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Yoga Vashishtha 3.79.12–24
(These verses use paradoxical language to point to the nature of the Supreme Reality or Consciousness, often called Brahm or the Self in Advaita philosophy)
राक्षस्युवाच।
किं प्रयत्नशतप्राप्यं लब्ध्वापि बहुजन्मनि।
लब्धं न किंचिद्भवति किंतु सर्वं न लभ्यते ॥ १२॥
स्वस्थेन जीवितेनोच्चैः केनात्मैवापहारितः।
केनाणुनान्तः क्रियते मेरुस्त्रिभुवनं तृणम् ॥ १३॥
केनाप्यणुकमात्रेण पूरिता शतयोजनी।
कोऽणुरेव भवन्माति न योजनशतेष्वपि ॥ १४॥
केनालोकनमात्रेण जगद्वालः प्रनाट्यते।
कस्याणोरुदरे सन्ति किलावनिभृतां घटाः ॥ १५॥
अणुत्वमजहत्कोऽणुर्मेरोः स्थूलतराकृतिः।
वालाग्रशतभागात्मा कोऽणुरुच्चैः शिलोच्चयः ॥ १६॥
कोऽणुः प्रकाशतमसां दीपः प्रकटनप्रदः।
कस्याणोरुदरे सन्ति समग्रानुभवाणवः ॥ १७॥
कोऽणुरत्यन्तनिःस्वादुरपि संस्वदतेऽनिशम्।
केन संत्यजता सर्वमणुना सर्वमाश्रितम् ॥ १८॥
केनात्माच्छादनाशक्तेनाणुनाच्छादितं जगत्।
जगल्लये न कस्याणोः सद्भूतमपि जीवति ॥ १९॥
अजातावयवः कोऽणुः सहस्रकरलोचनः।
को निमेषो महाकल्पः कल्पकोटिशतानि च ॥ २०॥
अणौ जगन्ति तिष्ठन्ति कस्मिन्बीज इव द्रुमः।
बीजानि निष्कलान्तानि स्फुटान्यनुदितान्यपि ॥ २१॥
कल्पः कस्य निमेषस्य बीजस्येवान्तरस्थितः।
कः प्रयोजनकर्तृत्वमप्यनाश्रित्य कारकः ॥ २२॥
दृश्यसंपत्तये द्रष्टा स्वात्मानं दृश्यतां नयन्।
दृश्यं पश्यन्स्वमात्मानं को हि पश्यत्यनेत्रवान् ॥ २३॥
अन्तर्गलितदृश्यं च क आत्मानमखण्डितम्।
दृश्यासंपत्तये पश्यन्पुरो दृश्यं न पश्यति ॥ २४॥
The demoness continued:
3.79.12–21
> What is it that, even after being attained through hundreds of efforts over many births, results in nothing being truly gained, yet everything seems unattainable?
> Who, while living a comfortable life, has not had their soul stolen away? Who, though merely an atom, does not consider the great Mount Meru as a mere particle?
> What is merely an atom yet fills a space of many leagues? What tiny particle measures out hundreds of miles?
> By whose mere glance does the world perform like a child actor on stage? In whose tiny belly do entire mountain ranges reside?
> What atom, without losing its minuteness, appears larger than Mount Meru in form? What atom, smaller than a hundredth part of a hair's tip, towers higher than great rock piles?
> What atom is the lamp that brings forth light from darkness? In whose tiny belly do all subtle experiences and particles reside?
> What atom is extremely tasteless yet constantly gives savor to everything? By what atom, after renouncing everything, is everything supported?
> By what atom, incapable of covering itself, is the entire world covered? In the dissolution of the world, in whose atom does even the real continue to exist?
> What atom, without limbs, has a thousand hands and eyes? What single moment becomes a great Cosmic age, and what spans hundreds of millions of ages?
> In what atom do worlds exist, like a tree in a seed? What seeds, though without parts, are fully manifest yet unproduced?
3.79.22–24
> In whose moment does the Cosmic age exist, like something inside a seed? Who acts as the doer without relying on any purpose or motive?
> The Seer, making himself the seen for the sake of the World's appearance, sees the World and his own self. Who, without eyes, truly sees in this way?
> Who, with the visible World dissolved within, sees his own undivided Self? Seeing for the sake of the World's appearance, he does not see the visible World before him.
Summary of the Teachings:
These verses describe an infinitesimal atom-like essence that is the substratum of all existence. This "atom" is not a physical particle but the formless Consciousness that appears tiny yet encompasses vast Universes, mountains, and worlds within it, much like a seed holds a tree. It highlights the illusion of scale and duality, showing how the Ultimate Reality transcends all measurements while being the source from which everything manifests.
The teachings emphasize the omnipotence and all-pervading nature of this Consciousness. It is the Seer without eyes, the light without flame, the supporter of everything after renouncing all. Through questions, the verses reveal that this reality performs actions without motive, covers the world without effort, and sustains existence even in dissolution. It challenges the mind to recognize that what seems impossible or contradictory in the material world is natural to the absolute, urging a shift from limited perception to non-dual Awareness.
A key theme is the relationship between the observer and the observed. The Seer turns itself into the seen to manifest the World, yet remains undivided and untouched. This illustrates the play of Maya (illusion), where the one Consciousness appears as many, seeing itself as the Universe while inherently remaining pure and whole. The verses invite inquiry into the Self, dissolving the ego's claims of agency and separation.
These verses teach detachment and renunciation not as physical abandonment but as Realizing the illusory nature of phenomena. The "atom" gives flavor to the tasteless, contains experiences within itself, and recreates worlds effortlessly. By contemplating these paradoxes, one is led to understand that True Knowledge comes from recognizing this Inner Reality, which makes the vast Cosmos seem like nothing and the minute all-encompassing.
Ultimately, the summary conveys liberation through Knowledge. The verses dismantle ordinary notions of Time, Space, size, and Causality, pointing to the Eternal, Unchanging Witness. By meditating on this, the seeker overcomes doubt and fear, attaining Peace by identifying with the Supreme Self that exists beyond birth, death, and worldly striving. This fosters a profound sense of unity and freedom.
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