Posts
Yoga Vashishtha 3.28.17–32
(The overwhelming splendor of the world is shown to be captivating yet deceptive, urging the aspirant to question its Reality and seek the Eternal Truth beyond appearances)
श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।
आदृश्ये ग्रामलोकेन प्रेक्षमाणे पुरोगिरिम् ।
चुम्बिताकाशकुहरं संस्पृष्टादित्यमण्डलम् ॥ १७ ॥
नानावर्णाखिलोत्फुल्लविचित्रवननिर्मलम् ।
नानानिर्झरनिर्ह्रादकूजद्वनविहंगमम् ॥ १८ ॥
विचित्रमञ्जरीपुञ्जपिञ्जराम्बुदमण्डलम् ।
स्वभ्रमच्छगुलुच्छाग्रविश्रान्तखगसारसम् ॥ १९ ॥
सारवञ्जुलविस्तारगुप्ताखिलसरित्तटम् ।
असमाप्तशिलाश्वभ्रलतावर्तनमारुतम् ॥ २० ॥
पुष्पाग्रपिहिताकाशकोशकुड्यकवारिदम् ।
पतद्दीर्घसरित्स्रोतः स्फुरन्मुक्ताकलापकम् ॥ २१ ॥
चलद्वृक्षवनव्यूहवातवेल्लिसरित्तटम् ।
नानावनाकुलोपान्तच्छायासततशीतलम् ॥ २२ ॥
अथ ते ललने तत्र तदा ददृशतुः स्वयम्।
तं गिरिग्रामकं व्योम्नः स्वर्गखण्डमिव च्युतम् ॥ २३ ॥
रटत्प्रणालीपटलं पूर्णपुष्करिणीगणम् ।
द्विजैः कुचकुचैः कूजत्स्वलीलाश्वभ्रकच्छकम् ॥ २४॥
गच्छद्गोवृन्दहुंकारकरालाखिलकुञ्जकम् ।
कुञ्जगुल्मकखण्डाढ्यं सच्छायघनशाद्वलम् ॥ २५ ॥
दुष्प्रवेशार्ककिरणं दृशन्नीहारधूसरम्।
उदग्रमञ्जरीपुञ्जजटालं विशिखान्तरम् ॥ २६ ॥
शिलाकुहरवाःस्फालप्रोच्चलन्मुक्तनिर्झरैः ।
स्मारिताचलनिर्धूत्क्षीरोदकजलश्रियम् ॥ २७ ॥
फलमाल्यमहाभारभासुरैरजिरद्रुमैः ।
आनीय पुष्पसंभारं तिष्ठद्भिरिव संकुलम् ॥ २८ ॥
तरत्तरङ्गझांकारकारिमारुतकम्पितैः ।
कीर्णपुष्पसमावृष्टं द्रुमैरपि रसाकुलैः ॥ २९ ॥
अशङ्कितशिलाकूटस्रवदब्बिन्दुटंकृतैः।
किंचित्कृतरवं गुप्तैरशङ्कैः शङ्कितैः खगैः ॥ ३० ॥
उत्फाललहरीश्रान्तसीकरास्वादनाकुलैः।
नद्यामुडुपरावर्तवृत्तिभिर्विहगैर्वृतम् ॥ ३१ ॥
उत्तालतालविश्रान्तकाकालोकनशङ्कितैः ।
बालैः प्रगोपितामिक्षाखण्डं जीर्णस्वभुक्तकैः ॥ ३२ ॥
Maharishi Vashishta continued:
3.28.17–21
> In the invisible village located on the mountain peak, seen by the people of the village ahead, it touches the cavity of the sky and kisses the orb of the sun.
> It is adorned with forests blooming in various colours and all kinds of pure, charming flowers; many waterfalls resound, and birds sing sweetly in the woods.
> Clusters of multi-coloured blossoms make the cloud clusters golden; swans and other birds rest peacefully on the swaying tips of tree branches.
> Broad mango groves completely conceal the riverbanks; unfinished stone caves are filled with swirling creepers, and winds move through them.
> The tips of flowers cover the sky like walls holding the clouds; long cascading rivers sparkle with clusters of pearl-like water drops.
3.28.22
Groups of swaying trees make the riverbanks tremble with wind; the dense forests at the edges provide constant cool shade.
3.28.23–27
> Then those two young men (Rama and Lakshmana) themselves saw that mountain village appearing in the sky, looking like a fragment of heaven that had fallen down.
> It has channels filled with gurgling streams, groups of full ponds; birds sweetly coo in their playful caves and hollows.
> Moving herds of cows fill every grove with their low humming sounds; it is rich with thickets and clusters of bushes, covered with good shade and lush green grass.
> Difficult to enter because of the sun’s rays, yet it appears misty with dew; high clusters of blossoms hang like matted locks in the spaces between the paths.
> From the cavities in the rocks, high-splashing waterfalls leap forth, reminding one of mountains pouring streams of milky water.
3.28.28–32
> Trees in the courtyards shine with the heavy burden of fruits and flower garlands, as if they have brought heaps of blossoms and stand crowded together.
> Winds shake the branches with wave-like sounds; the juice-filled trees shower falling flowers everywhere.
> Suddenly from the stone peaks, dripping water drops produce tinkling sounds; hidden birds make soft calls—some fearless, some fearful and cautious.
> Birds, tired from leaping on the waves, taste the spray drops; the river is surrounded by birds circling like revolving stars in whirlpools.
> Crows rest on tall palm trees, looking around suspiciously; children hide pieces of fresh cream, protecting them from old monkeys who have already eaten their share.
Summary of the teachings:
These verses form part of a vivid poetic description in the Yoga Vasishta, where Sage Vasishta paints an extraordinarily beautiful and lively picture of a heavenly-like mountain village seen by Rama and Lakshmana. This scene is not merely a travelogue but a deliberate illustration of how the mind perceives the world. The detailed imagery—from sun-kissed peaks and blooming forests to flowing rivers, singing birds, and playful animals—shows the richness and diversity of creation as it appears to the senses. The teaching here is that the external world, though enchanting and full of variety, is a projection of Consciousness, appearing Real and solid only because of the mind's attention and imagination.
The village is described as "fallen from heaven" yet visible in the sky, blending the earthly and Divine. This suggests the illusory (maya) nature of perceived Reality: what seems like a concrete place is actually a mental construct, transient and dream-like. Vasishta uses this to teach Rama that the world we experience is not ultimately Real but a beautiful appearance arising in the Infinite Consciousness (Brahm). Just as a dream village feels vivid while dreaming, the waking world too is a long dream of the self, full of sensory delights but lacking independent existence.
The abundance of nature—flowers, fruits, waters, birds, and animals living in harmony—symbolizes the fullness and Joy inherent in Pure Being when untainted by ego or desire. Yet the verses subtly hint at impermanence: falling flowers, dripping waters, swaying branches, and suspicious crows all point to constant change and movement. The teaching emphasizes detachment: one should appreciate beauty without clinging, recognizing it as a play of consciousness rather than a source of lasting fulfillment or bondage.
A deeper layer reveals non-duality (advaita). The village, though described with dualistic details (high and low, hidden and open, fearful and bold), exists within the One Unchanging Awareness. Rama is being guided to see beyond the multiplicity to the singular substratum. The scene serves as a meditative object: by contemplating such perfect yet unreal beauty, the seeker Realizes the world's relativity and turns inward to the Self that witnesses it all without being affected.
Ultimately, these verses prepare the ground for dispassion (vairagya) and inquiry. The overwhelming splendor of the world is shown to be captivating yet deceptive, urging the aspirant to question its Reality and seek the Eternal Truth beyond appearances. This leads to Realization, where one abides in the Self, free from the illusion of a separate world, much like waking from a beautiful but unreal dream.
No comments:
Post a Comment