Chapter 3.25, Verses 15–25

Yoga Vashishtha 3.25.15–25

(True Realization comes from recognizing the Infinite Consciousness as one's own Nature, transcending all Cosmic layers)

 

श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।

ततोऽपि द्विगुणं देहं दधत्या वलयाकृतिम् ।

जगद्भूतलताव्याप्तां शाकाख्यद्वीपलेखया ॥ १५ ॥

ततोऽपि द्विगुणाकारं धारयन्त्या च वेष्टिताम् ।

प्रत्यग्रक्षीरपूर्णाब्धिलेखया स्वादुशीतया ॥ १६ ॥

ततोऽपि द्विगुणाकारं धारयन्त्योपवेष्टिताम् ।

नानाजनालंकृतया कुशाख्यद्वीपलेखया ॥ १७ ॥

ततोऽपि द्विगुणाकारं धारयन्त्या च वेष्टिताम् ।

दध्यब्धिलेखया नित्यसंतर्पितसुरौघया ॥ १८ ॥

ततः क्रौञ्चाभिधद्वीपलेखयैवं प्रमाणया।

वेष्टितां खातरचया नवां नृपपुरीमिव ॥ १९ ॥

ततोऽपि च घृताम्भोधिलेखयैवं प्रमाणया ।

ततोऽपि शाल्मलीद्वीपलेखया मलपूर्णया ॥ २० ॥

ततः सुरामहाम्भोधिलेखया पुष्पशुभ्रया।

शेषस्य देहलतया हरिमूर्तिमिवावृताम् ॥ २१ ॥

ततो गोमेदकद्वीपलेखयैवप्रमाणया ।

इक्ष्वब्धिलेखयाप्येवं हिमवत्सानुशुद्धया ॥ २२ ॥

ततोऽपि पुष्करद्वीपलेखया द्विगुणस्थया ।

अन्ते स्वादूदकाम्भोधिलेखयैवं प्रमाणया ॥ २३ ॥

ततो दशगुणेनाथ पातालतलगामिना ।

निखातवलयेनोच्चैः श्वभ्रसंभाररूपिणा ॥ २४ ॥

पातालगामिमार्गेण वलितां भयदात्मना ।

एतस्मात्खलु सर्वस्मात्ततो दशगुणोच्चया ॥ २५ ॥

Maharishi Vashishta continued:

3.25.15

Then, bearing a body twice as large, in a circular form, enveloped by the line of the earth-ocean spread all over the world, marked by the Shaka island-continent.

3.25.16

Then, bearing a form twice as large again, enveloped by the line of the fresh milk ocean, cool and sweet.

3.25.17

Then, bearing a form twice as large again, enveloped by the line of the Kusha island-continent, adorned with various people.

3.25.18

Then, bearing a form twice as large again, enveloped by the line of the curd ocean, constantly satisfying hosts of gods.

3.25.19

Then, enveloped in the same way by the line of the Krauncha island-continent of that measure, like a new royal city surrounded by a moat.

3.25.20

Then, again by the line of the ghee ocean of that measure, and then by the line of the Shalmali island-continent full of impurities.

3.25.21

Then, by the line of the great liquor ocean, bright with flowers, enveloping the body-creeper of Shesha, like the form of Lord Vishnu.

3.25.22

Then, by the line of the Gomeda island-continent of the same measure, and also by the sugarcane juice ocean, pure like the peak of Himavat.

3.25.22

Then, by the line of the Pushkara island-continent twice as vast, and at the end by the line of the fresh water ocean of that measure.

3.25.24

Then, with a deep circular trench ten times larger, going down to the netherworlds, high and filled with pits like heaps.

3.25.25

Encircled by the path going to the netherworlds, fearful in nature. From all this, indeed, then ten times higher.

Summary of the Teachings of These Verses:

These verses from the Yoga Vasishta describe the immense, layered structure of the cosmic serpent Shesha's body, which symbolically represents the vastness of the Universe or Brahmanda (cosmic egg). Each layer doubles in size and is encircled by alternating island-continents (dvipas) and oceans made of different substances, illustrating the Infinite expansion of Creation.

The description follows the traditional Puranic cosmology, with seven main dvipas (Jambu/Shaka, Plaksha/Kusha, Krauncha, Shalmali, Gomeda, Pushkara) and corresponding oceans (salt/earth, milk, curd, ghee, liquor, sugarcane juice, fresh water), but here mapped onto Shesha's coiled body. This highlights how the macrocosm mirrors microcosmic forms, emphasizing scale and interdependence.

A key teaching is the illusory and dream-like nature of the phenomenal world. Despite the grand description of vast oceans and continents, the entire structure is part of Shesha's body supporting Vishnu, reminding us that all multiplicity arises from a single underlying Reality.

Further, the progression of doubling sizes and the final tenfold increases leading to netherworlds convey the boundless nature of Existence. 

Nothing is fixed or ultimate in the manifested world; it expands endlessly, pointing to the non-dual Brahm beyond measurement.

Ultimately, these verses teach detachment and Realization of the Self. By contemplating the immense yet illusory cosmos on Shesha, one understands that the world is a mental projection. True Realization comes from recognizing the Infinite Consciousness as one's own nature, transcending all Cosmic layers.