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Yoga Vashishtha 3.4.1–10
(Silence is not merely an absence of sound but a state of deep attentiveness, reflecting the transformative power of spiritual discourse)
श्रीवाल्मीकिरुवाच ।
कथयत्येवमुद्दामवचने मुनिनायके ।
श्रोतुमेकरसे जाते जने मौनमुपस्थिते ॥ १॥
शान्तेषु किङ्किणीजालरवेषु स्पन्दनं विना ।
पञ्जरान्तरहारीतशुकेष्वप्यस्तकेलिषु ॥ २ ॥
सुविस्मृतविलासासु स्थितासु ललनास्वपि ।
चित्रभित्ताविव न्यस्ते समस्ते राजसद्मनि ॥ ३ ॥
मुहूर्तशेषमभवद्दिवसं मधुरातपम् ।
व्यवहारा रविकरैः सह तानवमाययुः ॥ ४ ॥
ववुरुत्फुल्लकमलप्रकरामोद मांसलाः ।
वायवो मधुरस्पन्दाः श्रवणार्थमिवागताः ॥ ५ ॥
श्रुतं चिन्तयितुं भानुरिवाहोरचनाभ्रमम् ।
तत्याजैकान्तमगमच्छून्यमस्तगिरेस्तटम् ॥ ६ ॥
उत्तस्थुर्मिहिकारम्भसमता वनभूमिषु।
विज्ञानश्रवणादन्तःशीतलाः शान्तता इव ॥ ७ ॥
बभूवुरल्पसंचारा जना दशसु दिक्ष्वपि।
सावधानतया श्रोतुमिव संत्यक्तचेष्टिताः ॥ ८ ॥
छाया दीर्घत्वमाजग्मुर्वासिष्ठं वचनक्रमम् ।
इव श्रोतुमशेषाणां वस्तूनां दीर्घकन्धराः ॥ ९ ॥
प्रतीहारः पुरः प्रह्वो भूत्वाह वसुधाधिपम् ।
देव स्नानद्विजार्चासु कालो व्यतिगतो भृशम् ॥ १० ॥
Sage Valmiki said:
3.4.1: As the Noble Sage was speaking these lofty words, the entire assembly, absorbed in the singular delight of listening, fell into profound silence.
3.4.2: The tinkling sounds of anklets ceased, as if movement itself had stopped, and even the playful parrots within their cages in the royal palace became still, as if captivated by the discourse.
3.4.3: The women, usually adorned with charming gestures, stood motionless, as if painted on the walls of the royal palace, with all activities in the household coming to a complete standstill.
3.4.4: The day, with its gentle sunlight, was nearing its end, with only a short time remaining, and all worldly activities faded away along with the sun’s rays.
3.4.5: The breezes, fragrant with the scent of blooming lotuses, moved gently and pleasantly, as if arriving to listen attentively to the Sage’s words.
3.4.6: To reflect deeply on what was heard, the sun, as if withdrawing from the illusion of day and night, retreated to the solitary slopes of the setting mountain, leaving the world in emptiness.
3.4.7: In the forests and lands, a serene stillness arose, akin to the Tranquility induced by the mist, as if the inner coolness of Wisdom gained from hearing the teachings brought about profound peace.
3.4.8: People in all ten directions moved sparingly, as if they had abandoned all actions, standing with full attention to listen to the Sage’s words.
3.4.9: The shadows grew long, as if the necks of all beings were stretched to hear the sequence of Vasishta’s teachings without missing a single word.
3.4.10: The gatekeeper, bowing humbly before the king, said, “O Lord, much time has passed for the rituals of bathing and honoring the Sages.”
Summary of the Teachings:
The verses from Yoga Vasishta 3.4.1 to 3.4.10 paint a vivid picture of a moment frozen in Time, where the entire assembly, including Nature itself, is captivated by the profound teachings of Sage Vasishta. The first verse sets the stage, describing the silence that envelops the listeners as they are wholly absorbed in the Sage’s lofty words. This silence is not merely an absence of sound but a state of deep attentiveness, reflecting the transformative power of spiritual discourse. The teachings emphasize the importance of focused listening (shravana), a key practice in Advaita Vedanta, where the mind becomes still to receive and assimilate higher truths. This moment of collective absorption signifies the suspension of worldly distractions, allowing the listeners to connect with the essence of the Sage’s Wisdom.
The imagery in the subsequent verses (2–3) illustrates how even the most lively elements of the royal palace—anklets, parrots, and charming women—become still, as if the entire environment is drawn into the gravity of the teachings. This stillness symbolizes the cessation of mundane activities and desires, a prerequisite for spiritual inquiry. The Yoga Vasishta often emphasizes detachment from sensory pleasures and worldly engagements to attain inner clarity. By likening the women to figures painted on a wall, the text suggests a transcendence of individuality and ego, where the listeners merge into a unified state of Awareness, absorbed in the Truth being expounded. This reflects the Vedantic idea that true understanding requires the mind to pause its restless activity and align with the Eternal.
Verses 4–6 extend this theme to the natural world, portraying the day’s end and the sun’s retreat as metaphors for the withdrawal of external distractions. The fading sunlight and the gentle, fragrant breezes suggest a harmonious alignment of nature with the spiritual discourse, as if the Universe itself is listening. The sun’s movement to the “solitary slopes” symbolizes the mind’s retreat from the dualities of day and night, representing the illusion of samsara (worldly existence). This imagery underscores the Yoga Vasishta’s teaching that the external world is a projection of the mind, and True Knowledge arises when one turns inward, away from the transient. The breezes, described as arriving to listen, personify nature’s participation in the pursuit of wisdom, suggesting that the Truth resonates universally.
Verses 7–8 further deepen the theme of Stillness and Attention, describing a Serene calm in the forests and among people across all directions. This universal pause reflects the Inner Tranquility (shanti) that arises from hearing and contemplating Spiritual Truths. The Yoga Vasishta teaches that Wisdom cools the restless mind, much like mist brings relief to the earth. The people’s minimal movement and abandonment of actions signify a state of surrender to the teachings, where the ego-driven need to act is replaced by a receptive state of being. This aligns with the text’s broader message that liberation comes from understanding the illusory nature of the self and the world, achieved through disciplined listening and reflection.
Finally, verses 9–10 conclude with the lengthening shadows and the gatekeeper’s reminder, symbolizing the passage of time and the pull of worldly duties. The elongated shadows, likened to beings stretching their necks to listen, emphasize the universal yearning for truth, even as time progresses. The gatekeeper’s interruption, however, serves as a reminder of the tension between spiritual pursuit and worldly obligations. The Yoga Vasishta teaches that while worldly duties exist, they must be performed with detachment, keeping the mind focused on the Ultimate Truth. These verses collectively highlight the transformative power of spiritual discourse, which aligns the individual, society, and Nature with the pursuit of Self-Realization, urging the listener to transcend the temporal and embrace the Eternal.
