Chapter 1.24, Verses 1–10

Yoga Vashishtha 1.24.1–10

(Time, the central force behind the workings of Saṁsāra)

श्रीराम उवाच ।

अस्योड्डामरलीलस्य दूरास्तसकलापदः ।

संसारे राजपुत्रस्य कालस्याकलितौजसः ॥ १ ॥

अस्यैवाचरतो दीनैर्मुग्धैर्भूतमृगब्रजैः ।

आखेटकं जर्जरिते जगज्जङ्गलजालके ॥ २ ॥

एकदेशोल्लसच्चारुवडवानलपङ्कजा ।

क्रीडापुष्करिणी रम्या कल्पकालमहार्णवः ॥ ३ ॥

कटुतिक्ताम्लभूताद्यैः सदधिक्षीरसागरैः ।

तैरेव तैः पर्युषितैर्जगद्भिः कल्ववर्तनम् ॥ ४ ॥

चण्डी चतुरसंचारा सर्वमातृगणान्विता ।

संसारवनविन्यस्ता व्याघ्री भूतौघघातिनी ॥ ५ ॥

ज्ञध्वी करतले ज्ञथ्वी पानपात्री रसान्विता ।

कमलोत्पलकह्लारलोलजालकमालिता ॥ ६ ॥

विरावी विकटास्फोटो नृसिंहो भुजपञ्जरे ।

सटाविकटपीनांसः कृतः क्रीडाशकुन्तकः ॥ ७ ॥

अलाबुवीणामधुरः शरद्व्योमलसच्छविः ।

देवः किल महाकालो लीलाकोकिलबालकः ॥ ८ ॥

अजस्रस्फूर्जिताकारो वान्तदुःखशरावलिः।

अभावनामकोदण्डः परिस्फुरति सर्वतः ॥ ९ ॥

अनुत्तमस्त्वधिकविलासपण्डितो भ्रमच्चलन्परिविलसन्विदारयन् ।

जरज्जगज्जनितविलोलमर्कटः परिस्फुरद्वपुरिह काल ईहते ॥ १० ॥

Sriram said:

1. "The calamities that plague the world are far removed from this wild and fantastic play of Time, which dances within the forest of worldly existence as the prince of illusion and unfathomable power."

2. "While Time moves about freely, the innocent and ignorant beings—like bewildered animals of the forest—are hunted and torn apart in this tangled jungle that is the world."

3. "This grand ocean of Time, like a beautiful lotus-filled play-lake, glows with the fires of dissolution in a single region, though its charm spans the entire age of the cosmos."

4. "The world is but a dish of ever-fermenting flavors—bitter, pungent, sour—drawn from the elemental ocean of curd, milk, and salt; and beings consume it, not knowing it is decayed."

5. "Time is like the fierce goddess Chaṇḍī, roaming with her retinue of all-devouring Mothers in the wilderness of saṁsāra, slaughtering the hosts of beings as a tiger does its prey."

6. "The Earth herself lies as a bowl on the palm of Time, mixed with all the tastes and decorated with webs of lotuses, water lilies, and waving tendrils."

7. "Time has become a terrible lion, roaring dreadfully, locked in a cage of arms, with a thick and fearsome mane—playing with the world as if it were a helpless bird."

8. "Sweet as the music of a gourd-veena and radiant as the autumn sky, the great god Time appears as a delightful child-cuckoo, though he is verily the terrifying Mahākāla."

9. "Time, who is everywhere active, ceaselessly shoots out volleys of pain-tipped arrows of misfortune and wields the bow of negation, which he draws in all directions."

10. "Supreme in his mastery of illusion, skilled beyond comparison in the play of creativity, Time dances and spins, tears apart the decaying world like a frenzied monkey, manifesting in a form that vibrates with unstoppable momentum."

Summary of Teachings:

These verses present a vivid and poetic exposition of kāla (Time) as the central force behind the workings of saṁsāra—the cyclical world of birth, death, and suffering. Time is not merely an abstract concept but is anthropomorphized as a mighty and mysterious force that governs all activity, change, and destruction in the cosmos. It is depicted as powerful, playful, fierce, and all-consuming, bringing both delight and devastation.

The imagery used in these verses is deeply symbolic and rich in metaphor. Time is likened to a hunter, goddess, lion, and even a playful child. These depictions serve to show that Time does not discriminate; it envelops all beings in its drama—regardless of their knowledge, power, or ignorance. Every form, flavor, and experience in the world is but an expression of Time’s vast and ungraspable play.

One of the central teachings here is the illusory nature of worldly pleasures and sufferings. Beings are shown as helpless and unaware—caught in a jungle of illusions where Time hunts without pause. The world, despite its beauty and complexity, is presented as ultimately ephemeral, flavored with suffering, and incapable of offering lasting satisfaction.

The verses also introduce the concept of Mahākāla—the Great Time or the Ultimate Destroyer. Even the Divine is portrayed as subservient to Time, which can appear gentle and sweet, yet hides within it the ferocity of dissolution. Through such portrayals, the text aims to shake the reader’s attachment to the world and inspire a deeper inquiry into what lies beyond this Cosmic game.

In summary, these verses urge the seeker to recognize the impermanence and deceptive allure of worldly existence governed by Time. Only through deep wisdom, inner stillness, and detachment from the world’s constant flux can one transcend the suffering and discover the changeless essence—the Self—beyond the reach of Time.