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Yoga Vashishtha 2.17.27–39
(The world and the ego are products of Ignorance, and Realization is achieved by transcending these through Knowledge and Contemplation.)
श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।
प्रशान्ताज्ञाननीहारं विज्ञानशरदम्बरम् ।
समुत्कीर्णमिव स्तम्भे चित्रं भित्ताविवोदितम् ॥ २७ ॥
पङ्कादिवाभिरचितं सचेतनमचेतनम्।
ततः स्थितिप्रकरणं चतुर्थं परिकल्पितम् ॥ २८ ॥
त्रीणि ग्रन्थसहस्राणि व्याख्यानाख्यायिकामयम् ।
इत्थं जगदहंभावरूपस्थितिमुपागतम् ॥ २९ ॥
द्रष्टृदृश्यक्रमं प्रौढमित्यत्र परिकीर्तितम्।
दशदिङ्मण्डलाभोगभासुरोऽयं जगद्भ्रमः ॥ ३० ॥
इत्थमभ्यागतो वृद्धिमिति तत्रोच्यते चिरम् ।
उपशान्तिप्रकरणं ततः पञ्चसहस्रकम् ॥ ३१ ॥
पञ्चमं पावनं प्रोक्तं युक्तिसंततिसुन्दरम् ।
इदं जगदहं त्वं च स इति भ्रान्तिरुत्थिता ॥ ३२ ॥
इत्थं संशाम्यतीत्यस्मिन्कथ्यते श्लोकसंग्रहैः ।
उपशान्तिप्रकरणे श्रुते शाम्यति संसृतिः ॥ ३३ ॥
प्रभ्रष्टचित्रसेनेव किंचिल्लभ्योपलम्भना।
शतांशशिष्टा भवति संशान्तभ्रान्तरूपिणी ॥ ३४ ॥
अन्यसंकल्पचित्तस्था नगरश्रीरिवासती।
अलभ्यवस्तुपार्श्वस्थस्वप्नयुद्धचिरारवा ॥ ३५ ॥
शान्तसंकल्पमत्ताभ्रभीषणाशनिशब्दवत्।
विस्मृतस्वप्नसंकल्पनिर्माणनगरोपमा ॥ ३६ ॥
भविष्यन्नगरोद्यानप्रसूवन्ध्यामलाङ्गिका ।
तस्या जिह्वोच्यमानोग्रकथार्थानुभवोपमा ॥ ३७ ॥
अनुल्लिखितचित्रस्य चित्रव्याप्तेव भित्तिभूः ।
परिविस्मर्यमाणार्थकल्पनानगरीनिभा ॥ ३८ ॥
सर्वर्तुमदनुत्पन्नवनस्पन्दा स्फुटाकृतिः।
भाविपुष्पवनाकारवसन्तरसरञ्जना ॥ ३९ ॥
Maharishi Vashishta said:
2.17.27: The mist of Ignorance has been dispelled, and the clear sky of Knowledge shines forth, like a painting emerging distinctly on a pillar or a wall.
2.17.28: Like a lotus crafted from mud, it is conscious yet appears unconscious. Thus, the Fourth Chapter, dealing with the State of Existence, is conceived.
2.17.29: Consisting of three thousand verses, filled with explanations and narratives, it describes how the world and the sense of "I" have come to be.
2.17.30: The mature sequence of the Seer and the seen is proclaimed here, where the delusion of the world shines like a radiant orb across the ten directions.
2.17.31: Thus, it is said to have reached its fullness, as described at length. The Fifth Chapter, on Tranquility, comprises five thousand verses.
2.17.32: This Fifth Chapter, Pure and beautiful with chains of reasoning, explains how the delusion of "I," "you," and "he" arises in this world.
2.17.33: It is taught through collected verses in the section on Tranquility that by hearing it, the cycle of worldly existence subsides.
2.17.34: Like a faded painting or a partially perceived object, only a fraction of delusion remains, its illusory form pacified.
2.17.35: Like the fleeting beauty of a city existing in another's imagination, or like the prolonged clamor of a battle in a dream near unobtainable objects.
2.17.36: Like the terrifying thunder of a cloud calmed by the cessation of mental constructs, or like a forgotten dream-city born of imagination.
2.17.37: Like a barren woman’s child or a future city’s garden, it is like the intense narrative spoken by the tongue, resembling an experienced Reality.
2.17.38: Like a painting not yet drawn but pervading the canvas, or like a city of imagination whose meaning is gradually forgotten.
2.17.39: Like a forest in full bloom yet un-arisen in any season, or like a springtime form of a future flower-filled forest, enchanting with its essence.
Summary of Teachings:
The verses from Yoga Vasishta 2.17.27 to 2.17.39, part of the dialogue attributed to Sage Vasishta, elucidate the nature of the world, the illusion of individuality, and the path to Realization through Knowledge and Tranquility. The teachings emphasize the dissolution of Ignorance, likened to a mist, revealing the clear sky of Pure Consciousness. The world, as described, is a manifestation of delusion, appearing Real yet fundamentally illusory, like a painting on a wall or a lotus made from mud—seemingly substantial but lacking true essence. This sets the stage for understanding the text’s broader metaphysical framework, where the apparent Reality of the world is a projection of the mind.
The verses outline the structure of the Yoga Vasishta, specifically referencing its fourth and fifth sections. The fourth section, focused on the State of Existence, uses three thousand verses to explore how the world and the ego-sense ("I") arise. This section employs narratives and explanations to dissect the interplay between the Seer (the perceiving Consciousness) and the seen (the world of objects), portraying the world as a radiant yet delusive phenomenon spanning all directions. The fifth section, comprising five thousand verses, is dedicated to Tranquility and provides logical reasoning to dismantle the false notions of individuality ("I," "you," "he") that perpetuate worldly existence.
A key teaching is the transformative power of hearing and understanding these teachings. The section on Tranquility is described as a purifying force that, when internalized, pacifies the cycle of samsara (worldly existence). The verses use vivid metaphors to illustrate the fleeting and insubstantial nature of delusion—comparing it to a faded painting, a dream-city, or a barren woman’s child. These analogies underscore that the world’s apparent reality is a mental construct, sustained by ignorance and dissolved through wisdom. The emphasis is on recognizing the illusory nature of phenomena to attain Inner Peace.
Further, the verses highlight the impermanent and imagined nature of the world through comparisons to forgotten dreams, un-arisen forests, or unpainted canvases. These metaphors suggest that the world exists only in the mind’s imagination, lacking inherent Reality. The teachings encourage the practitioner to see through this illusion, letting go of mental constructs that fuel delusion. By doing so, one moves toward a state of calm where the mind no longer clings to false identities or external objects, aligning with the Ultimate Truth of non-dual Consciousness.
In essence, these verses encapsulate the Yoga Vasishta’s core philosophy: the world and the ego are products of Ignorance, and Realization is achieved by transcending these through Knowledge and Contemplation. The text’s structured approach, with its detailed sections on Existence and Tranquility, guides the seeker toward Realizing the unreality of the world and attaining a state of Serene Awareness. This process of Discernment, supported by the text’s teachings, leads to the cessation of delusion and the experience of Pure, unconditioned Consciousness.
