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Yoga Vashishtha 3.57.1–9
(These verses from Yoga Vasistha paint a clear picture of how the mind keeps creating forms even after what we call death)
श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।
ततो ददृशतुस्तत्र शवशय्यैकपार्श्वगाम्।
लीलां विदूरथस्याग्रे मृतां ते प्रथमागताम् ॥ १॥
प्राग्वेषां प्राक्समाचारां प्राग्देहां प्राक्सवासनाम्।
प्राक्तनाकारसदृशीं सर्वरूपाङ्गसुन्दरीम् ॥ २॥
प्राग्रूपावयवस्पन्दां प्रागम्बरपरीवृताम्।
प्राग्भूषणभरच्छन्नां केवलं तत्र संस्थिताम् ॥ ३॥
गृहीतचामरां चारु वीजयन्तीं महीपतिम्।
उद्यच्चन्द्रामिव दिवं भूषयन्तीं महीतलम् ॥ ४॥
मौनस्थां वामहस्तस्थवदनेन्दुतया नताम्।
भूषणांशुलतापुष्पैः फुल्लामिव वनस्थलीम् ॥ ५॥
कुर्वाणां वीक्षितैर्दिक्षु मालत्युत्पलवर्षणम्।
सृजन्तीमात्मलावण्यादिन्दुमिन्दुं नभोदितम् ॥ ६॥
नरपालात्मनो विष्णोर्लक्ष्मीमिव समागताम्।
उदितां पुष्पसंभारादिव पुष्पाकरश्रियम् ॥ ७॥
भर्तुर्वदनके न्यस्तदृष्टिमिष्टविचेष्टिताम्।
किंचित्प्रम्लानवदनां म्लानचन्द्रां निशामिव ॥ ८॥
ताभ्यां सा ललना दृष्टा तया ते तु न लक्षिते।
यस्मात्ते सत्यसंकल्पे सा न तावत्तथोदिता ॥ ९॥
Sage Vashishta continued:
3.57.1–5
> Then both of them saw there, on one side of the corpse bed, Lila who had come first. She lay dead right in front of Viduratha.
> She wore her previous clothes, followed her previous ways, had her previous body and her previous mental habits. She looked exactly like her old self and was beautiful in every limb and feature.
> Her limbs moved as before, she was wrapped in her old clothes and covered with the weight of her old ornaments. She was simply present there.
> Holding a fan in her hand, she gently fanned the King. Like the rising moon that adorns the sky, she made the earth look beautiful.
> She stood silent, her moon-like face bent low and resting in her left hand. With the rays from her ornaments shining like flowers, she looked like a blooming forest ground.
3.57.6–9
> With her gentle looks she showered jasmine and lotus flowers in all directions. From her own beauty she created moon after moon rising in the sky.
> She had come like Goddess Lakshmi arriving for Lord Vishnu, who was the soul of the King. She looked like the lovely beauty of a flower garden rising from a heap of flowers.
> Her eyes stayed fixed on her husband’s face as she did pleasing things for him. Her face was slightly pale, like a night with a fading moon.
> The lady was seen by the two of them, but she did not notice them. This was because of their true pure will she had not yet appeared to them in that way.
Summary of the Teachings:
The two observers see Queen Lila lying beside the King’s body, still looking exactly as she did in life. This shows that death is not a complete end. The subtle body keeps the old clothes, habits and feelings because the mind holds on to them. The story teaches that the world we live in is made by our thoughts and memories, and these thoughts do not vanish when the body dies.
The verses keep repeating words like “previous” to stress that Lila’s old dress, manners, body and inner wishes are still there. This is a simple way to explain that our real identity is not the physical body but the collection of mental habits called vasanas. Yoga Vasistha wants us to understand that everything we see and feel is a projection of the mind. When we know this, we stop fearing death and start seeking freedom from the mind’s endless stories.
Lila is shown fanning the King with love, looking like Lakshmi serving Vishnu. Her beauty and gentle actions continue even in this new State. The teaching here is that pure love and devotion are stronger than the body. Such feelings do not die; they shine in the subtle world too. The verses remind us that true beauty comes from inside and can light up any realm, teaching us to live with kindness and devotion while we are still alive.
With her eyes she scatters flowers everywhere and her own charm creates many moons in the sky. These lovely images tell us that the mind has great creative power. Our thoughts and glances can make the world around us beautiful or dull. The lesson is to keep our mind pure and positive so that our inner light spreads goodness, just as Lila’s presence makes everything look lovely.
In the last verse we learn that the two observers can see Lila but she cannot see them. This happens because of their pure and true resolve. It is a direct teaching on how perception works in the world of illusion. What we see or do not see depends on the state of our mind. When the mind is clear and strong with right understanding, we can move beyond ordinary seeing and touch the deeper Truth that everything is One Single Consciousness.
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