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Yoga Vashishtha 2.13.21–30
(Greatness of detached, Wise individuals capable of balancing worldly responsibilities with the pursuit of Realization)
श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।
संसारदुःखमोक्षार्थे मादृशैः सह बन्धुभिः।
स्वरूपमात्मनो ज्ञात्वा गुरुशास्त्रप्रमाणतः ॥ २१ ॥
जीवन्मुक्ताश्चरन्तीह यथा हरिहरादयः ।
यथा ब्रह्मर्षयश्चान्ये तथा विहर राघव ॥ २२ ॥
अनन्तानीह दुःखानि सुखं तृणलवोपमम्।
नातः सुखेषु बध्नीयाद्दृष्टिं दुःखानुबन्धिषु ॥ २३ ॥
यदनन्तमनायासं तत्पदं सारसिद्धये ।
साधनीयं प्रयत्नेन पुरुषेण विजानता ॥ २४ ॥
त एव पुरुषार्थस्य भाजनं पुरुषोत्तमाः ।
अनुत्तमपदालम्बि मनो येषां गतज्वरम् ॥ २५ ॥
संभोगाशनमात्रेण राज्यादिषु सुखेषु ये ।
संतुष्टा दुष्टमनसो विद्धि तानन्धदर्दुरान् ॥ २६ ॥
ये शठेषु दुरन्तेषु दुष्कृतारम्भशालिषु।
द्विषत्सु मित्ररूपेषु भक्ता वै भोगभोगिषु ॥ २७ ॥
ते यान्ति दुर्गमाद्दुर्गं दुःखाद्दुःखं भयाद्भयम् ।
नरकान्नरकं मूढा मोहमन्थरबुद्धयः ॥ २८॥
परस्परविनाशोक्तेः श्रेयःस्थो न कदाचन।
सुखदुःखदशे राम तडित्प्रसरभङ्गुरे ॥ २९ ॥
ये विरक्ता महात्मानः सुविविक्ता भवादृशाः ।
पुरुषान्विद्धि तान्वन्द्यान्भोगमोक्षैकभाजनान् ॥ ३०॥
Maharishi Vashishta said:
2.13.21: For liberation from the suffering of worldly existence, one should, with the help of like-minded companions, Realize the True Nature of the Self through the guidance of a Guru and scriptural authority.
2.13.22: Just as Self-Realized Beings like Hari, Hara, and other great Sages roam freely in this world while living, so too, O Raghava, should you conduct yourself.
2.13.23: Endless are the sorrows in this world, while pleasures are fleeting like a blade of grass. Therefore, do not fix your gaze on pleasures that are bound to suffering.
2.13.24: That Infinite, effortless State, which leads to the Ultimate Truth, should be diligently pursued by a person of Wisdom with full effort.
2.13.25: Only those Supreme individuals whose minds are free from distress and anchored in the Highest State are fit to attain the True Purpose of human life.
2.13.26: Those who are satisfied merely with sensory pleasures like food or royal enjoyments, with corrupt minds, should be known as blind frogs.
2.13.27: Those who are devoted to deceitful, unending, and harmful pursuits, or to false friends who act like enemies, are engrossed in fleeting pleasures.
2.13.28: Such deluded individuals with sluggish intellects move from one difficulty to another, from sorrow to sorrow, from fear to fear, and from one hell to another.
2.13.29: Mutual destruction and fleeting states of pleasure and pain, O Rama, are as transient as a flash of lightning; they never lead to lasting well-being.
2.13.30: Those great souls, detached and Wise like you, O Rama, are to be revered as the ones worthy of both worldly enjoyments and liberation.
Summary of Teachings:
The verses from Yoga Vasishta 2.13.21–30, spoken by Sage Vasishta to Lord Rama, emphasize the path to Self-Realization and detachment from worldly pleasures. The teachings underscore the importance of understanding the True Nature of the Self (Atman) with the guidance of a Guru and authoritative scriptures. This Realization is essential for transcending the cycle of suffering inherent in worldly existence. Vasishta encourages Rama to emulate Realized Beings like Divine figures and Sages who live freely in the world, unattached yet engaged, as a model for spiritual conduct.
The transient nature of worldly pleasures is a central theme, with Vasishta comparing them to something as insignificant as a blade of grass, while sorrows are described as endless. This contrast serves to caution against attachment to fleeting joys, which inevitably lead to suffering. Instead, the pursuit of the Infinite, effortless State of Truth is advocated as the Ultimate Goal. This State, achieved through Wisdom and persistent effort, is presented as the essence of spiritual practice, guiding the seeker toward Realization.
Vasishta distinguishes between those who pursue True Spiritual Goals and those who are trapped in delusion. The former, described as Supreme individuals, are free from mental afflictions and anchored in the Highest State, making them worthy of attaining life’s Ultimate Purpose — Realization. In contrast, those who chase sensory pleasures or engage in deceitful and harmful actions are likened to blind frogs, ignorant and bound to a cycle of suffering. This comparison highlights the folly of prioritizing temporary gratification over lasting freedom.
The verses also critique those who, driven by delusion, remain attached to false friends or harmful pursuits, leading them from one form of suffering to another. Such individuals, with sluggish intellects, are trapped in a cycle of fear, pain, and spiritual degradation, moving from “hell to hell.” This vivid imagery underscores the consequences of Ignorance and the importance of discernment in choosing one’s actions and associations.
Finally, the teachings celebrate the greatness of detached, wise individuals like Rama, who are capable of balancing worldly responsibilities with the pursuit of Realization. These great souls are revered as worthy of both material enjoyments and Spiritual Freedom, embodying the ideal of living in the world while remaining unattached. The verses collectively guide the seeker toward Self-Realization, detachment, and the diligent pursuit of Truth, offering a roadmap to transcend the transient and attain the Eternal.
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