had now stripped himself of all desires, the king
said : * It is through your divine self alone that I have ac
quired right understanding, liberated myself from all pains,
and freed myself from contamination. Through my Sankalpa
I have given up all these things entirely. The innumerable
things of this world lead only to bondage which conduces to
re-birth. The enlightened mind receives a degree of bliss
commensurate with the loss of desire for object*, I have ob-
THE STORY OF s IKHIDWAJA. 293
tained bliss only through successive victories over my desires.
I am free from the bondage of delusion. I have now attained
through your grace the perfect renunciation, and am divested
of everything. What else remains to be done, O Muni ?
Kumbha-Muni replied : Alas ! you have not renounced
anything. All your delusive renunciations are in vain. On
this the King reflected and said : There is left with me only
this body composed of white bones and flesh, in which the
serpents of the five sense-organs hiss. I shall instantly dis
pose of it without care. You shall soon see. So saying,
he ascended to the summit of a high cliff, and was about
to cast himself down, when the supreme Kumbha-Muni
arrested him with these words : * What is this folly that
you are about to do ? How, O ignorant man, did this
body of yours hinder your progress ? How will death in
any way help you ? Though you should fall down and destroy
this body, like a bull that is angry with a tender calf, yet you
will not complete the true abnegation. But if you, O King,
will but give up that which is the cause of motion in this
body, and which yields the seed of all births and Karmas,
then true renunciation will be made. This is the unqualified
truth.
Then the King asked the Muni to give out the means by
which that which is the cause of the motion of the body
might be avoided. Thereupon the Muni of transcendent
qualities replied thus : The wise say that the mind (manas)
which, through its Sankalpa passes under the different
appellations of Jiva and Prana, is the cause of attachment to
delusive objects, and is distinct from the beneficent Nonjada
and Jada (inertness). At the same time it is said that this
Chitta (the flitting mind), forms the universe as well as the
bondage. It is this mind which is the germ of all Karmas
of existence and daily agitates this body of ours like a tree
when swayed by the wind. Therefore true renunciation,
O King, lies in the abnegation of the mind. It is this which
leads to Brahmic bliss. All other renunciations cause us
sufferings. If, after true renunciation you are illumined in
mind, with perfect quiescence, and without hatred, then will
the identification of yourself with the Self of Brahman take
place, and you will shine with resplendent glory, Then the
294 YGGA-VA SISHTA-
King asked the Muni : What is the cause of the mind ?
What is its true nature ? How can I destroy it ? To this
the Muni replied : The true nature of the mind consists
in the Vasanas. The two are synonymous. Know, O,
King, that the idea of " I," which is the nest contain
ing all frailties, is the seed of the tree of mind. The
sprout which at first germinates from this seed of Ahank&ra
(I-am-ness), originates without form and is ascertainable
only by internal experience. This sprout is termed Bud-
dhi. From this sprout the ramifying branches called.
Sankalpa take their origin. Through such a differentiation,
the great Manas (of Sankalpa) as also Chitta and Buddhi are
but the different names or qualities of the one Ahankara.
Therefore, daily should you lop off the branches of this dire
tree of Manas, and eventually destroy the tree at its root
completely. The branches of Vdsanas will naturally produce
innumerable crops of Karmas; but if, with the sword of Jnana,
you sever them from the heart s core, they will be des
troyed. They are the true vanquishers of the mind in the
heart, who perform without a murmur the Karmas which fall
to them ; controlling all thoughts and desires in regard to
such. The lopping of the branches is considered only as a
secondary thing, the first being the eradication of the tree at
its root. Therefore, if through virtuous actions you destroy
the idea of "I" at the root of the tree (mind), then it will not
again spring up. At these words of the Muni, the King asked
him as to where the fire which destroys the conception of
Ahankara, the seed of the tree, was to be found. To which
Kumbha-Muni replied : * It is Atma-Jnana which enquires
concerning the true nature of " I" ; that is the fire which
destroys the mind.
The King then said : * Through my intelligence I en
quired into the origin of " I" in divers ways. As this world
is non-intelligent, it is not " I," neither is this body of offal,
nor the organs, nor the contemplating Manas, nor Buddhi,
nor the injurious Ahankara creating egoism. Here Kumbha-
Muni interposed and asked him, if the " I" were not all these,
what else was it ?
To which the King thus replied : I am of the nature
of that stainless Absolute Consciousness which, having evol-
,
THE STORY OF s lKHIDWAJA. 295
ved everything, preserves and destroys it. I cannot find out
the cause of this " I," which is of the nature ofjnna. I
have not been able to divine the means which removes Ahan
kara the seed of the pains-giving mind My mind misgives
me when I find that Ahankara clings to me, howsoever much
I thrust it aside.
Kumbha-Muni said : * Oh King, no effects can ensue
without a cause. Search within to find out the cause of
Ahankara ever present before you, and tell me what occurs in
your mind.
The King replied : The cause of the stainful Ahank&ra
is Bodha (knowledge). How does Bodha get absorbed here
within me ? I droop only when Bodha arises in visible objects.
How then am I to avoid these visibles ?
Kumbha-Muni said : If you tell me the cause of know
ledge, I shall then throw light upon it.
The King said : Through the existence of such illusory
objects as the body, &c-, knowledge is induced ; but if they
cease to exist, then no knowledge can arise. Then the seed
of Manas, viz., Ahankaric ideation, will consequently be
absorbed.
Kumbha-Muni questioned him thus : * If the body, and
other objects of sense, do really exist, then knowledge exists;
but as the bodies, &c., do not really exist, what then is the
basis of knowledge?
The King, in reply, said : But tell me first, Acharya,
how this visible body, which palpably enjoys the effects of all
Karmas performed by the hands and other organs, can be
non-existent ?
Kumbha-Muni answered: As this body, arising through
Karmas, is not itself the Cause, therefore the effect of intelli
gence is itself non-existent. That intelligence is itself illu
sory. Hence Ahankara and other effects which ari:^e through
the excessive delusion (of knowledge), are also non-existent.
Hence also all objects which are not of the nature of the cause
are illusory, like the conception of a serpent in a rope.
Then the King asked: There were the many creations
of Brahman, who is the primeval one in the universe. How
then can you say that Brahman is not the cause of the Uni
verse ?
296 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
Kumbha-Muni replied : Prior to (every fresh) creation
Parabrahm alone shines as Sat, which is the non-dual and the
quiescent. As That alone is without a second, the Supreme
Brahman cannot be the Cause-
The King asked : Then is not Parabrahm the cause of
Brahma ?
And Kumbha-Muni replied : Parabrahm is that which
is emancipation itself, the imperishable, the immeasurable,
the immaculate, the birthless and deathless, without pain,
without distinctions, having no period, the beginningless and
endless, without existence, the non-dual and the ineffable
One beyond the reach of thought. How can Parabrahm
which is unthinkable be the Cause ? How can it be the actor
or enjoyer? Therefore this universe is not in the least created
by any one, nor is it self-created. The Supreme Sankalpa of
that Absolute Consciousness is Brahma. Nought else is but
the one true Jnana, All the created objects out of that
Jnana are said to be no other than the form of that Jnana.
All here are Brahman itself devoid of re-births. Therefore, it
is neither an actor nor enjoyer. Having thus convinced
yourself of the one Reality, if you destroy the Ajnna
(ignorance) within your heart, then it will cease to have any
resurrection. Through no other path than the destruction of
these excessive Karmas can the delusion, which has become
in us a certainty, vanish. If the Ajnana in us fades away
gradually, then the conception of the certainty attributed to
the universe will diminish and the Brahmic state will be
attained. Such a mind through the all-pervading Jnana, viz.,
the primeval god, Paramatma, into which it is absorbed, will
ever be evolving fresh creations (through its Sankalpa). That
which is named Brahman through A tmatatva is none other
than the quiescent (or passive) aspect of this universe.
Here the King said : * All that you have -taught me is
quite reasonable. As prior to creation there is no creator,
there is really no Universe. Hence there really does not
exist the (objective) vision of all things. Through your clear
elucidation I have well understood and have become of the
nature of my auspicious Self. Hence, I do not cognize all
external objects as really existent. I have worshipped my
(real) Self. Through the knowledge derived from the per-
THE CONCLUSION OF UPAS A NTHI PRAKARANA.. 217
after the desires of levitating in the Akasa, &c. All the hetero
geneities of worldly objects are nothing but Maya. Those
victors who have trampled Maya will never sink into it again.
If Jnanis will long after them, then no doubt Siddhis will
arise through the abovementioned means. Medicines, Man
tras, &c., will but confer, on one, Siddhis but never the
beneficent Moksha. If a desire wells up in one for attaining
a Siddhi, then with proper efforts it will be developed in him ;
but desires of Siddhis which do but tend to bondage, will not
arise in the hearts of Jnanis. With the extinction of all de
sires, Atma-Jnana without any disconcertation will dawn in
one ; but those who are sunk in Siddhis which generate de
sires will not attain Atma
Here Rama interposed and questioned Vasishta thus
What is the cause of the Yogis living for such a long period
as aKalpa ?
Vasishta replied thus With the motion of Prana, they
will move ; otherwise they will be immovable as a rock.
Those Yogis who are able to control Prana will live a long
period. If the motion of Prdna and (therefore) the mind be
arrested both internally and externally, then will death and
dotage fly to a great distance. Then will abide in the body
Dhatus (spiritual substances) such as will never be expelled
at any time. Those only can be said to have truly cognized
the Reality who, walking in the path of Atma-Jnana, era
dicate their desires, render thereby their intelligence clear
and tear asunder all the bonds of the mind.
Here Rama queried him thus If with the dawning of
discrimination, the mind is absorbed in its Reality, where
will the four qualities*, Maitri (benevolence), &c., have their
stay ?
Vasishta replied The destruction of the mind is two
fold through the mind being composite in character, Rupa
(with form) and Arupa (formless). The destruction of the
Rupa mind is wrought in Jivanmukti stage while that of
the other takes place in Videhamukti stage. With the exis
tence of the (Rupa) mind, pains are generated ; with its
annihilation, bliss will increase. You should so destroy the
* The four qualities are benevolence, contentment., compassion and
indifference to vice.
2i8 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
mind that it will not afterwards be able to rear up its head
at all. Identifying itself with the burden of the attributes of
matter, it is not able to cognize its Reality and hence groans
with pains. This mind is Jiva. This mind ever hankering
after and involved in pleasures and pains is the seed of all
Maya. Thus much for the nature of the mind. We will
then proceed to descant about the destruction of the mind,
Please attend to it. The wise say that the fruitless mind can
be said to be destroyed, only when a person looking with an
equal vision over all is not in the least affected by pleasures
or pains, like the Meru mountains in the midst of a breath of
\vind. Whoever is unconcerned even in the midst of enor
mous wealth or terrible accidents or extreme poverty or
death or illusions or extreme intelligence, such men can be
said to have their minds destroyed. The removal of the
Avidya which is the mind itself tends to its destruction and
produces ripe (spiritual) intelligence. Such a mind which
does not subject itself to the obnoxious re-births through the
pure Vasanas associated with the four qualities, benevolence,
&c., pertain to the Jivanmuktas. Thus is the Rupa (form)
destroyed in the quiescent mind. It is in this mind that the
four qualities abovementioned will bloom like a full-blown
lotus in spring.
Now to the Arupa mind. The destruction of this mind is
wrought by Videhamuktas. Kaivalya in a disembodied state
can be attained, only when Satwa which originates the four
abovementioned qualities perishes also. There is no other
road to the destruction of this Arupa mind than through
doing away with Satwa. Brahmic Seat is that which has
and which has not Gunas and non-Gunas, wealth and non-
wealth, dawning and setting, contentment and its reverse, light
and darkness as well as day and night and the three Sandhyas
(junction-periods) and which therefore occupies the neutral
centre between the pairs. It alone is the asylum of all who
have conquered all the paraphernalia of, and inclination to
wards, Samsara like Akasa, the receptacle of Vayu, &c., which
takes in odor. Those great and transcendental personages
who, having the Akasa as their body, live in Brahmic bliss
without pains or Tamas or Rajas are truly saints who have
annihilated their minds.
THE CONCLUSION OF UPAS A NTIII PRAKARANA. 2IQ
Here Rama interrupted him thus What is the seed of this
Maya ever increasing 1 like a vine ? What is its seed ? What
the seed of this seed ? And what is the seed of the last one ?
Please throw light upon ail these four seeds. Vasishta
answered This body is the seed from which generates the
sprout of pleasures and pains, giving rise to the ever-gyrat
ing creeper of Samsara. The cause of this seed of body is
the mind which, following" the track of desires, is the recep
tacle of the jewel of pains arising from births and deaths. It
is through the mind that the hosts of bodies which do not
exist, through seeming to exist, arise beyond number. It
enjoys these bodily objects as in dream.
To this tree of the painful mind which is encircled by the
creepers of worldly actions, there are two seeds. Of them
one is the motion of Prfina and the other is Vasanas. Know,
oh king- who is an ornament to the Solar race, that these are
the four seeds. The one all-pervading 1 Jnana becomes the
visible Jnana through the motion of Prana. If this Prana is
checked from expanding in all directions, then it will tend to
one s (progress or) welfare. The intelligence becomes tacked
to the visibles through desires. These visibles are a source
of perpetual harassings to it. If this solitary intelligence be
in the Sushupti state without ever returning- from it (to the
lower states), then it alone is Nirvana ; it alone is Atma ; it
alone is the immaculate Seat. There is none else besides it.
Therefore all re-births will cease, if the longing for sensual
objects arising through Prana s fluctuation and Vasanas be
gradually minimised. The excessive heterogeneity of thoughts
constitutes the mind. With such a mind alone, all persons
live in this world. It is only to control this heterogeneous
mind, that intelligent Yogis perform Pranayama through
the control of Prana, Dhyana (contemplation), medicines or
skill. The wise say that the beneficent control of Prana
leads to that of the mind and causes, in one, equality of
vision over all. It generates happiness and will not in the
least allow sensual objects to arise in the mind.
Now to the second seed of the mind which illuminates all
objects and being coupled with Vasanas enjoys externally the
objects. Vasanas are the ignorance which enslaves us in
sensual objects, after giving" up true discrimination of the-
120 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
past and hereafter, arising- through firm determination. The
Atma (or ego) subjecting itself to the clutches of Vasanas
which make it to be transformed into the object it sees to the
exclusion of others, fancies that object to be real and is de
luded in the same. Through the phrenzy created by the
extreme velocity (or vibrations) of the Vasanas, it sees all
things in the same illusory light. To define this mind clearly ;
it can be stated to be the stainful visibles ; or the identification
of I" with that which is not "I", or that which thinks that
to be real which is not so. Through this mind birth, death
and dotage are caused. As the fluctuating mind arises
through its gradual association with objects, births and
deaths also arise. It is only when the mind quits all with
out any attraction or repulsion towards objects, that it will
cease to exist. If thoughts are destroyed through the extinc
tion of Vasanas, then quiescence will result and the mind s
destruction will ensue. If there is no thought of any worldly
objects or of any place, how can the mind exist (separate) in
the void Akasa ? Therefore, Oh bountiful Rama, I think that
form exists in the mind, so long as the Vasanas are coupled
with it. Moreover the conception of the heterogeneous objects
in the heart through a conception of their reality and the enjoy
ment of pleasures therein can be said to be of the form of the
mind. How can the mind survive in those wise who, being
more immaculate than Akasa itself, think that all the visibles
do not form the subject of Karmas to be indulged in ?
It is said that the cognition by one of the Reality after
true discrimination that he is not in this world and that the
universe is not, constitutes mind s destruction. The wise say
that the mind denudes itself of its form, even though enga
ged in actions, if it after dissolving all things unto itself be
comes as cool as ambrosia. Those Jivanmuktas who have
disentangled themselves from the meshes of Vasanas will but
live in this world to wear out their Prarabdha, like a potter s
wheel continuing to roll on of itself through the impetus given
by the potter. It is these who are in possession of the pure
Vasanas without any re-birth or pains. It is these who have
a mind cognizing the Reality and yet are without (the lower)
mind ; who have reached the most consecrated of spots,
Jnfma, It is these Jivanmuktas that, giving up the body, attain
THE CONCLUSION OF UP AS A NTH I PRAKARANA. 221
the Chidakas and are termed the lofty ones. These are the two-
seeds of mind a? stated before. They are fluctuation of Prana
and Vasanas. Of these, if either of them dies, both perish.
Through Vasanas, Prana s motion is caused ; through Prana s
motion, Vasanas are caused. So that we may say that these
are the seeds and the sprouts to the ripe dried fruit of the
mind. Again these two have their root in the visibles of the
universe.
Therefore if the visibles are destroyed, then Prana s fluc
tuation and Visanas will be eradicated to their root like a
tree. It is the mental actions that are the seed of the visi
bles. If the intelligence does not play its part (in the visi
bles), then the visibles will cease to exist. For will gingelly oil
exist in the absence of the sesamum seed ? There exists not
the difference of the visibles, externally or internally. The
dawning Jnana will produce a kind of creation. Through
Sankalpa, this Jnana will see in itself the visibles. Just as
in a dream, though one forgets himself yet he sees all things
in it through some inherent power in himself, so the visibles
are known through Vritti-Jnana. Those who through their
present pure efforts of discrimination have destroyed this re
flected intelligence, whether they have previously analysed it
or not, will also have destroyed their dire Samsara. It is the
non-destruction of the reflected visibles that lands us in the
great Samsdra ; but with their destruction, the supreme end
is attained. So say the great ones. Do not the visibles en
tail on us immeasurable pains ? Oh Rdma, the absence of
the visibles and the non-cognition of objects do generate
Nirvanic bliss. May you give up all oscillations of the mind,
in blissful ignorance of all objects and yet not in an inert state
and abandoning all worldly enjoyments. Thou alone art the
Paramatma, the Jnana in which states the visibles are not
seen. This is undoubtedly true. So said Vasishta.
Here Rama asked the Muni How can non-intelligence
arise where there are not the visibles ? How can the visibles
vanish from where there is no Jnana ?
Vasishta replied Atma, the all-pervading one without
any attraction, which has neither the power of knowing nor
non-knowing any inert object is without the visibles or intelli
gence. If it should sttain that Jndna not linked to the
222 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
visibles, it will be without visibles or Vritti-Jnana, though
performing all actions. As the heart Akasa (in which Atma is)
will not in the least come in contact with (or be affected by)
the visibles, he alone is a Jnani. He alone is not inert and
without perception of material objects. He alone is a
Jivanmukta. Such a person through his voluntary destruc
tion of all Vasanas is like a child or a mute in intelligence.
In that state, all visibles being abandoned, he attains full
Atma-Jnana without any Vritti-Jnana. Then will his Jnana
not at all recur to any objects ; and freed from all pains
through Nirvikalpa Samadhi, he will be filled with full bliss,
like the blue color permeating all throughout the Akasa. A
Jnani therefore will always cling fast to such a Samadhi
without in the least longing after the visibles and will always
be revelling in the bliss of his own Atma. Whether standing
or walking or talking or touching, he will be disassocia
ted from them, not having any attraction for them. Though
without the visibles or the bliss in and the knowledge of them,
he will be the great bliss itself. Grasping firmly this kind of
vision (or conduct), may you become the ocean of Jndna
itself, after mounting up from the sea of pains though enga
ged in the base worldly actions.
To this Jnana (or intelligence), the noble Satta-Matra
is the Seed. Out of this primeval Satta, Jnana rises as
a light from flame. This Satta has two aspects. One is
heterogeneity and the other is homogeneity. Now we shall
explain them both. Pots, pictures and other objects, al
though they appear diverse and many, are yet one, in that they
are only the differentiations of the one Sat (substance, vis.,
Earth). The seat of Sat* is that wherein it is Satta alone,
non-dual without any attributes. Besides, thou shalt have
to free thyself from the three Sattas of Kala (time), Kala
(space) and Vastu (substance) and merge thyself in the non-
dual Satta-MAtra. Though from one standpoint, the three
Sattas abovementioned, when they are divested of their
actions (or characteristics), are really the non-dual Satta, yet
* Sat is existence and hence is applied to the many objects which
change. Satta is Be-ness and hence is here applied to the one principle
from which many objects arise. Satta Matra is the eternal Absolute
Principle.
THE CONCLUSION OF UPAS AXTHI PRAKAKANA. 223
they are not in their manifestation Satta, the non-dual one,
As these three Sattas are the causes of all creating" diversified
actions in this world, how can they be called the immaculate
Satta (which cannot be a cause) ? Having contemplated alone
upon this non-dual Satta which is common to all, may you
pervade all quarters with Self-bliss. That which is the end
of the Satta (Satta-Samanya) common to all, that seat is the
seed of this pure Satta. From the end of this Satta-Saman-
}-a, Chit and others of this universe arise. It is at this
terminal point that all Sankalpas of thoughts have to be
relinquished and the enjoyment of bliss takes place thereby.
It is this that is the seed primal. But there is no seed to the
Jnana bliss state (after that). Those whose Jnana is absor
bed lastingly in this bliss without any varieties, will never
after drown themselves in pains. This is the cause of all ;
but it is a causeless cause. It is the essence of all ; but there
is no essence to it. In that great glass, all objects differen
tiated by this or that, will appear reflected as images, like
trees on the bank of a river appearing in its waters. It
alone is the stainless. It alone is the ageless. It alone is
Atmic Reality. With the attainment of that state, the mind
will become quiescent. May you, after cognizing it firmly,
become that Atma. May you attain that Nirvanic Seat.
Here Rama casting his eyes on Vasishta said Thou
hast been pleased to vouchsafe an explanation about the
nature of these seeds. Through what efforts can one soon
attain this Jnana bliss Seat ? Yasishta replied Through
properly directed efforts in the direction of those serial seeds
(or causes) of pains that I gave out before, the Nirvanic Seat
can be expeditiously acquired. In order to attain that Seat
which is above all the other Seats, and at the other end of the
Satta common to all, you will have to kill out through your
human endeavours, all the hosts of Vdsanas without any the
least hindrance to your progress and cognize your Tatwa-
Jnana ; and then at the very moment when you are merged
in the imperishable State of your Reality, you will have
attained that Tatwa-State. Should the Satta-Samanya above
described be first reached by you, then with slightly increased
efforts, you will attain this state. Therefore direct your
meditation towards the acquisition of this Satta-Samanya
224 TOGA-VASiSHrA.
state and then the other will result as a matter of course with
some more efforts. I have already, oh Rama, informed you
of one s inability to reach that state, so long 1 as one confines
himself to the contemplation of the visibles. At no time or
place, will the cognition of the Real take place through the
intelligent perception of objects (alone). If, through proper
efforts, you destroy the idea of dual Vasanas, then the fell
mental disease and other pains will vanish. Even with all
the full efforts, one will find it difficult to destroy Vasanas.
One will cope with more difficulty in eradicating- Maha-
meru to its root than the ever-growing Vasanas. So long
as the mind is not destroyed, so long the Vasanas are
not destroyed. Vice versa, so long as the Vdsanas are not
destroyed, so long is the mind not destroyed. (They are both
in the position of a seed and the sprout). So long as the
Tatwa-Jn&na is not attained, so long will the mind not be
destroyed. Conversely so long as the mind is not destroyed, so
long will Tatwa-JnAna not be reached. Again so long as the
base Vasanas are not destroyed, so long will Jnana not be
attained ; so long as Jnana is not attained, so long the Vasa
nas will not be destroyed. Therefore all these three the dawn
of Tatwa-Jnana, the annihilation of the mind and the extinction
of the Vasanas are mutually interdependent and depend upon
no other cause than themselves for their mastery. But if
through the firm human efforts of a Yogi of discrimination
walking in this path, the illusions of enjoyments arising from
the five senses be kept at bay, all the above three will be
developed. So long as the three are not developed pari-pasu
with great efforts, the Reality will not be reached, even after
the lapse of myriads of years. With the association of these
three equally for a long time, good results will accrue ; but
if they should be developed separately one by one, no firm
ness in any one.of them will take place and hence no results.
In the former case, the three will destroy the bondage of the
mind.
Like the straight thin filament of a lotus stalk which does
not part asunder, even though the stalk is broken, all the
Vasanas which have been clinging to us from a long time are
not and will not be destroyed except through a long continu
ed practice of Dbyana (meditation) The wise say that the
THE CONCLUSION OF t.TAS A XTHI PRAKARANA. 225
control of PrAna is tantamount to (or leads to) abdication of
the external Vasanas. Therefore, firm endeavours should be
made in that direction also. With the giving up of Vasanas, the
mind does not exist ; the same result accrues with the control
of Prana. Hence follow that course which commends itself to
your reason. Through a long practice of Prana s control and
through the initiations by a Guru, Asana (posture), diet and
Dhy;\na (meditation), Prana is controlled. But the Vdsanas
will be extinguished through the performance of actions with
out any attraction or desire), the non-contemplation of
Samsara (or the absence of love for this mundane life) and
the seeing of all things of form as formless. If there is an
end to the life of our antagonist, the Vasanas, the mind
too will not arise. Should the winds cease to blow, will
particles of dust be seen floating in the atmosphere? The
fluctuation of Prana is that of the painful mind. Therefore
the control of Prana should be the natural and unfailing duty
of all spiritually-minded persons of wisdom.
Without resorting to proper means, the min-d can never
be controlled. Can a ferocious rutting elephant be mastered
otherwise than through sharp-pointed goad ? The four
means for controlling the mind are (i) the cognition of the one
Jnana, (2, the association with the wise, (3) the renunciation
of the painfal Vasanas, (4) and the control of the fluctuation
of Prana. The subjection of the mind through the above
four means may be compared to the subsidence of the dust
on earth through the showers rained down on it by the clouds.
Persons who resort to other means than these to control the
rnind, are like those who, having turned their face from the
light, try to dispel darkness through darkness itself. Those
who try to control mind through dint of sheer force other
than through the abovementioned means, will resemble men
who endeavour to bind a rutting elephant with the filament
of a lotus stalk. The mind of the ignorant will ever be
timid with pains and looking small with them, will never
believe in anything, like a shy stag when brought amidst a
concourse of people in town. The vain waste their time,
like brutes, long in the fruitless illusions of Tapas, Yajna,
holy waters, the visiting of sacred shrines, the worship
of gods, gifts and others. But you should abandon all
29
226 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
these as tending to re-birth ; and clinging tast to the one
immaculate Brahma Jnana, destroy all desires. Oh Rama,
after perceiving the one Jnana Seat without the Sankalpa of
thoughts and free from the perceived visibles, may you rest
in your heart without the bondage-giving thoughts. Though
engaged in actions, may you always shine in the Brahmic
Seat of non-actor, wherein is the wealth which is the common
property of all mankind.
Those stainless persons who are able to destroy their
mind through enquiry can be stated to have truly realized
the fruits of re-birth. Though slight, this mind will rear up its
thousand-headed hood and think in diverse ways through
unceasing contemplation and enquiry. But the blooming tree
of right enquiry will root itself so firmly in this pedestal of
earth that no whirlwind of flitting thoughts will ever be able
to shake it from its stable position. It is averred by the great
ones that those who perform, like the brutes, the offices of
walking andjstanding, eating and sleeping and such like
without devoting their minds to any (spiritual) enquiry are
mere carcases. Through the indestructible Jnana vision, you
should either through yourself or the aid of the exalted Ones
be ceaselessly engaged in the pursuit of this gentle enquiry
of, who am " I" ? and " what is this universe ?" It is this
true enquiry alone that generates Jnana in the path of Adhy-
atma science which concerns itself with the discovery of truth
without any doubt. Through right enquiry, the object of en
quiry can be found like the essence in milk. One who has equa
lity of vision though the enjoyment of the final beatitude will
wear it as his foremost ornament ; will never degrade himself
from that state; will be able to digest all things taken in
like sugar candy by a swan whether such things are polluted
or mixed with poison or are injurious to health or adulterated.
Whether they swallow virulent poison or counter-poison or
milk or sugarcane juice or food, they will preserve a per
fect equanimity of mind. Whether one points his dagger
deep in their head or preserves it, they will regard them nei
ther as foes or friends. Since persons of equal vision will look
upon all equally, their heart will be filled with bliss. The wise
will always arrest their mind through their intelligence from
entering the visible filled with the illusion of the inert senses.
THE CONCLUSION OF UPAS A NTHI PRAKARANA. 227
The ignorant who have not known their own self which is of
the nature of Jndna without the least despondency of heart,
will be preyed upon by their senses, like the grass nibbled by
a company of deer.
Through Sanga (association or attraction of the mind),
material objects are caused ; through it, all accidents are
generated ; through it all desires arise ; through it, this mun
dane existence arises. Therefore it is the renunciation of this
Sanga that is said to be Moksha. Through its destruction, all
re-births do cease. Having destroyed the association of the
mind with objects, may you, Oh Rarna, attain the Jivanmukti
state.
Here Rama questioned Vasishta thus Oh Muni, who
resembles the hot winds meeting the snow of doubts, what
do you mean by Sanga?
To which the Muni replied Sanga is the impure Vasanas
of love or hatred entertained (by the mind) in the existence
or non-existence of the diverse objects of the world. In fact,
Sanga is the impure Vasanas themselves. To the Sariri
(ego) of a Jivanmukta, the pure Vasanas which annihilate all
pleasures and pains without any re-births will cling firmly.
But in the case of Ajnanis who are not Jivanmuktas, the
impure Vasanas imply Sanga. If you remain unaffected by
joys, envy or sorrows, you can be said to have relinquished
all Sanga without desires, fear ,or anger. If without re
joicing in joy and pining under pains, you do not subject
yourself to the trammels of desires, then you alone can be
said to have rid yourself of Sanga. Being indifferent to
pleasures or pains, if you are content with whatever you get,
then you can be said to have cast off all Sanga. With an
equal vision over all and a Satwaguna in your heart, if you
be performing all actions with a renunciation of all the visibles
here, then you will attain Brahmic bliss, Oh Reghunatha
(Rama).
3ft.
NIRVANA PRAKARANA.
THE STORY OF BHUSUNDA.
Summary Having traced in the previous Prakarana all
from Samsara up to Turyatheetha at the end of Satta-
Samanya and having also given out the quiescence of the
mind and thereby the whole universe, the author states the
means of directly cognising that Turyatheetha state in this,
the Nirvana Prakarana. Therefore, in this story of Bhusunda,
the Yogic mysteries are given out to attain that end.
Yasishta again continued As the quarters and the time
do not exist, the immutable and non-dual Brahman alone
shines as Absolute Consciousness without any environment
and without any fluctuation, destruction, beginning or end ;
but none else exists. With this thought in your mind, you
should not identify yourself with objects ; and having become
a Jivanmukta, may you reach the non-dual quiescent silence
and enjoy the final beatitude. So long as the idea of Ajnana
exists, so long will the Brahmic state not be attained. So
long as there is the sense of the illusory enjoyment in this
legerdemain of the world, so long will the false creations of
the mind, &C M not wear off. In fact neither Chitta nor Maya
nor Manas nor Jiva exists ; but the effulgent Brahman alone
is, like one vast ocean ebbing and falling. So long as this
** 1" which identifies itself with this body of nine avenues has
the conception of reality in the visibles of this universe, so
long will the illusions of Chitta, &c., exist. So long as there
are desires in objects with the idea, "They are mine,
&c.", so long will the illusions of Chitta, &c., exist. If, oh
cloud-colored Rama, through the stainless internal, "That",
the light straw of the three universes be sacrified in the fire
of Jnana, then the illusions of Chitta and others will neve r
approach him. Those who, contemplating upon the all-per
vading Self which is the one partless Jnana without this or
that limit and without Sankalpas, regard without any dupli-
THE STORY OF BHUS UNDA. 229
city of mind as friends even those who are hired as as
sassins to kill them those only can be said to have truly
worshipped their immaculate Atma. Like a cataract which
washes away the trees on its banks, those who have des
troyed material desires and the injurious ill-will of the
mind would have purged themselves of all stains with true
glory of heart. Those who have contemplated internally
upon the true meaning of Tatwa-Jnana Sastras and discrimi
nating thereby have put an end to all desires, are like a sun
that dispels darkness. Those who have known the (real)
express meaning (of the Vedas) fit to be known, will find it to
be clearly impinged in their mind like water in a burnt ground.
Those who through incessant practice have not cognized the
Brahmic Principle those who have not seen directly the eye
of Jndna will ever whirl with their mental modifications
like a withered leaf. Even though this Jn&na is imperishable,
all persons do not try to know it and are ever of a drooping
heart. And all the egoisms and threats of the ignorant ring
for their destruction in our ears, like arrows hissing in the
battle fields from the bows. These worthless persons will
but loiter their time and not cognize the imperishable Jnana.
To the ignorant, the express significance (of the Vedas)
is like a thing sunk in mire. It is like the howling of a dog
with its eye cast up in the heavens. Ajnana is the cause of
all dangers ; but no dangers will befal a knower of truth.
This Maya is the necessary attendant upon the ignorant.
This universe is in the mind of a Jnani, only like the foot
prints of a cow ; but to the Ajnanis, it is an immutable ocean
of pains.
Nought is but the one Sachidananda Reality which is
illimitable, unperceivable by the senses, quiescent, the all
and above thought. Out of this Sachidananda which is the
witness of all, an intelligence arose and being subject to change
created the. three states subtle, middling, and gross through
the three Gunas Satwa, Rajas and Tamas. These three kinds
of Avidya do generate re-births to all Jivas. It is the destruc
tion of this Avidya that is the Brahmic seat. But the Gunas
of this Avidya are the forms themselves. All these three can
be made nine through the triune divisions of each. Under
the heading of Satwa in the originial Avidya are classed
230 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
Rishis, Munis, Siddhas, Nagas, Vidyddharas, Devas and the
virtuous Jivas. Vidyadharas and Nagas come under the
Tamasic aspect of the abovementioned Satvva. Munis and
Siddhas under the Rajasic aspect of the same ; the Devas,
Jivas and others under the Satwic aspect of Satwa. Out
of this Avidya, is Vidya. This Vidya is no other than the
pure Satwa of Avidya. Again, it is stated, that Rajas and
Tamas have each their three divisions. The excessive Tama
sic intelligence has the Ajnana body of trees, &c.
Here on being questioned by Rama as to how intelligence
came to be embodied in trees and other bodies and so subject
to the trammels of excessive Ajndna, Yasishta replied The
Intelligence will be (first) in that fierce state when it is with
out Manana (meditation) or non-meditation and when it
occupies the intermediate state between Sat and Asat. Then
Jnana will be with the Puriashtaka body dormant in the tree
and will be inert like an idiot or the blind without pains
through Satta Mdttra.
Again Rama, with an eager desire to know, questioned
the Muni lovingly "Why not consider the state of the fixed
objects in the universe as Moksha itself, inasmuch as the
Intelligence in that state is in harmony with Satta (Be-nessV?
Vasishta replied " The attainment of the seat of Satta
common to all mankind after a discriminative enquiry
between the real and the unreal constitutes the supreme
Moksha. If after having clearly and completely experienced
and renounced all Vasanas of objects, one reaches the Satta
Samanya state, then it is Moksha. Like the sprout in the
seed, the Vdsanas rest dull in the heart within. This is Sush-
upti and this is it which generates all re-births. It is only be
cause all the Vasanas are latent in the heart, after the hetero
geneous worldly thoughts (of the waking state) are extinct,
that the dire Sams^ric pains arise. Trees and others are inert
only. Though going into Sushupti, they are again and again
born. Like flowers latent in seeds and pots in earth, the un
ceasing Vasanas will be potential in the tree. Therefore this
Sushupti which is the seed of the all-expansive Vasanas can
not be called Moksha ; but the pure Vasanas which are not
the seed of that state are themselves Turya and hence it is
Moksha. It is not necessary to have much to do with our
THE STORY OF BHUS lJNDA. 231
enemy of impure Vasanas, fire, debts, disease, poison, enemy,
anger or love ; but a slight association with any of them is
enough to afflict us all our life.
Persons who have burnt up Ajmtna, the seed of impure
Vasanas and have reached the Satta-Samanya state will
never suffer from pains, whether embodied or disembodied.
The Chit-Sakti is of the nature of Vasanas and their seed
Ajnana, Sleep alone is (to us) the characteristic of the Chit-
Sakti. Persons, well-versed in all departments of knowledge,
state that non-cognition of this eternal Jnana is Avidya.
Having burnt up completely Rajas and Tamas through the
primeval Satwa and Avidya, may you become the non-dual one
without any misgiving. The certitude of conviction that the
Supreme Brahman is not the universe is itself Avidya ; hence
the certitude that Brahman alone is this universe is emanci
pation, devoid of Avidya. May you be blessed with that
certitude of conviction which is to be found in the pure minds
of &va and other Devas as well as of Narada and other
Rishis.
At this portion of the narrative, Rama asked thus
" Please describe to me the painless state of Sankara (&iva)
and others." To which the Muni replied * All the mani
fold things of the cosmos, whether great or small are the
stainless Brahman only ; Jnana is Brahman only ; the world
is Brahman only ; the five elements are Brahman only ; we
are Brahman ; our enemies are Brahman ; our friends, kins
men are Brahman only. Such is the doctrine of Sankara and
others. Just as this universe appears dark to the purblind,
and shining to those having eyes to see, so it appears blissful
to Jnanis and painful to the Ajnanis. Who ever contemplates
upon all as the partless Brahman, he alone is Brahman ;
he alone is the drinker of ambrosia. He will never fail to
attain immortality.
The Self-Light alone is immaculate. To all, their con-
ciousness is everywhere. That the quiescent Jnana is Brah
man, will then become an object of direct perception. When
a person sees an utter stranger without in the least noticing
him in his mind, the knowledge which exists then might be
stated to be the all-pervading Jnana of Brahman which is no
other than " we." Let us eulogise that non-dual Jnana-Atma
232 YOGA-VA SISTTTA.
which yields us the fruits of all Sankalpas, which is the light
of lights and which is devoid of all Gunas. Let us offer our
salutations to that Jnana-Atma which is devoid of all San
kalpas, pleasures or beginnings. Those who have this cer
tainty of conviction with nothing of thoughts and who act
according to truth only, will enjoy their final beatitude
in the Brahmic seat, replete with Satya (Truth), quies
cence and equality. Those sturdy persons who, being filled
with the Plenum of Jna"na, have their minds of equal vision
over all and free from desires will never droop with the
thirst of anything, whether living or dying."
RAma at this stage interrupted the Muni thus " Please
explain, in exfenso, the two paths of true Jnana-sport and
control of Pra"na through which Jivanmuktas are able to
give up all Vasanas and pains"
To which the Vedic Muni replied "There are two means
of Yoga to avert the dire melting pains of existence. The two
means, vt s., true Jnana and control of Pr&na should, right
ly speaking, be classed under Yoga ; yet in ordinary usage,
the control of Prana alone is called Yoga. Both these paths
have been given out by Paramesvara. To the temperament
of some, Yoga is most desirable ; to the temperament of others,
Jnana is most desirable. Of these two, I have already expa
tiated upon the true Jnana. Now I shall deal with Yoga.
To illustrate it, I shall recite to you a nectar-like sweet story.
Once upon a time, I was in the august synod of Devendra
along with Deva Rishis and others. Thfire I heard, from the
lips of NArada and other Munis, the stories of Siranjivis
(the long-lived). Please lend your ears to one of them. A big
nest like a mountain was built on the southern branch of a
Kalpa tree which reared its head aloft on the north-eastern
side of the summit of Mahameru dazzling like a diamond. In
that nest, lived a crow named Bhusunda, a Yogi. Who could,
either before or after this Yogi, vie with him in all the worlds
Svvarga world even in the length of time a Yogi can sit in
Yoga ? This Bhusunda was the longest lived and desireless ;
had the wealth of Moksha, the greatest intelligence, extreme
quiescence and the faculty of a seer to cognize clearly all the
three periods of time.
THE STORY OF BHUS UNDA. 233
When all in the celestial assembly had heard this story of
Bhusunda, as related by Satatapa Muni, I was filled with an
intense desire to go and witness him in person. Accordingly,
I went and observed, like a Kalpa tree, Bhusunda in a fragrant
Kalpa tree on the tops of Meru. In its slopes and caves and
on plants filled with flowers as well as on the branches of
trees were seated large birds. The young ones of the moon-
coloured swans, the vehicle of Brahma chaunted Smaveda
and other Mantras with the sound Swdha. I saw there Kokilas,
parrots and other birds as well as many peacocks which
develop Siva Jnana* taught by Subbrahmanya. Then the
moment I appeared before Bhusunda, amidst a crowd of
crows who was Atlantean in form, of tall stature, of full mind,
observing silence, without the fluctuation of Prana and enjoy
ing bliss in his own self, he came to meet me half way and
being frantic with joy at recognizing me to be Vasishta, poured
forth kind words. Then welcoming me with the flowers in
>his large hands generated through his Sankalpa, he pointed
me to a seat hard by. After I was seated, he kindly treated
me with Arghya, &c.f, and gave vent to the following dulcet
words "I and my suite are exhilarated in heart at the
nectar-like shower of thy visit. Thow hast afflicted thy body
with thy long travel. Through the visit of thy reverend feet,
I have known all. All the great ones thought 4 of the longest-
lived and hence of me too. Thou hast come here on that
errand only. I wish to drink the nectar of thy words."
Thereupon I addressed him thus -"King of birds, true
it is as thou hast stated. I came here to visit thy gracious
self who has been deathless here from a very long time. To
what race dost thou trace thy lineage? How didst thou attain
Tatwa-Jnana? What is the duration of thy present life?
What hast thou learned of nature s laws ? Through whose
unlimited wisdom hast thou been here ? Please answer
them all in such a manner, so that I may understand them
little by little.
The virtuous Bhusunda said u In the beautiful presence
of the supreme Siva, are myriads of Ganas (hosts) who are
* Siva Jn&na is the knowledge of Siva taug-ht here by one of his
sons, Subbrahmanya.
f Arghya, &c. Water for ablution, &c.
30
234 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
elephant-faced, sheep-faced, camel-faced, bear-faced, &c. Some
of them have hoofs in their heads or hands ; some of them
have their faces in their abdomen. Similarly many are the
vagaries of nature that could be witnessed therein. These
Bhuta-Ganas (or elementals) will encircle Siva in Kailasa
hills while the Saktis* will dance before him, having their
abode on the tops of mountains, Akasa, earth, forests,
crematoriums and bodies. These Saktis are, according to
their different degrees, named Jaya, Vijaya, Jayanti, Apa-
rajita, Siddha, Rakta, Alambusha and Utpala. Of these,
Alambusha has a Vahan (vehicle) by the name of Chanda, a
crow. Once upon a time according to the mandates of Siva
their chief, all the Saktis who had developed the wealth of
the major 8 Siddhis, congregated together and celebrated a
grand festival in the Akasa in which they danced and carolled,
laughed and reeled under excessive intoxication. Meanwhile
in another part of the sky in the same tipsy state was Chanda
disporting himself with the female Swans the vehicles of the
other Saktis who joining with the above said beautiful
crow, became pregnant thereby. While the swans were thus
jubilant, all the Saktis of Parameswara put an end to their
dance and song and retired to their respective places. Then
these pregnant swans of the Saktis narrated truly the fact
of, and the incidents connected with their conception to their
respective heads who were without Sankalpa.
Thereupon the oaktis gave vent to the following words
u Thou art enceinte through sheer destiny. Thou wilt no
longer be able to drag our Ratha (car or body). Therefore
live according to thy free will and pleasure." With these
words, the Devis went into Nirvikalpa Samadhi.
The swans were far advanced in months, when they, at
the allotted time, laid eggs on the shores of the Manasaf
tank. These eggs being hatched, there issued out 21 young
ones, the progeny of Chanda. I and twenty others along
with our parents were engaged for a long time in the worship
of Brahma-^akti (viz. , Alambusha). She arose from her
* These S aktis or potencies are said to be the feminine or passive
powers of the universe.
f That this is allegorical is clear from the Manasa tank or the
seat of Manas, wherein the egg was laid to generate the universe,
THE STORY OF BHUS UNDA, 235
Samadhi and graced us, through her love, with Moksha.
Extreme quiescence reigned in our heart thereafter. In order
to pitch upon a place where we can live alone and without
association, we reached our parents by the side of Alambusha
and having saluted them both, we reached Moksha through
the grace of that Sakti. On enquiring for a seat where
Nirvanic bliss can be enjoyed, we were pointed out to this
Kalpa tree. Having poured forth thanks, we came to abide
here without any pains. All the Karmas I have been perform
ing from that date have now concreted themselves in thy shape
and have fructified to-day. Whoever will not be blessed
with the nectar of Brahmic bliss through the moonlight of
the association of the Jnanis ? Will the certitude of the bene
ficial nature of a thing arise otherwise than through the grace
of the wise ? Even though I am a knower of Brahman, still
as I have rid myself soon of all existences through thy visit,
this birth of mine is fraught with the most wonderful of re
sults. Therefore thou art Eswara himself." So saying he
increased his respects towards me.
Then I enquired of him as to how he separated himself
from his brothers. To which Bhusunda replied " In this
spot, we lived for many Yugas, nay for many Kalpas. At
last my brothers disregarding this body as a mere trifle, gave
it up for Moksha. Though blessed with longevity, glory and
power, they perished (or disappeared) through their own
Sankalpa."
I asked him thus "How came you to survive the terrible
Pralaya when fierce gales play their havoc and the twelve
Adityas (suns) burn up the whole universe ?"
Bhusunda answered Do you think nature s action will
ever cease to be ? At the time of Pralaya, I will quit this
nest of mine. When the 12 Adityas scorch the world with
their burning rays, I shall, through the Ap (water) Dharana*,
reach up the Akasa. When the fierce gales arise splinter
ing up rocks to pieces, I shall be in the Akasa through
the Dharana of Agni. When the world together with its
Mahameru is under waters, I shall float on them without any
* In Yoga, there are stated to exist different kinds of Dharanas in
water, fire, &c., through which the Yogis render themselves proof
again st the respective elements they wish to master.
236 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
fluctuation through Vayu-Dharana. When the time of uni
versal destruction arrives, I shall be, as in Sushupti,in the Brah-
mic seat, the end of all the mundane eggs, till the beginning
of another creation of Brahma. After his creation, I shall
again, resort to this nest for my abode. Through my San-
kalpa, the Kalpa tree at the summit of this mountain will
arise every Kalpa in a manner similar to this." Here I in
terrupted him thus" Thou wert able to preserve a long life
through the performance of Dharana But why did all the
other Yogis die (or disappear)."
Bhusunda replied " Who will be able to overstep the
strict ordinances of Parameswara ? His will is that I should
thus act and the other Yogis should act in the way they did.
As every pre-ordained event should act out its results, they
will inevitably come to pass. Such is the unerring nature of
this Law."
I questioned him thus " As thou who art well versed in
the Jnana of Brahman and Sastras art also acquainted with
all the marvels of the three worlds through thy Yoga power,
please inform me without fail of all that fell under thy vision."
The Yogi replied 4t There was a time where for n,ooo
years, this earth was one (nebulous) mass of dust filled with
stones but without mountains, trees or grass even appearing
in it for a long time. In one Chatur-Yuga (four yugas), this
earth was one vast forest. In another Chatur-Yuga, it was
one chain of mountains without any earth to separate it. In
another Chatur-Yuga, the whole earth was overspread with
Vindhya hills without Rishi Agastya In one creation,
Brahmins became crafty and replete with desires, while Sudras
slighted them. Women who were chaste acted as they liked.
Oh Muni Vasishta, I saw these and some other things too
which I shall presently relate. I have observed, with my
own eyes, the origin of the sun, &c., the state of Indra and
Upendra, the Yardha (boar) Avatar of Vishnu who recovered
back the earth which Hiranyaksha stole, the consolidation into
one of the Vedas which were scattered in pieces in different
directions and the cUurning of nectar in the milky ocean with
the rod of Mandara hills. Even these, some of my juniors
may be able to relate to thee. But thou shouldst know that
endless have been the Avatars, Naradas, Baradwajas, Mari-
THE StORY OF BHUS UNDA. ^37
chis, Pulastyas, the elephant headed Yinayakas,* Subbrah-
manyas, Bhringis and others. Therefore it is impossible to
give out the number of those who came into existence in
creation up to now. Oh Vasishta of great veracity, this is
the eighth of thy births (as Vasishta). This is the eighth
time we have met together thus. Thou wertborn once in the
Akasa ; another time in water ; another time in a mountain
sorrounded by groves ; another time out of the red flames.
In five creations has the earth disappeared and been got
back by Vishnu in his Kurma (tortoise) Avatar. Twelve times
has the Ocean of milk been churned. All these I was a
direct witness of. Thrice has Hiranyakshaf taken away the
earth to Patla. Six times has Vishnu incarnated as Parasu-
rama, the son of Renuka. Buddha has incarnated again and
again in 100 Kaliyugas. The TripuraJ and its denizens
have been thirty times consumed by the flames. Daksha,
the Prajapati lost his Yajna (sacrifice) twice. Ten times
has been the defeat of Sakra (Indra) by the wearer of moon
on his head (vis., Siva). Eight times have I seen the dire
conflicts that raged between Eswara (Siva) and Arjuna|| on
account of a hog. The ^eternal Vedas will arise suited to
the intelligence of every age. They will be understood more
and more with the increase of intelligence. So also are
worldly actions marvellous. Though the several Pura nas are
read in different ways, yet they convey one significance
only. Every Yuga, Jnana-Sastras will be embodied in the
shape of the stainless Ramayana. Like Rishi Valmiki who
recited the Ramayana now, there have been 12 Yalmikis who
brought out the same before. Bharata, the second of the Itiha-
sas, though composed by the nobleVyasa, is considered by some
as a Khila (supplement to the Vedas). In this creation,
Sri Rama incarnated for the eleventh time on this earth. He
* Vinayaka is Ganesa the son of S iva as is Subbrahmanya. Bringhi
is a Rishi. These show that these names of Rishis are titular only.
t Hiranyaksha is the Asura who stole the earth to Patala which
was recovered by Vishnu in his Varaha (boar) Avatar.
This refers to the burning of Tripura or the three worlds, golden,
silver and iron governed by Taraka, Vidhyunmali and Kamalaksha.
This refers to Daksha s Yajna when his son-in-law (S iva) wroth
at the treatmentaccorded to his wife, sent Vivabadhta who decapitat
ed Daksha and put a ram s head instead.
|| The fight between Arjuna and Siva as a hunter as recorded in the
Mahabharata.
238 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
will incarnate again in the wealthy house of Vasudeva. All
these illusions of the world will at one time manifest them
selves and at another time not. All these illusory visibles will
be latent in the one Jnana-Atma, like foams in an ocean and
will again revive and again perish. All the eight quarters,
mountains, the sun, the moon, the stars, the seat of Meru
and others differ with every fresh creation. All these have
fallen under my direct ken. Each of these four yugas have got
their respective peculiarities of Dharmas (duties), &c."
Here Vasishta interposed How didst thou manage to
get out of the clutches of Yama (Death), engaged as thou
wert in worldly actions r
The Yogi said " What good results will accrue to those
who will not act up to the injunctions of the Great ones ?
Though thou knowest this, I shall explain it to thee, inas
much as thou hast asked of me. Yama will not in the least
approach those whose minds have cast off the beads of the
pearls of stains strung in the string of pains. Yama will not
approach those minds without any chafings which chafings
are to the mind, like a sword to the tree of certitude or cor
roding vermin to the body. Yama will not approach those
wise persons who do not nourish in themselves the hissing
serpent of desire which rests its head in the mind and twines
itself round this tree of perishable body. Yama will not ap
proach those Jnanis who are not bitten by the serpent of greed
in the hole of their mind and emitting the venom of love and
hatred. Yama will not approach those persons who have era
dicated the root of anger in the ocean of the body without
making the Vadava fire to spread itself without making the
waters of discrimination to dry up. Yama will not ap
proach those whose minds are not inflamed by Kama
(passion) but are crushed like sesamum seeds in an
oil-press. Yama will not approach those who attain
quiescence in the imperishable and immaculate Nirvanic Seat
without any pains through excessive meditation. It is the
stains abovementioned that form the germs of existence.
But they will not affect those great minds that have become
non-dual and without any differences (of conception). Those
pains which arise through mental disease and produce all
illusions will not even go near that non-dual mind divest
THE STORY OF BHUS UNDA. 239
ed of all differences. They \vill not come in contact with
that non-dual mind devoid of all differences, wherein the
heart-Akasa isjnot obscured, and Raga and Dwesha (love and
hatred) thoughts are destroyed. They will not in the least
enter that non-dual mind which is free from bad thoughts,
words, qualities or actions and whichever looks equally upon
all."
" The mind should be rendered fit for salvation to reach
the seat of That without delusion, vehicle or stains. It
should be made to reach the seat of That wherein the ghosts
of the impure differentiations do not reside, having previously
been stripped of fear, its long standing associate. When Atma
is known through it, all pains will be annihilated ; and then
there will be no compeer to it in all the realms. It is difficult
of attainment (even) to those like myself. Such a subjuga
tion of the mind will enable one to reach a goal far above all
actions. How can such a seat be attained by an intelligence
steeped in ignorance ?. Through the Madhyagata (neutral)
Jnana which is tantamount to Jnana vision and leads to the
development of Jnana, I have developed one attribute which
destroys all pleasures and pains and conduces to bliss. It is
the control of Prana which paves the way for all the non-
cognition of all the externals and is the cause of the arrest of
death."
Here Vasishta, though familiar with the control of Prana,
asked him what he meant by it. To which the Yogi went on
thus "In the cool lotus of the heart within this visible
tenement of flesh composed of the five elements, there are
two Vayus, Prana and Apana commingled in it. Those,
who tread smoothly and without any the slightest effort
the path of these two Vayus, will become the sun and the
moon themselves in the heart-Akasa and will rove in the
Akasa and yet be animating and carrying their fleshy
tabernacle. These Vayus will go up and down to higher and
lower states. They are of the same nature in the waking,
dreaming and dreamless sleeping states, and permeate all
throughout. 1 am moving in the direction of these two Vayus
and have rendered nilall my Vasanas (inthe waking state), like
unto those of the dreamless sleeping state. Divide a filament
of the lotus stalk into a thousand times and you will find these
240 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
Vayus more subtle than that. Hence it is, it is difficult for
me to treat about the nature of these Va"yus (and their
vibrations). Of these, Prana does ceaselessly vibrate in
this body with an upward motion both externally and internal
ly ; while Apana, having the same fluctuating tendency,
vibrates both external and internal to the body, having a
downward motion. It will be beneficial if the Prana ex
haled (to the extent of 16 digits) is inhaled to the same
extent.* Those who have brought to experience this (viz., the
equalisation of Prana in exhalation and inhalation) will enjoy
infinite bliss."
"Now hear about the characteristics of Pranas. The
inhalation, to the length of 12 digits, of the Prana which has
been exhaled is called (the internal) Puraka (inhalation.) It
is also called the (internal) Puraka, when Apana Vayu re-
enters the body from the outside without any effort. When
Apana Vayu ceases to manifest itself and Prana gets absorbed
in the heart, then the time occupied in such a state is (the in
ternal) Kumbhaka (cessation of the breath). Oh Rama vers
ed in all Vedas, Yogis are able to experience all these.
When the Prana in the Akasa of the heart manifests itself
externally (to the heart within) in diverse aspects with
out any affliction to the mind, then it is called (the internal)
Rechaka (exhalation). When the externally fluctuating
Prana enters the nose and stops there at its tip, then it is
called the external Puraka ; but if passing from the tip of the
full-blown nose, it goes (down 12 digits, then it is also called
the external Puraka. When Prana goes arrested without
and Apana within, then it is called the external Kumbhaka.
When the shining Apana- Vayu takes an upward bent within,
then it is styled the external Rechaka. All these practices
lead to Moksha. Therefore they should ever be meditated upon.
Those who have understood and practised well all the exter
nal and internal Kumbhakas and others will never after be
re-born.
All the 8 courses I have given out before are capable of
yielding Moksha. They should be sought after by day and
by night. Those who are associated with these practices
smoothly and control their minds by not letting them run in
* Only 12 digits are inhaled.
THE STORY OF BHUS UNDA. 241
other directions will, in course of time, reach Nirvana. Such
practitioners will never thirst after material pleasures, like
Brahmins who will not defile their hands by the touch of a
dog s skin. They will ever be in this uniform practice, whether
walking or standing, whether waking, dreaming or soundly
sleeping. They will never be afflicted with bondage or pains.
They will encompass all legitimate longed-for results. Prana
having flown out, will again be absorbed in the heart having
run back 12 digits. Similarly will Apana be absorbed in the
heart, having issued out of the heart and running back 12
digits to it. Apana, being the moon, will cool the whole body
in its passage. But Prana, being the sun, will generate heat
in the system and cook (or digest) every thing in it. Will
pains arise in one who has reached that supreme state when
the Kalzls (rays) of Apana, the moon, are drowned by Prdna,
the sun? Will re-birth arise in one who has reached that
powerful Seat when the Kalas of Prana, the sun are devoured
by Apana, the moon ? Those will arrest at once the seven
births who reach that neutral state when they find Apana
Vayu consumed by Prana and vice versa. I eulogise that
Chidatma who is in that intermediate state when Prana and
Apana are absorbed in one another. I meditate ceaselessly
upon that Chidatma who is in the Akasa directly in front of
the end of my nose, when Prana and Apana become both
extinct. Thus I attained the Supreme Seat worshipped by
Devas through my faultless vision and surrounded by rays.
Thus it is, through this path of Prana s control, that I attained
the Supreme and immaculate Tatwa devoid of pains. Through
this vision palpably in me, I never look back (with any re
morse) upon the past or the future. I concern myself with
the present only. And the result has been that I have reached
this state. Never will I contemplate upon this or that, as my
goal. Through such a course have I been able to prolong my
life from age to age without any cares at all. In the com
pany of merry persons, I would be merry; in the company of
the afflicted, I would also be afflicted. As I am the friend of
the whole universe, I have been able to live long and happy
without any pains. I would never droop amidst excessive
prosperity or dire adversity. I would be an universal bene
factor. My longevity is due to the absence of Ahank&ra in
3 1
242 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
me, oh Lord of Munis. Moreover it is due to thy grace that
I have been blessed with much of Tatwa-Jnana and long life."
Thus did Bhusunda end, when Vasishta addressed him
thus " That which you have deigned to relate to me is
equally marvellous. It has enchanted my ears and captivated
my heart. Whoever on lending his ears to it will not be in
raptures over it P May you prosper gloriously. As the sun
is about to reach the meridian now, I shall wend my way to
Devaloka. May prosperity be with you."
So saying I rose and steered my way in the Akasa, where
in spite of all my entreaties to stay where he was, he accom
panied me many Yojanas. Then through dint of sheer force,
I compelled him to stay and return.
Is it not, oh Rama, heart-rending to part from pure
Jnanis ? I parted from Bhusunda, the great Yogi once in Krita-
Yuga. Then I visited him again in this Treta-Yuga, when,
Rama, thou didst incarnate.
Therefore thou shouldst know that this is the path of
Bhusunda, the great Yogi.
THE STORY OF DEVA-PUJA THE WORSHIP OF GOD.
Summary Having, jn the previous story, described that
Nirvanic bliss wherein all are Brahman only will result
through Jnana and Yoga, the author gives out the rationale of
the Puja (or worship of God) made by the Hindus in order
that they may know that what they worship is the perishable
matter only and that they may rise to a higher ideal.
All these things composed of the five elements are
appearances only. So also is time through right discrimina
tion. Moreover, it is quite false on our part to identify the
k I." with this body to which the terms " I," he, &c., are ap
plied. Therefore may you free yourself from the illusory con
ception of this body composed of net work of bones, muscles,
&c., being the " I". Is there any limit to the myriads of forms
created through Sankalpa? Oh Rghava after sleeping on
cushioned beds at home, you roamed about in all directions
and lost your equilibrium of mind in the contemplation upon
the dreamy things of the world. Where is the body which
THE STORY OF DEVA-PUJA. 243
can be called yours ? Please reflect well upon it. Through
letting loose the reins of mind in the waking state, it wanders
about in diverse places such as Mahameru or Devaloka and
is lost in a labyrinth. Where has the body, which can be
called yours, taken its refuge in? Know this Samsara to be a
long dream or a mental sovereignty or delusion. This
universe which is nothing but a manifestation neither is nor
is not. Tatwa-Jnanis say that the annihilation of the
differentiated thought leads to the worship of the All-benefi
cent.
It is certain that one and all of us are destined to die.
Therefore why should people in this world weep in vain over
the death of a person ? Oh valiant Rama, persons born in this
world enjoy but a tittle of happiness. Therefore why should
Ahankara be manifested in actions which bring on but a tinge
of bliss ? Having given up all conceptions of duality, may you
look equally upon all in this reflection of an universe, it is
nothing but a stain in the glass of the mind. Whoever renders
his mind free of all diversities and reflections and does not
allow the serpents of love and hatred ingress into the hole of
his mind, will be like a Kalpa tree which yields anything and
everything to its owner. Oh intelligent Rama, erudite persons
who are self-presumptuous through their ability to solve any
doubts are only like an ass carrying much burden and not
worthy of being approached, if they are not devoid of love
and hatred.
Should the axle called Sankalpa of the car of existence,
having the wheels of illusory re-births, be stopped completely,
then the car will come to a dead halt ; but if the axle of San
kalpa be a little in motion, then none, however mighty, will
be able to arrest the motion of the car. Such a stoppage
should be made through the power of Jnana, subtle intellect
and self-efforts. The whole universe contains not an object
which cannot be encompassed by the efforts of true Jnana, the
qualities of the wise and a study of Atma- Jnana Sdstras.
This mischievous and powerful imp of the lower mind is the
generator of all pains and all fears, and the destroyer of all
noble (spiritual) wealth. Having slain this slayer, may
you become " That" which you are. Should this dire imp
of mind take a firm possession of a person, any amount
244 YOGA-VA SISHIA.
of study or kindred will not exorcise it. Even Acharyas
will find it difficult to scare it away. But if this evil
spirit be divorced from one without even the shadow of
thought, then will the Sastras and others be of help to lift
him out of re-births, like a beast that, falling into a shallow
pool without mire, can be easily lifted up. If one after re
lieving himself from all objects of enjoyment as well as the
enjoyment itself wishes to attain his non-dual and all-full
Atmic Reality through the graces of the Guru and his own
discriminative enquiry, then he should hear what passed bet
ween me and Parameswara wearing the moon in his matted
locks, in order to divest himself of all garments of illusion.
Now I will relate it to you which you will presently hear with
a clear mind.
Once upon a time, I spent a long time most instruc
tively and delightfully in Kailasa* hills in the worship of Para-
meswara, in the performance of Tapas in a raised shed on the
banks of the Ganges and the study of many books in the com
pany of Siddhas. One night on the 8th day of the first half
of the lunar month of Simha (August September), it was
15 Ghatikas (12 o clock) when bustle in all quarters was
hushed up and nature was, as it were, in a state of Samadhi
with utter silence. Not even a single footstep was heard.
The darkness was so thick as to be cloven by the sword.
Mountain caves, forests, &c., melted into thin void in the sable
gloom. I then returned from Samadhi and let my mind rove
in the heterogeneous objects of the universe. Then flashed
before me in that darkness an incomparable light which I had
never witnessed before. It was, as if countless moons and
pure white clouds contributed their mite to increase the daz
zling splendor. In the light, I observed Parameswara and Par-
vati locked in each other s arms and preceded by Nandikes-
wara.f Along with my disciples, I rose up and went to them with
requisite materials ot worship. Standing at a distance,! eulogis
ed them first ; and nearing them, I worshipped Parameswara
with prostrations, Arghya (oblations of water), sweet and cool
flowers and other objects Him whose mind is ever cool and who
has a merciful eye, free from pains. Similarly did I worship
* Kailasa is the hill of Siva. Parvati is the wife of Siva.
f This term means the lord of Bulls ; this Bull stands for Pranava.
tHE STORY OF DEVA-PUJA. 245
his consort, Parameswari and prostrate myself before her.
Then I paid lovingly my due respects to Siva s and Parvati s
attendants. After which the resplendent Parameswara with
significant words as cool as the nectar-like moon addressed
me thus " Has thy intelligence merged itself in the Brahmic
Seat and attained quiescence therein, free from all pains and
full of bliss ? Hast thy Tapas being going on without any
obstacles ? Hast thou attained that which should be got at ?
Have all the visibles perished from thy mind ?"
So said the cause of all the worlds, when I prostrated
before him and submitted the following under his orders
"Oh Deva of Devas, there is nothing which is beyond the
power of one who has duly obtained thy Grace. Never will
fears of objects come in proximity to them. It is thy devotees
that are worshipped by all in the world. Whatever place
the Great Ones who have found an asylum in thee live in
that is the real body, that is the true country and that is the
fine mountain for others to take their abode in. The medit
ation on thec is but the result of one s past virtuous Karmas,
showers Dharmas on him in his present life and is the seed of
future Dharmas. It is like a Purnakumbha* for storing up
Jnana nectar ; is like a moon shedding its mild light and is
the path leading to Moksha. Having come into the posses
sion of the Chintmani (gem) of thy meditation, I am now
trampling the heads of all unreal existences."
Having thus eulogised him, I again prostrated myself at the
two soft feet of Parama-Siva, the First Cause, blooming with a
face of mercy and ixgain addressed him which thou shalt hear,
oh Rdma. " Oh ocean of grace living in Kailasa hills, there is
yet a doubt lingering in me who has understood all through
thy grace. Please favour me with truth as regards it. What
is meant by Deva-Puja (or the worship of God) which is said
to destroy pains and confer bliss ? And how should it be
done?" To which the Lord replied " Deva (God) is neither
the solitary Vishnu nor Siva nor any other having the body
of five elements. Nor is it the mind. But it is the Jnana, the
Self without beginning or end. Can It be these paltry objects
* Purna-kumbha is a vessel filled with water and covered up by a
cocoanut, which water is consecrated by Mantras. Generally this cocoa-
nut is taken as a mark of respect to receive the worthy.
246 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
such as bodies, &c. ? As Brahma-Jnana is the Jnana which
is illimitable, actionless, beginningless and endless, such a
Jnana alone is true and fit to be worshipped. But in the
case of the ignorant devoid of Jnana (wisdom), worship of
forms alone is ordained to be the best. Just as wayfarers
when they are unable to travel a long distance are told that
their goal of destination is but a call s distance in order
not to let their spirit droop, so persons without Jnana
are told to worship diverse forms at first ; but the wise
say that they will not get the certitude of Jnana through
such a process. It is the beginningless and endless
Jnana-Akasa that pervades everywhere. As it is imperish
able out-living all Kalpas, it alone is God. The pujah
(or worship) of It should be conducted with the flowers
of Jnana (spiritual wisdom), equality of vision and content
ment. Worship of particular forms is no worship at all.
Through no other path, can the partless Jnana-bliss be secured.
It is only through the sprinkling of the flowers of Jnana (wis
dom), &c., that the bliss will become replete. This illuminated
Jnana is beyond the reach of all S astras. It is the Satta-
Samanya which is common to, and occupies, the intermediate
state between Sat and Asat in all internal thoughts. God
is the great Satta-Matra alone. Should this Jnana subject
itself to Vikalpas, then it abandons its real form and becomes
individualized and separate. The one Chit (Consciousness)
contracts Sankalpa through the contemplation in regular
succession upon the different states of Avidya (or matter.)
Then conditioned by space, time and other powers (and
having conceptions of the same), it becomes the ignorant
Jiva fulfilling the functions of Buddhi, Ahankara and
Manas. With this Manas (mind), it will long for birth
and death and cling to them. With the thought of the en
vironment of the body, it will be sunk in the mire of the
great delusion. Excessive pains will make it to go lower
and lower along with its endless trail. These will go on af
flicting it, so long as there is Sankalpa ; otherwise not. San
kalpa itself is pains ; its absence is Brahmic bliss. If through
the tempestuous gate of thy discrimination, thou dispellest
the cloud of Sankalpa, then there will remain the stainless
one like a permanent autumnal and pure sky. Mayest thou
THE STORY OF DEVA-PUJA. 247
live drowned in the ocean of Brahmic Bliss in an illuminated
state, having- destroyed the stains of Sankalpas through thy
stainless efforts.
" Atma-Tatwa has all Saktis (or potencies) in it. These
Saktis through their sportive play generate bondage and
emancipation. In Atma which is equal in all and the pure
Jnana and which yet generates all Vikalpas, there are num
berless Saktis such as IchchA Sakti, Vyoma (Akas) Sakti,
Kala (Time) Sakti, Nyati (Law) Sakti, Moha Sakti, Jnana
Sakti, Krya (Doer) Sakti, Kartru (Agency) Sakti, Akartru
(non-agency) Sakti and others. The sportive Sakti of Aj-
nana generates births and deaths. But they are arrested
through the Sakti called Nirodha (Control). The annihilation
of all Bavanas ^thoughts through the different kinds of Ara-
dhana (respects paid to or worship of God) constitutes the
pure pujah (worship). The avoidance of identification of "I"
with this body arising through Karmas is the supreme
ArAdhana. Through such a contemplation should the
Aradhana be made to It. It is the JnSna-Light compared to
which, even millions of suns appear but as a speck. It is
this Light which all should reach up to, considering their "I"
as no other than this Light. To this Jnana-Purnsha,
the highest Akasa is his head ; the lowest Akasa is his
golden lotus feet. All the quarters are his long hands. The
heterogeneous universes are his hosts. All the countless
myriads of mundane eggs will be absorbed in but a corner
of his heart. The resplendent Paramakas is the beginning-
less and endless form of it. All lives such as Brahma, Vish
nu, Rudra, Devendra and others are like so many hairs in
the pores of the body of this great Principle. Ichcha and
diverse other Saktis which start a creation or are the motors
of al! in the mechanism of this universe rest in his body.
Those who realize that such is the nature of the Supreme one
are fit objects of worship by all. will be of the nature of Jnana
and will enjoy themselves in Atmic Reality. They will live every
where : will be courted by all : will be the source of all seats;
will have Sat alone as their bodies ; will have time, which regu
lates all things in the world, as the porter at their gates; and
will be the immaculate Self-Light. Enjoying at ease all ob
jects of enjoyment through the five organs of sense and mind
248 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
and contemplating within that all is Parameswara who is
above all Sankalpas, one should pay respects to the Supreme
according to the dictates of the Vedas. All the external forms
of worship paid to Atma are not the proper ones. But
one should through his nectary wisdom and without any
pains or conception of duality pay respects to It. So long as
there is the pure intelligence of wisdom within, so long will
there be Dhyana and proper Aradhana. One should be ever
Jnana, whether engaged in the perception of objects through
his five organs of sense or in sleeping, talking, walking and
breathing. It is the Dhydna (contemplation) of Atma-Tatwa
that constitutes the articles of worship in this Aradhana of
God. Through no other path will the great attain the
true Jnana. Even if the much-slighted ignorant per
form this Dhyana of Aradhana for 13 twinklings of an
eye, then it will generate the good effects of the gift of
a cow ; if the real Atmic deity is contemplated upon for 100
seconds, then it will be tantamount to the good effects of a
thousand Asva-medha (Yajnas) ; if continued for 12 minutes,
then the good effects of a lakh of such Yajnas will ensue. If
steadfastly continued thus for 24 minutes, the beneficial results
of a Raja-Suya sacrifice flow in ; but if for half-a-day Atma-
Jnana is meditated upon without any distraction of thought,
then there is the benefit of a lakh of such Yajnas. Again if
for a full day such a meditation is continued without any in
termission, then the stainless Brahmic Light can be merged
in by him. This is the highest Yoga and this is the highest
Karma.
" I have treated, up to now, of the external worship of
Jnana-God. Now I shall deal with its internal worship.
Without ever forgetting the God of Parama Siva within the
body, one should ever be contemplating upon him in all his
actions as going and coming, sleeping and rising, enjoy
ing wealth and objects and yet be disconnected with them.
Though associating with the diverse objects of the world,
he should ever worship the Siva-Linga* of blissful Jnna
with the flowers of Jn&na after bathing in the sacred waters of
Tatwa-jnna. This Jnana-God pervades everywhere in the 36
* The Linga is one of the forms through which He has to be wor
shipped. It is .1 great mystery.
THE STORY OF DEVA-PUJA. 249
centres without the modifications of the mind in Manas,
Sankalpas, the state intermediate between Prana and Apana,
the heart, the middle of the throat, the middle of the brow,
the tip of the nose and other seats. Ceaseless and continued
contemplation should be made upon God, shining- as Light in
the body as inseparable from Manas, eyes, organ of speech
and other organs and all the hosts of Saktis as chaste
women inseparable from their Lord ; also that the Manas
which makes one cognize the three worlds should be con
templated upon as no other than the guard at his gates ; the
good thoughts should be known as no other than His cook ;
the Vritti-Jnana thoughts as no other than ornaments to
the perishable body ; the Jnanendryas, and Karmendryas
as no other than His gates. With these thoughts, he should
contemplate that he is no other than " That" which is the
direct Jnana of Atma- as endless, partless, non-dual and yet
wearing all in Itself, full in Itself and making all full, equal
everywhere and having Its natural laws and light and being
the incomparable Jnana. Thus should the internal worship
be made that he is inseparable from It.
" Much illumination will arise through this course of
pure worship. Through the expansive intelligence of equality
of all, the knowledge of body will be known by pure souls to
be burdensome. Therefore they will ever worship the Jnana
which is above all body through the above articles of wor
ship. The wise say that such is the worship practised by the
great. They should go on worshipping Jn&na without ever
longing for things they cannot get or being hindered in the
acquisition of objects. They should go on worshipping Jnana,
extracting Atmic bliss out of eating and drinking, enormous
supreme wealth, rest, going in vehicles and other pleasures.
They should go on worshipping Jnana by bestowing on it the
flowers of unsullied actions, whether amidst mental or bodily
malady, incipient Moha (illusion) or dire pains, the cumber-
someness of the administration of regal justice or sharp adver
sity. They should go on worshipping Jnana, whether they
enjoy stainless objects or abandon stainful enjoyments.
* Enjoying with a sweet mind and a non-dual concep
tion whatever objects one comes by and not longing for things
inaccessible is Jnana-Archana (or the sprinkling of flowers,
32
250
&c., on God). Unfailing worshippers of Jn&na should regard
pleasures and pains as of the nature of Jnana (and hence be
indifferent to them). They should ever regard all forms and
places as no other than Brahman and worship them as such.
Like an ocean receiving unto itself innumerable rivers, Jnana
will be a capacious reservoir of all enjoyments, neither hating
any things nor longing after them. Without in anywise
being affected by appearances, base or high, they should be
engaged in worship, in order to free themselves from all duali
ties of conception arising from pleasures and pains in the
differences of space, time and substances. These are the
beneficent articles of worship dictated in the great worship
of God.
"Just as the six tastes, sourness, pungency, bitterness
astringency, &c., are rendered full (and enjoyed completely),
only when the Saktis of tastes and the mind join together, so
the Plenum arises when all these articles of worship are com
bined with Snti (sweet patience or quiescence of mind).
When this quiescence of mind is contemplated upon (along
with the mind), then in an instant all objects will become
one Universal nectar, like the ever-showering ambrosia of the
moon ; but if contemplation is made without quiescence of
mind, then even Jnana (spiritual) objects will appear but as
stones. If the illusions of pleasures and pain, arising from
objects which are differentiated through space, time and sub
stance be dispelled, then the God within the temple of the
body will be clearly cognized without any desires coming
across.
" Pure Maya dispels impure Mdya. It will destroy the
virulent poison of the great Sankalpa. Like a washer
man who removes dirt through dirt, the impure Maya
should be slain by the pure Maya. Though pure Maya
is not the cause, yet it will appear so through Acharya s
(Teacher s) words. To the real enquirers after knowledge,
they (the Guru s words) will enable one to know his own
Self. An Acharya s grace, if it becomes emapport with
his disciple, will of itself, in a mysterious manner, enable the
disciple to perceive directly the Brahmic Principle within,
though it is impossible for the Guru to point to Brahman as
this or that or for the disciple to understand how it is prior
THE STORY OF DEVA-PUJA. 2l
to his direct perception. Each should cognize It within him
self through his own Jndna with the aid of an A charya
and an understanding of the true significance of the many
Sastras. It is indeed very rare to attain that state without
the help of a Guru and spiritual books. Should all the three
combine, vis., an Acharya, Jnana-Sastras and a true
disciple, then it is certain that the Seat beyond all bondage
will be attained. If the link between these three last
long, then it will generate stainless Jnana like the sun bring
ing, in its train, actions in this world. According to the
abovementioned path, there is no doubt they will render
themselves fit objects of eulogy by such as Myself and attain
the Brahmic Seat.
" This world, though it really is not, appears to be.
Know, oh Vasishta of great Tapas, that it is no other than
a reflection. Know also that Jnana is that Principle which is
known by the Vak (Speech) of Brahma and others. This
Chaitanya (Consciousness) which is above all, manifests it
self as the dual visibles. Undergoing different names, it will
contract Ahankara through the thoughts of the mind.
This idea of " I" will bring in its train the idea of time,
space and other potencies. With these environments,
the name Jiva accrues to it. Contemporaneously with it, there
arises Buddhi in ignorant souls. Associated with the potencies
of sound, actions and Jnana, the collective entity will produce
in one instant memory and in another instant will become
Manas in order that it may be the seed of the tree of Sankalpa.
This is what is called the Puriashtaka body. It is said that
this is the seat of words. Through Atma, Manas assumes
countless forms. This alone assuming the form of Akasa and
others, generates Prakriti and other elements. Like evil spirits
arising in the seeming void, the Vasanas of the mind will
arise in it.
" Now if these Vasanas which have acquired the name of
the world are destroyed, then there will be an absolute quies
cence. Those who are firmly clinging to the idea of perma-
nancy in this I or the universe which is but a mirage in
an oasis, are not fit to be initiated (into Jnana). Such persons
are condemned by the wise as extremely sinful. The wise
will initiate those discriminative persons only who have
252 YOGA-VA SISHTA-
avoided all illusions ; but they will never dream of initiating
the weak-minded subject to the worldly illusions. Should they
do so, it will only be like mating a virgin in the waking state
with a husband dreamt of in the dreaming state. Oh Vasishta,
we have thus given a reply to thy questions. Mayest thou
grow in true love with us. Let us go."
So saying Parvati and Parameswara with their suite
encircling them, journeyed in the Akasa- At their departure,
I saluted them with the worship of flowers. From that day
forward, I have been unintermittingly worshipping the true
Jnana through the path of ever-increasing bliss and freedom
from pains. Through the assiduous and the ever-continued
performance of such worship, I feel now the V&sanas to be
as light as a feather. Neither during the day nor during the
night do I find excess or defect (in my mind) through the
sprinkling of the flowers of right conduct in my actions.
When the knower and the visibles do unite as one, then all
Atmas (egos) do become equal. In such a state of union what
the Jnana-Yogis cognize is that which is in that state, (there
being nothing external to them then). This is the supreme
worship of Jnana-Atma. Therefore, through this kind of
vision (or idea), may you live, oh Rama, in this world with
a mind unattached to the things therein. Do not afflict
your mind by letting it rove over this great forest of the
world."
Here Rama overjoyed said thus I have cleared myself
of all doubts. I have known all that should be known. I
have attained thy grace without the least fluctuation of mind.
I have slain all desires which are like huge elephants with
long proboscis. I do not get agitated by anything. Having
crossed the banks of the ocean of existence free from all delu
sions and pains, my mind has become an adamant filled with
Brahmic bliss and is now Bliss itself.
THE STORY OF BILWA FRUIT.*
Summary In this story, an illustration is given that the
expansion of the Bliss arising from the worship of Jnana
stated in the previous story is the All.
* The fruit of a tree commonly called Bel (sEgle marmelos), being
spherical.
THE STORY OF BILWA FRUIT. 253
Rama continued The nectary showers of thy words,
though they have become full in me, are not yet to my heart s
content. Please therefore throw more light on this all-full
Jnana.
To which the Muni replied One thing which is sweet
and pleasant to us at one moment produces the very
reverse of that sensation in another. Whoever has not
experienced this in this world ? Things, when longed for,
are pleasant; but are bitter if not longed for. Hence desires
are the cause of pleasures. Pleasures will cease, when satis
faction arises in the same. But if desires cease, all else will
be destroyed. Therefore, oh Rama who wishes to divest
thyself of all associations with objects, mayest thou be free
from all desires, from all thoughts, from thy (lower) mind. If
thy Antahkarana (lower mind) be devoid of all Vasanas, then
it will be never disturbed from its equilibrium, in spite of
the many obstacles crossing its path.
The mind has the potency of creating or undoing the
whole world in the twinkling of an eye. Therefore mayest
thou slay this mind, either through the destruction of the
Vasanas or the control of the Prana. The base Avidya
(ignorance) has the property of expanding and contracting.
Through these two (expansion and contraction), the ever-
gyrating Karmas do take life and die. Therefore thou shouldst
annihilate this mind of Ajnana (ignorance) through the
power of constant association with Acharyas and Jnana
books.
The mind will be destroyed through the control of Prana
or the arrest of the fluctuation of the mind Such a distrac
tion is termed by the wise to be the supreme Seat. The
Bliss which arises, when the visibles and sight are merged
into one (the seer), is the all-pervading Paramatta (Reality).
Beyond " That," nought else is. Through such a vision (or
direct perception), the mind will be destroyed and will generate
infinite bliss. Such a Bliss has no increase or decrease, no
appearance or disappearance. The mind of the discrimi
native Jnanis cannot be termed mind but only Tatwa (Real
ity). That which gets differentiated through the diverse
objects is the mind. It will become immaculate, like copper
transmuted into gold. This Reality of Jnana, having become
254 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
the mind, will sport once in this universe and then reaching
the Turya (fourth) state will become that Eternal Verity which
is above Turya. Hence Brahman can be one as well as
many like this variegated cosmos. All are Brahman only.
The differentiations of the mind, &c., do not in the least
really exist and will appear as so many manufactured
illusions of the brain. Now I will illustrate the same. Hear
ken, oh Rama, to a small anecdote which will astonish even
the learned.
A Bilwa fruit there is, of such huge dimensions that
neither Kotis (crores) nor Maha-Kotis nor lakhs of Kotis
of Yojanas can measure it. It will not decay even when a
Maha-Kalpa closes. Though the ancient of ancients, its
glory is such that it is more soft and delicious than the moon
on the third day of the waxing fortnight. It will remain
quite unruffled even amidst the fierce storms and gales at the
end of a Kalpa and is the seed of Brahma s egg. It is indeed
impossible to set a limit to the number of mundane eggs
which generate out of, and are absorbed in, this fruit to which
no words can do full justice. Though ripe ever, it will never
decay. It is the quintessence in full of all other fruits. The
fleshy part of this fruit is illimitable and typifies but the all-
pervading nature ofjnana. The marrow in the fruit is the
fluctuating Chit-Sakti which, arising in the fruit (of Brahman)
that is equal in all, produces, through its intelligential
potencies, the heterogeneities of Akasa, the Kalas (parts)
the imperishable Law, motion, the dome of Brahma s egg,
of time, the several quarters, &c., which are represented by
the different seats of marrow in the fruit.
B/ama, at this statement of Vasishta queried him thus
Oh first of Jnnis, I have understood thy allegory of Bilwa
fruit. Oh Acharya, this Bilwa fruit is no other than the
Supreme Seat of the Sat ofjnana. Ahankara and others are
no other than the base aspects of Jnna. Oh firm Achdrya,
Jnana which appears as the one and the many, has never any
differences per se. The marrow of the pumpkin of Brahma s
egg is Maha-Meru*, &c., while the rind of the Bilwa fruit of
Jnana h; no other than Brahma s egg and all the universes.
* The central axis or column of man as well as universe.
THE STORY OF A GRANITE. 255
THE STOKY OF &ILA A GRANITE.
Summaty In this story it is sought to exemplify the
fact that all things, though appearing different, are no other
than Brahmic Light.
Vasishta continued O Rama of exquisite beauty, again
listen to another story. There is a glorious huge granite
rock which is impartite, thickset, soft and endless in its
dimensions. Out of it, have lotuses beyond number risen
and bloomed. Their leaves are tacked on, one to another and
close-set. Some are visible and some invisible ; some became
the higher ones and some, the lower Some are firm in
their own state. Innumerable are the shells cropping up
in the middle of these lotuses having no root. Discuses
also grow up in great numbers betwixt the lotuses. Here
Rma remarked that he observed one such huge granite in
the rock of ^aiagrama* whereon Vishnu stood.
The Muni continued The granite I referred to is not one
that you have ever witnessed. I applied the word granite to
the Chit in the heart in which are the different states of all
the worlds. The granite is no other than the Jnana in the
heart containing the worlds which are one and yet many. In
this non-dual and obdurate Jnana- rock are the hosts of
universes like the air pervading the Akasa- Earth, Akasa, Vayu,
mountains and the quarters even when combined, will not
make up even an infinitesimal small particle of this rock. In this
beautiful one are to be found the sacred marks of lotus, dis
cus and conch. f It may be said to be in the Sushupti state.
All the universes awe no other than Jnana itself, like parts of
a rock which are no other than the rock itself. The wise say
It will ever be as It was before. Though, like the granite
rock, there are absorbed in the heart heterogeneous univer
ses with their various marks, yet Chit is non-d .al without
any differences. Like the analogy of a forest of lotuses ap
pearing (at a distance) like one stone, all the universes with
out being differentiated in Jnana are one replete Chit.
Have you ever seen lotuses and the like hatched or generat
ed out of a big rock ? Similarly are the three worlds, (not born
* A kind of sacred stone said to be typical of Vishnu and found |in
the river Gandaki.
t The symbols of Vishnu.
256 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
out of and absorbed into Jnana) but the light of Jnana only.
As in fhe afore-mentioned illustration of the marrow of the
Bilwa fruit, the many mundane eggs that have differentiat
ed merge into the one Chit. But you should not conclude
therefrom that it is many. The Sat-aspect of Brahman mani
fests itself as this grand motley universe of forms which are
like lotuses in a granite Then they will reach the seat of
Atma conquered through Sushupti, quiescence and equality
of mind and Jnana. All these ephemeral creations are of no
avail and will not ever be composed of these diverse forms.
THE STORY OF ARJUNA.
Summary. Even wars, &c., will not create differentiations
in the mind, if it longs not for the results of actions.
At these words of Vasishta, Rama said thus I have
known all that should be known. I have seen all that should
be seen. And yet I have to put another question to you in
order that bliss may be enjoyed in full. Please describe the
form of this Puriashtaka body which, like an image in a
glass, creates this universe many times over and over again.
To which Vasishta replied Brahman which is without
beginning or end and which is the seed of the universe, becom
ing differentiated, is Jiva ; subjecting itself to the idea of
separateness, it becomes Ahankara ; with Manana (contem
plation), it becomes Manas ; with the certainty of intelli
gence, it becomes Buddhi ; then the (five) .objects (sound,
&c.), through Indryas (the organs). With the thought of the
body, it becomes the body itself; with the thought of a vessel
it becomes the vessel itself. A form (or subtle body), having
such a nature, is called by the wise Puriashtaka body (com
posed of the eight Manas, Ahankara, Buddhi and the five
objects of sense, sound, &c). The speedy transformation of
the pure knower, or actor, or enjoyer and witness into the
Jiva consciousness is called Puriashtaka body. Through the
newly engendered Puriashtaka body, dreams upon dreams
will pile up and this universe will appear (real) with the many
creations of illusion.
Now therefore hearken to the path pointed out by Lord
Krishna who strode the earth. Just as Vijaya (Arjuna) will
THE STORY OF ARJUNA. 257
pass his time fearlessly, so also, Oh Rama, shalt thou pass
thy time.
There Rama queried When will Arjuna (Vijaya) be
born ? And what will Sree Krishna, the Lord of Lakshmi
initiate him into ? Then Vasishta related the path pointed
out by Sree Krishna to Vijaya in the following manner :
Yama (death) will, at the end of every four Yugas, brood over
the carnage of Jivas (egos) perpetrated by him during the
Yugas and therefore will perform Tapas, At one period, he
will sit at it for eight years ; at another, for ten years ; at
another, for twelve years. Sometimes he will sit for five years ;
again for seven years ; again for sixteen years, and so on.
While Yama thus performs Tapas without slaying any Jiva,
the Jivas will become so great in number that the earth
will be thickset with them. It is at this juucture that the
Lord has been relieving the earth of its burden through
proper means from the very commencement. Then will the
four Yugas, the countless Jivas, the universes and all else
will perish.
In conformity to this universal law, Yama, the son* of
the sun will retire into solitude for the performance of
Tapas for twelve years, satiated with the carnage of Jivas,
in order to attain a state free from the trammels of pains.
Then the goddess of earth unable to bear the load of the
multitudinous hosts of non-deceased Jivas will fly for
asylum to Vishnu. Vishnu, exhorting her to return with the
promise that he would incarnate on earth in two forms,
one as the son of Vasudeva and another as the son of Pandu
will fulfil his promise by passing under the two names of
Vasudeva (Krishna) and Vijaya (Arjuna). Then the victorious
sons of Dhritarashtra, Duryodhana and others along with
their kith and kin willf wage an unjust war with Arjuna and
his hosts. In the battlefield, melting with compassion at the
prospect of the death of his innumerable kinsmen, Arjuna
will relax his hold over his bow and faint. On account of
which, Krishna will initiate him into Jnana. Now mark
well the truths which Krishna, the Sariri (the spirit within
the body) will impart to Vijaya, the Sarira (the body).
* The present sun of ours is called Vivaswan, the father of the pre-
sent Manu.
f This shows that the incidents herein were before the Bhurata war.
33
258 \OGA- VA SISIITA.
They are thus "Now Arjuna, cognize, without any
fluctuation of mind, the Atmic Reality which cannot be
known through the mind and which is without beginning
or end. It will be without stains. You will, thereafter,
not be born or die in this fleshly tabernacle. You will be
Sat only. There will be no birth or death then ; no form
then to differentiate with the terms, "I," " thou," etc.; no
ego to reincarnate then. Though in the body of this
eternal and ancient Principle, you will never be destroyed.
Without omitting to perform your actions, do them without
the least longing after their fruits. If you tread the in
destructible path of Brahmarpana (relegating all things to
Brahman), you will, in an instant, be of the nature of
Brahman. Ascribing all things to the Lord, may you be
come of the form of Eswara himself ; and having become
the Lord of all Jivas under bondage, may you reach Moksha
without the hold of Sankalpas and with equal vision over all,
of quiescent mind and with Tapas, Sannyasa (renunciation)
stainless Yoga and Jnana."
Arjuna asked : "Oh red-eyed one, what dost thou mean
by the destruction of Sanga (association or attraction), the
relegating of all things to Brahman or Eswara, Sannyasa
and the undifferentiated Jnana and Yoga ?
Krishna replied : " The wise say that the Brahmic Princi
ple is "that" which is devoid of Sankalpas, pains or
thoughts. The efforts at attaining the non-dual Brahman
is Jnana. Such efforts are also termed Yoga by the wise.
The cognition, after true discrimination of the identity of the
universe and " I" with Brahman is Brahmarpana. The
renunciation of the fruits of Karmas (actions) is Sannyasa.
The destruction of the painful Sankalpa of the mind is the
destruction of Sanga in the eyes of the great. The giving
up of the conception of duality through the idea that there
is one only Eswara in all our thoughts is Eswarrpana (or
Brahmarpana). If after contemplating upon and worship
ping me you attain unto me with due prostrations and
eulogies, then the true Reality of " I" will shine within you
with its full light.
" I have two forms (or aspects), one the ordinary or the
lower and the other the Supreme. The ordinary is where I
THE STORY OF ARJUNA. 259
am represented with a body having hands with discus,
conch, etc. In the other, I am Brahmic Reality of a non-dual
and an imperishable nature without any beginning or end.
All that are stated in this world to be Brahman, Param,
&c., are no other than the latter. This is the supreme aspect
of mine. So long as your mind is weak enough not to
grasp this aspect of mine, you better engage yourself in
the worship of a god with four hands. Through such a
worship, your Jnana will become full in you and you will
then attain my supreme form. Then the disease of existence
will not afflict you. Being freed from (Abhimana) identifi
cation of self with objects, Ajnana and all other attractions,
those Jnanis will ever continue in the path of Brahmic
seat, who worship my supreme reality, indifferent to plea
sures and pains and devoid of all desires. The wise say
that those who are engaged in the continued efforts of ac
tions without any Sankalpa generating desires, have burnt
all Karmas in Jnana fire. May you without afflictions be
always performing only those actions which will help you
to obtain Jnana, the Reality without any thought of world
ly prosperity or objects in the future. The wise will never
in the least deviate from the proper path into which they
are initiated by their Acharyas, whether Pralaya (deluge)
sets in with unabated fury or the Vindhya hills are shatter
ed to pieces. Through the absence of stainless Tatwa-
Jn&na, Vasanas will appear as if eternal ; but if the great
ocean of Tatwa-Jnana begins to expand in one, then it
will wash away all Vasanas.
So was Sree Krishna pleased to initiate Arjuna into ;
and then the former kept silent when the victorious Arjuna
addressed him thus.
Oh Acharya, all the pains afflicting my mind have bid
adieu to it, and like a full blown lotus at the approach of
the sun, it has merged into the Brahmic Principle.
260 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
THE STORY OF &ATA (THE HUNDRED) RUDRAS.
Summary Having 1 shewn that Jndna will arise, even
though a person is engaged in such actions as wars, &c.,
the author preceeds to state in this story that Jnana vision
will enable one to cognize Atma personally.
" Again hearken to another story," So said Vasishta to
the valiant Rama and continued " A Sannyasi (ascetic) living
in a certain country was a great Jnani, and able to go into
Samadhiat his will. Through along course ofSamddhi,he had
reached such a stage as to objectivise all mental impres
sions into real images- The Vedas say that every thought
has got its own reflected image. One day he returned
from Samddhi. And then a thought arose in his mind that
he should engage himself sportively in the ordinary actions
of the work-a-day world. With the motion of the mind (that
he shall become another person), he at once transformed
himself into another. Then no thought arose in him of rebe-
coming the Sannyasi (ascetic) he was before. Like the analogy
of a crow and the palmyra fruit, the Sannyasi became
through his desire another person named Jivata. Now the
mind functioning in the body of Jivata roamed in the streets
of a certain town produced by a similar phantasy and then
dwelt in the same. There he quaffed in sport some alcohol,
became quite excited thereby and went to sleep through
its soporific effect, like a bee intoxicated with money. In
that sleep he dreamed of becoming 1 another Brahmin, like
a tree becoming a seed. The Brahmin in the dream now
became a sovereign over earth. Then again this king be
came an erudite Brahmin in his dream. Through the mental
reflection, this Brahmin Pandit seemed as if to go to another
country and live in it for some days. Then he slept one
night and found himself transformed into a celestial lady in
his dream. She, tired of her amorous sports, was locked in
the embrace of deep sleep, when she metamorphosed herself
into a hoofed hind. This hind, while asleep, saw itself as a
creeper with which it is ever associated. Oh king, even beasts
will have in their dream the reflections of objects which their
minds have cognized in the waking state, through sight or
THE STORY OF THE HUNDRED RUDRAS. 261
hearing". This creeper which shone with diverse flowers^
soft tendrils, fruits, &c., formed, as it were, the abode for
the sylvan goddess to reside in, like sprouts latent in seed.
This goddess through her power of intelligence presided over
the whole forest and looking within, went into the Sushupti
state in which state her body of creepers was transformed into
that of a beetle. Boring its way into the lotus stalk in a pond,
it went within. Even the seeming inert worms and other
creatures with life have got their own states of consciousness
(in their own peculiar planes). While the beetle was disporting
itself in the lotus leaves in the waters, a rutting elephant
rushed into the waters and agitating them, began to squeeze
the lotuses in the tank and the beetles over them. While so,
the abovesaid beetle eyed the elephant into which the former
was transformed at once. This tusker with its long proboscis
fell into a pit. Thereupon the mahout of a certain king
bound him fast and leading him to a war made it perish. Ere
its death, it became a beetle through its association with an
other beetle.
This beetle being again reduced to dust through another
irate elephant which set up a tremendous tumult in the waters,
was tranformed into a Hamsa (swan) through such an idea.
This swan then underwent a series of incarnations in different
wombs and at last was born as an incomparable swan in the
lotus of a certain tank. This swan flew up at once in the
Akasa and seeing Rudra in his world, contemplated upon him
as itself. Thereupon it attained the form of Rudra who,
roving according to his free will and pleasure along with his
Ganas (hosts) in the world of Rudra, was full of Jnana and
became Siva itself.
It was in this stage that Rudra began to have a retros
pect of all his past lives, through his pure mind. Having as
Rudra an unobscured vision and a Jnana body, he sat in soli
tude and began to contemplate over the marvels of all his
past hundred dreams of lives, thus " Truly wonderful is
it to behold Maya deluding all in this universe with the idea
that it (the universe) is real while it is as unreal as a mirage
in an oasis. Thus have I been whirling in diverse places of
this great forest of Maya. With the creation of my mind, I
became in one creation a person by the name of Jivata. In
262 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
another creation I incarnated as a Brahmin well versed in all
departments of knowledge then a king 1 in another creation
then I underwent through a series of wombs amounting 1 to
a hundred in all. Now I am a Rudra. Enormously long
years and yugas and numberless actions have passed. Let
me therefore dive into my past many births and see them face
to face. Let me, after observing them fully, relate them to
one another and render them a homogeneous whole."
Meditating thus, Rudra traced his way to the former
Sannyasi and, having awakened him from his trance, concen
trated his mind with true Jnana. Thereupon the Sannyasi
woke up and looked about himself free from all the remini
scences of his illusory life. Again did Rudra contemplate upon
the illusory form of Jivata and reach along, with the ascetic,
a certain part of Jnana-Akas. Through them, Jivata attained
a conscious state and accompanied them both. Then all these
three Rudra, the ascetic and Jivata full of Jnana, were with
out the least surprise, though there was every reason for it.
They had three separate bodies, though they were the non-
dual Siva itself. Then they visited the several localities in which
the Brahmin and others incarnated. Being freed from all
stains, they found that the divine Jnana alone incarnated in
so many bodies and as so many resplendant Rudras. Thus did
all these Rudras* attain Jnana. Being asked by Rudra, the
real one to go to their respective places, each departed to
his own realm. Jivata, Brahmin and others then lived in
their respective seats along with their consorts, quitted their
bodies at the appointed time and merged into Siva itself.
At these words of Vasishta s, the valorous Rama re
marked upon the wondrous nature of the Muni s words and
wishing to know the cause of all these marvels said thus
" How came the Sankalpa of the Sannyasi to generate the
living forms of Jivata and others and become an actuality ?
Are not all forms created out of Sankalpa unreal ? Please
enlighten me about the same."
Vasishta replied All things are in Chit and out of Chit
only. It being all, whatever it contemplates upon as being
* The Jivas or egos are called here by the name of Rudras. This
corroborates the statement of H. P. Blavatsky that the Hindu sacred
books term the eqfos by the different appellations ofPudras, Asuras
&c.
THE STORY OF VETA LA. 263
this or that, that it becomes. This is the real truth. That
which is seen in dreams, that which arises through Sankalpa,
such a thing- will be always in that place, and will be of the
form contemplated upon. Those objects which arise through
Sankalpa or dream will not appear to be an actuality now,
except through the practice of Yoga which makes one merge in
Brahman. It is only through Yoga and Jnana, that Eswara
and other Devassee all things as they are every where. Objects
longed for, will be easily obtained by those who have practised
continued meditation. How can persons, going towards the
southern direction, be able to reach the north pole ? Those
who long for objects through their Sankalpa will attain them ;
but those who wish to attain their own Atma will never think
of objects. The ignorant mind which is the seat of all objects
before it and which fondles with Sankalpa in great amity is
impeded in its progress, if it should concentrate itself upon
two objects at the same time and not upon one of them
alone for its destruction. With the thought of one being
a Yidyadhara or a Brahmin, he becomes so. This is an illustra
tion of the Siddhi which flows out of an intense concen
trated thought. Therefore through the powerful S amadhi,
the Sannyasi s Jiva became Rudra in the non-dual Princi
ple. Then through the Sankalpa of Rudra, it understood
the real nature of all objects attained. Then Jivata and
others, who arose through the Sankalpa of the illuminated
Sannyasi saw joyfully, each their respective universes, through
Rudra s form. Through true Sankalpa, they attained Tatwa,
the Reality ; and through their Sankalpa, they reached their
seat of Rudra-Jnana.
THE STORY OF VETA LA. THE SPHYNX.
Summary Having shown that the series of births
which appear as so many illusory dreams will be of the
nature of Brahman itself through the true (divine) vision,
the author gives out this story, to furnish one more illustra
tion.
" May you be in the partless Brahmic seat, having des
troyed all the stainful Sankalpas to prevent even the dawn
264 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
of the (lower mind) and thus to be in the (Mouna) silence
of Sushupti." So said Vashista when Sri Rama question
ed him thus What is meant by the (Mouna) silence of
(Vak) Speech, organs and (Kashta) body as well as that of
Sushupti ?
To which the Muni replied thus There are two kinds of
Munis, ordinary and Supreme ; the former is called the
(Kashta) bodily Tapaswin and the latter is called a Jivan-
mukta. Oh protector of the earth, the wise say that under
the former head come those persons, who, developing- a
firm will through the process of Pranayama, control their
organs through the Hatayogic method. But those, who,
having known the true nature of the universe, contem
plate upon Atma within themselves, and are quiescent
within though moving with the world in their actions are
the pure Jivanmuktas. Therefore the true Mouna (silence)
is that exalted state in which the mind of a Muni rests.
The control of speech is Vak-Mouna, the subjugation of the
organs is Karana-Mouna ; the cessation of one s physical
actions is Kashta-Mouna ; these are the three kinds of
silence, wherein the mind s functions are not paralysed.
These three pertain to the first class of Tapaswins. But
the wise say that Brahmic bliss without beginning or end
and without the differentiated pains, whether enjoyed by
one with direct cognition of such a bliss or not is Sushupti
Mouna in Jivanmuktas. The expurgation from the mind of
all doubts, after realising firmly the illusory character of
this world with all its gunas is Sushupti Mouna. The
settled conclusion that the universe is no other than the
all-full, auspicious Jnana is termed by the wise to be Sushupti
Mouna. Equality of vision over all, and quiescence of mind
with the idea that all which are Sat, Asat, or Sat-Asat are
no other than the eternal ^Chidakas, is stated to be Sushupti
Mouna.
In the case of Yogis, this Sushpti-Mouna, has got its two
sub-divisions of Sankhya and Yoga. Those who cognize
everything to be Brahman itself, through extensive erudition,
daily unfailing (Nishta) meditation and enquiry through the
sacred books, are the Sankhya-Yogis. Those who easily
attain the supreme eternal seat through such means as the
THE STORY OF VETA LA. 265
control of Prna &c., are called the Yoga Yogis. The
eternal quiescent seat is the asylum of all. This self-same
seat is the goal of destruction for both. Should both
Prdna and mind caught in the trap of Vasanas be annihila
ted, that alone is the Brahmic Seat.
Without enquiry, the mind appears to be real ; but with
enquiry, it will vanish into thin air. Can that death be real
which one dreams of in his dreams, as occurring to himself?
Firmness of practice in the stainless non-dual Principle, con
trol of Prana and the subjugation of the mind these three
are the paths to cognize the meaning of Moksha. Out of
these three, should one of them be mastered quite, then the
good effects of all the three will be obtained, as all the three
are inseparably related to one another. If mind and Prana
cease to exist, then thoughts will not arise in any. Both
these are one only like the flower and its (Vasanas) odor or a
sesamum seed and the oil in it. Prana and mind stand to one
another in the relationship of the supporter and the support
ed. If either of them is slain, then the other also will cease
to exist. The destruction of both will confer, on all, Moksha.
So long as the thoughts of one are not thoroughly destroyed
through persistent practice, he should ever be concentrating
his mind on one truth at a time. Through such an un-
intermittent practice, one pointedness will accrue to the mind
and instantly all the hosts of thoughts will vanish.
Now listen, oh Rdma, to the queries of the powerful
Vetala waking up in the Turya state, after its long dream of
births and deaths. So saying, Vasishta continued thus Sore
pressed by hunger, a Vetala living in the great Vindhya
forest went to a foreign country for prey. It was ever in the
habit of feasting itself upon the enormous meals of the wise.
In spite of its suffering from the effects of gastric fire
within, it would never make as its prey any human being
without sufficient reasons. Will ever the great deviate from
the path of rectitude ? This Vetala left its forest for the coun
try to find out its prey of a human being, after discriminating
between a spiritual minded being and his reverse. The ruler
of that country was one night patrolling his kingdom, when
Vetala, observing him, thundered aloud to him in the
following words " Oh king, thou art now under my clut-
34
266 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
ches. Thou art going to lose thy life at the hands of myself
who am like a terrible he-lion. Thou wilt presently fall a
victim to my stomach."
The king said. " If thou wilt approach me without true
Jnana, th} head will be splintered into pieces."
Vetala replied I never slay a person without good rea
sons. I deal with all in perfect justice. As thou, O king, art
able to redress the grievances of all seekers unto thyself, I
hope thou shaltbe extending thy helping hand to me too. That
which harrows me is the doubt I have in my mind. Mayest
thou relieve me from my perplexities with the bounty of thy
replies. (The questions are the following). To which sun are
all the mundane eggs like so many scattered units ? Through
what Vayu does all the endless Akasa alias Atom shine ? What
is that light which is clear and unchanging, even though
dreams upon dreams arise in it ? What is that Atom which,
though penetrated within, preserves the same nature like a
plaintain stalk which, when bored into, preserves the same
form ? What is that non-differentiated primal atom which
expands itself into infinite small atoms of the mundane egg,
Akasa, the numberless egos, the resplendent sun, Meru and
other objects ? To what great mountain of the original
formless atom, these universes resemble a stone ?"
At these queries of Vetala, the resplendent crowned
king simply laughed. Listen, Rama, to the replies made by
the king.
The king answered " It is in the ever-dawning Jnana-
Sun, that all the universes shine. Compared to the rays of
this sun, all the universes are so many atoms only. Through
this much eulogised Sun s light the universes shine. It is the
whirlwind of Brahman that reduces to dust, Kala (Time)
Aka/u, fluctuation, Jnana and other existences, and makes
them shine in their true state. Th? all-pervading Brahman
shines in its own nature, impartife and with true quies
cence, though dreams upon dreams arise in this prolonged
dream of the universe. Like a plantain tree which, when
probed into, yields layer after layer till at last there is
the plantain stalk, so Brahman alone shines within the
infinite series of universes after universes arising deeper
and deeper in the recesses of space. It is the Brahman,
THE STORY OF BHAGEERATHA. - 267
spoken of above, that, being subtle and above all intelligence
is the supreme atom. As it is endless, it is the cause of Merii
and other objects. The vast expanse of Meru, &c, will
appear but as infinite small atoms, when compared to this.
Being unreachable, this supreme Atom of Brahman being the
Plenum is yet a great mountain. This Atma, though having
diverse forms, is yet without forms and of the nature of the
true Jnana, being the substratum of all. To this unknowable
Atma, all the universes are the Vijnana essence or marrow.
In the midst of that which is Vijnana alone, the universe
is."
Having heard these words of the king, Vetala cognized
his reality through his mind, and became of a quiescent mind
through stainless enquiry. Then retiring to a solitary place,
he entirely lost sight of all his hunger and remained in pure
Samadhi without any fluctuation of mind.
THE STORY OF BHAGEERATHA.
Summary. Having shown that all will be Brahman
through Sushupti-Mouna. the author now proceeds to illus
trate the fact that the same result can be achieved through
the giving up of Sanga.
Oh Rama, be of an illuminated mind as clear as Akasa
through the non-fluctuating internal Atma, having drawn
your mind away from objects and performing worldly things
for duty s sake only. Making your mind be at peace without
any desires or despondency, destroying your impure mind
through your pure mind and being the non-fluctuating Mouni,
non-dual, of the nature of quiescence alone and of an equal
vision over all, you will" be able to encompass all things, if
you can conduct yourself like king Bhageeratha who was c-f a
firm and pure mind unadulterated by ignorance and performed
all duties that he came across.
Rama asked " Oh Acharya through what power of mind,
was king Bhageeratha able to enjoy supreme bliss and to
bring down the divine Bhgeerathi (Ganges) from on high ?"
Muni Vasishta acquainted with the four Vedas replied
268
thus On this Earth, there lived a king by name Bhageeratha
who had cognized the non-dual Principle. He was a just
protector over earth. His hand was more liberal than Chinta-
mani(gem) itself. He was able through the introduction of the
Ganges waters to revive to life his many sires who had been
reduced to ashes* (through the mere glance of Kapila) in
Patala and thus transported them to Satya-Loka, free from
the pains of hell. He brought all subjects under the
one sway of his parasol white as the moon. Such a king
began in his infancy to observe the ways of the world,
teeming with pains. It is indeed passing strange that at such
a tender age the subtle enquiry of spiritual things should
dawn in his mind with great steadfastness. Therefore reti
ring into solitude, in order that he might give vent to his
thoughts like a flower plantin its congenial soil, he cogitated
in his mind upon the real nature of this universe composed of
heterogeneous objects utterly disconnected with one another.
There is nothing new (under the sun). All things pass away
but to re-appear under another form. Days gone by return
again ; nights recur again and again. The same gift and
the same alms-giving again and again recur. So are repeat
edly performed eating and other Karmas. Persons entan
gled in delusion perform the same things over and over with
out in the least being ashamed or tired of such acts. They
will ever be immersed in actions which make them droop
without conferring any good on them. That is true Karma
(action), the performance of which will enable one to attain
that stainless One, after which there is nothing more to be
longed after ; but all other Karmas which tend to a concep
tion of duality are nothing but poisonous diseases. Ajnanis
will ever be repeating the same acts ; but not so the Jnanis.
Bhageeratha whose mind was seized with the fear of worldly
things after a proper understanding of their true nature,
went in search of a Guru and having found one by name Tri-
thula prostrated himself at his feet and addressed in him secret
with a great trepidation of heart thus " Oh Lord of Munis,
is there any limit to the dire pains of mankind generated
* Rishi Kapila reduced through a mere glance of his eyes the 100
sons of S&gara when they troubled him in reference to the horse let
loose for Aswamedha sacrifice.
THE STORY OF BHAGEERATHA. 269
by dotage, death, delusion and other fears ? Please enlighten
me clearly on this point."
Trithula said" If thou cognizest well thy resplendent
Jnanatma, all thy pains will at once vanish ; all the bondage
of thy heart will be severed ; all doubts will be cleared up ;
,-ind all Karmas will be destroyed. Then thou wilt become
the Chinmatra (Absolute Consciousness) itself that should
be known. This Paramatma thou shalt hear about from me.
This external and all-pervading One is neither capable of
repletion or depletion. It is the true Jnana, quiescent, immacu
late, indestructible and without Gunas. Such is the One
Principle." So said the Muni Trithula without the concep
tion of duality.
Bhageeratha said How can one be without any impedi
ment of the nature of Jnana stated by the Devas, without
perceiving body and other objects which are different from
one s Self and without associating with the base worldly ac
tions ? Oh Acharya, please favour me with a reply.
Trithula said The mind will attain Swarupa Nishta
(the meditation of Reality) through its all-pervading intelli
gence. Then the supreme Jiva which has become all-forms
will never after subject itself to the base re-births. The wise,
having the acquisition of Moksha, do define Jnana as asso
ciated with the characteristics of the giving up of the attrac
tions towards wife, house, &c., indifference towards pleasures
and pains and an equal eye over all, the conception of non-
duality within though moving in body, love of solitude with
out associating with the hosts of mankind, a never-ceasing
spiritual contemplation and an intuitive direct perception-
Paths other than these will but breed pains arising from igno
rance. The annihilation of the identification of " 1" with this
body forms the panacea for the cure of the disease of birth
and death generating love and hatred. Then the Chaitanya
will be directly perceived.
Here Bhageeratha interrupted the Muni thus How is the
idea of " I" to be removed from this body which has been
serving long as its seat, like a tree on a rock ?
The supreme Acharya replied thus Should the mind be
firmly repressed from entering into objects of enjoyments and
be made to rest in the state of the all-pervading Sat, then
270 YOGA-VA SISHTA-
Ahankara will cease. If after the destruction of desires and
all objects thou art in a non-fluctuating state, then the
appearance of " 1" will be no more and the non-dual state of
Brahman will alone be. This is the Brahman declared by all
Vedas. Having" given up all conceptions of differences of
caste, orders of life, &c., having assumed poverty without an
iota of attraction towards the three kinds of desires (wife, pro
geny and wealth), having relinquished thy wealth in favor
of thy enemies as well as thy Ahankara and having given up
thy avocations and living on the alms of thy enemies if thus
thou livest without any load on thy mind, thou mayest be
come Brahman, the Supreme of Supreme.
Having heard these words of the Muni, Bhageeratha of
mountain-like shoulders was performing diverse actions with
a view to control his mind. After the lapse of some time,
he performed a noble Yajna called Agnishloma ; and all his
justly accumulated wealth was spent, after the enquiry of the
deserving and the non-deserving, amongst poor Brahmins of
divine intents, relatives and others who came over there. In
three days, he was left with nothing but a single cloth on
Amidst the deafening cries of his subjects and all others, he
abdicated his beloved country in favor of his enemy and
being replete with all the good qualities of a Muni, wandered
alone as such a personage. Fearlessly did he rove over old
towns, hills and forests wherein the citizens had not known
him through his face or name. In a short time, he dispelled
all the desires in his heart. Then he merged into Atma
through extreme quiescence of mind. Having ranged the
whole earth, he one day entered the country he had abdicated
previously in favour of his enemy, and having completely
mastered all his organs, he went from door to door to beg
alms at the gates of his former ministers and others. Per
sons, who recognized in him the former crowned king, began
to shed tears at his approach. Even when he was paid res
pects and requested by his enemy of a king to resume the scep
tre and protect his subjects, he would not give up his present
avocation and long for even the smallest trifle. Thus to the
infinite chagrin and disappointment of all, he went to foreign
places. Filled with bliss through true quiescence of mind
and without despondency of heart, he indulged in Atmic
THE STORY OF BHAGEERATHA. 271
vision within himself wherever he went along with his Guru,
whether over mountains or forests or countries. Thus did
the Acharya and his disciple become of full and equal minds ;
and supporting- their bodies, as if in sport, were listless as to
whether they had their bodies of clay or not Then roving at
pleasure and reflecting well upon the adoption of the course
consistent with the universal law, they were indifferent to
pleasures and pains or their intermediates and spurned as
paltry baubles wealth, women and the 8 Siddhis, such as
Anima, &c., and then left for a foreign country.
The king of that spacious country having died without
any male progeny, the ministers therein deliberated upon the
nomination of a successor, when the beggar Bhageeratha of
graceful mien appeared upon the spot and was pitched upon
as a fit successor to the late king. Being anointed a king, he
wielded the sceptre over his realm, protected by innumerable
hosts of armies. This news was wafted over to his former
country from which the courtiers therein repaired to him and
implored him thus " The king, whom you installed in your
stead, has expired. We are left without a ruler. So please
accept the responsibilities of ruling over our kingdom too."
As it is not proper to spurn the wealth which comes to
one of its own accord, he assented to their entreaties. So
Bhageeratha of beautiful breast, began to rule over the whole
earth. Maintaining a perfect silence (or control over senses),
quiescence of mind and an equal vision over all, he was
without desires or oscillations to extremes. So following the
even path of rectitude in all affairs, he performed a faultless
Tapas for many years to emancipate his grandsires, brought
down on earth the divine river Ganges, and established it
there without any decay of its sacredness.
272 VOGA-VA SISHTA.
THE STORY OF SIKHIDWAJA.
Summary In this story, it is sought to show that the
path to the higher goal will be rendered smooth by an
A charya who is able to make his disciple progress through
various means as well as by true renunciation, though many
obstacles may intervene.
"Oh mayest thou merge thyself in thy all-peaceful Atma,
like the King Sikhidwaja who annihilated that Great Bird
called mind." So spoke Vasishta to Rama, whereupon the
latter questioned him thus: "Tell me, O Guru, who was this
King Sikhidwaja, who was absorbed in the ecstatic enjoyment
of all-embracing bliss ? Be pleased to bestow on me thy bless
ing, so that Jnana, which is the basis of every thing, may
arise in me and wax to its fullest strength." Thereupon the
Muni thus replied : "This king who bore the name Sikhid
waja was born in the Dwapara Yuga after the seven Manus*
who presided over the country like the sun had passed away.
His justice knew no bounds, and he was moreover devoid of
the bad qualities arising from desire. For he was replete
with the goodness of charity and other virtues, and preserved
that silence which avoids the discord born of words. He had
cultivated mental and also bodily restraint and other powers
of will, and especially delighted in doing good toothers. The
partner of his marriage was Chudalaif born through Tapas in
the womb of the Queen of the Sourashtra country, who
resembled the peacock in beauty, and could not in the space
of the whole world find one to compare with her in her
imperishable virtue. And these two lived together in perfect
happiness with their two minds interblended performing all
actions without the least difference of opinion, having mas
tered all the departments of knowledge. Delightfully indeed
they passed their youth, as if but one breath of life pervaded
in common their bodies. As the years glided sweetly by,
* The seventh Manu is Vaivasvata who is our present Manu.
t The present story, though intended to illustrate the idea of
Acharya s grace and true renunciation, has itself an esoteric meaning
underlying it. For instance, Chudalai is composed of two roots mean
ing, resting on the head. Hence that which rests on the head, or the
Pineal Gland, is Buddhi the Atmic Ray. It is Chudalai who though
the wife of S ikhidwaja yet initiates him into Jnana. S ikhidwaja means
one having the peacock flag. Close students will understand from the
color of the peacock that he typifies the higher Manas.
THE STORY OF SIKHIDWAJA. 273
their ephemeral youth passed away like water from a broken
pot, and middle age fell upon them, like flakes of snow on
lotuses in the waters of a rivulet. Like water trickling from
O
the palm of the hand, so their lives sped away, day by day.
Then the desires, which had in youth expanded themselves
more and more like a gourd plant that grows in the rainy
season, ever winding itself round and round, began to lessen
like waters in the time of autumn. All the pleasures that once
arose in the body now darted from out it, like arrows from a
bow. Just as a plantain tree grows useless after it has put
forth its fruit-bunches, so they became indifferent to worldly
actions after tasting of their fruit. In unison of heart they
thus both began to contemplate : Of a surety that is the most
beneficial state from which the mind, when it once reaches it,
never returns to another. But such a discriminative state is
impossible in the case of those plunged in mundane existence.
Therefore the most exalted Adhyatmic-Jnanic knowledge alone
is the sure panacea for the cure of the disease of re-birth.
Coming thus to the conclusion that re-birth cannot be
avoided except through Atma-Jnana alone, both betook them
selves to such a life, with their minds absorbed in it and with
true meditation. And for the attainment of their wish they
ever associated with the wise and learned. Thus did they
live long together, exulting over their store of accumulated
knowledge and leading a practical life of spirituality in ac
cordance with that knowledge. Then the Lady Chudalai, of
true discrimination, having heard and clearly understood the
real signification of the Sastras, taught by the wise for the
attainment of the different stages leading to the realms of the
higher spirituality, thus began to commune with herself:
" While there exists Atma (as I clearly perceive it), to
what do we apply the term 1 ? Whence is this delusion in
the mind ? To whom is it due ? How and whence did it arise ?
How can we apply the term 1 to the body visible to us ?
As the body is inert and ignorant, therefore the term * T
cannot be applied to it. Again, can the term I be applied
to the ten organs which vitalise the body ? No, since like a
tile which is moved by a rod, the ten inert and separate sense-
organs (Indryas) are moved by the flitting mind. Can the
term I be applied to the Manas which agitates, through
35
274 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
its power of Sankalpa, the organs ? No, since even the
Manas is inert, being goaded on to action by the certainty of
Buddhi, like a stone flung from a sling. Nor is * I* Buddhi,*
as it is in turn galvanised by Ahanka"ra. Nor is it the baneful
Ahankdra which galvanises Buddhi, as it (Ahankdra) is the
inert seat of Jiva (the higher ego). Once more, can I be
applied to Jiva which moves Ahank^ra ? Being of the nature
of actions and Prna, it rests in the heart and there enjoys
the bliss of Pratyag&tma. Hence Jiva is not I ; thus I
have now learnt through this enquiry that what renders Jiva
blissful is Atma, the true Jnna. Such a Jnana will never be
bedimmed by objects, but will ever become clearer and clearer.
My own Jiva exists only through Atmic reality, the eternal
Jnana. Verily the state of Jiva, which gets, ensnared by objects
through Jncina, may well be likened to that of water standing
in a deep pool, or an odor wafted by the breeze. This Jndna-
power, ensnared by the perception of objects which are illu
sory and composed of Tamas, becomes besmeared and conse
quently inactive : hence is the present Jiva oblivious of its true
state, like heat in a copious supply of water. Thus does the
true Chit-^akti, become the Jiva, and, having become unreal
and Tamasic through longing after objects, cognises again its
true state through Atma-Jnana (by re-becoming that Jnna).
This Atma-Jndna is known only through one s self and
not through another. I have now cognised Atma-Jna"na,
which can be done only after endless geons of time. Through
the non-cognition of the all-pervading nature of the Supreme
Consciousness, there arose in us the six organs, but if that
true Chit is thoroughly cognised, then Manas and the others
are found to be quite illusory. The immeasurable Plenum of
Jn&na alone truly is. This Jnna is also called Maha. This
self-light that is stainless, without suffering, inequality or
egoism, goes also by the appellations of Parabrahm or Param,
and shines everywhere at the same time, being eternal, all-
pure and all-potent."
And thus it happened that through her divine intro-vision,
the queen enjoyed daily the consciousness of the reality of
* In the Hindu Ved&r.tic works, Buddhi, Manas, Ahankdra and
Chitta are the four aspects of the lower mind. Buddhi should not be
taken as the A tmic vehicle, as in Theosophical literature.
THE STORY OF SIKHIDWAJA. 275
Atma, and remained steadfast in that condition. Also through
the strict performance of her daily actions, without the least
onging after their fruits, all her desires and the tendency
of her mind towards objects entirely ceased nor was she
troubled by the pairs of opposites , or desires, or hatred.
Thus in the performance of actions without attachment
to results, her mind ripened and became the receptacle
of bliss. Then through the unceasing practices which
developed in her, Atmic reality that true realisation of
certainty which is beyond all compare and cannot be estima
ted by any except one s self became to her direct cognition,
and she shone with a radiant spiritual light* and became
like a soft tendril bearing flowers.
Now it came to pass that King Sikhidwaja, noticing with
pleasure the glorious effulgence that shone more and more
round the form of his wife, and marvelling to see a glory
which surpassed any he had seen before, gave utterance to
the following words :
* How is it, O beloved one, that you now appear radiant
with so much beauty, as if your youth had returned to you, as
if you had become as it were the prototype of beauty, had
quaffed divine nectar and attained the Brahmic seat of eternal,
heavenly bliss ? How happens it that your mind is now
blessed with tranquillity, devoid of the desire of enjoyment
and free from instability ? By what chance do you possess
this perfect beauty of both mind and body ? By your purity,
I desire you to answer me.
To this Chuddlai vouchsafed the following reply :
" Having abandoned this universe, which is both rupa and
arupa, I attained that mighty and incomparable One
which survives the destruction of all things in the uni
verse; hence the radiant Tejas in my body. I have cog
nised that which is the substratum of all, being the atom
of atoms and the homogeneous whole without creation
or destruction ; thus arises this radiant Tejas in my form.
Though I do not enjoy objects of the senses, yet do
I derive happiness therefrom without the pains attendant
upon such enjoyment, and therefore love and hatred have
* This corroborates the fact that when one becomes a Brahma-
gnani, a Tejas or spiritual glory arises in him,
276 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
taken farewell of me. I exult through the divine vision
(taught of in books) in the company of Jnna, the mistress
of the household, who has love and hatred as hand-maidens
performing mental duties. Hence do I glory in the posses
sion of contentment and bodily beauty. In no way affected
by the objects which I perceive by my eyes and through my
mind, I realise within myself that Consciousness (Chaitanya)
which has not the characteristics of the universe but is un-
create. Thus arises my beauty."
At these words of Chudaldi, her husband the king, with
out even trying to probe deeper into her heart, simply smiled
at her with a look of derision and addressed her thus: * O
damsel with waist like a slender plant, thou hast uttered
words which but ill-suit thee. Thou speakest as one who has
lost his mental balance. How is it possible for thee, who
revellest in the luxuries of regal wealth, to cognise Atma?
Even the greatest of men, who, after giving up this paltry
universe, have attained that exalted all-pervading principle,
have done so only after disconnecting themselves from this
visible universe. How is it, Lady, that thou can st aspire
after that which can be directly cognised by the wise only r"
Thou can st be said to enjoy it only as those unfortunate per
sons do, who not being able to attain that state, profess to
have sensed it intuitionally within, and then turn away in
sheer disgust. Therefore tell me what thou meanest ? How
can persons like thee of the above class be able to realise the
fact that they see Atma within. Thou art but a fragile crea
ture, without intelligence, unstable, liable to be tossed to
and froby emotion. So saying, he laughed aloud and departed.
At this Chudalai only pitied the ignorance of the king, and
became cairn with the consciousness of the Atma-Jnana within,
thinking that the king had not appreciated her words through
his conception of the duality of the visible universe and his
lack of enjoyment of true bliss.
Yet this couple continued to live together harmoniously
and happily as before. Preserving as she did a perfect equili
brium of mind, the wife had complete mastery over her desires.
But there arose in her, through her own volition, a desire to
be a " walker of the skies" (in order to convince her husband
of her real powers and so lead him into the spiritual path).
THE STORY OF SIKHIDWAJA, 277
For this purpose she freed herself from all pains arising from
enjoyment and seated herself in a solitary spot, in a pleasant
posture, in order to obtain enlightenment.
At this point Rama asked Vasishta to enlighten him
as to the path by which such psychic powers as walking
in the Akasa, &c., might be developed after a long and
difficult course of practice. Vasishta replied thus: "Albeit
thou hast in the midst of the story of Sikhidvvaja
asked for some light to be thrown on the practice of
Yoga, yet I shall vouchsafe a reply to thee. O king,
hearken to the means which having enabled one to control
Prana, will yield him a rich return. The first and fundamental
essential is that one should divest himself of all affinities for
objects, except those which adhere to the mind in the further
ance of those actions upon which it is bent. Next follow
proper diet, easy posture, purity of mind and body, knowledge
of the true meaning of the many treatises on Yoga and
unintermittent practice accordingly, with the help of a wise
Guru. He should completely divest himself of all anger and
greed as well of attachment to enjoyments and should be free
from all love or hatred for others. If he should only study
practically the nature of the Pranas and then master them,
their nature will, like subjects, enable him to rule the universe,
to attain Moksha like and develope Siddhis. There is among
the one hundred Nadis one incomparable, called Antraveshtini
It is spherical, like a vortex, or the circular sounding-board
of the vina. This will be found to pervade all places and all
bodies from those of Brahma down to Jiva (the Ego). Like
the coiling body of a serpent when it sleeps, shivering with
cold, this ever-immoveable Nadi coils itself up and rests firmly
through Prana-Vayu. Like a plantain flower it is exceedingly
delicate within. In this ISTadi, it is said, there is a pure
and resplendant Sakti (power) called Kundalini which will
enable men to have mastery over the tremendous powers
of nature. This Sakti will ever be hissing like an angry
female serpent. It will ever rear its head aloft. It is the
cause of the fluctuation which takes place in the mind. All
the other Nadis are connected with this Kundalini Sakti. This
Sakti becomes purified only by the immaculate rays ofjn&na.
It is transformed into the Jnana rays through meditation ;
278 YOGA-VA SISMTA.
becomes Jnana through Jnana ; a Jiva through the tendencies
of a Jiva ; Manas through Manasa (contemplation) ; the mani
fold Sankalpa through Sankalpa ; Buddhi through certain
knowledge and Ahankara through egoism. Thus this Sakti
rejoices in the name of Puriashtaka. Kundalini Sakti passing
as Jiva associates itself with the body which derives great
benefit therefrom. Being of the nature of Prana and Apana,
it goes up and down. As it is without fixity it becomes of
the nature of all and may take an upward course or a down
ward one. And it is this Sakti which, though it becomes
without any hindrance, the Jiva, produces death in the body
through the Pranavayus. Should the upward and downward
actions of this Kundalini Sakti be arrested through the con
trol of Prana and this Prana be made to rest in the heart,
then diseases will not affect permanently those having such
control."
At these words of Vasishta, Rama interposed and
said : " Please enlighten me as to the origin and des
truction of mental disease as well as those arising there
from.* In answer to this Yasishta thus continued : " The
pains that afflict the body are called the secondary diseases,
whilst the Vasanas that affect the mind are termed men
tal (or primary) diseases. We have reached our present
state through the absence of the transcendental Jnana, the
want of mastery over our organs and the perpetual growth of
desires and egoism in the mind. And our delusion becomes
intensified in us by forgetfulness of the degradation of our
state through such causes. With the concretion of such
delusion, the mental disease also setting in congeals in us like
the plenteous snows of winter. Then when the intense desires
of a person begin to manifest themselves externally and the
Ajnana in him preponderates, he performs fearful karmas and
these in their turn breed bodily diseases. Again, the body is
further subject to diseases through such actions as the eating
of unwholesome food, living in unhealthy countries, and doing
things at unseasonable hours, injuries inflicted, association
with the wicked, longing after improper things, evil desires,
bad thoughts, the distention and contraction of the orifices of
the Ndis in the joints, &c., and the interrupted flow of the
beneficial Pranas throughout the body these cause the body
\
THE STORY OF SIKHIDWAJA. 279
to shrink away. Then these blossom in the form of diseases
in the body, waxing and waning- like the floods in a river
during the long seasons of autumn and winter. The body
attracts to itself effects according to the nature of its count
less affinities good or bad, whether in previous births or in
the present one. Thus do we see that diseases, primary and
secondary arise through the five-fold Bhutas (elements).
Now listen, O Rama, as to the manner in which the two
forms of disease, primary and secondary, perish in two ways.
The wise say that primary disease has two sub-divisions into
Samclnya (ordinary) and Sdra (essential). The former in
cludes the diseases incidental to the body, while the latter the
re-birth men are subject to. If the diseases which afflict this
body return to their primal source, then they are destroyed.
Their primary causes being (bad) thoughts, if these thoughts
are destroyed, all bodily diseases will vanish. But the disease
of re-birth, coming under the head of Sara, will never perish
except through Atma-Jnana. Is it possible to suppose that
the misconception of a serpent in a rope will be removed
except through the discovery of the real rope ? But those
grievous diseases of the body, which do not arise through the
original cause, can be extirpated by mantras, medicine and
the many means proposed by men well-versed in medical lore
I need not expatiate upon this subject any further here."
Here Rama asked Vasishta how mental diseases arise
and how they are destroyed. Vasishta thus proceeded : -
" When the fixed Manas is agitated, then this body also fol
lows in its wake. And when the body is agitated, then there
is no proper perception on things that are in one s way and
Prana flies from its even path into a bad road : then it will
stagger from its proper road like an animal hit by, and reel
ing under the wound of, an arrow. Through such an
agitation Prana instead of pervading the whole body, steadily
and equally, will vibrate everywhere at an unequal rate.
Thereby the Nadis will not maintain a steady position (like elec
tric wires, but will quiver). Then to the body which is the
receptacle of food digested partially or completely, the Nadis
are simply death, through the fluctuation of the Pranas. The
food which settles itself down in this body amidst such a
commotion is transformed into incurable diseases. Thus
280 TOGA-VA SISHTA-
through the primary cause (of the mind) is the disease of the
body generated. If this primary cause be annihilated at its
root then all diseases will be destroyed. Now hear the path
by which diseases may be removed by the uttering of mantras.
Like base gold, which when placed in the crucible is trans
muted through alchemical processes into pure gold, the mind
is unfailingly rendered pure through true, virtuous and pure
actions and through dependence upon the wise. In the mind
purified thus there will thrill unalloyed bliss. Is not the
whole world exhilarated with joy when the soft and delicious
moon begins to shed its silvery light on it ? If the mind be-
comes purified with true Satwaguna, then Prana-Vayu will
begin to circulate freely throughout the body, the food taken
in will be digested properly and hence no diseases will arise.
I have thus described to you the path through which can be
destroyed the two kinds of diseases."
" Now hearken to what is taught regarding the path of
Yoga, which enables one to master Kundalini &akti. To the
Jiva rejoicing in the name of Puriashtaka, Kundalini is like
a flower, the seat of the Vusanas. If, through the practice of
Puraka (inspiration), the aforesaid Kundalini Sakti is reple
nished and caused to shine with a resplendent light, then the
body acquires the stability of Mali a* Meru, and becomes strong.
Then, if the Intelligence pervading this body which is filled
with Prana through inspiration takes an upward course, it
will make that body become a walker of the skies. With
the agility of a serpent, Kundalini Sakti will rise up erect like
a plantain-stalk. Having drawn into itself (from on high) all
the Nadis that bind up the body like strings, it will cause
them to inflate from below, as does a bladder although im
mersed in water. Thus, through intense practice of Yoga,
the Yogis rise up into the air, and roam therein, though con
nected with the body), as a fish that pecks at, and is caught
by the bait upon the rod of an angler.
If this Kundaiini Sakti gets into Sushumna, going up the
Brahmarandhra, and having reached a distance of twelve
digits (from the nose), stays there for two Muhurtas (48 mi
nutes) after performing Rechaka (expiration), by which the
actions of all Nadis are arrested ; then the person is able to
see all walkers of the skies. Then, through the Divine
THE STORY OF S IKMIDWAJA. a8l
Vision, hosts of Siddhas, able to confer such powers as Anima,
&c., will truly appear before him, as things do in the dream
state. If the immoveable Prna is rendered steady for a long
time, flowing to a distance of 12 digits from the face through
the practice of Rechaka, then entry into other bodies can be
effected."
Here R&ma asked Vasishta as to how such persons are
able to make themselves atomic or all-pervading in the Akasa
or to render their bodies light or heavy. And when thus asked
by Rama, the Muni continued ; " There is that One Princi
ple which is non-dual, Absolute Consciousness, perfect equality,
purity, quiescence, that has no sort of relationship to the
things of the universe, the most subtile of all subtile things,
which neither is this universe, nor is associated with it.
Through its own Sankalpa, it differentiates (into many units).
Then it goes by the name of Jiva, on account of the many
surrounding things which agitate it. This fluctuating Jiva,
subject to the delusions of Sankalpa, regards this illusory
body as real, as ghosts are regarded by ignorant lads.
The world will judge of this Jiva by the opinions of the
majority of enlightened men in every age, who discern
with trained minds. It is only by the exercise of a deter
mined will that persons, although ignorant, can transform
poison into nectar, and the reverse, thus entirely chang
ing the nature of things. By contemplating the body, it
becomes gross ; and thus also the visible body, through the
conception of its unreal nature, again becomes a subtile one,
All psychic powers, such as Anima, and others acquired
through meditation, are awakened by this course (of Will-
Thought) alone. This will be self-evident only to those who
have mastered the Siddhis of Yoga through self-illumination."
" Having by these means developed the powers of Anima,
&c., Chudnlai instantaneously moved and disported herself
in all the universe, encircled by the ocean full of jewels, simply
for the purpose of bringing home conviction to her husband s
mind. This lady who was not, at any time, a celibate, tried
by all available arts to give her husband some idea of the
bliss-giving Jnana ; but he was unable to benefit himself there
by, nor even for a moment to gain repose in that pure Jnna.
Like a child entirely ignorant of what education means, he
283 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
was quite oblivious to all the noble qualities of that grand
Yogini Chudalai. As he did not rest peacefully in the Atmic
Jnana within himself, she never initiated him into the real
secrets of Jnana. Would any one be so foolish as to com
municate to Sudras (who have no longing for knowledge)
the real secrets of Yajna (sacrifice) ?"
At these words of Vasishta, Rama questioned him thus:
" How can others obtain Jnana, O Acharya, when even King
&ikhidwaja failed to do so, notwithstanding the repeated
inculcations of it by Chudalai of great Siddhis ? What is
therefore the right way of obtaining the true end ?" To
which Vasishta thus replied: "It is faith in the words of
the Guru that paves the way for Brahma-upadesa (initiation
into Brahman). The pure and unalloyed intelligence of the dis
ciple is alone the means of attaining to the rare Atma-Jndna."
Here again Rama asked the Muni why an Acharya s words
should be necessary for the development of Atma-Jna"na, if the
disciple s pure intelligence is alone the means of it ? At
which Vasishta continued thus : * In a certain forest in the
Vindhya Mountains, there lived a hunter, who was a man of
great pedigree. One day, having lost a cowrie-shell whilst
travelling along a grassy road in the forest, he went in quest
of it, filled with grief. Having vainly searched for it three
days, he came at last in contact with a gem radiant with the
lustre of the full-moon- But the hunter passed by the gem
a gem so invaluable as to purchase even the seven worlds
in his anxiety to find the lost cowrie. Similarly, Jn&na will
come to a man in due season through the initiation of a Guru.
When the mind is concentrated on one thing, there v\ill arise
in it, through the action of the Guru, another kind of know
ledge, not anticipated. Though the initiation by an Acharya
will rot of itself enable a person to obtain Jnna, it will be
the rowans of developing Jn^na in him, as the lost cowrie was
the cause of the hunter finding the & em."
With this, Vasishta returned to the story of Sikhidwaja.
" Being without Atma-Jnana, the King began to reel under
illusion and gave way to grief, regarding the enormous wealth
he had so easily acquired as destructive as a great forest-fire.
He therefore gave various rare gifts, underwent many religi
ous observances, and bathed in the holy water ; but yet he
THE STORY OF S IKHIDWAJA. 283
was not free from the load of grief in his mind. Sorely
afflicted at heart, he drew to him his wife Chudalai, and
poured forth his heart to her thus : I have now abandoned
all love of sovereignty and wealth, and 1 desire to enter the
forest life. Neither pleasure nor pain, danger nor wealth, will
there haunt those who live noble lives. Let me no longer
associate with the delusions of this earth. A forest life is,
in all respects, preferable to the regal one, wherein the long
ing after life and property do not die. Even the cool moon
or the God Brahma, or Indra, the Lord of the Devas rolling
in great wealth, cannot enjoy that bliss which comes to a self-
centred mind free from desires. Therefore, do not blame me
for leaving you thus, and going to the forest Married women,
O well-beloved ! will not oppose the desires of their husbands.
To this Chudalai replied : Flowers begin to blossom in the
spring season, while autumn sees them yielding fruit. Thus
do our Karmas begin to fructify in their due time. If the body
should begin to droop with old age, when bodily desires sub
side, then is the forest a fitting abode. But, at this period of
your life, it is not meet that you should retire ; wherefore it
behoves you not to go now. To this the King made
answer ; * Do not impede me in my plans. I will go to the
forest for solitude ; but as thou art young, it is not proper
that yon should accompany me. Thou shalt reign over
the earth unfailingly in my stead. When a husband goes
from home, it is the wife s duty to protect those around
him, and not to languish at his absence. Thus saying
he retired to his bath. The day beng over, he performed
his Sandhyavandhana* rites, and, having quietly slept by
his wife upon the floor, he stole out in the dead of night,
unperceived by her. Having given out to the people
outside that he was going on a city patrol, he desired
them to stay where they were, and departed from the
town. Then, bidding adieu to his great, but enslaving posses
sions, he entered into the forest, crossing, in the course of
twelve days, many rivers and hills. At last he reached the in
accessible forest on the slopes of the Mandara Hills, and took
up his abode there, in a spot surrounded by tanks replete with
* The daily prayers wherein the Gayatri and other Mantras are
recited every morning, noon and evening.
284 YOGA-VA lISHrA.
lotuses, and by delicious flowers. There he erected a parna-
.i!a (raised shed), and furnished himself with a bamboo-
rod, a rosary for recitation of Mantras, a cloth, vessels to
hold fruits, &c , and deer skins. Then, in order to perform
Tapas, in the first Yama^three hours), he performed the San-
dhyavandhana rites ; in the second, he gathered flowers ; in
the third he performed worship to Devas ; and in the fourth
he fed upon fruits fit for food. All night through he was en
gaged in the chanting of Mantras. Thus did the King per
form Tapas.
Chudalai who : was sleeping in the palace, awoke; and
not finding her lord who had lain by her, was greatly afflicted ;
and then she melted with compassion at the condition of the
King, who she inferred must have abandoned all his wealth
and gone to the forest. Then she resolved to find out the where
abouts of her husband, for the husband is a wife s only goal.
She sprang forth (in her double), and passing through the win
dow, went up into the sky, journeying through the air with so
bright a face that the Siddhas in the skies exclaimed, " Lo !
another moon has arisen here !" Then seeing her husband
travelling in the forest with a bright scimitar in his hand, she
meditated as to what course she should pursue in regard to
him. Having done so, this sweet-tongued one came to the
following conclusion : " It is right that I should see him
only after his desires and hatred have ceased." With that
she returned to her palace.
This divine lady gave out to her subjects that her hus
band had gone to a certain place on matters of a private
nature. So she wielded the sceptre alone for eighteen years
with true regal justice and an equal eye to all, thus passing
her time in her palatial mansion ; while at the same time the
King eked out his life of suffering in the forest.
Finding that the time was ripe for her to see her husband,
she went forth one night and walked the skies. Having
mounted on the shoulders of Vdyu (airj, invisible to all, she
alighted on the Mandara Hills, and saw there a decrepit and
melancholy body, which, at first, she did not know for her
husband ; but having, by her powers of great Yoga, discover
ed it to be none other than he, she yielded to her grief and
gave vent to these words : Lo ! dire is Ajn&na 1 Through
THE STORY Of s lKHIDWAJA. 285
it the King is groaning 1 in pain. I have undoubtedly the
power to confer Atma-Jnana on him at this instant ; yet, lest
he should spurn me if I, his young wife, should appear in my
present form, I will assume another form suitable to accom
plish my end. Moreover, the King is in a state of mind which
permits of his Ajnana (ignorance) being dissipated. At a
single word from me, JnAna will reflect itself in his now
ripened mind.
Therefore, availing herself of this most opportune hour,
she changed her bodily form by her incomparable Dhyana,
and descended from the Akasa before her husband under the
form of the son of a great Brahmin. The King at once arose,
and paid him all due respect. This young Brahmin had a
beauteous form, and, upon his breast, was a garland of
pearls ; he wore a white cloth and a sacred thread ; and stood
in the air at some distance from the ground. The King
showed the newly. arrived guest to a seat beside him. The
young Brahmin returned the salutations of this royal Rishi of
true Tapas, and took a seat by his side ; when the King,
with a full heart, thus spoke : It is only now with your
advent, son of a Deva, that I have reaped the fruits of Atma.
So saying, he showered on the youngBrahmin more devotions,
regarding him as his holy tutelary god. The Brahmin,
advocating the King, said : 4 Who in the world has the
graceful qualities and modesty which you evince ? May you
live long ! Did you, with a ste.-xdfast mind and with all worldly
delusions extinct in you, perform Tapas only for the sake
of obtaining salvation ? Your abode in this forest, after
abandoning the state of a King like unto Indra, may well
be likened to Tapas performed on the point of a sword !
At these words of the Brahmin, the King said : Being a
god, thou hast well understood my condition. This thy know
ledge surprizes me ; whose son art thou, and what is thy
name? What occasion has brought thee here ? Be pleased
to tell me all this. To this the Brahmin, consenting to answer
him fully, thus began : There was a Brahmin of the name
ofNdrada, like unto the true Jnana-light, and he sat in a
delightful spot on the banks of the Ganges of holy waters,
absorbed in Nishta (meditation). In the transition stage from
that highest Samadhi down to the normal state, a sportive
286 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
sound fell upon his ears, and he directed his gaze in the direc
tion whence it came. There he saw some Deva-girls, like
unto Arambha and Tilothama*, of matchless beauty. Seeing
them thus alone, and not ashamed of their nudity, his Prana
began to fluctuate, and he experienced the effects of sensual
desire in himself. When the Brahmin had said this, the King
remarked : I have attained perfect equilibrium of mind
through the sweet nectar of your words. It is difficult for me
to follow their meaning as they are mystical like those per
taining to Paramarta (the reality of the Higher Self).
Therefore please inform me plainly of your origin/ To which
Chudalai, the Brahmin s son, continued to reply: Then,
having fastened the must-elephant of the ever-fluctuating
mind to the great pillar of true discrimination with the strong
rope of love by the aid of the goad of true intelligence, the
Muni N3rada (caused that to be done, which produced the
embryo). Then the embryo began to grow like the luxuri
ant moon in the Milky Ocean. Having been endowed by
Narada with a never-failing wealth of knowledge and other
gifts, I, who issued out of the Pot, as the son of N&rada, was
taken over to the presence of Brahma, who, as in duty bound
to me, his own grandson, paved my way to the attainment
of the goal of Brahma-Jnana. Immediately my grandfather
called me by the title of Kumbha-Muni, as I was born in a
Kumbhaf (pot). The noble Saraswati is my mother; Gaya-
tri I my junior mother. I was always engaged in sporting with
my friends, the four stainless Vedas. At these words of
Kumbha-Muni, the King said that he had reaped great benefit
from the Muni s present visit to him, and felt assured that all
he said was true. Kumbha-Muni said that he had truly related
his own life, and desired the King to inform him of his identity
and origin. The King made reply: Being afraid of the
worries of existence, I sought freedom from actions in this
* These are the female powers in Swarloka.
f This probably refers to the advent of all egos which are so only
through their limitation, just as things are deposited in a limited recep
tacle as that of a pot. Hence, Chudalai does not make a false report
of herself, as in describing- the origin of all egoes she describes that of
herself too. Kumbha-Muni is the name of Agastya Rishi.
J Gayatri, Savitri, and Saraswati, are said to be the wives of Rudra,
Vishnu and Brahma ; hence the negative aspects of the trinity of nature.
THE STORY OF s lKHIDWAJA. 287
forest. I go by the name of &ikhid\vaja, and am here, after
having relinquished my regal duties. My mind stands aghast
at this ever-recurring cycle of re-births. Though I made
Tapas here after obtaining all things necessary for that pur
pose, I have but enhanced beyond description my pains in the
endeavour to do away with them. Oh incomparable Muni,
milk has indeed been converted into poison !
Then Kumbha-Muni, addressing the King, replied :
There will be true bliss only when the Jnana instilled into
a disciple by the Acharya (Guru) truly fructifies in him. Are
not all acts of Tapas simply diversions to while away the
time ? Oh King, to those without Jnana, Karma is alone their
security. Virtuous actions serve, but to remove the impure
Vasanas. Therefore, Karmas are useful only in so far as
they confer upon us heavenly and other pleasures. If the
impure Vasanas are destroyed, then the effects of all Karmas
cease alike, as the effects of one season cease when another
sets in. Like reeds which never produce fruit, Karmas freed
from the varying Vasanas never fructify. If, through the
sure conviction that all is Brahma, Ajn&na is destroyed,
impure Vasanas will never arise. Who is so foolish as to
suppose there is water in a mirage? If the Vasanas alone
are destroyed, then birth, old age or death, will not affect
one, and he will reach the immaculate Brahmic seat. All
minds associated with Vasanas are but differentiated Ajnana
itself; but a mind -without them" is the unborn Atma-Jnana
itself. If through the immaculate Jnana, the Jiva (ego)
cognizes Brahman, then all births cease. Since even Brahma
and the other Great Ones have said that Jnana alone is the
most excellent of all things, how is it that you do not long
after it ? How is it that you do not question yourself as to
who you are, whence came the Universe, and into what it
will be absorbed ? Why do you repine at your lot like the
ignorant ? Why is it, that after having prostrated yourself
at the feet of a great Guru, you do not try to understand
from him the nature of bondage and Moksha ? If, approach
ing those persons who look equally upon all things through
their abundant Jnana you are ceaselessly engaged in the
noble pursuits of enquiry, then you will surely gain that
subtile Jnana which leads to emancipation !
288 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
" At these words of Kumbha-Muni, the king 1 shed tears of
joy and said : Oh Acharya, I, poor soul, have learnt all
this (the attainment of bliss through Atma-Jnana) by thy grace.
I am here in this solitary forest, having left the company of
great men through Ajnana. I have this moment been released
from the pains of existence. Since thou deigned to be pre
sent with me in this forest, and hast deemed it thy duty to
point out the path to me, thou alone art my Acharya, my
parent and my friend. Therefore, do I prostrate myself be
fore thee as thy steadfast disciple. Be thou graciously pleased
to accept me as thy Chela. Be pleased, O thou equal unto
Brahma, to enlighten me upon that One Principle which thou
hast cognized as the most bounteous, the One which, if
known by a person, relieves him from all pains, and confers
the blissful Sat."
To which Kumbha-Muni replied : I can enlighten you,
only if you will concentrate your mind, which now runs quick
ly from one object to another, with singleness of purpose.
Otherwise the Guru s words, taken lightly and not conceived
and meditated upon, would be of no avail even though heard.
How can the eyes perceive objects in the darkness ? Here
the king affirmed that he would receive the words with impli
cit faith, as the teachings of the Vedas, and would meditate
upon them truly through the Muni s grace. On hearing these
words, the lovely Muni continued : I have to demand as a
first condition that you, O valiant king, w-ill hear my words
without interruption, and, in the full belief that they will con
duce to your welfare, as in the attitude of an ignorant child
that hears the words of its father who is solicitous of its well-
being. Therefore, in order to instruct the King, the Muni thus
continued : O king, please hearken to a story I shall relate
to you, and I will afterwards reveal to you its hidden mean
ing.
In ancient times, there lived a great man, well-versed in
all departments of knowledge, and possessed of great wealth ;
but, alas ! without Atma Jnanam. This person pursued the
search for Chinthamani, (a gem supposed to yield anything
thought of), with much effort. Through the performance of
rare Tapas, he came into possession of it after a good deal of
trouble ; for what cannot a man attain to if he takes the
THE STORY OF S IKHIDWAJA. 289
necessary trouble ? Now, when the gem appeared to him,
shining with the lustre of the moon, he, without bringing it
under his grasp, ^thus soliloquized : * I fear this is not Chinthd-
mani, but only some paltry stone. Can it be otherwise
attained than by long and tedious search and when a man s
life is nearly spent and his body debilitated by the search ? Sin
ful persons like myself will never attain it, though they sub
ject themselves to all kinds of hardship. The virtuous and
some of them only will come by it. Shall individuals acquire
things readily by mere repining, and without regard to their
respective Karmas ? I am but a man ; my Tapas is very
significant, and my powers small. In short, I am poor in all
respects. Therefore can it be possible for poor me to behold
the rare Chinthamani before me ? I will proceed to make
further search for it. And thus saying, he let slip the golden
opportunity, and the real Chinthamani vanished from his
sight. Shall good ever accrue to the ignorant ? Thus did he
again go in search of the gem, with great pains. After thus
wandering in a perturbed state for some days, some Siddhas
(persons possessed of psychic powers), intending to befool him,
screened themselves from his view, and let drop in his path a
broken piece of earthen bracelet, which he no sooner saw than
he picked it up. Then, this deluded man, mistaking it for the
true Chinthamani, began to exult in its discovery and to mar
vel over it. Being in possession of this burnt gem, he re
nounced all his wealth, fully believing that the gem would
fetch him anything he wanted, and that his present posses
sions were superfluous. Therefore, he gave up his country
and retired to the forest, believing that happiness could only
be obtained there apart from the men of depraved tendencies
in his own land. Thus did this man, who had anticipated the
enjoyment of real bliss through this stone, subject himself to
all kinds of hardships, and degrade himself to the lowest level.
Hear from me another story which will be of great help
to you in the improvement of your knowledge. In the heart
of this ancient forest, there lived an elephant, the hugest and
loftiest of his kind. Certain Mahouts of the forest associa
ted with, and entrapped, this elephant whose tusks were ex
ceedingly long, sharp and strong, and fettered it with strong
iron chains. Becoming infuriated with its painful fetters, it
37
290 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
shook itself free by the aid of powerful tusks in two Muhurtas
(48 minutes). The Mahout, in thehowdah above, seeing" this,
became giddy, and fell to the ground. The tusker, finding
him upon the ground, passed by without hurting him. But
the driver, picking himself up with unappeased passion, went
again in quest of the elephant, which he found in the midst of
the forest. There he dug a trench, covering it up with dry
leaves and grass. The elephant, after roaming through the
forest, came at length to the place where the trench was,
and fell into it. Instantly the Mahout made it fast. Thus
again was the elephant subjected to torture. Had this crea
ture, which was like unto the great (king), Bali, when guard
ing his own mansion, dashed out the brains of its enemy at
the time when the Mahout lay prostrate before it, it would
not again have fallen into the trap, nor have been thus again
agitated. Likewise, those who make no enquiry concerning
the good and evil of the future, will come to grief-
When Kumbha-Muni had related this [story, 6ikhidwaja
asked him to give the reason why he had narrated the inci
dents concerning Chinthdmani and the elephant ; to which
Kumbha-Muni, of steady mind, thus replied : By that person,
who, though acquainted with all the Sastras, yet without the
beneficent Tatwajnana went in search of Chinthamani, I
meant only yourself. For, although well-versed in all book-
learning, you have not yet developed an undisturbed equili
brium of mind. What I intended by the story of Chintha
mani is this : In order to attain true renunciation devoid
of all pain and hypocrisy, you have forsaken your regal office,
your wife, and other relatives, wherein there was the true
Chinthdmani, and have betaken yourself to this forest.
While the true renunciation was developing itself little by
little in you although in the world, your mind was led astray
by undue zeal to a wrong conception of renunciation, and
was enveloped by that delusion as by a dark cloud which
obscures the sky.
This renunciation of yours is not the true one, generating
real happiness, which you lost track of, because you thought
that this one of yours, if persisted in sufficiently long, would,
at length, give rise to the true one, Having lost the gem of
true renunciation, which is in the proper path of life, you have
THE STORY OF s lKHIDWAJA. 291
been misled by the false idea of the burnt stone of Tapas
through your faulty vision, and have, therefore, been greatly
afflicted. The wise say that those who reject the happiness
accessible to them in their daily lives, and allow their minds
to search after imaginary and strange things without limit,
are only self-destructive and of corrupt thought. Through
the idea of Tapas as the means of bliss, your mind in no wise
acquired that peace it desired, even when the graced and
priceless Chinthamani was before you ; nor was there any ad
vantage in the discovery of the bit of earthen bracelet.
Now hear about the elephant. The epithet "elephant," I
applied to yourself. The two long tusks are Vairaggya (indiffer
ence to pleasure and pain), and Viveka (discrimination). Your
Ajnana is the driver who sits aloft upon the elephant and
goads it on. Your Ajnana afflicts you in many ways. You are
now palpitating with the pains inflicted by Ajnana, like the
elephant bound by the Mahout and led by him. The iron
chains and fetters are the bonds forged by desires, and you
have been bound by them. Know that these desires are
stronger and more durable than iron itself. Iron chains wear
out in a length of time, but the desires which prevail grow
more and more. The breaking loose of the elephant from
its strong bonds stands for your late relinquishment of all
desires and going into the forest. The fall of the driver from
the howdah represents the destruction of your Ajnana through
your Vairaggya. If once we free ourselves from desires, shall
Ajnana and the necessity for re-births exist ?
Should the delusion of wealth be abandoned through sheer
asceticism, Ajnana will only be hovering about like a ghost
in a tree when it is being felled. But if the delusion of wealth
be destroyed through the action of Viveka, then Ajnana will
take its flight like a ghost from a tree already felled. With
the relinquishment of Ajnana, all its retinue will bid adieu.
As soon as you reached this forest, all your Ajnana was
levelled to the ground like nests of birds in a felled tree. But
you did not chop off the Ajnana with the sharp sword by un
interrupted renunciation of all. Inasmuch as you did not
do so, you again began to groan under the pains arising
therefrom. Now the excavation of the trench by the ele
phant-driver refers to the generation of pains in you through
292 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
the growth of Ajnana. Again, the leaves and dry
grass spread upon the pit-fall, refer to your actions during
your very painful Tapas. Thus are you suffering from the
restraint of your Tapas like the powerful Bali with a fateful
sword, but imprisoned in the lower regions of Patala. Why
do you grieve and not listen to the words of the delicate
Chudalai of infallible utterances ? Why have you rejected
the true renunciation of all?
To this the King replied as follows : * 1 have given up
my kingdom, my palace, my wealth, and even my dear wife,
Do not all these actions constitute a perfect renunciation ?
What more would you have me renounce ?
Kumbha-Muni replied : Though you have given up
your kingdom and the rest, that will not constitute the true
renunciation. You have yet desires in all objects. It is only
by entire rejection of them that you can hope to attain the
Brahmic bliss of the wise. Then the King said : If you
are pleased to say that the giving up of the many worldly
things does not amount to renunciation, and that I have yet
desires in me, then what I have left is this forest alone.
Therefore do I now renounce my longing for the forest full
of hills and trees. Hence I suppose I have made the true
renunciation. Kumbha-Muni then said : Even the aban
doning of this hilly and luxuriant forest does not effect the
true renunciation. You have yet the painful desires in
themselves. Only when they depart from you, can
you obtain and enjoy the Supreme happiness. To which
the king replied that, if this was not enough, he would lay
aside his cloth, Rudraksha (garland), deer-skin, earthen ves
sels, and wooden-bowl. So saying, he consigned them all to
the fire, and rejoiced in his entirely new appearance. Then
turning to Kumbha-Muni of eternal Jnana with the comment
that he had now stripped himself of all desires, the king
Sa 5d : t it is through your divine self alone that I have ac
quired right understanding, liberated myself from all pains,
and freed myself from contamination. Through my Sankalpa
I have given up all these things entirely. The innumerable
things of this world lead only to bondage which conduces to
re-birth. The enlightened mind receives a degree of bliss
commensurate with the loss of desire for objects. I have ob-
THE STORY OF S lKHIDWAJA. 293
tained bliss only through successive victories over my desires.
I am free from the bondage of delusion. I have now attained
through your grace the perfect renunciation, and am divested
of everything. What else remains to be done, O Muni ?
Kumbha-Muni replied : Alas ! you have not renounced
anything. All your delusive renunciations are in vain. On
this the King reflected and said : There is left with me only
this body composed of white bones and flesh, in which the
serpents of the five sense-organs hiss. I shall instantly dis
pose of it without care. You shall soon see. So saying,
he ascended to the summit of a high cliff, and was about
to cast himself down, when the supreme Kumbha-Muni
arrested him with these words : * What is this folly that
you are about to do ? How, O ignorant man, did this
body of yours hinder your progress ? How will death in
any way help you ? Though you should fall down and destroy
this body, like a bull that is angry with a tender calf, yet you
will not complete the true abnegation. But if you, O King,
will but give up that which is the cause of motion in this
body, and which yields the seed of all births and Karmas,
then true renunciation will be made. This is the unqualified
truth.
Then the King asked the Muni to give out the means by
which that which is the cause of the motion of the body
might be avoided. Thereupon the Muni of transcendent
qualities replied thus : The wise say that the mind (manas)
which, through its Sankalpa passes under the different
appellations of Jiva and Prana, is the cause of attachment to
delusive objects, and is distinct from the beneficent Nonjada
and Jada (inertness). At the same time it is said that this
Chitta (the flitting mind), forms the universe as well as the
bondage. It is this mind which is the germ of all Karmas
of existence and daily agitates this body of ours like a tree
when swayed by the wind. Therefore true renunciation,
O King, lies in the abnegation of the mind- It is this which
leads to Brahmic bliss. All other renunciations cause us
sufferings. If, after true renunciation you are illumined in
mind, with perfect quiescence, and without hatred, then will
the identification of yourself with the Self of Brahman take
place, and you will shine with resplendent glory. Then the
294 TOGA-VA SISHTA.
King asked the Muni : What is the cause of the mind ?
What is its true nature ? How can I destroy it r" To this
the Muni replied : The true nature of the mind consists
in the Vasanas. The two are synonymous. Know, O,
King, that the idea of " I," which is the nest contain
ing all frailties, is the seed of the tree of mind. The
sprout which at first germinates from this seed of Ahankara
(I-am-ness), originates without form and is ascertainable
only by internal experience. This sprout is termed Bud-
dhi. From this sprout the ramifying branches called.
Sankalpa take their origin. Through such a differentiation,
the great Manas (of Sankalpa) as also Chitta and Buddhi are
but the different names or qualities of the one Ahankdra.
Therefore, daily should you lop off the branches of this dire
tree of Manas, and eventually destroy the tree at its root
completely. The branches of Vdsanas will naturally produce
innumerable crops of Karmas; but if, with the sword of Jnna,
you sever them from the heart s core, they will be des
troyed. They are the true vanquishers of the mind in the
heart, who perform without a murmur the Karmas which fall
to them ; controlling all thoughts and desires in regard to
such. The lopping of the branches is considered only as a
secondary thing, the first being the eradication of the tree at
its root. Therefore, if through virtuous actions you destroy
the idea of "I" at the root of the tree (mind), then it will not
again spring up. At these words of the Muni, the King asked
him as to where the fire which destroys the conception of
Ahankara, the seed of the tree, was to be found. To which
Kumbha-Muni replied : * It is Atma-Jnana which enquires
concerning the true nature of " I" ; that is the fire which
destroys the mind.
The King then said : Through my intelligence I en
quired into the origin of " I" in divers ways. As this world
is non-intelligent, it is not ** I," neither is this body of offal,
nor the organs, nor the contemplating Manas, nor Buddhi,
nor the injurious Ahankara creating egoism. Here Kumbha-
Muni interposed and asked him, if the " I" were not all these,
what else was it ?
To which the King thus replied : I am of the nature
of that stainless Absolute Consciousness which, having evol-
THE STORY OF s lKHIDWAJA. 295
ved everything, preserves and destroys it. I cannot find out
the cause of this " I," which is of the nature ofjnana. I
have not been able to divine the means which removes Ahan
kara the seed of the pains-giving mind My mind misgives
me when I find that Ahankra clings to me, howsoever much
I thrust it aside.
Kumbha-Muni said : Oh King, no effects can ensue
without a cause. Search within to find out the cause of
Ahankara ever present before you, and tell me what occurs in
your mind.
The King replied : The cause of the stainful AhankaTa
is Bodha (knowledge). How does Bodha get absorbed here
within me ? I droop only when Bodha arises in visible objects-
How then am I to avoid these visibles ?
Kumbha-Muni said : If you tell me the cause of know
ledge, T shall then throw light upon it.
The King said : Through the existence of such illusory
objects as the body, &c-, knowledge is induced ; but if they
cease to exist, then no knowledge can arise. Then the seed
of Manas, vis., Ahank^ric ideation, will consequently be
absorbed.
Kumbha-Muni questioned him thus : * If the body, and
other objects of sense, do really exist, then knowledge exists;
but as the bodies, &c., do not really exist, what then is the
basis of knowledge?
The King, in reply, said : * But tell me first, Acharya,
how this visible body, which palpably enjoys the effects of all
Karmas performed by the hands and other organs, can be
non-existent ?
Kumbha-Muni answered: * As this body, arising through
Karmas, is not itself the Cause, therefore the effect of intelli
gence is itself non-existent. That intelligence is itself illu
sory. Hence Ahankara and other effects which arl.se through
the excessive delusion (of knowledge), are also non-existent.
Hence also all objects which are not of the nature of the cause
are illusory, like the conception of a serpent in a rope.
Then the King asked: There were the many creations
of Brahman, who is the primeval one in the universe. How
then can you say that Brahman is not the cause of the Uni
verse ?
296 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
Kumbha-Muni replied : * Prior to (every fresh) creation
Parabrahm alone shines as Sat, which is the non-dual and the
quiescent. As That alone is without a second, the Supreme
Brahman cannot be the Cause-
The King asked : * Then is not Parabrahm the cause of
Brahma ?
And Kumbha-Muni replied : Parabrahm is that which
is emancipation itself, the imperishable, the immeasurable,
the immaculate, the birthless and deathless, without pain,
without distinctions, having no period, the beginningless and
endless, without existence, the non-dual and the ineffable
One beyond the reach of thought. How can Parabrahm
which is unthinkable be the Cause ? How can it be the actor
or enjoyer? Therefore this universe is not in the least created
by any one, nor is it self-created. The Supreme Sankalpa of
that Absolute Consciousness is Brahma. Nought else is but
the one true Jnana, All the created objects out of that
Jndna are said to be no other than the form of that Jnana.
All here are Brahman itself devoid of re-births. Therefore, it
is neither an actor nor enjoyer. Having thus convinced
yourself of the one Reality, if you destroy the Ajnna
(ignorance) within your heart, then it will cease to have any
resurrection. Through no other path than the destruction of
these excessive Karmas can the delusion, which has become
in us a certainty, vanish. If the Ajnana in us fades away
gradually, then the conception of the certainty attributed to
the universe will diminish and the Brahmic state will be
attained. Such a mind through the all-pervading Jnana, viz.,
the primeval god, Paramatma, into which it is absorbed, will
ever be evolving fresh creations (through its Sankalpa). That
which is named Brahman through A tmatatva is none other
than the quiescent (or passive) aspect of this universe.
Here the King said : All that you have taught me is
quite reasonable. As prior to creation there is no creator,
there is really no Universe. Hence there really does not
exist the (objective) vision of all things. Through your clear
elucidation I have well understood and have become of the
nature of my auspicious Self. Hence, I do not cognize all
external objects as really existent. I have worshipped my
(real) Self. Through the knowledge derived from the per-
THE STORY OF S IKHIDWAJA. 297
ception of many substances, I have come to perceive them to
be unreal. Through this Jndna, I have become the quiescent
without thought and the Plenum like the A.kasa. Then
Kumbha-Muni, able to confer Atma (Self) upon the king
caused him to cognise it, and said : The true discrimina
tion of space, time, the spacious quarters, mental actions and
the rest > is only to understand the universe in its differenti
ated aspects. Though these distinctions have been existing
in you from a remote past, yet they will perish [in you] in a
short time. The quiescent and indestructible Brahman will
alone be [as you will presently cognize]."
Instantaneously, the king attained Jnna, and shone with
it. Thus was he released from the fold of dire Mya. Then
through the grace of the Muni, who was pleased to dispel
the delusion from his mind, he was absorbed into the Brah-
mic state. Being freed from the actions of his mind, sight
and speech, he, in one moment, became the Plenum in Brah-
mic state. After he had been for two ghatikas [48 minutes] in
that state of NidithyAsana [meditation], he awakened, and the
Supreme Muni said : Have you enjoyed to the full, free from
all pains, the Elysian bliss of Brahmic seat, which is ever the
beneficent, the stainless, the pure, the soft, the seat of all
Nirvikalpas [non-fancies] and the fulness of all wealth. Have
you been illumined with Atma-Jn&na ? Have you been freed
from all delusions ? Have you known that fit to be known ?
Have you seen that fit to be seen ?
To these questions the King made reply : Oh Lord,
through your grace I have been able to cognize that seat of
Brahman which remains after all else is over, which con
fers the divine wealth of bliss, and which is the grandest and
the most transcendental of all. Oh, I have been able to ac
quire the otherwise unattainable heavenly nectar of great
bliss, and move in the company of those great souls of power
ful Brahmajnana through the b]essing of association with
your grace. How was it not possible for me, your humble
servant, to attain this immeasurable supreme nectar before r
Kumbha-Muni said: It is only when thereis quiescence
in the mind and an indifference in it towards all enjoyments,
and when the powerful Indryas (organs) are turned inwards
and the AjnAna of the mind is destroyed, that all the noble
38
298 VOGA-VA SISHTA.
words of the wise guru will infiltrate and spread in the mind
of the disciple like the scarlet water of the forest impinging
on a perfectly white cloth. Otherwise such words will drop
down like the impurities of the body or the fruits of a tree.
The mere doubt arising in one s mind of the existence of du
ality or non-duality in this world betrays Ajna"na ; the
removal constitutes Jnana. It (Jnana) alone is our highest
goal. Through illumination you have attained Moksha
(emancipation). You have levelled down your mind. May
you be alone as the great Mouni* after having acquired
Divine wealth and given up all the stains of the world. To
which the King questioned : Are not the actions of Jivan-
muktas performed through the mind ? How can things go
on without the actions of the mind? Please inform me on
these points.
Kumbha-Muni replied: The mind is no other than the
Vdsanas generating many re-births. If one knows his own
self, then there is no such fears of re-births. In those that have
cognized their Self without any obstacles, the pure Vasanas
with which they perform Karmas will not entail upon them
re-births. Such a mind is called Satwic ; but a mind without
Jn&na is generally termed the Manas. A mind of Jnana is
Satwa itself, while persons without Jnana will act in the path
dictated by their minds. The stainless and wise will always
follow the Satwic path. Having given up all that tends to
the attainment of Swarga (Devachanic or Swargic bliss),
may you become that self-light which shines equally in all.
This is your real nature. Without hankering after paltry
terrestrial things, and causing your mind to fluctuate thereby,
may you be immovable as a rock. Those who have no
(lower) mind drive away re-births to a great distance from
tlu m. In this spacious earth, no pains will affect them. A
mind becomes a prey to fear through its fluctuation. Having
commingled motion and non-motion into one, and destroyed
fluctuation (of mind), may you be one with Jnana/
The King then said : How is this identification to be
* Mouni lit : one who is silent. Construing this literally, some
Yog-is in India preserve taciturnity of speech. The author explains this
word in another part of this book to mean one who is free from the
longings of the world though moving in them ; hence silent to the
desires of the world, and not in speech. The great Mouni is said to be
Siva.
THE STORY OF S IKHIDWAJA. 299
brought about ? How are Motion and non-Motion to be
commingled into one ? And how am I to reacli that state ?
Kumbha-Muni continued : Like the waters of an ocean,
all the Universes are nothing but the non-dual Chinmatra
(Absolute Consciousness). When this Chinmatra draws unto
itself intelligence, then there is a fluctuation caused, like
the wide waters moved by great waves. But the ignorant
without true Nishta (Meditation) regard the Supreme Princi
ple going by the several names of Siva (the auspicious one),
Chinmatra, Satya (Truth) and Brahman, as the universe
itself. A slight motion in this Chitta (Consciousness)
generates this universe. If this visible universe of objects is
truly cognized as the Jnana bliss, then it will die. But when
its real nature is not powerfully grasped, then the visibles are
seen as real, as the (misconception of a) snake in a rope.
Should the pure mind concentrate itself for some time (steady
and pure as the moon) through (a. study of) the visible
Jnana Sastras, the association with the wise and an uninter
rupted practice (of Meditation), then in such persons develop
ing Jnana, a divine vision will arise, in which there will
be a direct cognition (of the One Reality). Thus have I
described to you the truths relating to the origin and des
truction of the Universe. Having with true bliss brought
these into practice and meditated upon them, may you, with
out fail, and according to your free will, attune all your ac
tions of daily life to the attainment of the Brahmic seat. I
shall now go to Swarga-loka the gem of all Lokas (worlds).
This is the most opportune time for it. If I do not appear
before my father Narada upon his descent from Satyaloka
into Deva (or Swar) loka, he will be mightily displeased with
me. A loving disciple should never incur the displeasure of
his Supreme Acharya. Oh king, having done away with all
differentiation arising through delusion, may you be in the
Divine vision (of Nirvikalpa Samadhi). And with the words
" I go away," the Muni disappeared on the instant. There
after, the king thus thought within himself * Marvellously
strange is it that this incomparable state was in myself un
observed by me a state like unto the crystal waters of a
fountain, cool, pure and quiescent. It has enabled me to at
tain quiescence in the Absolute Sat. Then the king entered
300
the Sam&dhi state without any pains or fluctuation, without
any mobility, with a true mouna (silence) and Nirvikalpa
immovable as a stone, tree or forest, without any desires.
Meanwhile Kumbha-Muni resumed his soft tendril-like
form of Chudalai and journeying 1 through Akasa, reached her
chamber in the palace. There she began to rule over her
subjects, and protect them as she was wont to do. Thus she
passed three years. After which, she went again in the
guise of Kumbha-Muni to the forest where her husband was,
and beheld him as immovable as a pillar in Nirvikalpa
Sam&dhi. Then, in order to acquaint him with his arrival,
she made a leonine roar, which even did not wake him up
from his trance. Though she tossed him up and down, no
impression was made on him in the least, in spite of his body
falling down. Then she thought thus It is certain the
supreme King of the form of Kumbha has merged into the
Seat of Brahman. Oh this is really wondrous. If, after
concentrating my mind on his (subtle) body, I should find
any residue of Satwa typifying the seed of intelligence in his
heart, I shall join my husband and live with him happily.
Otherwise, I shall have to renounce this my present female
form, (and myself also) attain the Supreme Seat of Brahman,
so that I may not render myself again liable tore-births.
Having come to this sure determination, she concentrated
her mind and cognized through her (spiritual) touch and
eyes a residue of unsoiled Satwa in the King s heart, deno
ting the intelligence yet animating that body.
At these words of Vasishta, Rdma questioned him thus :
" How can there remain a residue of Satwa in those whose
minds have been destroyed, and who have merged themselves
in their divine inner vision ?" To which Vasishta Muni, of
high intelligence, thus replied : * Like flowers and fruits
latent in a seed, a residue of Satwa, the cause of intelligence,
rests always in the heart. Even in the case of a Jivanmukta,
whose mind is destroyed, the strong body does not perish ;
but without being affected by the pleasures or pains of enjoy
ments, though moving in them, his mind will become inured
to them. Therefore, O Rama, this most Divine lady Chuddlai
gave up the Kumbha-Muni form and entering (in a subtle
form) into the stainless consciousness (or mind) of the King,
THE STORY OF s lKHIDWAJA. 3OI
devoid of beginning, middle or end, caused that part of it
to vibrate which she found had the residue of pure Satwa in
it. Then she returned to her stainless body, like a bird re
turning to its prison of a cage. Afterwards, as Kum
bha-Muni, sitting in a certain posture on the earth, she
chanted the Sam a- Veda songs, as if playing on the Vina.
Thereupon the Satwic intelligence, which now began to mani
fest itself in the log-like body of the King, heard the Sama-
Veda songs and blossomed little by little, like a lotus flower
blooming at the sight of the rays of the sun. Then the King s
mind became steady (as regards external objects) and he saw
Kumbha-Muni before him. With an enraptured heart, and
with the idea that his Lord Guru, who had previously come
to him in order to bless him with happiness, had come again
of his own accord, he showered on him the choicest flowers,
and eulogised him. Whereupon, Kumbha-Muni regarded the
Lord of the earth and thus said : * From the day I parted
from you up to this very date, my mind has been inseparably
blended with yours Even Devaloka is not so pleasant to me
as my association with you. Here the King burst out, say
ing : O transcendental and holy god, I have attained bliss
through thy favor, I have liberated myself from all pains
through the Samadhi of true bliss. Even in Svarga (Deva-
chan) replete with virtuous actions, the bliss of Nirvikalpa
Samdhi does not exist. Having attained that incompara
ble bliss, I shall roam freely in Devaloka and Bhurloka
(earth). Kumbha-Muni then asked : * Have you been en
joying the rare Brahmic bliss devoid of all pains ? Have you
annihilated all the pains which are of the nature (or spring
from the idea) of heterogeneity ? Are you able to maintain
an equal vision over all, after destroying entirely all the plea
sures flowing from Sankalpa P Have you been able to tran
sact all the present duties of life, without in the least being
ruffled by objects, being liberated from love or hatred towards
them ?
At these questions of the Muni, the King made the
following answers : I have powerfully mastered all the
(spiritual) benefits that can possibly be derived (by me).
There is nothing more for me to long to see or to hear. In
302 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
this wise spoke the King &ikhidwaja, whose mind had over
come all delusions.
Thus did these, whose love for one another knew no
bounds, cognize their Higher Self through the beautiful en
quiry of Atmatatwa and through most instructive discourses
thereupon ; remaining happy in one another s company, with
out the least difference of mind, and roaming in the forests,
and over the hills, they were matchless in real Jnana and in
true loving actions. Having destroyed completely the delu
sion of love and hatred, they were immovable, like the great
Meru, which cannot in the least be shaken by the playing
of the zephyr. Sometimes they would apply to their bodies
Vibhuti (sacred ashes) ; at other times they would apply to
them the fragrant sandal- While they were thus associating
themselves together, the sweet-tongued Chudalai concentrated
her mind on that of the King* and found it to be now free
from all stains and to be stable by reason of his present ex
periences. Also she thought within herself that the palace,
with its enormous wealth and luxury, would languish for want
of persons to enjoy them. If persons filled with Jndna should
give up things that had come to them without their seeking,
how then can they be said to have known Tatwa (Truth) ?
Then thinking of creating (in herself), through her imperish
able will, the body of a lady fit to live in wedlock with the vir
tuous King, Kumbha-Muni, alias Chudalai, addressed him
thus : To-day there will occur a festival remarkable in the
annals of Devaloka. I should, without fail, be there in the
company of Narada. Who is ever able to overstep the powers
of the Supreme Law ? Immediately at sunset, when the sun
goes down over the evening hills, I shall be back with you.
So saying, he parted from the King, after presenting him with
a fragrant bunch of flowers. Having gone from the King s
sight, Kumbha-Muni relinquished the burden of the Muni s
body and assumed that of Lady (Jhudalai, after which, she
entered unperceived (the chambers) in her palace, which shone
like a Devaloka presided over by Indra, and then performed
in regular order her allotted regal duties during the day.
Then Chudalai re-assumed the form of Kumbha-Muni,
and descending in that form before her husband, appear
ed with a dejected countenance. As soon as this Muni, whose
THE STORY OF s lKHIDWAJA. 363
mind was (really) free from all pains, appeared before the
King with a downcast rnien and overcast face, like a lotus
enveloped with snow, the latter was startled to see the Muni
thus, and rising- up at once besought him with these words :
my father, you seem to be like one afflicted with pains
what are they ? May you destroy them ! Never will persons
of true Jnana succumb to despondency or joy. Will water
floating on a lotus leaf ever affect it ? At these words of the
King, Kumbha-Muni related the following amusing anecdote
of himself in tones as musical as the Vina.
Persons of firm and equal vision as regards all things
will never constitute Jnanis (the wise), unless they commingle
with the actions of the Indriyas (^organs), so long as they
possess a body. Otherwise, such persons are only impostors.
Those who are so ignorant as not to perform the existing
Karmas and think of mastering them through their avoidance,
will only generate fresh ones and suffer therefrom ; i. e., like
the oil which is inseparable from the gingelly seed, the differ,
ent Avasthas (states) of pains will exist so long as there is the
body. Those who try to sever themselves from these states,
in order to do away with affection, &c., are, O King, like one
endeavouring to rend asunder the immeasurable Akasa with
a sword. If the inevitable pains of this impure body be
sought to be averted by the control of the organs of action
(Karmendriyas), will the bliss arising therefrom compare in
any way with that generated by the renunciation of bodily
pains through the path of Jnana ? Even in the case of Brahma
and others, who have Karmendriyas (organs of action) on
one side and Jnanendriyas (organs of sense) on the other
side of the body, the certain dictates of the imperishable Law
demand that they cannot rise above the Avasthas incidental
to their body, even though they are illumined in mind. As
both Ajnanis and Jnanis are exposed to the visible objects
of the world, they both move only in consonance with the
universal Law, like the waters in an ocean. Daily do Jnanis,
through the certainty of their intelligence, looking equally
upon all, perform unruffled their duties so long as they are
relieved from their bodies. But Ajnanis are ever agitated
by and drowned in pains and pleasures. They are born in
304 YOGA-VA SISHTA,
different bodies and follow the laws regulating them. This
have I described to you in extenso.
Now I shall describe to you the pains I underwent in iny
path. Are not pains which are like unto a grinding saw, re
lieved when revealed to those we love ? After I gave the
bunch of flowers to you, and rose up in the Akasa, 1 went to
my all-truthful father in Devaloka, and attended the court of
Indra, the Lord of Devas. Then, having in mind to return
to this place from there, I descended through the Akasa and
was in the act of coming over to this earth, through the
spatial Vayu path (viz., North-west of Surya-Mandala, ie.,
the Sun s sphere), when I saw before me the Rishi Durvasa
journeying on in the region of clouds. Having prostrated my
self before his venerable feet, I addressed him thus Thou art
clad in dark clothes* and art beginning to act like an ill-famed
woman longing for her paramour. Whereupon the omniscient
Rishi became incensed at me and with fury cursed me for my
impertinent words to be transformed every night into a
female wearing beautiful ornaments. Hearing these words,
I cried aloud and having contemplated the lotus feet of the
Rishi, was going to beg pardon of him, when all at once he
disappeared. With this thought afflicting me very much, I
have now come here to you. I shall hereafter every night
have to submit myself to this process of transformation into
a female f How can I, without being ashamed, be a female
every night, moving as I do in the company of my Gurus,
Devas, Munis and hosts of others r * But the King solaced
him thus : Please, god, do not be afraid. What is the
use of giving way to grief? Let come what may through the
dire force of the irresistible Law. This womanhood of thine
will, I think, not attach itself to the Eqfo within, but only
to the body without. It behoves thee not thus to give
way to grief, thou who art replete with Jnfina. It is only
the ignorant that are afflicted in mind Then the sun began
to set as if to hasten on the wise Kumbha-Muni to assume
a female form. With the coming of twilight they performed
all their daily religious Karmas. Then the Muni looked
into the face of the King, who was sitting before him, and
* Durvasa is lit : ill-clad.
f This is to try the King, being the first trial.
THE STORY OF s lKHIDWAjA. 305
remarked thus in a plaintive tone : To my great shame,
be it spoken, King, a female form is enveloping me and
my present form is disintegrating- itself. The significant
marks of a female are developing themselves in me. Behold my
waist forming itself, the female dress gradually covering my
body, and the remainder of the female form appearing in all
its entirety. Thus did the quiescent Kumbha-Muni deliver
himself, as if in terms of grief. The King beholding his des
pondent Guru, thus said : As a Jnani you have known well
the true path of Law. While so, do not be afflicted through
events which will inevitably come to pass. To which Kumbha-
Muni said thus : 4 There is nothing to be done now. Who
can thwart the insurmountable Law ? Every night will but
entail on me a female form.
So saying, both quietly slept. With early dawn she re
sumed her Kumbha-Muni form. Thus did Chudalai pass some
time, the days in the form of Kumbha-Muni and the nights
in the form of a female ; and yet she preserved her virginity.
One noon Chudalai in the guise of Kumbha-Muni addressed
thus the King " Oh King, how long am I to remain
in a state of virginity without tasting the pleasures inci
dental to the female sex ? Therefore I wish to get at a
lord for myself. In all the three worlds, 1 cannot pitch upon
a more affectionate husband than thyself. Thou shalt accept
me as thy spouse overnights. If so, thou shalt have the
fear of neither heaven nor hell." To which the King nodded
assent.
Whereupon the Muni remarked :" To-day is a very
propitious day for marriage, it being the month of Simha
(August September). At moon-rise we shall perform the
marriage rites." Then the beautiful-eyed King fetched from
Mahameru rare gems and sandals, bathed in the holy waters
and made prostrations to Devas, Munis and Pitris according to
Vedic injunctions. Then both these individuals clad themselves
in white silken robes yielded by the Kalpa tree. The sun
having set, the resplendent moon began to shed its silvery
rays when the king, after performing the Sandhya rites, cele
brated the marriage on Mandhara hills. Then they roved
over hills and dales enjoying themselves but yet without
the least clinging towards such an enjoyment,
39
306 YOCSA-VA SISHTA.
Every three days, while the King was asleep, Chudalai
would regularly go to her husband s realm and administer
justice there and then would return to her husband s side, as
if she had not parted from him. Then this lady Chudalai, who
now passed under her new marriage pseudonym, viz.) Mad-
hanika, lived with her husband for some time and reflected
thus within herself : The king will never hereafter centre his
desires on worldly enjoyments. Therefore I shall test his
mind in the enjoyments of Devaloka. I shall, by the force
of my yoga practice, through which I have developed AnimA
and other psychic powers, create a Mayavic (illusory) pana-
roma in this forest, wherein Devas will appear with their
Lord Devendra at their head. Accordingly, when Indra ap
peared before the king, the latter saluted the former, and
having paid him all the necessary respects, said O Chief
of Devas, I do not know what good Karmas I have per
formed to merit this visit of yours to me. To which Indra
replied in terms of affection thus : * Attracted by the force of
your good qualities, I. have come here along with my reti
nues of Devas. The Devaloka is a fit abode for you alone.
The Deva maidens are awaiting your arrival there. May
you be pleased to appear there like the Sun, to cause to bloom
the lotus-like face of Rambha and other Deva maidens. O
King and Jivanmukta, you may stay there for the period
of a Kalpa, and plunge yourself in diverse ways in Devalokic
enjoyment. Therefore do not tarry here any longer, but
come at (Mice there. It is for this purpose I came here to take
you.
Hearing these strange words of Indra, the noble king
said thus: O my parent Deva, I have known all the plea
sures of Svarga-loka. I have not even the conception of
differences of locality, such as this or that place. Wher
ever T am, there is Svarga (heaven) for me, and there it is
I enjoy bliss. Therefore I do not long after Svarga pleasures-
Be pleased to return to your seat, fhave not the least desire
for it. When the kine had given vent to these words, the whole
troup of Devas returned to their abode. Thus did Chudalai ob
serve that the King s (lower; mind had been destroyed, not
withstanding the different trials to which she had subjected
him through her powers of M&ya. Still she wanted to try him
THE STOKV OF S iKHlUWAJA. 307
further, and so hit upon another expedient. One day, while the
pure King was performing Japa on the banks of the Ganges,
Just at moon-rise, Chudalai entered a thickset bower hard by and
having created within it, through her Mayavic power, a lover
seated on a pleasant seat of Neerandra flowers, she made a
show of embracing him. After having performed the daily
rites and sought in vain for his wife (Madhanika) over all the
hills and dales, the king saw on his return his wife and a
male figure in a mutual embrace, but was not in the least
disconcerted. Nearly forty-eight minutes after the King, who
went away unruffled without evincing the least anger towards
Madhanika, disappeared from view, she, in order yet to ob
serve his demeanour appeared before this Rajayogi with signs
of her late love tryst still visible in her, such as dishevelled
hair, &c., and stood as if penitent in a submissive attitude of
great shame.
While Chudalai, surnamed Madhanika, was thus stand
ing as if greatly stricken by grief and remorse, the King re
turned from Samadhi, and saw her before him. Then, with
out showing the least symptoms of anger, he said softly the
following words with calm deliberation: How is it you
have hurried so and come away so soon as this ? You may,
O girl, if you like, still gratify your passion by returning to
your lover. At these words of the King, Madhanika said
thus : It is the supreme duty of the unblemished to put
up with and overlook the faults of the ignorant. The quali
ties of females are unsteady in diverse ways. Therefore, be
pleased to excuse me for my heinous crime.
Thereupon Sikhidwaja of mighty Jnana said the follow
ing words to his wife Madhanika : A tree may grow in the
sky, but never will anger rise in me, O lady. Tnus was he
in full possession of equal vision over all. Then Chudalai
soliloquised to herself thus : The King has destroyed to the
root passion and anger. He will not subject himself to the
many enjoyments and the love of transcendental Siddhis,
This king of puissant arms has at last attained the end ot
Jnana. Let me no longer pass under false colors. Let me
cast aside the body of Madhanika, and assuming that of
Chudalai appear before him. With this thought in her mind
she transformed herself into Chudalai and presented hersalt
30& TOGA-VA SISHTA
in that true character before him, when the quiescent King
eyed her and remarked in wonder thus: * Is it true that I see
before me Chudalai with her entire form, speech, modesty of
mien and her other inestimable good qualities? O lady who
are you ? To which she replied that she was his lawfully
wedded wife and continued : O dearest one, it was I that
initiated you into the mysteries of Atma-Jndna, assuming the
bodies of Kumbha-Muni and then Madhanika. Through such
a course, I sounded the depth of your Jnana by the power of
Maya. Now go into Nirvikalpa Samadhi, and you will under
stand all things truly.
Accordingly the King made his mind merge into the Uni
versal Consciousness, and in that Samadhi surveyed all the
events that had happened, from the date of his quitting his
magnificent country down to the present period of the appear
ance of Chudalai (in her real form). After^Samadhi, the just
King became quite enraptured with joy and having embraced
Chudalai, who stood shining before him as the personation
of true love and grace, was struck dumb for a long time, and
completely submerged in bliss for a moment. Then having
recovered himself, he seated her on his lap and said to her
thus : * Thou hast, through thy vast intelligence, lifted me
out of the unfathomable cave of thick darkness that I was
entangled in. Who is there to compare to thee in all this
wide world ? How can I> O tendril-like lady, requite thee for
all thy kindness ? thou who hast reached the other side of
the ocean of Samsara (mundane existence), O thou the perso
nation of Justice without any desires, how can I aid thee in
any way ?
To which the lady replied : Observing you drooping
under the many actions of Tapas (penances) in the forest, I
came with great effort in quest of you to elevate you above
Samsara. Hence there is no necessity for you to eulogise
me thus, as I but did my duty. Have you not, O my husband,
freed yourself from all petty worldly actions, Sankalpas
(thoughts) and Vikalpas (fancies) ?
Then the King said : * All doubts have now vanished
out of my mind. I am devoid of desires and the idea of he
terogeneity. I have become as immaculate as Akasa. I shall
never hereafter fall through becoming of the form of
THE STORY OF s lKHIDWAJA. 309
(or, thinking about) objects. I have attained the incom
parable Samadhi, the highest thing worthy of being attained.
I am free from mental joy or dire pains. I shall never here
after shine as this or that (object). I am like the pure light
ot the resplendent sun s sphere, which does not come into
contact with any medium such as a wall, &c., and is there
fore subject to no increase or diminution. I am like the
Akasa which permeates all objects, and is yet undefiled. I
am of the nature of Absolute Consciousness. I can now cog
nise my Reality to be no other than That. Therefore thou art
my well-favored Guru. I worship thy lotus feet/
At which Chudalai asked him as to his future course of
action. To which the King said : I am free from all love
and hatred. From this day forward, I shall daily perform
my duties strictly according to your dictates, like a crystal
tinged with the five colors.
Then Chudalai said thus : If thou art willing to act up
to what I say, it behoves thee then to now give up all thy
ignorance and resume the regal duties once relinquished by
thee. Let us both wield the sceptre of our kingdom for some
time as Jivanmuktas and then attain Videhamukti, after the
body is thrown aside. To this the King acquiesced. Then
Chudalai rose up and, through dint of her concentrated San-
kalpa, she acted as follows : She then and there first
anointed him by bathing him in jewelled vessels full of the
waters of the seven oceans, and then, having installed him on
an effulgent throne bedecked with rubies, &c., blessed him
with a long life. Then the King and his wife Chudalai, who
were both of one mind, mounted upon a decorated elephant
and went back to their town with their four-fold army amidst
great rejoicings. As soon as they reached the outskirts of
their town, the four-fold army in their town came in advance
to meet them. Thus both the armies joined together and
went gaily along. There the King reigned with true love
along with his wife for 10,000 years, and then attained a dis
embodied emancipation.
** Thus, Oh Rama, if by associating yourself with the
Karmas of the world, your quiescent Jnana is ever developed
without the longing after objects, you will be able to enjoy
YOGA-VA SISHTA.
real bliss and emancipation." So said Muni Vdsishta of Hlu
minaied mind and great Tapas to Sri Rama.
THE STORY OF KACHA.
Summary. Again is illustrated the tact that Chitta-
Tyga alone constitutes the renunciation of all.
In the previous story I have related to thee the story of
S ikhidwaja, the most enlightened of persons. If thou art as
ripe as he, thou wilt never be affected by dire pains. Follow
ing the same path is the learned Kacha, the son of Brihas-
pati, the Deva-guru.* Thou shouldst be acquainted with
his story also.
Rama asked Please throw light upon the path through
which Kacha came into direct cognition of .he JSupreme.
Vasishta replied Muni Kacha, the son of Brihaspati,
who had known the substratum of all things through a know
ledge of the higher seat, approached the Devaguru, his father
for enlightenment upon the best means of divorcing the
dire elephant of Prana from the Keddha of mundane exist
ence.
Devaguru said thus "This large expanse of the ocean of
births, wherein do live the countless hosts of crocodiles, fish
es, &c., can be bridged over only by the incomparable power
of all-renunciation, involving great troubles and responsibili
ties." At these words of his father/Kacha abdicated all things
and retiring into the forest, lived there 8 years, at the end of
which period, he was visited by his father. Having accosted
his father with due respects, he asked him the reason why in
spite of the renunciation of all for about 8 years, his mental
pains had not subsided- To which his father replied merely
that he should give up everything and departed. After the
departure of his father, he denied himself of even the barks
of trees, cloths, &c., he had on. Thus was he stark naked,
like a clear sky in the autumnal season, when the sun,
moon, stars, &c., are clearly visible in the skies. Again did
Kacha visit his father and having prostrated himself lovingly
before him, laid before him in plaintive tones the fact of his
* Brihaspati, Jupiter is the jfurn or priest of Devjis.
THE STORY OF KACHA, 3!!
inability to get quiescence of mind, albeit the complete
renunciation of all things. Thus did he consult his father who
gave him the following advice "It is the opinion of the great
that the mind is the all-in-all and that its mastery leads to the
renunciation of all. Through such a mental abnegation it is,
that thou wilt be able to free thyself from ail pains." So say
ing, Brihaspati (Jupiter) vanished.
Thereupon the resplendent Muni Kacha soliloquised to
himself thus "I have been inquiring as to what mind is
and have not been able to come to any conclusion. If the
body with its parts is different from the mind, then all our
efforts to separate them both are useless ; for how can the
separation take place between the mind and the body, while
they are themselves different from one another?" All his
doubts about mind not being resolved, he again applied to
his father to aid him in the solution of his doubts.
Brihaspati said thus "The wise who have understood
what mind is, say that it is no other than Ahankara (the idea
of I ). The idea of I existing within all creatures is
the stainful mind."
Kacha asked 4< It is indeed difficult to avoid this idea
of I . How is this adamant to be splintered to pieces ?"
Brihaspati replied All excruciating pains do not really
exist. It is very easy to remove this Ahankara. Within the
time taken in the squeezing of a flower or the twinkling of
an eye, this AhankSra can be easily eradicated. No long
dissertation is necessary in this topic. One only Principle
alone is, which is the non-dual, the endless, the supreme
Jnana, the immaculate, and the Plenum purer than Aka.sa.
Meditate upon It without fluctuation of mind and free thy
self from all pain with true calmness of mind. Being quite
unreal, Ahankara will perish (through efforts). How ran
Ahankara grow in the atmosphere of the meditation of the
eternal ? Can dust arise out of the waters, or waters, out of
the fire? Contemplating upon the Eternal, mayest thou be
free from the differentiated conceptions of * I, he, &c.
Tatwa Jn&na is that non-dual one which is subtle, imma
culate, the supreme self-light, and the all which is not sub
ject to the forms generated by the quarters, time, &c., and
^12 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
is not obscured or sullied by pains, &c. Mayest thou be in
this certitude of Atmic Reality."
So gave out Brihaspati the highest of mysteries. May
you be, Oh Rama, in that self-same desireless state in which
Muni Kacha was, who having abandoned the idea of "I,"
"thou," &c., and destroyed all internal attractions, was
full of Atmic meditation as a Jivanmukta without any
Vikalpas in his mind. In Kaivallya (or emancipation), this
Ahankara is nothing but unreal. Therefore do not set your
heart upon giving or taking it up. Whoever will ever dream
of taking hold of or letting go the horns of a hare which are
nothing but unreal.
Here Rama asked How in the Plenum of Brahma-Jna*na
did there arise an element foreign to it ? Vasishta replied
The laying hold of heterogeneous ideas which are unreal
tends to the paltry re-births ; but the merging of the ideation
into the one Reality without any doubts is the emanci
pation from re-births.
THE STORY OF MITHYA -PURUSHA THE ILLUSORY
PERSONAGE.
Summary This Ahankara is concreted in the shape of a
MithyA-Purusha and illustrated.
May you attain Atma-Jnana and enjoy supreme bliss after
giving up all conceptions of diversities. Do not afflict thy
self, oh Rama, like the Mithya-Purusha. So said Yasishta,
when RAghava asked him thus How did Mithya-Purusha
rove about with an afflicted heart and without the least bene
fit to himself? Please explain it to me lucidly ; however sur
feited it may be, with the ambrosial Jnana.
Yasishta continued This story will be provocative of great
laughter and marvellous in its incidents. In a certain retired
nook of Chidakas where there is not the universe, a certain
male personage arose. He was accoutred in full with the
panoply of Maya and replete with Ajniina. He was base in
his tendencies, puerile and of dull head with the lowest intelli
gence. He arose like rolls of hair appearing in the Akasa or
water in a mirage. He was nothing 1 but a void out of a void.
THE STORY OF KACHA, 313
He went by the name of Mithyd-Purusha. Unobservant of
his own growth and the Chit (Consciousness) that manifests
itself as if distinct from the universe, he contracted the Sankal-
pa (or thought) of creating the highest Akasa without any
impediments and did create one. Then in order to set a limit
to it, he constructed (an enclosed) abode. With the idea that
the Akasa was pent up and protected by him in that habitation,
his desires were bound by that Akasa as identical with it. In
course of time, it began to grow dilapidated and at last gave
way, like a hill worn away by (Manwantaric) gusts of wind
or like rain ceasing with the close of the rainy season.
Then this Mithya-Purusha bewailed the disappear
ance of the Akasa in the following manner, " Oh
Akasa, in an instant hast thou vanished with the disap
pearance of my house. Where hast thou gone to ?" " Hav
ing finished his lamentations over this house Akasa, he
created a fresh well and entering into it without any
disturbance from without, became fondly attached to the
Akasa therein. Being disappointed as ever in this second
effort of his, when the well became quite useless with time
and was gradually filled up, he again was afflicted in mind
and cried aloud. Then again to preserve the Akasa, he
created a fresh pot ; and enamoured with its beautiful struc
ture, he gladly entered it and was chained in it with affection.
Time, oh sable coloured Rdma, set again its Rudraic hands
on this vessel and disposed of it. Finding that all the things,
he created with great belief in their permanency, became the
victims of time, he dug a pit in the ground and becoming
greatly attached to the Akasa therein, lived in it, as if per
manent. Even this was done away by the elephant of time,
like light dispelling darkness. Crying over its loss as usual,
he built again a circular abode with the four quarters in it
and dwelt in it with great joy. When the time of destruc
tion arrived for doing away with this house and all the other
mundane eggs, he drooped like a dry leaf in a whirlpool of
wind. The usual cries being over, he created a grange
for the Akasa, which having served him for a time succum
bed to time. Thus did he grieve for a long period over the
loss of these many creations of his, mz.^ house-Akasa, well-
Akasa, &c. Now this personage was no other than an
40 ;
314 YOGA-VA SISHTA,
ignoramus in that he enclosed the Akasa within an earthly
tenement and having identified himself with the house, &c.,
fancied he worked and lived and died with it.
Rama asked What do you drive at, in this story ?
What do you mean by enclosing the Akasa?
Vasishta said thus The Mithya-Purusha is no other than
the idea of " I" Ahank^ra^ arising in the void which is
like a sable-colored cloud. This Akasa in which all the
universes exist, is self-existent before creation, all full and
endless. In it the idea of " I", arises like the sense of touch
in Vayu (air); and then this void of Ahankara fancied itself
protecting the Chid-Akasa of Atma. Then encased in the
several bodies of well, etc., which he created himself, he
again and again subjected himself to pains. With his body,
he contracted the thought arising from Bhuta-Akas that he
imprisoned the Chid-Akas Atma. Through it, he rendered
himself obnoxious to all sufferings. Therefore, oh lotus-eyed
Rama, do not render yourself liable to pains, like Mithya-Puru
sha who, being imprisoned in the different bodies of house-
Akas. etc., identified himself with Bhuta-Akas. The imperish
able 6iva who is more all-pervading than Akasa, stainless and
immaculate and cannot be guaged by the mind, is the natural
Atma-Tatwa. Can this Atma-Tatwa be easily visited or
attained by all ? Such being the case, the ignorant despond
that the " I", the heart-Akas perishes while the body perishes.
Will the indestructible Akasa disappear when pots and others
which seem to limit it are destroyed ? Akasa will never
vanish with the disappearance of the pot ? So with the des
truction of the body, Atma will never be destroyed. It is
only through direct spiritual vision that Brahmic-Reality
which is the transcendental Chinmatra and Sat, more subtle
than Akasa and the atom of atoms will shine everywhere ;
but AhankaTa which is the idea of " I" is destroyed like a
pot. There is really no such thing, as birth or death in any
place or time. It is only Brahman which manifests itself as
the universe through forms. Therefore having considered all
tlie universes as the supreme Principle without beginning,
middle or end, without differences or non-differences, without
existence or non-existence, may you be without pains.
Should this idea of * I be destroyed through the desireless
THE STORY OF BHRINGI. 315
Atma-Jnana this idea which is the source of all accidents,
non-eternal, dependent, discrimination-less, seed of all sins,
Ajnana and the seed of birth and destruction then this very
destruction is the seat of the stainless Jivanmukti state.
THE STORY OF BHRINGI.
Summary This story will illustrate the fact that actor*
ship, &c., arise through the idea of " I".
Such is the true nature of this universe. It manifests
itself out of Atma-Jnana, like the misconception of serpent
arising in a rope and is no other. To those who contemplate
upon the rays of the sun as no other than the sun itself, the
sun alone exists. This is the much-longed-for Nirvikalpa
state. But if the sun and its rays are considered as two
separate ones, then there will appear a diversity between the
sun and its rays- Having given up all heterogeneities, may
you, oh Rama, be in that direct spiritual experience wherein
is not the universe.
Like the wind agitating the waters, Brahman produces the
fluctuating motion of Sankalpa. As soon as Sankalpa was
set afloat, it expanded itself and differentiated itself into this
form-world, when it became the Manas which began to see
itself through itself. Therefore know this universe to be
nothing but replete with Sankalpa. This universe is neither
real nor unreal ; but it manifests itself like dream creations.
Know that the seer, hearer, speaker, feeler, smeller, walker
and doer are no new creations ; but are the one Truth. All
acts of yours are no other than the stainless Jndna itself. As
the real nature of Mahat is Brahmic Reality itself, there is
really no such thing as the universe. As all things are no
other than the aspect of Chit, the sable clouds of universes
are no other than Chinmdtra. As the one Chit pervades all
objects without any illusion, all objects do not really exist.
Where then is Bandha (bondage) or Moksha (emancipation) ?
Having therefore abandoned firmly all the differentiated con
ceptions of bondage and emancipation and having observed
Mouna (taciturnity) without the least tinge of Ahankara, may
you, oh Rama, be engaged in the performance of your higher
316 TOGA-VA s ISHTA.
actions without Ahankara, pride and others. Having cleared
up your mind of all doubts arising from illusion and clinging
fast to certitude, may you live as the great actor and enjoyer,
but yet as the great renouncer of all. At these words of
Vasishta, Rama queried him thus What are these three
gunas of actorship, enjoyment, and renunciation ? To explain
which, Vasishta began thus To understand the real sig
nificance of these three and thus attain the supreme seat
without any delusion, Lord Bhringi went to the northern
summit of Mahameru and having worshipped and eulogised
Parameswara who was like Chidakas itself, submitted the
following "Moving in worldly delusion and not getting quies
cence in Jndna, I have in vain roved about in perfect igno
rance. How can I live with a quiescence of mind in this
decayed body of the world? Please throw light upon the
path of certitude which I can tread without any the least
fear ?"
Parameswara deigned to answer in the following terms
u If after destroying thy doubts, thou clingest to Truth, thou
wilt become the great actor, the great enjoyer, and the great
renouncer."
Bhringi queried him thus What dost thou mean by the
great (true) actor, the great enjoyer, and the great renoun
cer ? Parameswara replied He is the incomparable great
actor who is indifferent to the inevitable fruits or otherwise
of dire love and hatred, pleasures and pains, Dharma and
Adharma and performs actions in that manner without
any desires. He is the great actor who, being silent, is free
from the ideations of " I" or self-identification with objects
or from surprise, performs actions without any despon
dency or fear or without any desires in objects so as to be
merely a witness to all, is never affected by fear or happiness
and does not rejoice or repine, through an equal vision over
all. Know also that his mind will be undisturbed, whether
in birth or death, appearance or disappearance (of objects).
Now to the second. He is the great true enjoyer who
does not, through anger, long for or reject anything but
enjoys fully only those things that befal him. We shall
say more about him. He will not lose his equilibrium of
mind even in the enjoyment of the illusory pleasures and
THE STORY OF IKSHWA KU. 317
pains productive of excessive fear and no bliss ; he will con
sider in the same light and enjoy things productive of dotage
or death, regalty or adversity ; he will taste, with neither
joy nor sorrow, dainties of all tastes whether bitter, sour,
sharp, or saltish. Like salt, he will associate with both the
virtuous and the vicious. Such is the true enjoyer."
" Now hearken to the description of the great or (true) re-
nouncer. Thou shouldst know that such an intelligent person
age will abandon, in toto the stainless Dharmaand Adharma,
pleasures and pains, birth and death. He will not have even
a scintilla of desires, doubts, actions, and certainties. Oh
Bhringi, the S rutis also say that his heart will be free from
Dharma and Adharma, mental thoughts and actions. He will
also have rooted away from his mind all thoughts of the visi-
bles." So said Parameswara of the form of grace to Lord
Bhringi in days of yore. Having developed through practice
this kind of vision over all, may you, oh lotus-eyed Rama
protect your subjects. Brahmic reality alone is that which is
ever shining, has neither beginning nor end and is immaculate
and non-dual. Nought else is. Thus shall you contemplate
and being filled with bliss, perform all actions, so that the
stainless quiescence of mind may be in you and thereby in all.
The Jnana-Akas alone is which is Brahman, devoid of the
stainful pains, the seed of all illusions, Paramatma the
great, the grand One in which all thoughts merge. Here
there is none else but " That". Destroy all Ahankara with
the firm conviction that there is nothing else foreign to
"That" and that Sat and Asat will never affect It. You will
therefore relieve yourself of this formless Ahankara through
developing Introvision, making the internals harmonize with
the externals and being unaffected by the pains of past actions.
THE STORY OF IKSHWA KU.
Summary In this story, another means of medita*
tation besides the three modes mentioned in the previous
story is given to cognize that all is Brahman.
Rama asked When the Ahankaric mind is divested of
its illusory form and maintains its real state, what is its dis
tinguishing characteristic ?
318 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
Vasishta replied Now listen attentively to the charac
teristics of a mind which has perished, while yet its (spiritual)
form survives. No amount of desires, illusions and other
stains will unsettle a person who is firmly under the influence
of his Atma, like water on a lotus leaf. The good qualities
of benevolence, &c., will ever sweetly beam in his face. All
sins he will destroy ; the bondage of Vdsanas will gradually
loosen their hold on him. Anger will be slain ; the tendency
of the mind towards desires will be lost ; all the bad impulses of
Kama(passions) will be dispelled. All illusions in him, will look
about for some befitting quarters elsewhere. The five organs
will not be active in the discharge of their functions. Neither
pains will arise and afflict him nor pleasures will increase.
Through internal contentment and freedom from pains, there
will arise in him an equanimity of mind over all and in all
places. Even when pains and the rest attaching themselvestohis
body, exhibit themselves on his face, his mind will never writhe
under them or their antitheses. If the mind should only perish,
then Devas even will contract his friendship through sheer
love and he will enjoy great felicity. He will then regard all
equally. A perfect harmony and beauty will prevail in him,
rendering cool even his very marrow and he will be glorified
everywhere. Samsaric illusions, oh gracious Rama of large
expanding eyes, will never affect those painless wise person
ages, however much such illusions are productive of great
surprises, or make them oscillate ever with their never-
ceasing changes of birth and destruction or generate many
myriads of pleasures and pains. Fie on those low-minded
persons of the world who do not long for and attain that
Supreme Principle which can be cognized through Jndna.
Vision only and wherein all accidents are unknown.
Now hear the means through which persons cross this
ocean of existence of bondage replete with the rubies of pains,
arising through the conjunction of some periods of time. (It
is thus; who am " I" that has the potentiality of getting the
quiescence of mind which will enable it to wade through this
ocean of fleshy existence ? What is the nature of this uni
verse? Who is that supreme One sought after ? Of what
avail are material enjoyments? Such a discriminative en
quiry is, according to the Vedas, the best of means. There-
THE STORY OF IKSHWA KU. 319
fore, thou shall hear from me, how Ikshwdku*, the foremost
and the first king of thy race, managed to attain Jnana, the
Moksha. While the graceful king was ruling over the seeming
earth through the path of the ancients, he held secret com
munion within himself thus " What is the stainless cause
of this world teeming with dotage and death, pleasures and
pains, fancies and misconceptions, etc., beyond number ?"
In spite of his deep thought over the same, he was unable to
solve it.
Therefore having visited and paid due respects to the
Lord, the first Manuf who came down from Satyaloka, he
addressed him thus Oh mine of mercy who deigned to
descend easily to this earth from Satyaloka, vouchsafe to
enlighten me as to my real self through the attaining of the
eternal and the giving up of pains. Whence the origin of
this universe? What is its form ? How long does it last? To
whom does it owe its origin ? At what period and through
what cause did it arise into existence ? Like a bird getting
out of a snare, may I get out of this universe of different
gradations.
At these words Manu replied "Very wonderful. Thy
question arising through thy excessive discrimination and
extending over long eeons of period will (when answered)
destroy all Mdya. All these paltry universes do not exist,
appearing like a Gandharva city or the mirage in an oasis.
It is only Atmic Reality that ever is beyond the reach of the
organs, more subtle than Akasa, unlimited by space and
indestructible. All the visibles of objects composed of the
five elements are but reflections in this great mirror of Atma.
Some effulgent Saktis (potencies) arising out of Brahman,
commingled together and became of the form of the mun
dane egg. Some were of the form of Siva s hosts. Some
assumed the Devalokic form. Thus is the truth about the
manifesting Saktis. There is no such thing as bondage
or Moksha. Brahman alone is, that is without pains. It is
the eternal Jndna alone, that shines as the world of variegated
* He was the first of the Solar Kings and Son of the present Manu
Vaivaswata.
f Swayambhu Manu,
320 YO*A-VA SISHTA
objects, like waves differentiating" the water into many kinds
of foam, etc. Nought else is but the one Brahman."
" Having- dispelled the thoughts of bondage and Moksha
from arising (in thee) and mastered them, ma>est thou be
free from all fears and be as firm as a rock. But if thou
shouldst associate thyself with thoughts of Sankalpa, then
the Chinmatra Jnana will reach the state of a Jiva (in thee),
like water transformed into waves, &c. Then the Jivas will
ever be whirling in the cycle of re-births, existing from a
remote period. All the delusions of pains and pleasures are
the attributes of the mind and not of Attna. Like Rahu*
which, though not visible at other times, is manifested in
conjunction with the moon, Atma, when it com^s into direct
experience, will be seen visibly. This Brahman which can
not be cognized through Jna"na-6astras and Acharyas alone
can be directly perceived in its own state through one self and
his intelligence. Look upon thy enemy, the organs in the
same listless manner in which a wayfarer regards objects in
his way. It is not proper on thy part to love or hate the
organs, since the body and other objects, being but the re
sult of Karma, will inevitably come to take shape. Therefore
having given them up mentally and made thy mind cool
(without the feverish thirst for it), mayest thou be Brahman
itself."
The self-identification of " I" with this body, produces
the bondage of existence. But this idea is foreign to an
aspirant after salvation free from all pains, who becomes of
the nature of Chinmatra. An impartial intelligence of such a
person, which is more subtle than the all-pervading Aka6a,
will destroy existence. Then Atma which shines in all
objects, will be like the sun s rays, shining both in clear
water and out of it. It will enter the heart of all forms and
shine everywhere, like gold appearing in all (golden) orna
ments. It is only his ripened and part-less form (or aspect)
that manifests itself, as this world pervaded by the Atmic
Satta (Be-ness). Know also Atma to be like Kumbha-Muni,
Agastya who sipped the whole of the waters in this ocean
of terrific time, pervaded by the destructive Vadava-Agni,fullof
* One of the nodes of the moon producing eclipses.
THE STORY OF IKSIIWA KU. 321
the waves of the many rivers of the universes flowing into
It."
" May you be according to your free will and with great
intelligence, having first dispelled, through your intelligence,
the countless array of objects such as body, etc., which are
non-Atma and as such pertain to the world and being quite
humble, through the development of Jnana. Like a mother
who, utterly unmindful of the child that rests on her lap, be
comes of an afflicted heart, by causing search to be made
everywhere for it, so all people, without cognizing Atma
within which is without dotage or death, indulge in all sorts
of griefs to the effect that they are utterly spoiled, or have-no
protector or they are destroyed with the destruction of their
body nourished by food. Like water which, through agitation
in it, generates waves and others, so also through the excess
of Sankalpa, the delusions of Chit greatly increase ; but
should the stains of Sankalpa be removed and the expanded
Chitta be concentrated firmly upon Atma, thou wilt be able,
oh King, to rule thy realm long without any fluctuation, even
in the tossing waves of (Samsaric) ocean and being immovable
in thy Atma, to be eternal and blissful. Then Atma, which,
remains after all, will through its Sankalpic (or voluntary;
potencies create diverse sports like children in this world."
" Through its destructive potency, all things will be des
troyed and will rest in It. The potency of bondage, also will
arise of its own accord in this Atma and will merge into that
from which it arose. The destructive potency also will arise
voluntarily in this Atma.
Like rubies shining with lustre fn conjunction with the
rays of the sun or the moon, or the fruits, leaves, &c., of a
ripened tree or drops of water In mountain torrents, this illu
sory world ofBliddhi, (fee., producing motion, &c., in it, arises
out of Brahman. To those who have not cognized Atma, this
universe will be generative of pains and will appear as if it were
not a delusion. Such is the miraculous working of the diversity
of Maya. Though Atma is ordinarily partless and permeates
all parts of the body, yet it, (through Maya) deludes men from
cognizing their own Atma. After contemplating upon the
worlds as the Param-Akas and freeing thyself from all de
sires, thou shalt beajivanrnuktaof great bliss accoutred with
322 VOGA-VA SISHTA.
the panoply of Brahman. After destroying the idea of I,
may you contemplate upon all objects through the idea of
Abha"va (non-existence) as formless, without attraction and as
Chit and the quiescent. The mere conception of differentia
tion that this is good or that is bad, will be the seed of a
series of pains. Should this seed be burnt up by the fire of
equal vision, then where will be the room for generation of
pains? Gently wear, through diverse human efforts, the sword
of Abhava (non-existence) in thee."
<( Oh King Ikshw&ku wearing a garland in this dire forest
of Karmas performed through thy mind, sever all (differentia
ted thoughts) through Abhava, attain the supreme seat and
being filled with discrimination through the abandoning of
Karmas, be immovably seated in that state. Only he who,
having merged within himself all the variegated differences
of the universe and having crossed all the variety of thoughts,
is free from the desires of the ever-agitating women and
wealth and from the gloom of Ajnana generating the idea of
* I and thus has developed true discrimination, will illuminate
Brahmic bliss in himself. He alone will be free from pains.
May you meditate ever upon that Jnana Reality which is
quiescent, equal in all and immaculate."
Again Manu continued "First Jnfina should be devel
oped through a deep study of Jnana Sastras and association
with the wise. This Subechcha (or good desire) forms the
first Bhumika(or stage) of JnAna. It does not apply to Karma
Yogis (who indulge in rituals alone). The ceaseless Atma-Vi-
ch^ra (Atmic enquiry) constitutes the second stage. Asanga-
bhavana is the third. In the fourth stage, Satwapaththi
will destroy to the root all Vcisanas. Ananda-Svvarupa
(the blissful Reality) replete with the non-illusory and
immaculate Jnana is the fifth stage (of Asamsakti). This
stage in which there is not the Upadhi, (vehicle) of waking or
sleeping is the Jivamnukti stage. In the sixth stage, it is like
the Sushupti state of replete bliss, wherein there is nothing
but the nature of non-intelligence (or ignorance). The exalted
stage of the seventh is the isolation of Moksha which is part-
less, equal in all, immaculate, beneficent, quiescent and the
pure Turya. This seventh state free from all objects and
THE STORY OF IKSHWA liU. 323
replete with bliss is stated by some to be the Turyatheetha
seat of Moksha which is Chit itself.
" Of these seven stages, the three first may be included
under Jagrata Avastha (or the waking state). The fourth
stage, in which all the universes do appear like a dream, will
fall under Swapna (the dreaming state). The fifth stage which
is filled with one uniform bliss alone comes under the category
of Sushupti. That which is of the nature of bliss with intel
ligence is the sixth stage coming under the head of Turya.
Then" comes the Turyatheetha, the seventh stage which is
above the reach of the fluctuating mind and speech, self-shin
ing and of the nature of Sat. If through the control of Chitta
(mind) within the heart, all the visibles are destroyed by one
past all resurrection, then there is no doubt that he will be
come a Jivanmukta through the greatBe-ness- If one without
suffering from the pleasures or pains of enjoyments becomes of
a high intelligence and merges into Atma and enjoys the beati
tude there, then to the certitude of such a being, the supreme
Moksha will ensue. Such a person is a Jivanmukta, no matter
whether he involves himself in many actions or not, or whether
he is a householder or an ascetic, or whether he is disem
bodied or embodied. Such a sturdy person will never droop
in spirit, since he is convinced that he neither dies nor lives,
neither exists nor non-exists, neither is one nor another.
Such a sturdy person, will never be afflicted in mind, being
without grayness or desires or mind or egoism or any
such and never clinging to any. Such a person being
without the three gunas, birth and death and being a pure
person and a Jnani of eternal quiescence and equal vision,
will not in the least be afflicted. Such a doughty person
shining as the Jmma which pervades all things such as straw,
Akasa, Sun, Devas, Nagas or men, will never give way to
despondency of heart. Those who have cognized through
rare extensive enquiry that Chit (consciousness) pervades
everywhere in the world, warp-wise and woof-wise, up and
down, are the indestructible Ones."
11 An object enjoyed firmly through one s Vasanas brings
immediately in its train pleasures ; but when it perishes soon
with its terrific results, it will of itself be productive of pains.
It is indeed a notorious fact that the majority of mankind do
324 YOGA-VA SISHTAi
not relieve themselves from pleasures or pains. But when
V&sanas are either destroyed completely or do decay little by
little, no joy will be experienced in sensual objects. Plea
sures and pains are so inseparably interblended that they
both manifest themselves together when they orginate or
disappear together when they perish. When the Vasa-
nas of the mind decay, then the Karmas done by it will
never generate pleasures or pains, like a burnt seed. Diverse
Karmas have arisen through the separate appearance of the
body and its organs. Whoever will like to come forward
as the cook and the enjoyer therein ? One who through
his great intelligence, is not attracted by the created objects
will be of a heart as cool as the moon and of the lustre of
the rays of the sun. Then by the whirlwind of wisdom, the
cotton pods of Karmas, Sanchita and Agami* will be broken
and scattered away from the cotton plant of this body with
its nine gates. All the thoughts of Jivas will flit away from
them, they not having had practice in the direction of concen
trating their minds ; but knowledge in those having the eye
of Jnana, will be firmly imprinted in their minds, though aris
ing only once and will ever be on its increase through ardent
love for it, like seeds sown in a fruitful soil. Like waters in a
full river or ocean, Atma which is of all forms and non-dual
will shine in all potencies. Know thyself as that essence
which merges all the worlds into the non-dual Sat without
the hosts of ceaseless thoughts."
Again the Muni continued " So long as Alma rests in
the desire for sensual enjoyments, so long is it termed Jiva.
These material desires arise through Aviveka (non-discrimi
nation) and will not arise voluntarily. Desires will become
extinct with the rise of discrimination. When desires cease,
Jiva s state becomes extinct and Atma attains the state of the
stainless Brahman. This (Jiva) Atma has been going from
heaven to hell and vice versa. Oh King, do not become the
water-pot swinging in the cord of thought in the picotta of ex
istence. What sensible man will approach the illusions of
actions which confirm him in the conception that such and such
an object is his or that he is the agent therein ? Such deluded
persons, deserve to go to still lower depths. But persons who
* Agami are the Karmas now enacted.
THE SloRY OF IKSHWA KU. 325
have eliminated from themselves, through their higher intelli
gence, the diverse delusions of agency and ownership of
objects or the differentiation of that person, or this person, I or
others are able to journey on to Moksha, the Highest of the
highest."
" Having a firm grip of your Reality, the self-shining
Atma, may you look upon this universe as your all-full form.
Only when Jnana dawns thus in your heart as non-dual,
without any heterogeneities only then can you free yourself
from re-births and become Parameswara (the supreme lord)
himself. Know also the fact that I am also working my way
up to merge into this Jnana which Brahma, Vishnu, the
victorious Rudra and others with their five* Krithyas
(actions) attain, after merging into the one Tatvva. What
ever appearances take place at stated times and whatever
truths are said to occur therein, all these are no other than
the sweet sport of Jnana. Those w r ho are of a stainless mind
and have conquered time (death), having the attribute of
Chinmatra, will have none to compare with them in the alt-
full bliss they enjoy."
" Know that this universe neither exists nor non-exists ;
is neither of the nature of Atma nor non-Atma. When the
Reality is reached, Maya existing from the archaic period will
perish. But Moksha has neither space nor time in itself; nor
is there (in it) any state, external (or internal). If the illu
sory idea of I or Ahankara perishes, then the end of
Bhavana (thoughts) which is Maya is Moksha. He alone will
earn Salvation who does not undergo the diverse pains arising
from the study of Sastras which do entail ever-fluctuating
pleasures in trying to understand their meaning. Such a
person will ever be in his indestructible and equal Atma and
enjoy bliss. He alone will shine as an emperor over all the
world, who is indifferent as to what he wears or eats or where
he sleeps. Like a lion escaping from its iron cage, free
thyself from the castes, orders of life and the Dharmas
of the world, and having lightened thyself of the load of
worldly concerns, reach that state which is indestructible
and free thyself from re-births, with an incomparable quies-
* The five Krithyas are creation, preservation, destruction, dis
appearance and grace.
3 26 YOGA-VA SISHTA,
ccnce of mind, like a clear sky. Then thou wilt be like a deep
and crystal water in a mountain ravine. Then thou wilt enjoy
within thyself the essence of Brahmic bliss without any the
least disturbance of the equilibrium of thy mind."
" Such a person will be indifferent to all fruits of actions.
He will be all-full without any deterioration. He will be proof
against the attacks of the Vikalpas of actions, virtuous and
sinful. His mind will not cling to any. Like a crystal
which, though reflecting the five colors, is yet not discolored
by it, so though in his mind are reflected the fruits of actions,
yet it will not be tinged with them. In common with other
men, he will be worshipping with true devotion ; and though
his body is cut asunder through malice, he will be unaffected
by pleasures or pains, they being merely like reflections in his
mind. Though engaged in worldly actions such as eulogies
(to God) and the celestial sacrifices, whether worshipped by
others or not, he will ever be conforming to the dictates of
the Vedas and be utterly disconnected in mind with worldly
concerns. He will neither be the object of fear to those with
whom he comes in contact nor will be terrified by any
in the world, Such a full-minded person will rest in the
Supreme Seat, whether he associates or not with desires,
anger, fear and contentment, whether he refrains from being
in the state menrioned before or is in a childlike state or
whether he dies in Benares or in a Chandala s (the lowest
casteman s) house."
" Persons should worship this lofty soul, seeing that with
the reaching of the Absolute Consciousness in Moksha, he has
destroyed his mind and that inasmuch as bondage is caused
by the gloom of Ajnana, he has destroyed this gloom. There
fore it is the duty of those who wish to destroy re-births, to
venerate such an exalted personage by ever praising, salu
ting, worshipping, glorifying and visiting him with entrea
ties. Not even Yajnas or ablutions, Tapas or gifts will
confer, on one, the same effects as those derivable from the
services rendered with true love to those who have glorified
themselves in a state of never-fluctuating Jndna, free from
Samsaric-existence. "
Having thus taught him with true love, Lord Bra/hma
now passing under the pseudonym of Manu, departed to his
THE STORY OF A MUNI AND A HUNTER. 327
effulgent mansion in Satyaloka. Oh Rama, with feet tinkling
with bells, thus did the famous King Ikshwaku cling fast to
this kind of vision and rest in the certitude of Atma." So
said Vasishta.
THE STORY OF A MUNI AND A HUNTER.
Summary. This story is meant to illustrate the Turya
enjoyment.
On being questioned by Rama as to what the wondrous
traits are in those Jivanmuktas who have worshipped the
eternal Brahman through their great wisdom (but without the
psychical powers of Anima, &c.) Vasishta said thus The in
comparable intelligence of a Jna"ni will ever find wonders
(or delight) in the non-dual Atma. With stainlessr.ess,
fullness and quiescence, the Jivanmukta will be in Atma only.
What wonder is there in walking in the skies and other psy
chical powers developed out of Mantras, Tapas and other
means? Anima and other powers accrue only to those persons
who expand their minds gradually in this world with intense
efforts. But Atma-Jnanis long not for these Siddhis. There
is one thing peculiar to them. They have not the minds of the
base. Their minds are immaculate, being free from desires.
Without the characteristics of caste and orders of life and
through the freedom from the trammels of the delusion of the
longstanding births and deaths, they will be the enjoyers of
partless bliss. Besides, desires, anger, pains, greed, accidents,
&c., full of Vasanas, will daily dwindle into nothing.
Vasishta continued again : Like a Brahmin who after
giving up his noble status, degrades himself into a Sudra, Es a
(the Lord) degrades himself into a Jiva. The myriads of
Jivas will, at every creation, shine beyond number. Through
the flutter of that causal ideation, the Jivic Eswaras will be
generated in every stage (of evolution). But the cause is not
here (in this world). The Jivas that arise from Eswara
and flourish thereby, subject themselves to repeated re
births through the Karmas perfomed by them. This,
Rama, is the relationship of cause and effect, (though
there is no cause for the rise of Jivas), yet existence and
Karmas, are reciprocally the cause of one another. All
328 YOGA-V.VSISHTA.
the Jivas arise, without cause, out of the BVahmic Seat ; yet,
after their rise, their Karmas are the cause of their pleasures
and pains. And Sankalpa arising from the delusion of the
ignorance of Atm;i is the cause of all Karmas.
As thus the cause of bondage is Sankalpa, you should
root it away from you as completely as possible. The des
truction of this primeval (cause) Sankalpa is itself Moksha.
This destruction of Sankalpa should be intelligently prac
tised. Where there exists the conception of the objects anil
the enjoyer of the same r thou shouldst, my son, gradually
and at all times destroy this Sankalpa without losing* sight
of the same. Do not become of the form of objects or the
knower, enjoying tlie same. Having destroyed all the slight
ed Sankalpas, mayest thou become That which remains.
When the five organs get into objects (along with the mind),
the desires engendered therein do constitute bondage ; but
the non-attraction towards them is Moksha. If thou art
even in the least tinged with the desires of objects, then it
will involve thee in the meshes of existence. Oh beautiful
Rama, if thou are not pleased with obj-ects, then thou wirt
be free from existence. Do not in the least bestow any de
sires upon the hosts of objects, movable and fixed, from
straw up to gold.
Where there is no desire, what is there to feed upon or
to perform or abandon ? Thou art neither the agent nor the
enjoyer. Thou art alone the quiescent personage with thy
mind extinct. Again, the wise will never grieve for things
past, or about things of the future ; but they will perform
their present Karmas duly, and be a master of them. Pride,
illusion and desires ar2 so many binding- cords of the mind.
Through the discriminative mind, the lower mind is power
fully mastered by the wise. Having developed much dis
crimination, may you destroy the delusions of the heteroge
neous mind through the one pointed Manas (mind), like an
iron severing another iron. The intelligent cleanse a dirty
cloth with the dirty earth only. A murderous Agni-Astra
(missile) is counteracted by Varuna- Astra. The venom of
serpent-bite is removed by its antidote of an edible poison.
So also is it in the case of Jiva.
THE STORY OF A MUNI AND A HUNTER. 329
The Jiva has got three forms (or aspects). The first two are
the base ones, vts., the gross and the subtle. The third is the
supreme Brahman. Having gained this Brahman, may you
free yourself from the first two forms. The gross body was
designed for the purpose of enjoyment with hands and feet,
eyes and the rest. The painful mind which is of the form of
Sankalpa and produces the conception of Samsara is the
subtle mental body. The third aspect is, to all Jivas, the
Jnana Reality which is without beginning or end or hetero
geneities. Oh Rama with lotus hands, the immaculate Turya
seat is above this. Being absorbed in this Turya seat, may
you not identify yourself with the first two forms but destroy
them both altogether.
At these words of Yasishta, Ragava asked the Muni
thus: Please describe to me in detail this Turya or Brahmic
state which is higher than the three Avasthas (Jgrata, Swa-
pna, and Sushupti). To which Vasishta, with words shed
ding ambrosial showers, replied Remaining in the certitude
of Atma without desires and with an equal vision over all,
having completely eradicated all conceptions of differentia
tions of (i I or he", existence or non-existence is Turya.
That state of Jivanmukti free from delusions, wherein there is
the supreme certainty of Atma, equal vision over all and the
witness-ship to all worldly acts is Turya state. Being without
the painful Sankalpa, it is neither the waking state nor the
sleeping state. Nor is it the ordinary Sushupti state, as
there is (in Turya) the absence of the knowledge (of enjoy
ment). All the world becomes then absorbed in the benefi
cent Atma. To ripe Jndnis, this world is itself Turya (or they
can enjoy the Turya state in this state) ; but to the ignorant,
the universe is their settled abode (or they pinion their minds
to the visibles only). If after the idea of " I" vanishes, the
mind sees all things equally and performs all actions in such
a manner that it cannot be said to perform them, then that is
the Turya state to it.
Though you are the prince of men full of Jnana, please
hearken, oh intelligent Rama, to a story that occurred in days
of yore. In a spacious forest, a Tapaswin was in a state akin
to that of a Mourn.* A warlike hunter who was a veteran
* A person engaged in a vow of taciturnity.
42
330 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
in archery approached this Muni, and addressed him thus :
"Through the infliction of my arrows breathing fire, a stag
ran up to this place. Will you please tell me where it
fled to ?" To which the stainless Tapaswin replied thus :
Oh person of good qualities, we are only a band ofTapaswins,
tenanting this forest, having equal vision over all. We
never involve ourselves in the stainful Ahankara prompt
ing men to worldly actions. Is it not the mind that associ
ates itself with the actions of the organs in objects? It is long
since the mind of the form of Ahankara left me truly and
completely. I now know nothing of the waking, dreaming,
or the sleepless dreaming states. I am now become of the
Turya state. All the diverse visibles do not exist in the pure
Turya state." The hunter without understanding the dis
quisitions of the Muni quitted that place.
Therefore please listen to me attentively. There is no
state other than Turya ; Jn3na divested of all its stainful
diversities is Turya. Nought else is in this world but It.
The Jagrata state is coupled with terrible actions ; the dream
ing state, with becalmed actions and the dreamless sleeping
state, with Ajnna (ignorant) actions. These are the three
states of consciousness to a discriminative mind. If the lower
mind perishes, it becomes the Sat and the non-dual and the
all-equal state. Such a certitude of mind it is, the Jndnis
develop and attain. In that Turya state in which the
differenceless and ancient Jivanmuktas do abide as the great
and the transcendent Rishis without any bondage, may you,
my son, ever live firmly without the painful Sankalpas and
Vikalpas and free yourself from all pains.
THE CONCLUSION OF NIRVA NA-PRAKARANA.
Summary In this chapter is given a summary of all the
foregoing fourteen stories leading to Brahman, the Turya-
theetha State.
Is it not the certain conclusion of all Atma-Jna"na
fetstras that all the whole world should be seen but as a
dream ? Neither Avidya exists nor the dire Mya generating
the pains of actions. But Brahman alone is, which has not
the least iota of pains and is quiescence itself. Diverse reli-
THE CONCLUSION OF NIRVA NA-PRAKARANA, 331
gionists, super-imposing many attributes upon this Brahman
which is the quiescent, Chidkas, the equal in all, the imma
culate, the Atma and having endless potencies in it, dub it
with different appellations, Some call it a void. Some Para-
meswara ; and some others Mahd-Vijnana. Therefore having
avoided all things, may you rest in that great silence. May
you rest ever in the full Jnana of the immaculate Atma with
true introvision which is the Moksha devoid of the painful
Manas, Chitta, Buddhi, and Ahankara and be like a deaf,
mute and blind person. Having reached the Jagrat-Sushupti
stage and thrust all things within (or made the mind to con
template internally), perform all things externally according
to your free will. With the growth of the mind, the pains
increase ; with its extinction, there will be great bliss. Hav
ing lorded over your mind, may you free yourself from this
world of perceptions, in order that you may be of the nature of
Jnna. Though surrounded by pleasurable or painful objects
to disturb your equilibrium of mind, may you be immovable
as a rock, receiving all things equally. So long as you free
yourself from the delusions of the endless births, do not, oh
mountain-like Rama endeavour to attain pleasures or pains,
bliss or non-bliss through thy efforts. Such kinds of efforts
will enable you to get the endless Brahmic seat. One whose
intelligence is filled with the cool ambrosia, like the moon
replete with nectary rays, will enjoy bliss. Having under
stood first the Be-ness (Principle) of all the worlds, he is in
Moksha, performing actions though not really performing
them.
Here Rama queried Vasishta thus: What are the
means by which the seven Jndna states can be cognized ?
And what are the characteristics of those Jnanis who have
cognized them ? To which Vasishta replied thus There
are two classes of Jivas (or egos), those that get under the
yoke of (material) enjoyments and that do not do so. Now
listen to the characteristics of these two aspirants for enjoy
ment and Moksha. Not caring for the glorious Moksha,
the first class will estimate greatly the worldly path and will
perform actions therein with great certitude of mind. Their
tendencies will be towards the vast enjoyments of the
world. Such a path will render them liable to fresh re-births,
332 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
generating discrimination to all. Like a tortoise thrusting
its neck into the hole of an yoke floating on the surface of
an ocean, he incarnates in repeated re-births associated with
the dire organs and then through discrimination developed
in them, begins to contemplate thus " These dire re-births
have been utterly fruitless. Enough of the (worldly) delusion.
Of what avail are these Karmas ? All my days have been vain
ly spent in them. If there is a diminution in these excessive
Karmas, then all pains will cease." He who has an indomi
table heart to find out this seat, will abandon quite (the
world), and become a Nivarta (or freed personage). Engaged
in ceaseless enquiry, overcoming all illusions and contriving
means to cross this Samsara, such a person will every mo
ment of his life be engaged in the renunciation of all his de
sires, without devoting a special day to it.
Ever bent upon the higher spiritual pursuits, such a per
son will daily revel in the bliss of his own Self. He will be
loth to participate in frivolous and stainful Karmas. He will
perform, but slightly, virtuous actions and will never disclose
them to others. He will be engaged secretly in those Kar
mas only which do not bring home fear in the hearts of the
worldly. He will shrink from dire ones. Never will he
long for enjoyments. He will utter appropriate words only
according to proper time and place and with great love, due
respects, much endearment and prodigious intelligence.
Such a personage who conducts himself thus will have reach
ed the first stage of Jnana, vis., Subechcha. Moreover, he will,
with his three organs (of mind, speech, and body) at one
with one another, long to associate with (and worship) the
transcendently wise personages. Being an ardent searcher
after knowledge, he will study all spiritual books wherever
they are. Such a personage who enters upon this line of
enquiry after resolving, within himself, upon the destruction of
this Samsara with which he is connected is indeed a knower
of the first stage (or has reached the highest ladder of the
first stage). A virtuous person who is thus, is a great one
indeed.
The second stage is called Vicharana, free from ignorance.
In order to know all about the Dharmas (virtuous actions)
in the Vedas, the proper path, Dharana, Dhyanas and good
THE CONCLUSION OF NIRVA*NA-PRAKARANA. 333
actions, he will sweetly associate with the wisest of great
love, that will throw light upon the real significance of the
stainless holy Vedic sentences and will, after discriminating
between the real and the unreal, know what actions ought
to be done and whatnot, like the master of a house accquain-
ting himself perfectly with a knowledge of his domestic
affairs. Those arising through Avidya (ignorance) such as
all the perishable pride, envy, Ahankara, desires, delusion, &c.,
will be easily disposed of by him, like a serpent throwing
off its slough. Such an intelligent person will realize truly the
esoteric and mysterious significance of Jndna-Sdstras and of
the words of an Acharya or a wise personage.
Then the third stage quite free from all attractions, will
be reached by him, where he will rest like one in a soft
cushion of brand-new flowers. Such a person, after master
ing all the observances inculcated by the J^dstras, will spend
his life in the hearing of Tatwa-Jn^na stories in the abode of
the noble Tapaswins and others. Broad slabs of stones will
be his abode and resting place. By virtue of the control of
his mind and the absence of attractions towards objects of
bliss, he will live a nomadic life in the forest with an equal
vision over all. Through a study of Jnana-^astras and the
performance of good Karmas, a true cognition of the Reality
will arise. A person who has reached the third stage and is
a knower of the same, can be divided under two heads in re
ference to their enjoyments without any attraction therein.
Now mark well their divisions. They are termed the ordinary
and the special. Again, oh Rama, born of the race of Manu,
each of these has its two sub-divisions. The ordinary indif
ference is the idea of non-association with objects such as I am
neither the actor, nor the enjoyer, nor the learning disciple nor
the teaching Acharya. All the pleasures and pains experienced,
arise through the old law of Eswara only, who is so pleased
as to bless us all. How can agency be attributed to me?
All the injurious excessive enjoyments are but fatal diseases
All our wealth is but a source of infinite dangers. Death is
only for birth (again). The staggering pains of keen intelli
gence are but maladies and obstacles to progress. Yama
(Death) will again and again endeavour to destroy the many
universes. Therefore thought of objects will arise in their
334 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
hearts without any desires. Those who thus are ever absorb
ed in trying to know the underlying significance of the sacred
sentences are of the ordinary class.
Through the path of non-desires, the association with
the wise and not with the ignorant, the illumination within
oneself of the Self-Chaitanya, one s supreme efforts and a
ceaseless study of Jnana-^astras, the great shore (or seat)
of the vast waters of fleshly re-birth and the source (of all)
will, oh Rama wearing garlands of gems and honey-drop
ping wreaths, be firmly and directly seen like a Piluluka
Euphorbia in the palm of the hand. Oh thou like a cloud
showering grace, the special (or second) indifference arises,
whenone is in the certitude of quiescent silence, dispelling, truly
to a distance, all Sankalpas bodying forth in words, he not
being the actor, agency being attributable to Eswara or his
own destiny. It also arises when there is no differentiation of
thought of worldly objects or non-objects, Chit or non-Chit,
internals or externals and height or lowness in the quarters or
the Akasa and everything merges into the quiescent state free
from thoughts or light or many re-births or beginning or end.
This third stage will bring in its train the matchlesss lotus
bud of Jnana which blossoms through the sun of Viveka (dis
crimination) arising in the heart and which is at the top of the
stalk of the clear mind replete with the thorns of obstacles,
arising in the mud of Vasanas. The first stage of Subechcha
arises in the mind, like the analogy of a crow and the palmyra
fruit, through the association with the stainless wise and the
performance of all virtuous actions without any desires for
the fruits thereof. This will irrigate his mind with the waters
of discrimination and protect it. This stage will be develop
ed with non-attractions (or indifference). With the development
of this indifference every day through proper efforts, it will
be found that the first stage is the substratum of the other
stages like low-caste men cultivating lands for others sus
tenance. From it, the next two stages Vicharana and Thanu-
manasi will be reached. With the cultivation of special
indifference, the third stage is reached. A person who has
reached this stage will be void of all Sankalpas.
Here Rama remarked How can salvation be obtained by
those who are of degraded family, without intelligence, per-
THE CONCLUSION OF NIRVA NA-PRAKAKANA. 335
forming bondage-giving Karmas, of vicious tendencies and
without Jnana? Moreover if ,1 person dies having reached
the first, second or third stages, what will be his future fate?
Please enlighten me on these points, Oh immaculate Lord.
To which the wise Vasishta replied thus : To the igno
rant who are subject to many frailties, there will arise many
re-births of diverse kinds. These re-births will not cease till
the first Jnana stage is reached. Besides, if the virtuous path
be strode, there will arise the stainless indifference, like the
analogy of a crow and the palmyra fruit; or with the associa
tion with the wise, this indifference will arise ; and when
there is indifference, the Jnna stage will not but be reached.
Through it, all re-births will cease. All the significance of
the S a stras point to this goal only. Again, hearken to
the fates of those who, being in one or other of these Jnna
states, breathe their last. Should one satisfy quite the
qualifications required of him in the three Jnana states, then
all his former Karmas will cease to exist. Then Devas will
conduct him on their divine vehicle to Devaloka and other
places, where he will feast his eyes upon the pleasant sceneries of
Meru, Elysian gardens, caves and beautiful damsels. With
the expiry of their enjoyment, all the old two-fold Karmas
will perish completely, and then they will at once redescend
upon earth as Jndnis. They will incarnate in a family of the
wise replete with enormous wealth, good qualities and purity
of mind and body) and will unerringly follow the path of
Jnna, since they had already subjected themselves to a rigid
course of discipline.
As this motley universe is seen without anything special
as in the walking state by a Jnani in these three stages, they
can well be termed the waking state. It is persons in these
three stages that pass for Acharyas to the work-a-day world.
To the ignorant, they appear like those who have attained
Moksha and are extolled. They instil spirit into the ignorant
to tread the path of Jnana. They will do only things fit to be
done, and omit to do things which ought not to be done. They
will act consistently with the working of nature. Such men
alone are the greatest of men. Those only are the Supreme
men who load their lives according to Ach^ras (the reli-
336 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
gious observances), the Sastric injunctions and the non-
noble actions of the world with firmness.
In the first stage of matchless Jnana, the nature (or
qualities) of an Acharya will germinate ; in the second stage
they will bloom ; and in the third stage, they will fructify.
Should a Jnani die while in this (last) state, he will remain in
Swarga (Devachan), for a long time ;and after satiating him
self with the enjoyments therein which perish on account of
their Sankalpa, will reincarnate on earth again as a Jnni.
After Ajn^na (ignorance of Truth) perishes through the de
velopment of these three stages, the exalted Jn&na will
dawn fully in his mind and settle itself firmly there as all-
pervading and without beginning and end, like the light of a
full moon. It is with this mind associated with Jnana that
Yogis shine.
Those who have reached the fourth stage will look sted-
fastly and coolly upon all things in the universe with an
equal eye and like a dream. Oh Rama, all the above three
stages can be classified under the Jgrata state, while the
abovementioned fourth can be included under the Swdpana
state. In this last stage, the mind will perish like the array
of clouds in the autumnal season. Then it will remain in the
transcendent Sat-Bhdva alone which survives all. With the
destruction of the mind, all Vikalpas will notarise.
Then passing over to the fifth stage which will come under
Sushupti, he will remain in the absolute certitude of non-
duality, when all the specialties of gun^s will disappear. Such
a person will be with full Jnana shining in the heart and
free from the gloom of duality. He will ever remain in the
Sushupti state. He will always rejoice in the possession of
the matchless introvision. Though engaged in external ac
tions, he will ever be quiescent, as ifin a brown study. The
sixth stage being reached, the Turya state ensues, in which
he will be engaged in the practices appurtenant to that stage,
being completely divested of all the regularly accrued Vasa-
nas. Then he spends his time mindless as the Kevala (one)
free from all ideas of differences or non-differences, Tor non-
I ) being or non-being. A Jiva in this state unaffected by the
knot of Ahankara and being neither with the idea (of attain
ing) Nirvana nor without it, will be within, like the steady
THE CONCLUSION OF NIRVA NA-PRAKARANA. 337
and unflickering light of a lamp. All the worldly creation
having then no externals or internals, shines all-full both
inside and outside through Brahmic vision, like a pot filled to
the brim in the midst of the ocean seething with waves.
This personage, though he, to all appearances, seems to have
every thing is really with nothing. Having solitarily passed
this sixth stage, the Jivanmukta reaches the seventh stage
alone. It is in this seventh stage that disembodied salvation is
attained. Thus is the extreme verge of the supreme Jnna
stages reached, of pure quiescence and beyond all power of
speech.
Having instituted nice enquiries into this seventh stage
of Videha-mukti, diverse religionists ascribe different names
to this stage, Some say it is Paramaaiva, some hold it to be
a void ; some hold it to be Vijn&na ; some say it is kala
(time) ; and some Prakriti. Others there are who find it an
up-hill work for them, through their Vikalpas and firm idea
of differentiation of objects in this world, to cognize and
describe this disembodied (or formless) state which, being
homogeneous, is beyond the power of speech. If these seven
Jnana stages are crossed in a non-illusory manner, pains
will not in the least come in contact with such a person.
There is a mad rutting elephant with tusks, like unto a
a white shell, which, showering rutting water as it goes, stalks
with a beautiful gait with its long writhing proboscis spotted
with white. If this animal which generates never-ceasing
pains be slain, then mankind will cross with you all the
various stages of the above mentioned Jndna. So long as
this tremendous elephant oozing out rutting water be not
slain through one s might, who will become a great warrior
in the field of battle (in this universe) replete with pains?
At these words of Vasishta, Rama of the form of grace
accosted him thus What is this powerful elephant you
acquainted me with ? where is the field of battle ? how can it
be annihilated ? what is the seat of its residence ?
To which Vasishta replied thus This grand elephant
showering rutting water is no other than the pains-genera-
ting desires that ever try to appropriate to " I" all the things
of the universe and disports itself with great mirth and joy
in the spacious forest of the body. It has as its young ones,
43
338 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
the dire Indryas (or organs) full of anger and greed. It will
articulate through its sweet tongue and perform its actions
by being merged into the forest of the mind. The terrific
and dire twin Karmas (good and bad) are its two tusks.
The Va"sanas are the rutting waters shed by it. It has a body
which ranges everywhere and at all times. All the visible
objects of Samsara are the battle field wherein the carnage
takes place ; the powerful desires being no other, as said be
fore, than the elephant. This rutting elephant of desires
which again and again invests persons with victory or defeat,
puts an end to the myriads of poor Jivas. All the firm
Vasanas having their own modifications, existence, Manas,
Buddhi, Sankalpa, desires and the rest pertain to Antah karana,
the lower mind only. It is most conducive to the progress
of a Jnani to conquer fearlessly by all means and as if in
sport, this elephant of desires whicli is but a combination of
all, through sheer might and the arrows of dauntless bravery.
If through the imbecility of thy mind, it longs after things of
the world, please hear from me the means of arresting it. So
long as these desires exist in thee, so long will the poisonous
disease of Samsara creep upon and affect thee. The mind
which expands itself everywhere, thus enmeshing itself in
bondage can be called the despicable Samsara itself. Its des
truction alone is Moksha. Such is the fact.
[f only a disciple whose mind is cleansed of all its illu
sions which make it real is initiated into the sacred mysteries
by a Guru, then it will get quiescence like a drop of oil over
a glass surface. Through the illumination of Jnana. this mind
which was originally of the form of the seed of desires gives
up all the delusion of re-births ; and there arises in it nothing
(of the worldly desires) through its Asamvedana (non-recepti
vity). If the desires which bring in their train manifold mis
chief arise at any time in you, you should destroy them at
once through Asamvedana. Though a host of desires mani
fest themselves in you in diverse ways, yet the Vasanas which
are inseparably associated with body will never fail to be re
moved by Asamvedana. Do not fall in love with your de
sires but regard them in the light of a carcase to be
loathed. When the mind, through the powerful Pratyahara*
* One of the 8 parts of Yoga for restraining- the organs.
THE* CONCLUSION OF NIRVA NA-PRAKARANA, 339
mode, hankers not after desires which should be thought of
as nothing but Vasanas, then the mind will remain still. This
effort is called Asamvedana.
The wise say that the ideas of " mine" and " thine" are
only the foul creations of the mind. If all objects vanish
through the contemplation of Jnana, the wise, oh stainless
Prince, say that all the unreal illusions will disappear. The
existence of Manas is itself Sankalpa ; but its non-exis
tence is Siva itself (auspiciousness or bliss). The contempla
tion of feeling and non-feeling after crossing all objects is
the true one. May you, after abandoning all ideas of in
telligence and non-intelligence and becoming oblivious of all
things, remain stedfastly and firmly, like a decayed tree, with
great Jnana and in a state unchanged.
Now addressing the assembly, Vasishta said thus In
order that all persons in this hall may without exception un
derstand the drift of what we say, we shall now, with our
hands raised on high, proclaim to all thus It is only Sankalpa
destroyed beyond resurrection that constitutes the immaculate
Brahmic seat. Why should not men then contemplate silent
ly and secretly in their hearts upon the destruction of
this Sankalpa ? Then it will so betide that even the throne
of an Emperor, who sways his sceptre over the whole earth
will be regarded by them as but a paltry bauble. This
Brahmic seat is obtained by those only who observe Mouna
(silence towards material pleasures). Like a person who
journeys on to a great city in complete reverie within himself
unconscious of the pains which his feet underwent in the
exertion of walking, so an Atma-Jnni performs all Karma,
without his being conscious of the performance of them.
There is no use gained in dilating farther on the subjects.
Now hear from me in brief, the substance of what I said
before. Sankalpa only is Samsara ; its destruction is Moksha.
Majest thou be in a state of Elysian bliss, perceiving all
worlds to be of the nature of Jnana which is the one quiescence
without parts or end or destruction or fluctuation or Sam
sara. That which is described as the imperishable state of
quiescent Jn&na is Asamvedana. Perform all thy allotted
works, being at the same time in the Jnana state and without
the attracting desires. That Jnana which tends to the des-
340 YOGA-VA SISHTA.
truction of the mind a great up-hill work truly is Asamve-
dana. Mayest thou be, through this path, in that state of
beatitude, which is the quiescent Jnana. All ideas of identi
fication of all things with one s Self, will not free him from
pains. Asamvedana will confer upon one Moksha as its re
sult. Whatever is dear to thee (or proper in thy eyes), that
thou shalt enact. The non-dawning self-light of Siva (the
auspicious) is the all-pervading Sat. It alone is the quies
cent, auspicious and surpriseless bliss, shorn of all objects.
It alone is Jnna of ever-dawning Sat. It is this firm direct
cognisance of non-duality that constitutes, Oh Rama, Karma
Tyaga or the renunciation of all actions.
Thus did Vasishta initiate Sree-Rama into ; which was
again reiterated by Muni Valmiki for the benefit of Barad-
waja.
OM TAT SAT.
IlsT 3DEX
To Proper Names, the meanings of which are generally
given in the text.
A
Asaua ...
225
Asanga Bhavana
322
Abhavana
88
Astra
328
Abhimana
259
Asuras
128
Acharya ...
... 250, 259
Aswamedba
131
Achuyta...
176
Atma Jnana
288
Adhama
133
Atma
252
Adharma
317
Atma Vichara ... 33, 1 94,
322
Adhiboutika
41
Atmas
252
Adhi-Vahika ...
41
Attri
203
Adityas (12)
235
Avandhya
205
Agami
324
Avasthas
95
Agastya
171, 189. 236
Avidya 246
253
Agni
-... 126
Agni-Astra
328
B
Agni-Dharana ...
235
Bali, The Story of
160
Agnishtoma
... 270
Bala, The Story of
80
Ahalya ...
75
Baradwaja
1
Ahankara
10, 118, 152
Baradwajas
236
Aindhava
73
Barata Muni
76
Ajnana (7 states of)
94
Barata Varsha
30
Akara
, 189
Bhavana
247
Akarta ...
138
Bhadra-Ratha
56
Akartru S akti ...
247
Bhageeratha
267
Akasa
25
Bharata (book)
237
Akasaja ...
37
Bhasa 112 11 fi
9O1
Akhila-ratha
... 56
u-Uctocl ... ... -LA^j .LAO,
Bhargava
I\J)L
109
Alambusha
234
Beema 112,
116
Ananta ...
176
Bhringi 237,
315
Anahata . , .
171
Bhusunda
228
An;tnda ...
Ananda-Swarupa
207
322
Bhu (loka) 1,104,
Bhutas % .
292
185
Anima, &c.
282
Bhumi ...
215
Anka
112
Bilwa
252
Antahkaraua
171
Bindhu Jagrat
94
Antraveshtini . . .
277
Bosala
157
Ap
126
Brahniarshi
23
Ap(Dharana) ...
235
Brahman
122
Apana
190
Brahma ...
296
Apar&jita
234
Brahma- Vadin
215
Aradhana
247
Brahmarpana ...
258
Arambha
... 286
Brahmarandhra ... 173,
280
Archana ...
249
Brahmin
85
Areca
Arghya
130
... 233,244
Brihadaranya Upaniahad
Brihaspati
207
310
Arjuna
... 237256,
Buvar 168,
292
Arundhati
50
Arupa (states) ...
218
c
Asamsakti
96, 322
Chackravakas ...
50
Asamvedana
338
Chackravala
17
342
INDEX.
Chaitra ...
192
Ksa
141)
Ohaifcanya
251
Eswara ...
19
Chamarais
50
Eswararpaiia ...
258
C baud Ala 100,
128
Cliaudi *i \ ana
180
G
Chanda
234
Cliarya ...
122
Gadhi
176
Chataka
181
Gandhamadana ...
185
CLatur-Yuga 104,
236
Ganas 233, 26J
Chidabhasa
211
Gaiidbarva
125
Chidakas 23,37
Ganesa . . .
213
Chidatma
241 Garuda
173
Chidanauda
45
Gautama
75
Chit
143
Gavala
178
Chitta 45,
181
Gayatri 283,
286
Chinthana
196
Ghatikas 179,
244
Chinthamani ... 58,299,
320
Girigrama
49
Chinmatra
140
Graha
135
Chit-Samanya 192,
193
Gunas ...
183
Chit-Sakti 124,
254
Guru
310
Chudalai
272
Gurjara ...
157
Control of Mind (4 means of) ...
225
Gomedha
131
Cowrie ... ...
282
H
D
Dakiuis ...
54
Hamsa ... ... 191,
261
Daksha
237
Hari
166
Dama
109
Harischandra
82
Daityas ...
166
Hata-Yoga
189
Danavas ...
165
Hemajata
197
Dasaratha
6
Himalayas
66
Deergha Tapaw
154
HiranyaksJia ... ... 165,
237
Desarua
157
Hiranya-Kasipu
165
Desires( Tirade against)
12
Huna-Mandala
180
Destructive Sakti
17
Hunter, Story of
327
Deva 130,
245
Devas 19,
112
I
Devaloka
192
Deva-Pujab
242
Ichcha S akti ...
247
Devendra
191
Indhu (moon) ...
72
Deva-guru
310
Indra
74
Devachan
192
Indradhyumua
75
Dharma ...
317
Indra- Jala
82
Dharma S astras
197
Indryas ...
212
Dhasoora
120
Infancy (Tirade against)
13
Dhatus
217
Ikshwaku
317
Dheya Tyaga
151
Dliruma
112
J
Dhruva ...
19
Dhyana ...
219
Jagrat 94,
323
Durvasa ...
304
Jambudwipa 30, 73,
156
Dwapara-Yuga ...
272
Jauaka ...
144
r)wesha . ..
239
Japas
30
Jaya
86
Jayantha
3
Jiva 277,
257
Eeshanafc
215
Jiva, 3 forms of
329
Ekagrata
181
Jivanmukta
34
INDEX.
343
Jivata ...
260
Lokas(14)
74, 168
Jnanagni
189
Luminosity
161
Jnana ...
Jnana, S akti ...
209
247
Lust (tirade agaiust)
14
Jnana, 7 states of
95
M
Jnana, Bhumi ...
215
Jnanendryas
187, 249, 303
Madhanika
306
Madhyamikas . . .
216
K
Madhyatna
.. 133,216
Madhyagata
239
Kadamba
... 130
Magadha
75,130
Kaikeya ...
167
Mahatmas
97
Kailasa ... 73, 197
, 213, 234, 244
Maha-Vijnana ...
331
Kaivalya
196, 200
Maha-Meru
.. 188,254
Kala
... 16, 39, 1 OH
Mahendra
... 125
Kala Sakti
247
Makara
... 189
Kala
... 241,254
Mahout
289
Kali
104
Maitri ...
... 217
Kalpa
149
Mala
125
Kama
132
Manas (trade) against
11
Kalpana...
88
Do
39,45,76, 246
Kapila Rishi . . .
268
Manana
53
Karkati
62
Mandavya
197
Karmas ...
30
Mandara ... 103,
236, 284, 305
Karmendryas . . .
187, 249, 303
Manoratha
56
Kartha ...
138
Mantra ...
284
Kartru S akti ...
247
8 lettered one
166
Kashta
264
Marichi ...
J9, 236, 112
Kasyapa...
73
Maya
29, 176, 250
Katanja ...
178
Mayavic...
306
Kata
109
Ma} T a Vidya
118
Kechari Mndra..
194
Minaka (hills) ...
... 68
Keddha ...
310
Mithya-Purnsha
312
Keera
177
Moha
149
Khila
237
Moha Sakti
247
Kinnaras
125
MjVsha (4 means to it
) ... 31
Kirathas
197
Mouna ...
... 140
Konkan ,..
157
Mouna (3 kinds)
264
Kosala ...
106, 157, 176
Mouni ...
298, 329
Koti
254
Muhurta
30, 290
Krithyas (five) . . .
325
Muinukshu Prakarana..
... 28
Krita
129
Mundika
... 112
Kriya
122
Muni and a nunter
... 327
Kriya Sakti
247
Kumbhaka
... 189, 240
N
Kumbharatha ...
56
Kumbha-Muni ...
286
Nadi
109. 277
Kundalini S akti
... 190,277
Nandikeswara ...
244
Kunda-ratha
56
Narad a ...
. 26, 54, 285
Kiinja
186
N<irt IVtGclliJi
1 Q1
Kuranga...
186
Naraka ...
... Jol
... 117
Kura
237
Neecha ...
28, 178, 184
Nidhityasana ...
53,297
L
Nirguna
... 65
Nirodha Sakti ...
... 227
Lavana ...
... 92
Nirvana Prakarana
... 278
Lila
.. 38,46, 168
Conclusion of
... 830
L.inga of Siva ...
248
Nirvikalpa Samnrlhi
43, 229, 30S
344
INDEX.
Nishkatna Tapas
185
Rarnachandra . .
99
Nishta
200
KTimayana
237
Nyama ...
185
Rambha
306
Nyati Sakti
247
Ratha ...
234
J
Rechaka...
... 189, 240
P.
Regunatha
227
Renuka ...
237
Padma
.. 46, 65, 131
Rudra
262
Panchajanya
173
Rudraksha
292
Pandal
84
Rupa
217
Paramapada
150
Paramarta
149, 253
S
Parameswara . . 50,
244; 331, 315
Parasurama
... 237 i Sachidananda ...
.. 229
Paramasiva
... 245 i Sadhu-Sanga ...
18, 33
Paraseeka
200 Sagara
. 268
Parigha . . .
... 200 Saguna ...
65
Pariahs ...
... 99
Sahya ...
203
Parnadha
200
Saktis
... 247, 274
Parvati
50, 244
Sakra
... 237
Patala
112
Salagrama
... 255
Pathartha bhavana
... 96
Salwa
. 106, 157
Pitris
... 305
Sam any a
... 279
Pingala .
... 213
Samadhi
308
Pisachas
... 66
Sambarika
... 93
Poundra
106
Satnbara
... 112
Prahlada
... 165
Samsara...
1
Prajapati
237
Samskaras
b
Prakrit! . . .
136
Sanchita
40
Pranayama
Pranava ...
... 210, 216
189
Sandhya
Sandhyavandana
218
283
Prdna 9,
190, 240, 278
Sanga
205, 227, 267
Prahladha
220
Sankalpa
24, 38, 136, 308
Pratygattna
... 189, 199
Sankara ...
231
Prayaga...
Pralaya
180
259
Sankhya
Sannyasa
... 43
... 258, 260
Prithivi
126
Sannyasi
260
Pujah
246
Santi
.. 32
Pulastya
237
Santosha
... 33
Punnya ...
149
Sapti Rishis
133
Puraka ...
... 189, 24
Saraloma
... 130
Puranas . . .
133
Sara
279
Puriashtaka
43, 25<i, 278
Saraswati
46
Purna ...
210
Sariri ...
... 227, 257
Purnakutnbha ...
.. 245
Sastras
2
Purushothama ...
169
Sat
71, 222
Sata Rudras
260
R
Satatapa Muni
233
Satta-Matra
222
Raghava .
.. 216
Satta-Samanya
... 192, 223
Raga
Rahu
239
... 116, 320
Satya . . .
Satwa
232
230, 310, 360
Raja-Suva
Raiasic ...
93, 248
230
Satwapathi
Satyaloka
96,322
... 173,268
L> A * IT. *
23
Savitri
286
ttajarsniR
Rakshaaa
... 63
Seeds (of mind)
219
Kakta . . .
234
Septenary States
94
Rftma
1, 237 Siddhas
22, 82, 144. 234
INDEX.
31
S ikhichvaja ...
272 Upendra >.-.
.. 236
Sila
255
Upasanthi Trakarana, Conclusion of
2i
Simha ...
... 244, 305
Sindhu ...
160
Uragas
loe
Siranjivi...
232
T T rnala / "s aVfiM
OO A
Siva
Sourish tra
... 183,216
272
\j L-pttid ^Oti Kuly ..i ... .., j^O^h
I7:t;paththi Prakarana 37
Uttarayana . 192
Souvira ... ...
106 Uttara Pamlava
82
Sravana
53 Uthama
133
, Sri Krishna
, 257
Sri-Rama
1
,
.Srntis ... ...
... 207
..SHthi Prakarana
102, 104, 142
Subbrahmanya...
... 233, 237
Vadava ...
17 58
^Subechcha
05, 322, 332
Vairaggya
.:. 1, 291
Snkha
22
"Vai \ F as\vat c \
1 rj! OKT O*7O
Sukra ... ....
102
Vaj ra,
i no, & ( , ^ /z
145
Snkra Acharya...
163
V4k
251
Suraghu...
194
Valmiki
IOO^T
Snrya Mandala
304
Vamana ...
, ^o7
119 128
Sushupfi
94
Vandhva
205
Suvarnn stliala, ..
75
Varaha .
236
Swaha
233 Varnna Astra
... ... 328
Swargaloka
Swapna
Swarupa-Jnana
192
... 94
38
Vasarias (pure and
Vasishta...
impure) 2, 28,
265
1
Swarupa Nish.ta
269
Vastn
... 222
Swanipa Samadhi
195
Vasudeva
238, 257
Swayambhu
319
Vayu Path ,
... 304
T.
I Vayu Dharana ...
216
T
! Vayu Suchika ...
... 66
Veda Vyasa
... 26
Tamasic ...
230 Veethahavva ...
... 204
Tanmatra
125 Vetala M .
263
Tapas
30,308 Vibhuti ...
"... 302
Tapaawin
... 2l() : Vicharana
31, 332, 334
Tatwa
110, 168
Yidehamukti
44, 309
Tatwa Jnana
97, 243
Viduratha
,.. 50
Tatwa ma si ...
29
Vidyad haras
125, 211,230
Tejaa
075
Vijaya ...
Vijaya-Lakshmi
257
46
Thanmn&nagi ...
96
Tillothama
286
Vijnana ...
43, 216, 267
Trinity ...
I.-.. 192
Vikalpa ...
38, 308
Tripura ...
... 113, 237 I Vilasa
201
Trishna ...
150 i Vina
... 178,302
Tntbula...
269
Vinayaka
237
Tnimurt iii s
110
Vindhya ...
... 236,282
Trusankn
... 103
Virochana
158
Tulsi
... 165 : Vishnu ...
106
Tnmburn
... 54
Vishnuratha
59
Turya
35, 254, 324
Vishuchika
64
Turyatheetha ...
06, 193, 228
Viawamitra
5
Yiswavasu
106
U
Vivaswan
257
Viveka
291
1, rldlmlnka
... 183
Vrata
180
JMyagiri
178
Vritti JnAn
38, 249
U pad hi ...
45 VvAla
109
34^> INDEX.
W Yama 40,105,185,257
Wealth (Tirade against) ... 9 ! Yuma 284
Walker of the Skies 276 ! Yathana Sarira 85,125
I Yoga 122, 209
y Yojana 77
Yajna ... . ,., 92. 282 i
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