Chapter 3.37, Verses 1–20

Yoga Vashishtha 3.37.1–20

(These verses form part of Sage Vasishta's narration in the story of Queen Lila, where he describes a massive illusory war to illustrate the dream-like nature of the world)

श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।

रणे रभसनिर्लूननरवारणदारुणे ।

अहंपूर्वमहंपूर्वमिति वृन्दानुपातिनि ॥ १॥

एते चान्ये च बहवस्तत्र भस्मत्वमागताः।

प्रविशन्तः प्रयत्नेन शलभा इव पावके ॥ २ ॥

अत्रान्ये मध्यदेशीया जना नोदाहृता मया ।

तानिमाञ्छृणु वक्ष्यामि पक्षाँल्लीलामहीभृतः ॥ ३ ॥

तद्देहिकाः शूरसेना गुडा अश्वघनायकाः।

उत्तमज्योतिभद्राणि मदमध्यमिकादयः ॥ ४ ॥

सालूकाकोद्यमालास्या दौज्ञेयाः पिप्पलायनाः ।

माण्डव्याः पाण्डुनगराः सौग्रीवाद्या गुरुग्रहाः ॥ ५ ॥

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दशार्णाः पाशनिर्मुक्तश्रृङ्खला जालभीरवः ।

निलीना रक्तजम्बाले वैतसास्तिमयो यथा ॥ १८ ॥

गुर्जरानीकनाशेन गुर्जरीकेशलुञ्चनम् ।

विहितं तङ्गणोत्तुङ्गनासिशङ्कुशतै रणे ॥ १९ ॥

सिषिचुः शस्त्रकर्णौघाद्विन्दुभ्यो निगडा गुहान् ।

शरधारावनानीव वीरहेतिप्रभाम्बुदाः ॥ २० ॥

Maharishi Vashishta said:

3.37.1–5

> In the fierce battle where many men and elephants were swiftly cut down, crowds rushed forward shouting "I first! I first!"

> Many others there, along with these, turned to ashes. They entered the fight eagerly, like moths rushing into fire.

> Here, I have not yet described the people from the middle region. Listen to these now—I will tell you about the armies on Lila's side of the earth.

> Her brave forces included Shurasena, Guda, leaders of Ashvaghana, Uttamajyoti, Bhadra, Madhyamika, and others.

> There were also Saluka, Kodyamala, Daujneya, Pippalayana, Mandavya, Pandunagara, Saugriava, and other great planetary forces.

3.37.6–17

> Continuing the list of armies and warriors from various regions, the verses describe more groups entering the battle.

3.37.18–20. 

> The Dasharnas, freed from chains and shackles, the fearful ones in nets, hid in red mud like cane reeds submerged in water.

> With the destruction of the Gurjara army, the Gurjari women had their hair pulled in the battle by hundreds of sharp, towering Tangana swords and spears.

> From the showers of weapons and arrows, chains and shackles poured into caves like clouds of heroic weapons raining streams in the forest.

Detailed Summary of the Teachings:

The fierce battle scene, with armies clashing, warriors shouting to claim priority in attack, and soldiers rushing to death like moths to flame, symbolizes how ego-driven actions and desires lead beings into destruction. The repeated cries of "I first!" highlight the illusion of individuality and competition in samsara (worldly existence), where the sense of separate self fuels conflict and suffering.

The detailed listing of armies from different regions—representing diverse peoples, tribes, and forces—shows the vast multiplicity of the manifested world. All these warriors, despite their bravery, strength, and numbers, ultimately meet the same fate: turning to ashes or falling in battle. This teaches that no matter how grand or varied the appearances of life seem, everything in the phenomenal world is transient and perishable. The world is a projection of Consciousness, and its events, including wars, are unreal appearances like dreams.

The imagery of soldiers entering battle eagerly yet perishing quickly compares them to moths drawn to fire, emphasizing ignorance (avidya) and attachment that pull beings toward destruction. The "fire" represents the consuming power of Time, death, or the illusion itself. Vasishta uses this to point out that without Self-Knowledge, living beings repeatedly engage in futile struggles driven by ego and desire, leading only to ruin.

Descriptions of hidden warriors in mud, destruction of armies, and violent acts like pulling hair or raining weapons illustrate the chaos and horror of worldly conflicts. These vivid details serve to make the unreality of the world more evident—such intense suffering and violence arise only in the dream-state of ignorance. The teaching urges turning away from external battles toward Inner Realization, as true victory lies not in conquering others but in transcending the illusion of separateness.

Overall, these verses reinforce the core Advaita teaching of Yoga Vasishta: the entire universe, including its wars and heroes, is a mental creation (kalpana) with no Ultimate Reality. By contemplating the impermanence and dream-like quality of such events, the seeker develops detachment (vairagya) and discrimination (viveka). This leads to recognition of the Self as the Unchanging Witness beyond all phenomena, bringing liberation (moksha) from the cycle of birth, death, and illusory strife.