Chapter 3.15, Verses 1–10

Yoga Vashishtha 3.15.1–10

(Just as waves are never separate from the ocean, play of the three worlds is nothing but Consciousness vibrating within itself)

श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।

जगदाकाशमेवेदं यथा हि व्योम्नि मौक्तिकम् ।

विमले भाति स्वात्मैव जगच्चिद्गगनं यथा ॥ १ ॥

अनुत्कीर्णै भातीव त्रिजगच्छालभञ्जिका ।

चित्स्तम्भेनैव सोत्कीर्णा नचोत्कर्तात्र विद्यते ॥ २ ॥

समुद्रेऽन्तर्जलस्पन्दाः स्वभावादच्युता अपि ।

वीचिवेगा भवन्तीव परे दृश्यविदस्तथा ॥ ३ ॥

जालान्तर्गतसूर्याभा जालाकाररजांस्यपि ।

जगद्भानं प्रति स्थूलान्यणुं प्रति यथाचलाः ॥ ४ ॥

जगद्भानं न भातीदं ब्रह्मणो व्यतिरेकतः ।

जालसूर्यांशुजालं तु व्यतिरेकानुभूतिदम् ॥ ५ ॥

अनुभूतान्यपीमानि जगन्ति व्योमरूपिणि ।

पृथ्व्यादीनि न सन्त्येव स्वप्नसंकल्पयोरिव ॥ ६ ॥

पिण्डग्रहो जगत्यस्मिन्विज्ञानाकाशरूपिणि ।

मरुनद्यां जलमिव न संभवति कुत्रचित् ॥ ७ ॥

जगत्यपिण्डग्राहेऽस्मिन्संकल्पनगरोपमे।

मरौ सरिदिवाभाति दृश्यता भ्रान्तिरूपिणी ॥ ८ ॥

स्वप्नाद्दृश्येव जगतां तुलादेशेन केन च।

तुलिता कलनोन्मुक्ता दृश्यश्रीर्व्योम जृम्भते ॥ ९ ॥

वर्जयित्वा ज्ञविज्ञानं जगच्छब्दार्थभाजनम् ।

जगद्ब्रह्मस्वशब्दानामर्थे नास्त्येव भिन्नता ॥ १० ॥

Maharishi Vasishta said: 

3.15.1  

This world is nothing but Space (pure emptiness), just as a pearl-illusion appears in the sky. In the spotless Pure Consciousness, only the Self shines; the world shines exactly like the sky of Pure Consciousness.

3.15.2  

It appears as though a sculptured figure of the three worlds has been carved without ever being carved at all. It is carved only by the pillar of Consciousness itself; there is no other carver anywhere.

3.15.3  

Just as waves and their restless motion arise naturally in the ocean yet never depart from their water-nature, in the same way, in the Supreme Seer (Consciousness), the seen worlds appear.

3.15.4  

Just as rays of the sun that pass through the mesh of a window also take on the shapes of the holes and appear gross or subtle, solid or moving toward the light of the world, exactly so do all appearances happen.

3.15.5  

This shining forth of the world does not happen apart from Brahm. The mesh of sun-rays shining through the window is experienced only because of distinction (duality), but the world-appearance has no shining apart from Brahm.

3.15.6  

Even though these worlds are experienced, in the Space-like Consciousness they do not really exist at all — just like earth and other elements do not truly exist in dreams or in mental imaginations.

3.15.7  

In this world which is of the nature of the Space of Pure Knowledge, the grasping of a solid mass is as impossible as water in a desert river.

3.15.8  

When this world is seen without the notion of solidity, like an imagined city in the sky, the perception of objects shines like a river seen in a desert — nothing but an illusion of mistaken perception.

3.15.9  

Just as the seen objects in a dream are never truly weighed or measured by any scale whatsoever, in the same way, when freed from mental modifications, the majesty of the seen world expands as Pure Space.

3.15.10  

If you set aside the Knower and the act of Knowing, the word “world” has no separate object at all. Between the words jagat (world), Brahm, and Self there is not the slightest difference in meaning.

Summary of the Teachings:

These ten verses from Yoga Vasishta (3.15.1–10) present the purest non-dual teaching: the world has no Reality apart from Pure Consciousness (chit) or Brahm.

First, the world is compared to a pearl seen in the empty sky or to sculptures that seem carved yet were never actually carved. 

Nothing exists outside the One Infinite Consciousness; the appearance of a solid, independent Universe is only an apparent shining within the stainless sky of the Self.

Second, just as waves are never separate from the ocean and sun-rays passing through a lattice appear divided yet remain light alone, the entire play of the three worlds is nothing but Consciousness vibrating within itself. There is no real creation, no separate carver, and no substance apart from the one reality.

Third, the moment duality or distinction is imagined, the world seems to shine; yet when examined, it has no independent existence. It is exactly like the sun-rays seen through a window-net: the divisions belong only to the net of ignorance, not to the light itself. Remove the sense of separation and nothing remains to be called “world.”

Fourth, all experienced worlds, bodies, and elements are as unreal as cities seen in dreams or water seen in a mirage. In the Infinite Space of Awareness no solid “thing” can ever be grasped. The moment the false notion of solidity is dropped, only open empty Consciousness remains, shining as Peace.

Finally, when Knowledge and the Knower themselves dissolve into Pure Being, even the words “world,” “Brahm,” and “Self” point to the same indivisible Reality. There is no object for the word “jagat” to refer to apart from the Self. Thus the Highest Truth is declared: only Brahm is; the world never truly comes into existence at all.