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Yoga Vashishtha 3.24.11–21
(Even heavenly pleasures are transient, subject to change, heat, and impermanence, ultimately pointing toward the need for detachment and Realization of the Supreme)
श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।
उपर्युपर्युपर्युच्चैरन्यैरन्यैर्वृतं पृथक् ।
विचित्राभरणाकारैर्भूतलैः सुविमानकैः ॥ ११ ॥
परितः पूरितव्योम्नां मेर्वादिकुलभूभृताम् ।
पद्मरागतटोद्द्योतैः कल्पज्वालोपमोदरम् ॥ १२ ॥
मुक्ताशिखरभापूरैर्हिमवत्सानुसुन्दरम् ।
काञ्चनाद्रिस्थलार्चिर्भिः काञ्चनस्थलभासुरम् ॥ १३ ॥
महामरकताभाभिः शाद्वलस्थलनीलिमम् ।
द्रष्टृदृश्यक्षयासक्तजातध्वान्तोत्थकालिमम् ॥ १४ ॥
पारिजातलतालोलविमानगणकेतनम् ।
अतो मञ्जरिकाकारमिव वैदूर्यभूतलम् ॥ १५ ॥
मनोवेगमहासिद्धजितवातगमागमम् ।
विमानगृहदेवस्त्रीगेयवाद्यसघुंघुमम् ॥ १६ ॥
त्रैलोक्यवरभूतौघसंचाराविरलान्तरम् ।
अन्योन्यादृष्टसंचारसुरासुरकुलाकुलम् ॥ १७ ॥
पर्यन्तस्थितकूष्माण्डरक्षःपैशाचमण्डलम् ।
वातस्कन्धमहावेगवहद्वैमानिकव्रजम् ॥ १८ ॥
वहद्विमानसीत्कारमुष्टिग्राह्यघनध्वनि ।
ग्रहर्क्षघनसंचारात्प्रचलद्वातयन्त्रकम् ॥ १९ ॥
निकटातपदग्धाल्पसिद्धसिद्धोज्झितास्पदम् ।
अर्काश्वमुखवातास्तदग्धमुग्धविमानकम् ॥ २० ॥
लोकपालाप्सरोवृन्दसंचाराचारचञ्चलम ।
देव्यन्तःपुरिकादग्धधूपधूमाम्बुदाम्बरम् ॥ २१ ॥
3.24.11
Sage Vashishta continued:
Higher and higher, one above the other, surrounded separately by various wonderful aerial vehicles resembling beautifully adorned lands.
3.24.12
All around, the sky filled with mountain ranges like Meru and others, glowing with ruby-like slopes, fiery inside like the flames of world-dissolution.
3.24.13
Flooded with the light from pearl peaks, beautiful like the Himalayas; shining with golden mountain rays, radiant like golden lands.
3.24.14
Bluish from green grassy plains, shining with great emerald-like glow; darkened by the ignorance arising from attachment to Seer and seen.
3.24.15
Adorned with clusters of aerial vehicles waving with Parijata trees; thus resembling a land of lapis lazuli, casket-like.
3.24.16
Where travel is swift as the mind, attained by great siddhas conquering the wind; humming with songs and music from aerial vehicles, homes, gods, and celestial women.
3.24.17
Dense movement of the best Beings from the three worlds, with little space in between; crowded with gods and demons passing each other, seeing one another.
3.24.18
At the edges, circles of kushmandas, rakshasas, and ghostly beings; carrying crowds of aerial travelers on strong wind currents with great speed.
3.24.19
Carrying the whistling sounds of flying vehicles, thick thunder graspable by fists; a wind-machine shaking from the movement of planets, stars, and dense clouds.
3.24.20
Places abandoned by lesser siddhas burned by nearby sun heat; beautiful vehicles scorched by the hot winds from the sun and horse-faced Beings.
3.24.21
Unsteady from the movement and conduct of guardian deities and groups of apsaras; sky filled with clouds of incense smoke burned in the inner apartments of goddesses.
Summary of the Teachings of These Verses:
These verses form part of Sage Vasishta's vivid description of the heavenly realms to illustrate the nature of higher worlds and experiences beyond the earthly plane. The first section highlights the layered structure of the heavens, stacked one upon another, filled with magnificent aerial vehicles (vimanas) that resemble ornate floating cities or lands. This imagery emphasizes the grandeur and multiplicity of celestial spheres, separate yet interconnected, adorned with intricate beauty.
In the second section, the description focuses on the luminous and colorful aspects of these realms, drawing parallels to precious gems and mountains like Meru and the Himalayas. The glowing ruby slopes, pearl peaks, golden radiance, emerald greens, and lapis-like blues paint a picture of extraordinary splendor, but also introduce subtle darkness from ignorance caused by dualistic perception (Seer and seen), hinting at the imperfection even in heavenly beauty.
The third section shifts to the lively and dynamic atmosphere of the heavens, featuring wish-fulfilling Parijata trees, swift travel powered by mind-like speed and siddhi powers, and constant music from Divine Beings. This portrays the heavens as places of sensory delight, accomplishment, and harmonious activity among gods, celestial women, and perfected Beings.
The fourth section describes the crowded and bustling nature of these realms, with constant traffic of exalted souls from the three worlds, including interactions between gods and demons. The edges are guarded by fierce demonic entities, and powerful winds carry hordes of travelers, underscoring the organized yet intense movement and diversity in the celestial order.
The final section reveals potential discomforts and instabilities in the heavens, such as scorching heat from the sun, abandoned spots, and unsteady skies filled with incense smoke from divine rituals. This contrasts the earlier splendor, teaching that even heavenly pleasures are transient, subject to change, heat, and impermanence, ultimately pointing toward the need for detachment and Realization of the Supreme Reality beyond all worlds.
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