Yoga Vashishtha 1.31.19–27
(Despair and disillusionment with worldly existence)
श्रीराम उवाच ।
यथा जानासि भगवंस्तथा मोहनिवृत्तये।
ब्रूहि मे साधवो येन नूनं निर्दुःखतां गताः ॥ १९ ॥
अथवा तादृशी युक्तिर्यदि ब्रह्मन्न विद्यते।
न वक्ति मम वा कश्चिद्विद्यमानामपि स्फुटम् ॥ २० ॥
स्वयं चैव न चाप्नोमि तां विश्रान्तिमनुत्तमाम् ।
तदहं त्यक्तसर्वेहो निरहंकारतां गतः ॥ २१ ॥
न भोक्ष्ये न पिबाम्यम्बु नाहं परिदधेऽम्बरम् ।
करोमि नाहं व्यापारं स्नानदानाशनादिकम् ॥ २२ ॥
न च तिष्ठामि कार्येषु संपत्स्वापद्दशासु च ।
न किंचिदपि वाञ्छामि देहत्यागादृते मुने ॥ २३ ॥
केवलं विगताशङ्को निर्ममो गतमत्सरः।
मौन एवेह तिष्ठामि लिपिकर्मस्विवार्पितः ॥ २४ ॥
अथ क्रमेण संत्यज्य प्रश्वासोच्छ्वाससंविदः ।
संनिवेशं त्यजामीममनर्थं देहनामकम् ॥ २५ ॥
नाहमस्य न मे नान्यः शाम्याम्यस्नेहदीपवत् ।
सर्वमेव परित्यज्य त्यजामीदं कलेवरम् ॥ २६ ॥
श्रीवाल्मीकिरुवाच ।
इत्युक्तवानमलशीतकराभिरामो रामो महत्तरविचारविकासिचेताः ।
तूष्णीं बभूव पुरतो महतां घनानां केकारवं श्रमवशादिव नीलकण्ठः ॥ २७॥
Sri Rama said:
Verse 1.31.19: "O Bhagavan, please explain to me, as you know, the means by which the virtuous have surely attained a state free from suffering, so that my delusion may be dispelled."
Verse 1.31.20: "Or, O Brahman, if such a method does not exist, or if no one clearly explains it to me even though it exists, then I am at a loss."
Verse 1.31.21: "I myself am unable to attain that Supreme tranquility. Therefore, having abandoned all desires and having become free from ego, I am in this State."
Verse 1.31.22: "I will not eat, I will not drink water, I will not wear clothes, nor will I engage in activities such as bathing, giving, or eating."
Verse 1.31.23: "I do not involve myself in tasks, whether in times of prosperity or adversity. O Sage, I desire nothing except the abandonment of this body."
Verse 1.31.24: "Free from fear, attachment, and envy, I remain here in Silence, as if dedicated to the duties of a scribe."
Verse 1.31.25: "Gradually, I will abandon the awareness of inhalation and exhalation and relinquish this meaningless thing called the body."
Verse 1.31.26: "I am not this body, nor does it belong to me, nor is there another. Like a lamp without oil, I shall subside, abandoning everything, including this body."
Sri Valmiki said:
Verse 1.31.27: "Having spoken thus, Rama, radiant as the pure, cool rays of the moon and with a mind expanded by profound contemplation, fell silent before the assembly of great sages, like a peacock exhausted by its own cries."
Summary of the Teachings:
In these verses from the Yoga Vasishta, Sri Rama expresses a deep existential crisis, seeking liberation from delusion and suffering. He appeals to the Sage Vasishta, addressing him as Bhagavan, to reveal the path taken by the virtuous to attain a state of freedom from pain. Rama’s plea reflects a yearning for spiritual clarity and a method to transcend the confusion and dissatisfaction that plague his mind. This opening sets the stage for the teachings that follow, emphasizing the importance of guidance from a Realized Teacher to overcome ignorance and attain Peace.
Rama’s subsequent statements reveal his despair and disillusionment with worldly existence. He questions whether a clear path to Realization even exists, expressing frustration that no one has provided him with a definitive solution. This highlights a universal human experience—the struggle to find meaning and tranquility amidst life’s uncertainties. Rama’s acknowledgment that he cannot attain Supreme Tranquility on his own underscores the necessity of Wisdom and guidance, while his renunciation of ego and desires signifies the beginning of his detachment from worldly attachments.
In verses 22 to 24, Rama articulates a radical rejection of physical and social engagement. He declares his intention to abstain from basic activities like eating, drinking, or dressing, and to withdraw from all worldly responsibilities, whether in times of joy or hardship. His sole desire is to abandon the body, which he views as a source of suffering. This extreme detachment reflects a profound disillusionment with the material world and a shift toward inner contemplation. By remaining silent and free from fear, attachment, and envy, Rama embodies the qualities of a seeker striving for liberation, aligning with the yogic ideal of renouncing ego-driven actions.
The final verses (25–26) deepen Rama’s resolve to transcend the physical body and its associated limitations. He plans to let go of even the awareness of breathing, viewing the body as a meaningless construct. His assertion that he is neither the body nor its owner, and his comparison of himself to a lamp extinguishing without oil, conveys a powerful metaphor for liberation—dissolving the sense of self to merge with the Infinite. This reflects the core Advaita Vedanta principle of the Yoga Vasishta, which teaches that the identification with the body and ego is the root of suffering, and liberation lies in realizing one’s True Nature as Pure Consciousness.
The concluding verse, narrated by the scribe Sage Valmiki, paints a vivid picture of Rama’s state after this intense discourse. His silence, likened to a peacock exhausted by its cries, symbolizes a mind that has poured out its turmoil and now rests in contemplation. The imagery of the moon’s cool rays suggests purity and clarity in Rama’s thoughts, while his profound reflection indicates a transformative inner journey.
These verses collectively underscore the Yoga Vasishta’s central teaching: Realization is achieved through Self-Inquiry, detachment from the ego and body, and Realization of the non-dual Self, guided by the Wisdom of a Realized Teacher.
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