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Yoga Vashishtha 3.32.1–14
(Sage Vasishta narrates this vision to Rama as part of Lila's story, where she observes the earthly kings Viduratha and Padma from the heavens along with Saraswati)
श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।
अथ वीरवरोत्कण्ठनृत्यदप्सरसि स्थिता।
लीलावलोकयामास व्योम्नि विद्यान्वितावनौ ॥ १ ॥
स्वराष्ट्रमण्डले भर्तृपालिते बलमालिते।
कस्मिंश्चिद्विततारण्ये द्वितीयाकाशभीषणे ॥ २ ॥
सेनाद्वितयमाक्षुब्धं सौम्याब्धिद्वितयोपमम् ।
महारम्भघनं मत्तं स्थितं राजद्वयान्वितम् ॥ ३ ॥
युद्धसज्जं सुसंनद्धमिद्धमग्निमिवाद्भुतम् ।
पूर्वप्रहारसंपातप्रेक्षाक्षुब्धाक्षिलक्षितम् ॥ ४ ॥
उद्यतामलनिस्त्रिंशधारासारवहज्जनम् ।
कचत्परश्वधप्रासभिन्दिपालर्ष्टिमुद्गरम् ॥ ५ ॥
गरुत्मत्पक्षविक्षुब्धवनसंपातकम्पितम् ।
उद्यद्दिनकरालोकचञ्चत्कनककङ्कटम् ॥ ६ ॥
परस्परमुखालोककोपप्रोद्दामितायुधम् ।
अन्योन्यबद्धदृष्टित्वाच्चित्रं भित्ताविवार्पितम् ॥ ७ ॥
लेखामर्यादया दीर्घबद्धया स्थापितस्थिति ।
अनिवार्यमहासैन्यझांकाराश्रुतसंकथम् ॥ ८ ॥
पूर्वप्रहारस्मयतश्चिरं संशान्तदुन्दुभि।
निबद्धयोधसंस्थाननिखिलानीकमन्थरम् ॥ ९ ॥
धनुर्द्वितथमात्रात्मशून्यमध्यैकसेतुना ।
विभक्तं कल्पवातेन मत्तमेकार्णवं यथा ॥ १० ॥
काये संकटसंरम्भचिन्तापरवशेश्वरम् ।
विरटद्भेककण्ठत्वग्भङ्गुरातुरहृद्गुहम् ॥ ११ ॥
प्राणसर्वस्वसंत्यागसोद्योगासंख्यसैनिकम् ।
कर्णाकृष्टशरौघौघत्यागोन्मुखधनुर्धरम् ॥ १२ ॥
प्रहारपातसंप्रेक्षानिष्पन्दासंख्यसैनिकम् ।
अन्योन्योत्कण्ठकाठिन्यभरभ्रुकुटिसंकटम् ॥ १३ ॥
परस्परसुसंघट्टकटुटङ्कारकङ्कटम् ।
वीरयोधमुखादग्धभीरुप्रेप्सितकोटरम् ॥ १४ ॥
Maharishi Vashishta said:
3.32.1–5
> Then Lila, standing with the Goddess of knowledge (Saraswati), joyfully watched from the sky the two kings on earth who were filled with wisdom.
> In their own kingdom, protected by their husbands (or Lords), surrounded by armies, in some vast terrifying forest that looked like a second sky.
> Two armies were greatly agitated, like two calm oceans, full of great efforts, intoxicated, and led by two kings.
> Ready for battle, well-armored, blazing wonderfully like fire, with eyes fixed on the first strikes and attacks of the enemy.
> Raising sharp swords with edges like streams, shining axes, spears, javelins, clubs, and hammers.
3.32.6–8
> Shaken by the flapping of wings like Garuda (eagle), trembling the forest, shining with golden armors under the rising sun's light.
> Weapons raised in fury from seeing each other's faces, eyes locked on one another, looking like pictures painted on a wall.
> Standing firm in long lines drawn like boundaries, with the great armies' unstoppable roar and talk heard.
3.32.9–14
> Smiling at the thought of the first blows for a long time, with drums silent now, all soldiers fixed in position, the whole army slow-moving.
> Divided by a single bridge in the empty middle like two bows, separated like a mad single ocean by the winds of creation.
> The Lords controlled by tight effort and worry in their bodies, hearts trembling and broken like frog throats croaking in fear.
> Countless soldiers ready to give up their life-breath completely, archers with bows drawn, ready to release floods of arrows.
> Countless soldiers still, watching the falling blows, with furrowed brows tight from mutual eagerness and hardness.
> With sharp clashing sounds of armor from mutual collisions, from the mouths of brave warriors, the fearful desired holes (or escapes).
Summary of teachings:
These verses describe a dramatic scene of two mighty armies facing each other in intense preparation for battle. Sage Vasishta narrates this vision to Rama as part of Lila's story, where she observes the earthly kings Viduratha and Padma from the heavens along with Saraswati.
These verses illustrate the illusory and dream-like nature of the world. Just as Lila watches the two armies from above with detachment, the Realized soul sees worldly conflicts and preparations as unreal appearances in Consciousness. The armies symbolize the dualities and oppositions (like desire vs. duty, or ego vs. ego) that arise in the mind, appearing solid and fierce but ultimately projections of the same underlying reality. This scene teaches that what seems terrifying and Real on the ground level is merely a spectacle when viewed from Higher Awareness.
The detailed description of the armies' readiness, weapons, and tension highlights how the ego creates intense drama through attachment to roles like warrior or king. Every detail—the shining armors, locked gazes, and held breaths—shows the power of mental sankalpa (intention) to manifest apparent solidity and conflict. Vasishta uses this to remind that such preparations for battle arise from ignorance of the non-dual Self, where all divisions dissolve.
The comparison to oceans, fire, and painted pictures emphasizes impermanence and lack of true substance. The armies stand divided yet mirror each other, showing how opposites are interdependent and not separate. This teaches non-attachment: one should not get caught in the excitement or fear of worldly struggles, as they are like waves on the ocean of Consciousness —arising and subsiding without affecting the whole.
The Stillness before the clash, with drums silent and soldiers poised, represents the moment of potential destruction born from desire and aversion. It warns against the bondage of action driven by egoistic motives. True Freedom comes from recognizing that the "battle" is internal, a play of thoughts, and Realization lies in Witnessing it without involvement.
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