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Yoga Vashishtha 3.50.15–30
(These verses paint a vivid picture of a fierce battle between Sindhu and Viduratha, full of weapons, fire and water astras clashing. They show how the material world is filled with constant action, noise and destruction)
श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।
शङ्कुशङ्कितसूत्कारकाशिशूलशिलाशतम्।
भुशुण्डीनिर्जितोद्दण्डभिन्दिपालोग्रमण्डलम्॥ १५॥
परशूलकराभैकपरशूलैकलम्पितम्।
वहदुच्छिन्नचञ्चूरचारणं शत्रुवारणम्॥ १६॥
स्फुटच्चटचटास्फोटरुद्धत्त्रिपथगारयम्।
हेत्यस्त्रीचूर्णसंभारमहाधूमवितानकम्॥ १७॥
अन्योन्यशस्त्रसंघट्टाद्भ्रमज्जालोल्लसत्तडित्।
शब्दस्फुटद्विरिञ्चाण्डं धातमग्नकुलाचलम्॥ १८॥
धारानिकृत्तशस्त्रौघमस्त्रयोर्युध्यमानयोः।
मदस्त्रवारणेनैव कालोपायोऽचलात्मनः॥ १९॥
अयं कियद्बल इति सिन्धौ तिष्ठति हेलया।
विदूरथोऽस्त्रमाग्नेयं तत्याजाशनिशब्दवत्॥ २०॥
ज्वालयामास स रथं सिन्धोः कक्षमिवारसम्।
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे व्योम्नि हेतिनिर्विवरोदरे॥ २१॥
ससन्नाह इव प्रावृट्पयोदतटिनीव यः।
अस्त्रे राज्ञोः क्षणं कृत्वा युद्धं परमदारुणम्॥ २२॥
अन्योन्यं शममायाते सवीर्ये सुभटाविव।
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे सोऽग्नी रथं कृत्वा तु भस्मसात्॥ २३॥
प्राप दग्ध्वा वनं सिन्धुं मृगेन्द्रमिव कन्दरात्।
सिन्धुरभ्यासतोऽग्न्यस्त्रं वारुणास्त्रेण शामयन्॥ २४॥
प्राप दग्ध्वा वनं सिन्धुं मृगेन्द्रमिव कन्दरात्।
सिन्धुरभ्यासतोऽग्न्यस्त्रं वारुणास्त्रेण शामयन्॥ २४॥
रथं त्यक्त्वावनिं प्राप्य खड्गास्फोटकवानभूत्।
अक्ष्णोर्निमेषमात्रेण रथाश्वानां रिपोः खुरान्॥ २५॥
लुलाव करवालेन मृणालानीव लाघवात्।
विदूरथोऽपि विरथो बभूवास्फोटकासिमान्॥ २६॥
समायुधौ समोत्साहौ चेरतुर्मण्डलानि तौ।
खड्गौ क्रकचतां यातौ मिथः प्रहरतोस्तयोः॥ २७॥
दन्तमालेयमस्येव बले चर्वयतः प्रजाः।
शक्तिमादाय चिक्षेप खङ्गं त्यक्त्वा विदूरथः॥ २८॥
सिन्ध्वम्बुघर्घरारावो महोत्पात इवाशनिः।
अविच्छिन्ना समायाता पतिता सास्य वक्षसि॥ २९॥
अप्रियस्य यथा भर्तुरनिच्छन्ती स्वकामिनी।
तेन शक्तिप्रहारेण नासौ मरणमाप्तवान्॥ ३०॥
Maharishi Vashishta said:
3.50.15–23
> The battlefield was filled with hundreds of spikes, spears, tridents and stones that made terrifying noises. It was surrounded by frightening circles of powerful bhushundi weapons and fierce bhindipala darts.
> It was hung with axes and spears, and it carried cut-off heads and limbs swinging as it moved, driving away the enemies.
> Loud cracking sounds from clashing weapons blocked the three paths like a river. A huge canopy of thick smoke rose from the powder of crushed weapons.
> The mutual clash of weapons created a whirling net of bright sparks like lightning. The loud noise split the two cosmic worlds and shook the burning mountains.
> Streams of weapons were cut as the two astras fought each other. The fierce astra was stopped by the elephant-like astra, and this was time’s clever way for the unchanging soul.
> Thinking “how strong is this one?”, Sindhu stood there casually. Viduratha hurled the fire weapon with a sound like thunder.
> He set Sindhu’s chariot on fire like dry grass. At that moment, in the sky the weapon appeared fully without any gap.
> Like a rain-cloud with armor or a flowing river, the astras of the two kings fought a very fierce battle for a moment.
> The two powerful astras calmed each other like brave soldiers. Meanwhile the fire turned the chariot into ashes.
3.50.24–30
> The fire reached Sindhu after burning the forest, like a lion coming out of a cave. Sindhu approached and calmed the fire astra with the water astra.
> Leaving the chariot and reaching the ground, he became armed with sword and club. In the blink of an eye he cut the hooves of the enemy’s chariot horses like lotus stalks.
> He sliced them easily with his sword as if they were lotus stems. Viduratha too became chariot-less and stood with club and sword.
> Both equally armed and full of spirit, they moved in circles. As they struck each other their swords became like saws.
> Like a row of teeth, his army was devouring the people. Viduratha left his sword, took a spear and threw it.
> With a roar like the gurgling ocean waters, like a great calamity or thunderbolt, it came without stopping and fell on Sindhu’s chest.
> Like an unwilling wife to an unloved husband. With that spear strike he did not die.
Summary of the teachings:
In the larger teaching of Yoga Vashishta this drama is only an illusion created by the mind. The warriors, chariots and weapons are like scenes in a dream that look real but have no lasting power. The verses remind us that what we see as terrible fights in life are actually temporary plays of maya.
The way one astra stops another and time steps in cleverly teaches that every force in creation has its opposite. Nothing happens by chance; balance is always kept by cosmic law. The mention of the “unchanging soul” points to the Atman that stays calm and untouched no matter how wild the outer battle becomes. Seekers are told to stop identifying with the fighting body and mind and rest in the steady inner self instead.
When the King's leave their chariots and fight on foot with swords it shows the need for flexibility in life. No matter what power or comfort we start with, we must be ready to change our approach without clinging to old tools. True strength comes from within, not from outer vehicles or weapons. This part encourages us to face challenges with courage and quick thinking rather than depending on external things.
The final spear strike that fails to kill uses a gentle simile of an unwilling wife. It teaches that death is not real for the soul and physical blows cannot touch the immortal spirit. Even the strongest weapon bounces back when it meets the true nature of the self. This gives hope that no matter how hard life strikes, the inner self remains safe and eternal.
Overall these verses use the story of battle to point to the highest truth of non-duality. The world seems full of winners and losers, life and death, but everything is one consciousness playing roles. By watching the drama without getting lost in it we can rise above suffering and reach liberation. The teaching invites us to live in the world yet know it as a passing show and rest peacefully in the unchanging Reality.
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