Chapter 3.61, Verses 1–15

Yoga Vashishtha 3.61.1–15

(These verses teach the non-dual Nature of Reality, where Brahm or Pure Consciousness is the only Truth)

श्रीराम उवाच ।

अहं जगदिति भ्रान्तिः परस्मात्कारणं विना।

यथोदेति तथा ब्रह्मन्भूयः कथय साधु मे ॥ १॥

श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।

समस्ताः समतैवान्ताः संविदो बुध्यते यतः।

सर्वथा सर्वदा सर्वं सर्वात्मकमजस्ततः ॥ २॥

सर्वा हि शब्दार्थदृशो ब्रह्मैवैताः पृथङ्ग तत्।

सर्वार्थशब्दार्थकलारूपमासां न विद्यते ॥ ३॥

कटकत्वं पृथग्हेम्नस्तरङ्गत्वं पृथग्जलात्।

यथा न संभवत्येवं न जगत्पृथगीश्वरात् ॥ ४॥

एष एव जगद्रूपं जगद्रूपं तु नेश्वरे।

हेमैव कटकादित्वं कटकत्वं न हेमनि ॥ ५॥

यथावयविनो रूपमनेकावयवात्मकम्।

तथाऽनवयवायास्तु चितः सर्वात्मकं च यत् ॥ ६॥

यत्तुल्यकालमखिलं तन्मात्रावेदनं परे।

अन्तस्थं तदिदं भाति जगदित्यहमित्यपि ॥ ७॥

लेखौघानां यथा भेदसंनिवेशः शिलोदरे।

तथानन्यज्जगदहं चेत्यन्तश्चिद्धने घनम् ॥ ८॥

स्थितास्तरङ्गाः सलिले यथान्तरतरङ्गिते।

सृष्टिशब्दार्थरहितास्तथान्तः सृष्टयः परे ॥ ९॥

न सर्गे तिष्ठति परं सर्गस्तिष्ठति नो परे।

अवयवावयविवत्सत्तानवयवैस्तयोः ॥ १०॥

चिद्रूपेण स्वसंवित्त्या स्वचिन्मात्रं विभाव्यते।

स्वमेव रूपहृदयं वातेन स्पन्दनं यथा ॥ ११॥

तत्कालमेष शब्दाणुश्चिच्चमत्काररूपधृक्।

चेतते खमिवैवान्तः संकल्प इव चेतसा ॥ १२॥

तदेवानिलतां वेत्ति निजसत्तात्मिकां स्वयम्।

अन्तर्गतस्पर्शरसां पवनस्पन्दतामिव ॥ १३॥

तदेवाभासतामेति निजसत्तात्मिकां स्वयम्।

कोशस्थितालोकलवां तेजः प्रगटतामिव ॥ १४॥

तदेवं जलतां याति निजसत्तात्मिकां स्वयम्।

अन्तःस्थितास्वादलवां सलिलं द्रवतामिव ॥ १५॥

Sriram asked: 

3.61.1

> The delusion that "I am the world" arises without any other cause. O Brahman, please explain this to me again clearly.

Sage Vasishta said: 

3.61.2–6

> All Knowledge exists equally within Consciousness, which is the Eternal, all-pervading Reality without beginning.

> All perceptions of words and their meanings are essentially Brahm itself. There is no separate form or Essence for any object or word apart from it.

> Just as the form of a bracelet cannot exist separately from gold, and waves cannot exist separately from water, the world cannot exist separately from God.

> This very Brahm appears as the form of the world, but the world does not exist within God as something different. Gold itself appears as bracelets, but bracelet-ness does not change the gold.

> Just as a whole object has many parts, the indivisible Consciousness appears as everything in its all-pervading form.

3.61.7–10

> Whatever appears simultaneously as the entire Universe is known within the Supreme Consciousness. This inner shining appears as the world and as "I".

> Just as different figures are carved inside a stone, in the same way, the world and "I" exist inseparably within the dense Consciousness.

> Like waves resting within still water, Creations without Real Creation exist inside the Supreme Consciousness.

> The Supreme does not dwell in Creation, nor does Creation dwell in the Supreme. There is no relationship of parts and whole between them.

3.61.11–15

> Through its own form of Consciousness, the Pure Consciousness knows itself. Its own heart-like form vibrates like wind stirring.

> At that moment, this subtle sound-particle of Consciousness, full of Wonder, knows itself within like a thought in the mind, like Space inside Space.

> It knows its own Existence as Air, with inner touch and taste, like the movement of wind.

> It itself becomes light or fire, its own substantial form, like a spark of light inside a covering.

> It itself becomes water, its own substantial form, like water flowing with inner taste.

Summary of the Teachings:

The apparent world and individual Self ("I") are not separate Creations but illusions arising within this one Consciousness, without any external Cause. Just like gold forming ornaments or water forming waves, the world is simply Brahm appearing in different forms, but the forms do not add or subtract anything from the underlying reality.

Consciousness is all-pervading and contains everything equally. All perceptions, words, and meanings are expressions of Brahm alone. There is no independent existence for objects; everything is an Inner Vibration or appearance within the indivisible Consciousness, similar to carvings inside a rock or waves inside an ocean.

Creation is not a real event happening outside God. There is no relationship of container and contained or parts and whole between Brahm and the world. The Universe appears simultaneously within Consciousness as a dream-like projection, shining as both the world and the sense of "I", yet remaining unchanged in its essence.

The process of manifestation is described as Consciousness stirring within itself, first as subtle thought or Space, then taking on qualities like air (touch), fire (light), and water (taste). These are not real transformations but self-perceived states of the same eternal substance, emphasizing that all elements emerge from and remain within Pure Awareness.

Ultimately, these teachings point to liberation through understanding that the world is not separate. By Realizing the identity of Self, world, and Brahm, one sees the illusion and rests in the Peaceful, Unchanging Reality. This Knowledge destroys the delusion of multiplicity and leads to Freedom from suffering.