Chapter 3.25, Verses 26–35

Yoga Vashishtha 3.25.26–35

(The illusory and dream-like quality of the Universe means that no matter how vast and real the Cosmic Vision appears, it is a projection of the mind)

 

श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।

आव्योमसु चतुर्दिक्षु श्वभ्रसंभारभीषया ।

अर्धोन्म्लानतमोरूपलग्ननीलोत्पलस्रजा ॥ २६ ॥

नानामाणिक्यशिखरकह्लारकुमुदाब्जया ।

लोकालोकाचलोत्तालविपुलोद्दाममालया ॥ २७ ॥

वलितां त्रिजगल्लक्ष्मीधम्मिल्लवलनामिव ।

एतस्मादेव सर्वस्मात्ततो दशगुणात्मना ॥ २८ ॥

अज्ञातभूतसंचारनाम्नारण्येन मालिताम् ।

एतस्मादेव सर्वस्मात्ततो दशगुणात्मना ॥ २९ ॥

नभसेव चतुर्दिक्कं व्याप्तामतुलवारिणा ।

एतस्मादेव सर्वस्मात्ततो दशगुणात्मना ॥ ३० ॥

मेर्वादिद्रावणोत्केन ज्वालाजालेन मालिताम् ।

एतस्मादथ सर्वस्मात्ततो दशगुणात्मना ॥ ३१ ॥

मेर्वाद्यचलसङ्घातं नयता तृणपांसुवत्।

वहताद्रीन्द्रविस्फोटकारिणा जवहारिणा ॥ ३२ ॥

निःशून्यत्वादशब्देन मरुता परितो वृतम् ।

एतस्मादथ सर्वस्मात्ततो दशगुणात्मना ॥ ३३ ॥

परितो वलितं व्योम्ना निःशून्येनैकरूपिणा ।

अथ योजनकोटीनां शतेन घनरूणिणा।

व्याप्तं ब्रह्माण्डकुड्येन हैमेनापि द्विपर्वणा ॥ ३४ ॥

इति जलधिमहाद्रिलोकपालत्रिदशपुराम्बरभूतलैः परीतम् ।

जगदुदरमवेक्ष्य मानुषी द्राग्भुवि निजमन्दिरकोटरं ददर्श ॥ ३५ ॥

Maharishi Vashishta continued:

3.25.26

In the vast empty skies in all four directions, adorned with a garland of half-bloomed dark lotuses clinging due to the terrifying heaps of deep pits.

3.25.27

Decorated with various jewels, peaks, white lilies, blue lotuses, and lotuses, like a grand garland rising high over the Lokaloka mountain.

3.25.28

Coiled around like the braided hair of the goddess of the three worlds.

3.25.29

From all this, then encircled tenfold by a forest named unknown living beings' movement.

3.25.30

From all this, then filled in all four directions with incomparable vast ocean like the sky.

3.25.31

From all this, then adorned with flames melting Meru and other mountains.

3.25.32

Carrying away groups of mountains like Meru, treating them as mere grass and dust, with a swift wind causing explosions of great mountains.

3.25.33

Surrounded all around by a silent wind due to its emptiness, without sound.

3.25.34

Then encircled all around by uniform empty space without emptiness. Further, covered by a thick golden wall of the cosmic egg, two-layered, measuring a hundred crore yojanas.

3.25.35

Thus, having seen the interior of the world surrounded by oceans, great mountains, guardians of the worlds, cities of gods, sky, and earth, the human lady quickly saw her own small house chamber on earth.

Summary of the Teachings of These Verses:

These verses from the Yoga Vasistha describe a visionary experience where a person (in the context of the story, Queen Lila) gains subtle sight to perceive the vast structure of the Universe, known as the Brahmanda or Cosmic egg. The description uses poetic metaphors to illustrate the immense layers enveloping the inner world, emphasizing the mind-boggling scale of Creation.

The imagery begins with dark, terrifying voids and progresses through beautiful yet overwhelming adornments like garlands of lotuses and jewels, symbolizing the alluring but illusory nature of the cosmos. 

Each subsequent layer is described as ten times greater than the previous, surrounded by forests of unknown entities, vast oceans, fiery dissolutions, powerful winds, silent emptiness, and uniform void, culminating in a thick golden shell.

This layered structure highlights the infinite expansion of the universe beyond ordinary perception, showing how the three worlds (earth, atmosphere, heavens) are contained within a tiny fraction of the Cosmic interior.

Ultimately, after beholding this grand, enclosed vastness filled with oceans, mountains, divine realms, and planetary guardians, the observer suddenly returns to her limited human dwelling, realizing the contrast between the infinite cosmos and the finite personal experience.

The core teaching is the illusory and dream-like quality of the Universe in Advaita Vedanta: no matter how vast and real the cosmic vision appears, it is a projection of the mind. This Realization diminishes attachment to the world, fostering detachment and understanding that the True Self (Pure Consciousness) transcends all layers of creation, leading toward liberation.