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Yoga Vashishtha 3.72.1–14
(These verses teach the power of strong determination in spiritual practice)
श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच।
सूची सा संभवद्वाणी चिन्तयित्वेत्यकम्पनम्।
पुनस्तद्देहलाभाय भवाम्याशु तपस्विनी ॥ १॥
इति संचिन्त्य चित्तस्थं संहृत्य जनमारणम्।
तदेव हिमवच्छृङ्गं जगाम तपसे स्थितम् ॥ २॥
अपश्यदेव सूचित्वं सा तन्मानसमात्मनि।
प्राणवातात्मिका प्राणैः प्रविश्य हृतमानसम् ॥ ३॥
अथात्मन्येव सूचित्वं पश्यत्येव मनोमयम्।
प्राणवातशरीरासौ जगाम हिमवच्छिरः ॥ ४॥
दृढदावानले तत्र सर्वभूतविवर्जिते।
महामहाशिलाभाभारूक्षे पांसुविधूसरे ॥ ५॥
तस्थावभ्युदितेवासौ निस्तृणे विपुले स्थले।
मरावकस्मात्संजातशुष्का तृणशिखा यथा ॥ ६॥
सुसूक्ष्मस्यैकपादस्य सार्धेनैवाश्रितोर्वरा।
स्वसंविदेकपादात्म तपः कर्तुं प्रचक्रमे ॥ ७॥
सूक्ष्मपादतलेनैषा वसुधारेणुसंकटी।
निवार्य त्रिपदीं कृत्स्नाद्यत्नेनोर्ध्वमुखी स्थिता ॥ ८॥
कृष्णत्वहिंस्रतातैक्ष्ण्यव्याप्तास्यपवनाशनैः।
यत्नात्पदं निबध्नन्ती रेण्वणूपलसंकटे ॥ ९॥
अरण्ये क्षुभिता संपद्दूरालोकार्थमुत्थिताम्।
पुच्छाकोटिस्थितां वातालोलामनुचकार सा ॥ १०॥
मुखरन्ध्रविनिष्क्रान्ता तस्या भास्करदीधितिः।
सखी बभूव सूच्याभा पश्चाद्भागैकरक्षिणी ॥ ११॥
क्षुद्रेऽपि स्वजने भूतेऽप्येति वत्सलतां जनः।
दीधित्यापि सखीवृत्तं सूच्यां शुचितया भृतम् ॥ १२॥
बभूव तस्याः स्वच्छाया द्वितीया तापसी सखी।
एवं सूचीव मलिना तया पश्चात्कृतेव सा ॥ १३॥
सूच्या तया सुनिर्गत्य सुपाताक्ष्या स्म कूणितैः।
पश्चात्सख्याभया साधुरन्योन्याचारकेवलम् ॥ १४॥
Sage Vasistha said:
3.72.1–7
> That needle (Suchi), after thinking about the words that arose, decided without any fear: “I will quickly become a female ascetic to regain that body again.”
> Thinking this way, she gathered up the cycle of birth and death within her mind and went back to the same Himalayan peak that was suitable for doing penance.
> She saw her needle-form clearly within her own mind. As a being made of vital air (prana), she entered the mind through the life forces.
> Then, seeing only the needle-form as mind-created within herself, that being with a body of vital wind went to the top of the Himalayas.
> There, in a place with strong forest fires, completely without any living beings, on a huge rock that shone brightly, rough and covered with dust.
> She stood on that vast, grassless ground like a blade of grass that suddenly became dry in the desert.
> Standing on half of one extremely subtle foot, with her own awareness as the single foot, she began to perform intense tapas (austerity).
3.72.8–14
> With the bottom of her subtle foot pressed tightly by tiny particles of earth, she avoided the three steps and stood facing upwards with full effort.
> With blackness, violence, sharpness, and consuming wind and fire, she carefully fixed her foot in the tight space of dust particles.
> Like a disturbed fortune in the forest that rose for distant light, she followed the form that stood on the tip of its tail and swayed in the wind.
> Light from the sun came out from the opening of her mouth and became her companion, a needle-like glow that protected her from behind.
> Even towards small or born beings, people show affection. In the same way, the sunlight too acted as a friend to Suchi, filled with purity.
> Her own clear shadow became a second ascetic companion. Thus, she became like a dirty needle, as if created later by that light.
> With that Suchi, going out very cleanly with well-placed eyes that were slightly closed, and with the companion light, she only followed good mutual conduct.
Summary of the Teachings:
Suchi, after losing her body, makes a firm resolve to regain a form through intense penance. Her unwavering decision shows that a clear and fearless intention can overcome the cycles of birth and death. The mind is presented as the main tool to direct one’s path towards liberation.
The story highlights the subtle nature of the Self and the use of prana (life energy). Suchi transforms her Being into a very fine, needle-like form made of mind and vital air. This illustrates that the soul can take any shape through focused Awareness and that physical limitations can be transcended by inner strength and mental discipline.
Extreme austerity and detachment are shown as paths to Higher Realization. Standing on a tiny point in a harsh, empty Himalayan spot with no comforts, Suchi performs tapas with total dedication. This teaches the value of simplicity, endurance, and complete withdrawal from worldly distractions to purify the Self.
The verses also describe the support of Divine or natural forces during spiritual struggle. The sunlight becomes her friend and protector, and her own shadow acts as a companion. It suggests that when one is sincere in practice, even the Universe provides subtle help and companionship in the form of light, purity, and Inner Presence.
Finally, these teachings emphasize purity of conduct and inner cleanliness. Suchi maintains good behavior and careful Awareness even in her extreme State. The message is that true spiritual growth comes from combining strong will, subtle inner focus, detachment from the world, and ethical living, leading to transformation beyond ordinary human limits.
