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Yoga Vashishtha 3.30.1–10
(There are innumerable Universes floating in the Infinite Void like bubbles in an ocean of Consciousness)
श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।
पृथिव्यप्तेजसां तत्र नभस्वन्नभसोरपि।
यथोत्तरं दशगुणानतीत्यावरणान्क्षणात् ॥ १॥
ददर्श परमाकाश तत्प्रमाणविवर्जितम्।
तथा ततं जगदिदं यथा तत्राण्डमात्रकम् ॥ २ ॥
तादृशावरणान्सर्गान्ब्रह्माण्डेषु ददर्श सा।
कोटिशः स्फुरितान्व्योम्नि त्रसरेणूनिवातपे ॥ ३ ॥
महाकाशमहाम्भोधौ महाशून्यत्ववारिणि ।
महाचिद्द्रवभावोत्थान्बुद्बुदानर्बुदप्रभान् ॥ ४ ॥
कांश्चिदापततोऽधस्तात्कांश्चिच्चोपरि गच्छतः ।
कांश्चित्तिर्यग्गतीनन्यान्स्थितांस्तब्धान्स्वसंविदा ॥ ५ ॥
यत्र यत्रोदिता संविद्येषां येषां यथा यथा ।
तत्र तत्रोदितं रूपं तेषां तेषां तथा तथा ॥ ५ ॥
नेहैव तत्र नामोर्ध्वं नाधो न च गमागमाः ।
अन्यदेव पदं किंचित्तस्माद्देहागमं हि तत् ॥ ७ ॥
उत्पद्योत्पद्यते तत्र स्वयं संवित्स्वभावतः।
स्वसंकल्पैः शमं याति बालसंकल्पजालवत् ॥ ८ ॥
श्रीराम उवाच ।
किमधः स्यात्किमूर्ध्वं स्यात्किं तिर्यक्तत्र भासुरे ।
इति ब्रूहि मम ब्रह्मन्निहैव यदि न स्थितम् ॥ ९ ॥
श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।
ससर्वावरणा एते महत्यन्तविवर्जिते।
ब्रह्माण्डा भान्ति दुर्दृष्टेर्व्योम्नि केशोण्ड्रको यथा ॥ १० ॥
Maharishi Vashishta said:
3.30.1–5
> There, in an instant, she crossed beyond the coverings of Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space — one after another, each ten times larger than the previous.
> She saw the Supreme Space (paramakasha), which is beyond all measure. The entire world appears there like a mere tiny egg.
> She saw countless such coverings and creations within Universes, shining in the sky like millions of dust particles floating in sunlight.
> In the Great Space and vast ocean of emptiness, in the waters of Supreme Void, she saw countless bubbles rising from the Essence of Supreme Consciousness, glowing like multitudes.
> Some falling downward, some moving upward, some going sideways, some stationary and fixed by their own Awareness.
3.30.6–8
> Wherever and however Consciousness arises in any Being, there and in that very form their appearance manifests accordingly.
> There is no real "up" or "down" here, no going or coming. It is a different State altogether, beyond the coming and going of bodies.
> There, Consciousness arises and arises again spontaneously from its own nature; it subsides by its own will, like the imaginary worlds created by a child's fancy.
Sriram said:
3.30.9
> O Brahman, in that shining realm, what is down, what is up, what is sideways? Please tell me, since nothing like that exists there.
Maharishi Vashishta said:
3.30.10
> All these Universes with their coverings appear in that vast, boundless expanse, but they are hard to see—like a hair's tip or a swarm of gnats in the sky.
Summary of the teachings:
These verses describe Leela's (or the seeker's) ascent beyond the physical layers of the Cosmos, transcending the five elements and their sheaths in an instant. This journey reveals that the material Universe, with its vast scales and hierarchies, is ultimately illusory and limited when viewed from the perspective of Pure Consciousness. The Supreme Space (paramakasha) is Infinite, Measureless, and All-encompassing, making even the grandest Cosmos appear as insignificant as a tiny egg or dust mote. The teaching emphasizes that True Reality lies beyond physical boundaries and measurements.
The vision expands to show innumerable Universes floating in the Infinite Void like bubbles in an ocean of Consciousness.
These "bubbles" represent individual worlds or beings arising from Supreme Intelligence (maha-chit). They move in various directions—up, down, sideways—or remain still, all governed by their own inherent Awareness.
This illustrates the non-dual nature of existence: everything emerges from, exists in, and returns to the One Consciousness, with no external force directing their motion.
A key insight is that forms and experiences arise exactly according to the nature and direction of Consciousness in each Being. There is no fixed objective "up" or "down," no absolute movement or location in the Ultimate Reality.
Directions and motions are relative illusions created by individual perception and embodiment. The realm of Pure Being transcends all such dualities as ascent, descent, arrival, or departure, pointing to a state free from bodily limitations and spatial concepts.
Consciousness is self-arising and self-subsiding, spontaneous and effortless, much like a child's playful imaginations that appear and vanish without effort. Worlds and Beings manifest and dissolve through the power of its own sankalpa (will or conception). This highlights the creative yet dream-like quality of manifestation: nothing has independent existence apart from Consciousness, and all multiplicity is a play of the one mind.
Finally, the verses address the apparent paradox of directions in the Infinite. All Universes, with their layers and structures, shine within the Boundless Void but remain imperceptible to ordinary vision, comparable to tiny, distant specks in vast Space. The teaching reinforces non-duality: the entire Creation is an appearance in Consciousness, without real divisions or hierarchies. True Realization comes from recognizing this Unity, where all distinctions of Space, direction, and multiplicity dissolve into the one Supreme Reality.
