Posts
Yoga Vashishtha 2.11.24–34
(Role of Vairagya in Realizing the Ultimate Reality)
श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।
ते महान्तौ महाप्राज्ञा निमित्तेन विनैव हि ।
वैराग्यं जायते येषां तेषां ह्यमलमानसम् ॥ २४ ॥
स्वविवेकचमत्कारपरामर्श विरक्तया।
राजते हि धिया जन्तुर्युवेव वरमालया ॥ २५ ॥
परामृश्य विवेकेनसंसाररचनामिमाम्।
वैराग्यं येऽधिगच्छन्ति त एव पुरुषोत्तमाः ॥ २६ ॥
स्वविवेकवशादेव विचार्येदं पुनःपुनः ।
इन्द्रजालं परित्याज्यं सबाह्याभ्यन्तरं बलात् ॥ २७ ॥
श्मशानमापद दैन्यं दृष्ट्वा को न विरज्यते।
तद्वैराग्यं परं श्रेयः स्वतो यदभिजायते ॥ २८ ॥
अकृत्रिमविरागत्वं महत्त्वमलमागतः।
योग्योऽसि ज्ञानसारस्य बीजस्येव मृदुस्थलम् ॥ २९ ॥
प्रसादात्परमेशस्य नाथस्य परमात्मनः ।
त्वादृशस्य शुभा बुद्धिर्विवेकमनुधावति ॥ ३० ॥
क्रियाक्रमेण महता तपसा नियमेन च।
दानेन तीर्थयात्राभिश्चिरकालं विवेकतः ॥ ३१ ॥
दुष्कृते क्षयमापन्ने परमार्थविचारणे ।
काकतालीययोगेन बुद्धिर्जन्तोः प्रवर्तते ॥ ३२ ॥
क्रियापरास्तावदलं चक्रावर्तिभिरावृताः ।
भ्रमन्तीह जना यावन्न पश्यन्ति परं पदम् ॥ ३३ ॥
यथाभूतमिदं दृष्ट्वा संसारं तन्मयीं धियम्।
परित्यज्य परं यान्ति निरालाना गजा इव ॥ ३४ ॥
Maharishi Vashishta said:
2.11.24: Those great and Wise individuals in whom dispassion arises without any external cause possess a mind that is Pure and untainted.
2.11.25: A person shines with Wisdom, adorned by self-discernment and dispassion, just as a bride radiates beauty when adorned with an excellent garland.
2.11.26: Those who, through discernment, perceive the structure of this world and attain dispassion are truly the most exalted among men.
2.11.27: By the power of self-discernment, repeatedly reflecting on this world, one should forcefully abandon the illusion of the world, both external and internal, like a magic show.
2.11.28: Who does not feel dispassion upon witnessing a cremation ground, calamity, or poverty? That dispassion, arising naturally from within, is the highest good.
2.11.29: Having attained genuine dispassion, which is the mark of greatness, you are fit to receive the Essence of Knowledge, like fertile soil ready for a seed.
2.11.30: By the Grace of the Supreme Lord, the Ultimate Self, a person like you develops Pure Intelligence that pursues discernment.
2.11.31: Through great effort, austerity, discipline, charity, and pilgrimages, undertaken over a long time with discernment, one’s misdeeds are diminished.
2.11.32: When negative actions are exhausted, the mind of a being turns toward contemplation of the Ultimate Truth, as if by a fortunate coincidence.
2.11.33: People, engrossed in actions and surrounded by the cycle of existence, wander aimlessly until they behold the Supreme State.
2.11.34: Having seen the world as it truly is and abandoning the mind absorbed in it, they proceed to the Supreme State, like elephants free from restraints.
Summary of the Teachings:
The verses from Yoga Vasishta 2.11.24 to 2.11.34 emphasize the transformative power of dispassion (vairagya) and discernment (viveka) as essential qualities for Spiritual Realization. They highlight that True Wisdom and Purity of mind arise naturally in those who develop dispassion without external prompting. Such individuals, described as the most exalted, recognize the illusory nature of the world through self-reflection and discernment, enabling them to detach from worldly attachments. The teachings underscore that this dispassion is not merely a reaction to external suffering but a profound Inner Realization that aligns the mind with Higher Truth.
The text uses vivid metaphors to illustrate the beauty and radiance of a mind purified by discernment and dispassion, likening it to a bride adorned with a garland. It stresses the importance of repeatedly contemplating the transient nature of the world, which is compared to a magical illusion (indrajala). By forcefully letting go of both external and internal attachments, one can transcend the false perceptions that bind them to the cycle of existence. This process of discernment is portrayed as an active, deliberate effort to see the world as it truly is—impermanent and illusory.
The teachings also acknowledge the role of external experiences, such as witnessing suffering or poverty, in sparking dispassion.
However, they emphasize that the highest form of dispassion arises spontaneously from within, marking it as the supreme good. This natural dispassion prepares the individual to receive Spiritual Knowledge, likened to fertile soil ready for planting. The verses suggest that such readiness is a sign of greatness and a prerequisite for deeper understanding, aligning the individual with the path to Realization.
Furthermore, the verses attribute the development of such Wisdom to Divine Grace, specifically the Grace of the Supreme Self. They also recognize the role of disciplined spiritual practices—such as austerity, charity, and pilgrimages—in purifying the mind by reducing negative karma. These practices, combined with discernment, gradually align the individual’s Consciousness with the Ultimate Truth. The text suggests that even a seemingly coincidental shift in perspective, where the mind turns toward higher contemplation, is the result of accumulated spiritual merit.
Finally, the teachings culminate in a vision of Realization, where individuals, having seen through the illusion of the world, abandon their attachment to it and move toward the Supreme State. The metaphor of unrestrained elephants conveys the freedom and strength of those who have transcended worldly bondage. The verses collectively present a roadmap for spiritual growth, emphasizing that discernment, dispassion, and Divine Grace work together to guide the seeker toward the Ultimate Reality, free from the cycle of worldly existence.
