Yoga Vashishtha 1.18.13 – 21
(Avarice)
श्रीराम उवाच।
तृष्णाभुजङ्गमीगेहं कोप काक कृतालयः ।
स्मितपुण्योद्गमः श्रीमाञ्छुभाशुभमहाफलः ॥ १३ ॥
सुस्कन्धोघलताजालो हस्तस्तबकसुन्दरः।
पवनस्पन्दिताशेषस्वाङ्गावयवपल्लवः ॥ १४ ॥
सर्वेन्द्रियखगाधारः सुजानुस्तम्भ उन्नतः।
सरसच्छायया युक्तः कामपान्थनिषेवितः ॥ १५ ॥
मूर्धसंजनिताऽऽदीर्घशिरोरुहतृणावलिः ।
अहंकारगृध्रकृतकुलायः सुषिरोदरः ॥ १६॥
विच्छिन्नवासनाजालमूलत्वाद्दुर्लवाकृतिः ।
व्यायामविरसः कायप्लक्षोऽयं न सुखाय मे ॥ १७ ॥
कलेवरमहंकारगृहस्थस्य महागृहम् ।
लुठत्वभ्येतु वा स्थैर्यं किमनेन मुने मम ॥ १८ ॥
पङ्क्तिबद्धेन्द्रियपशुं वलत्तृष्णागृहाङ्गनम् ।
रागरञ्जितसर्वाङ्गं नेष्टं देहगृहं मम ॥ १९ ॥
पृष्ठास्थिकाष्ठसंघट्टपरिसंकटकोटरम् ।
आन्त्ररज्जुभिराबद्धं नेष्टं देहगृहं मम ॥ २० ॥
प्रसृतस्नायुतन्त्रीकं रक्ताम्बुकृतकर्दमम् ।
जरामङ्कोलधवलं नेष्टं देहगृहं मम ॥ २१ ॥
ShriRam said:
13. "This body is a house infested with the serpent of craving, inhabited by the crow of anger, and occasionally lit up by the flicker of smiles and merit. It is a splendid mansion that bears both auspicious and inauspicious fruits."
14. "It is adorned with strong branch-like limbs, with hands that resemble blossoming clusters. All its parts and delicate organs sway under the breath like leaves in the wind."
15. "It is the resting perch for all the birds of the senses, supported by firm thighs, and stands tall. Its beauty lies in its graceful posture and it is frequented by the wanderers of desire."
16. "On its head grows a long tangle of grass-like hair, sprouting as if from the crown. Its hollow belly nests the vulture of ego, making it a nest of self-delusion."
17. "It is a rare, elusive structure due to its foundation in fragmented tendencies and broken desires. It lacks the vigor of true discipline. This tree of the body offers no joy to me."
18. "The body is the grand residence of ego, a mere householder in this mansion of flesh. Whether it rolls on the ground or stands upright in stability, O Sage, I find no value in it."
19. "This dwelling of the body is lined with the beasts of senses in rows, its courtyard crowded by the wild craving. It is entirely stained with the color of attachment and thus undesirable to me."
20. "This house is compressed within the cavity of clashing spinal bones. It is held together by the ropes of intestines — this body-house is not pleasing to me."
21. "Stretched with sinewy cords and smeared with the slime of blood and flesh, it is gray with the ashes of old age like the ankola tree — this house of the body is not dear to me."
Summary of the Teachings:
In these verses, Śrī Rāma presents a vivid and symbolic deconstruction of the physical body, comparing it to a decaying and deceptive house. He uses powerful metaphors to express dispassion (vairāgya) towards the body, portraying it as a habitat for desire, anger, and ego. These poetic images serve to awaken a deeper reflection on the nature of embodiment, exposing its transitory and impure composition.
Rāma sees the body not as a source of joy but as a trap built on unstable foundations: craving (tṛṣṇā), ego (ahaṅkāra), and sensory indulgence. The structure is sustained by a network of illusions and tendencies (vāsanās), making it unreliable and unworthy of attachment. This view emphasizes the yogic attitude of non-identification with the body and turning inward toward the Self.
The senses are likened to animals tethered in a pen, wandering restlessly under the influence of desire. The body is bound by inner cords of sinew and intestine, aged by time, and fouled by decay. These verses are not merely critical but aim to catalyze a Higher Awareness that seeks freedom beyond physical existence.
The images Rāma uses are deeply rooted in yogic and Vedāntic traditions, where the gross body (sthūla śarīra) is seen as the outermost sheath (kośa) covering the True Self. By dissecting and renouncing the body metaphorically, the seeker is encouraged to seek the immortal, changeless essence within.
Overall, these verses from the Yoga Vāsiṣṭha contribute to its central theme: Realization (mokṣa) is attainable through wisdom (jñāna), dispassion (vairāgya), and deep inquiry (vicāra). By dissolving attachment to the body and its attributes, the seeker moves closer to Realizing the Pure Consciousness that is untouched by time, decay, or duality.
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