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Yoga Vashishtha 3.26.11–21
(The miraculous arrival of two forest goddesses in the home of a grieving Brahmin named Jyeshtha Sharma)
श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।
सर्वौषधिवनग्रामं पूरयन्त्यौ रसायनैः।
शीतलाह्लादसुखदं चन्द्रद्वयमिवोदितम् ॥ ११ ॥
लम्बालकलतालोललोचनालिविलोकनैः ।
किरत्कुवलयोन्मिश्रमालतीकुसुमोत्करान् ॥ १२ ॥
द्रुतहेमरसापूरसरित्सरणहारिणा ।
देहप्रभाप्रवाहेण कनकीकृतकाननम् ॥ १३ ॥
सहजाया वपुर्लक्ष्म्या लीलादोलाविलासिनः ।
त एते च तरङ्गाढ्या निजलावण्यवारिधेः ॥ १४ ॥
विलोलबाहुलतिकायुगेनारुणपाणिना ।
किरन्नवनवं हैमं कल्पवृक्षलतावनम् ॥ १५ ॥
पादैरमृदिताम्लानपुष्पकोमलपल्लवैः ।
स्थलाब्जदलमालाभैरस्पृशद्भूतलं पुनः ॥ १६ ॥
तालीतमालखण्डानां शुष्काणां शुचिशोचिषाम् ।
आलोकनामृतासेकैर्जनयद्बालपल्लवान् ॥ १७ ॥
नमोऽस्तु वनदेवीभ्यामित्युक्त्वा कुसुमाञ्जलिम् ।
तत्याज ज्येष्ठशर्माथ सार्धं गृहजनेन सः ॥ १८ ॥
पपात पादयोर्गेहे तयोर्वै कुसुमाञ्जलिः।
प्रालेयसीकरासारः पद्मिन्या इव पद्मयोः ॥ १९ ॥
ज्येष्ठशर्मादय ऊचुः ।
जयतं वनदेव्यौ नो दुःखनाशार्थमागते ।
प्रायः परपरित्राणमेव कर्म निजं सताम् ॥ २० ॥
इति तद्वचनान्ते ते देव्यावूचतुरादरात् ।
आख्यात दुःखं येनायं लक्ष्यते दुःखितो जनः ॥ २१ ॥
Maharishi Vashishta continued:
3.26.11
They rose up like two moons, filling every herb, forest, and village with rejuvenating elixirs, bringing cool and delightful joy.
3.26.12
With glances from their eyes surrounded by long, swaying lashes and bees, they scattered clusters of jasmine flowers mixed with blue lotuses.
3.26.13
With the flow of their body's radiance, like rivers filled with molten gold, they turned the entire forest golden.
3.26.14
These were the waves rich in beauty, playfully swinging on the natural beauty of their bodies, from their own ocean of charm.
3.26.15
With their reddish palms and playful vine-like arms, they scattered fresh golden creepers of the wish-fulfilling trees in the forest.
3.26.16
With their feet that softly touched unfaded flowers and tender leaves, they barely grazed the ground again with patterns like lotus petals on earth.
3.26.17
With the nectar-like shower of their gaze on the dry pieces of burnt tamala and palm trees with pure flames, they caused new young shoots to sprout.
3.26.18
Saying "Salutations to the goddesses of the forest," Jyeshtha Sharma, along with his household, offered a handful of flowers.
3.26.19
In their home, that handful of flowers fell at the feet of the two, like a shower of cool dew drops from a lotus pond on lotuses.
3.26.20
Jyeshtha Sharma and others said: "Victory to you both, goddesses of the forest, who have come to remove our sorrow. Indeed, the natural duty of the good is to protect others."
3.26.21
At the end of those words, the two goddesses respectfully said: "Tell us the sorrow by which this person appears afflicted."
Summary of the Teachings:
These verses from the Yoga Vasistha describe the miraculous arrival of two forest goddesses (vanadevīs) in the home of a grieving Brahmin named Jyeshtha Sharma. The narrative illustrates profound philosophical truths about the illusory nature of the world, the power of Divine Grace, and the role of compassion in alleviating suffering.
The poetic description of the goddesses' appearance emphasizes their ethereal beauty and transformative power. Their presence revives the barren forest, turning it golden and sprouting new life from dead wood. This symbolizes how Divine Consciousness or Grace can rejuvenate a lifeless or sorrow-stricken mind, restoring vitality where there was only dryness and despair.
The act of offering flowers and the goddesses' immediate response highlight devotion and surrender. Jyeshtha Sharma's simple worship invites Divine intervention, showing that sincere reverence attracts higher forces. The flowers falling like cool dew represent blessings that soothe and nourish the soul, much like divine mercy cooling the heat of worldly suffering.
The words spoken by the family acknowledge the goddesses as removers of sorrow, affirming that true saints or Divine beings naturally engage in helping others. This reflects the teaching that enlightened ones act selflessly for the welfare of all, embodying compassion as their innate quality.
Finally, the goddesses' request to hear the cause of sorrow demonstrates empathetic engagement. They do not assume or impose but invite sharing, teaching that true relief comes from understanding the root of pain—often ignorance or attachment—and addressing it directly through wisdom.
Overall, these verses convey that sorrow arises from identification with the transient world, but Divine Grace, invoked through devotion, reveals the illusory nature of suffering and restores inner peace, aligning with the core Advaita message of the text.
