Yoga Vashishtha 1.30.20–27
(Navigating the complexities of life and attain Inner Peace)
श्रीराम उवाच।
किं तस्यादुचितं श्रेयः किं तत्स्यादुचितं फलम् ।
वर्तितव्यं च संसारे कथं नामासमञ्जसे ॥ २० ॥
तत्त्वं कथय मे किंचिद्येनास्य जगतः प्रभो।
वेद्मि पूर्वापरं धातुश्चेष्टितस्यानवस्थितेः ॥ २१ ॥
हृदयाकाशशशिनश्चेतसो मलमार्जनम्।
यथा मे जायते ब्रह्मंस्तथा निर्विघ्नमाचर ॥ २२ ॥
किमिह स्यादुपादेयं किंवा हेयमथेतरत् ।
कथं विश्रान्तिमायातु चेतश्चपलमद्रिवत् ॥ २३ ॥
केन पावनमन्त्रेण दुःसंसृतिविषूचिका।
शाम्यतीयमनायासमायासशत कारिणी ॥ २४ ॥
कथं शीतलतामन्तरानन्दतरुमञ्जरीम् ।
पूर्णचन्द्र इवाक्षीणां भृशमासादयाम्यहम् ॥ २५ ॥
प्राप्यान्तः पूर्णतां पूर्णो न शोचामि यथा पुनः ।
सन्तो भवन्तस्तत्त्वज्ञास्तथेहोपदिशन्तु माम् ॥ २६ ॥
अनुत्तमानन्दपदप्रधानविश्रान्तिरिक्तं सततं महात्मन् ।
कदर्थयन्तीह भृशं विकल्पाः श्वानो वने देहमिवाल्पजीवम् ॥ २७ ॥
Sri Rama said:
Verse 1.30.20: "What is the most suitable good for a person, and what is the appropriate fruit of that good? How should one conduct oneself in this world, which is full of inconsistencies?"
Verse 1.30.21: "O Lord, please explain something by which I may understand the Reality of this world, its past and future, and the nature of its restless activities."
Verse 1.30.22: "O Brahman, guide me so that my mind, like the moon in the sky of my heart, may be cleansed of impurities and attain purity without obstacles."
Verse 1.30.23: "What should be accepted here, what should be rejected, or what is neutral? How can my restless mind, unsteady like a mountain stream, find tranquility?"
Verse 1.30.24: "By what sacred means can the poisonous affliction of this painful worldly existence, which causes endless troubles, be effortlessly calmed?"
Verse 1.30.25: "How can I attain the coolness of the blossoming tree of Inner Bliss, like the full moon that never wanes, with great intensity?"
Verse 1.30.26: "O Knower of Truth, please instruct me so that, having attained inner fulfillment and becoming complete, I no longer grieve."
Verse 1.30.27: "O Great Soul, endless mental fluctuations torment me like dogs tearing at a small creature in the forest. Teach me how to find Supreme Peace, free from all else."
Summary of the Teachings:
In these verses from the Yoga Vasishta, Sri Rama, in a state of existential inquiry, poses profound questions to the Sage Vasishta, seeking guidance on how to navigate the complexities of life and attain Inner Peace. The verses reflect Rama’s deep yearning for wisdom to understand the nature of the world, the mind, and the path to Realization. His questions are not merely intellectual but arise from a sincere desire to transcend the restlessness and suffering inherent in worldly existence. This section highlights the human condition’s struggle with impermanence, confusion, and the search for lasting fulfillment, setting the stage for Vasishta’s forthcoming teachings on Self-Realization.
The first two verses (1.30.20–21) reveal Rama’s quest for clarity about the highest good and the purpose of life. He asks what actions lead to true welfare and how to live meaningfully in a world marked by contradictions. His inquiry extends to understanding the essence of the world—its origins, future, and the restless activities that define it. This reflects a universal human concern: the desire to find purpose and coherence in a seemingly chaotic existence. Rama’s questions underscore the importance of discerning right action and understanding the metaphysical truth behind the world’s apparent flux.
In verses 1.30.22–23, Rama shifts focus to the purification of the mind, likening it to a moon in the sky of his heart that needs cleansing from impurities. He recognizes the mind’s restless nature, comparing it to an unsteady mountain stream, and seeks a way to calm it. These verses emphasize the centrality of mental discipline in spiritual practice, highlighting the need to discern what to accept (virtuous qualities), reject (negative tendencies), or remain neutral toward (transient phenomena). Rama’s plea for guidance reflects the yogic principle that a calm and pure mind is essential for spiritual progress.
Verses 1.30.24–25 deepen Rama’s inquiry into overcoming the suffering of samsara (worldly existence), which he describes as a poisonous affliction causing endless troubles. He seeks a sacred method to effortlessly pacify this pain and attain a state of inner coolness and Bliss, likened to a blossoming tree or an eternal full moon. These metaphors evoke a state of unshakable Joy and completeness, pointing to the Ultimate Goal of Self-Realization. Rama’s vivid imagery underscores the contrast between the turmoil of worldly life and the serene fulfillment of Spiritual Awakening.
The final two verses (1.30.26–27) express Rama’s longing for lasting fulfillment and liberation from mental disturbances, which he compares to wild dogs tormenting a small creature. He appeals to the Wise Sages to guide him toward Supreme Peace, free from the fluctuations of the mind. These verses encapsulate the essence of the Yoga Vasishta’s teachings: the pursuit of Self-Knowledge to transcend the ego’s limitations and attain a state of inner wholeness. Rama’s questions set the foundation for Vasishta’s later exposition on non-duality, the illusory nature of the world, and the path to Realization through understanding the True Self.
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