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Yoga Vashishtha 3.72.15–31
(These verses show the immense power of focused determination and tapas - austerity)
श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच।
सूच्याभिप्रेक्षिते याता मतिं द्रुमलतादयः।
महातपस्विनीं सूचीं दृष्ट्वा नोत्कण्ठयन्ति के ॥ १५॥
स्थिरबद्धपदामेनां स्वमनोवृत्तिमुत्थिताम्।
अनिलं भोजयांचक्रुर्मुखनिर्गतभांकृतैः ॥ १६॥
प्रसूतानि भविष्याणि गीर्वाणान्यानि वा चिरम्।
कौसुमानि रजांस्यस्या इत्यास्यं पर्यपूरयन् ॥ १७॥
ततो महेन्द्रप्रहितं वातनुन्नामिषं रजः।
तया त्वभ्रत्वव्याजेन न निगीर्णं मुखे विशत् ॥ १८॥
न निगीर्णवती तानि रजांसि दृढनिश्चयात्।
अन्तःसारतया कार्यं लघवोऽप्याप्नुवन्ति हि ॥ १९॥
न पिबत्यास्यसंस्थानि तथा पुष्परजांस्यपि।
विस्मयं पवनः प्राप सुमेरून्मूलनाधिकम् ॥ २०॥
आशिरः पिहिता पङ्कैः पूरितापि महाजलैः।
विधूतापि बृहद्वातैर्दग्धापि वनवह्निभिः ॥ २१॥
भिन्नापि करकापातेर्भ्रामितापि तडिद्भ्रमैः।
उद्वेजितापि जलदैः क्षोभिताप्यतिगर्जितैः ॥ २२॥
अपि वर्षसहस्रैः सा चित्तस्थदृढनिश्चया।
पादाग्रं तु कुसुप्तेव नाकम्पत तपस्विनी ॥ २३॥
निवृत्ताया बहिःस्पन्दाद्देशकाले बहौ गते।
विचारयन्त्यास्तस्याः स्वमात्मा सत्यं सुचेतनम् ॥ २४॥
ज्ञानालोकः समुदभूत्सा परावरदर्शिनी।
बभूव निर्मला सूचिर्विषूची पावनं परम् ॥ २५॥
जाता विदितवेद्या सा स्वयमेव तया धिया।
तपसा दुष्कृते क्षीणे सूची स्वसुखसूचिनी ॥ २६॥
इति वर्षसहस्राणि साकरोद्दारुणं तपः।
सप्तसप्तमहालोकसंतापकरमुन्मुखी ॥ २७॥
तस्याः कल्पाग्निभीमेन तपसा हि महागिरिः।
बभूव तेन ज्वलितो जज्वालेव ततो जगत् ॥ २८॥
कस्येदं तपसाक्रान्तं जगदित्यथ वासवः।
नारदं परिपप्रच्छ स तस्याकथयच्च तत् ॥ २९॥
सप्तवर्षसहस्राणि सूची दीर्घतपस्विनी।
महाविज्ञानदेहासौ तेनेदं ज्वलितं जगत् ॥ ३०॥
नागाः श्वसन्ति विचलन्ति नगाः पतन्ति वैमानिका जलधिवारिधराः प्रयान्ति।
शोषं दिशोऽर्कसहिता मलिनीभवन्ति सूच्याः सुरेन्द्र तपसा क्षयमाययेव ॥ ३१॥
Sage Vasistha continued:
3.72.15–23
> Trees, creepers, and other plants turned their minds towards the needle after seeing her. Who would not feel inspired upon seeing the great ascetic Suchi?
> They made this firm and steady-minded ascetic eat air by offering flower dust that came out of their mouths.
> They filled her mouth with flower pollen, thinking these were future Divine creations or other long-lasting things.
> Then the dust carried by wind sent by Indra entered her mouth, but she did not swallow it under the pretext of becoming a cloud.
> With firm determination, she did not swallow those particles. Even small things achieve their purpose through inner strength.
> She did not drink the flower pollen kept in her mouth either. The wind felt more wonder than when it tried to uproot Mount Meru.
> Covered with mud up to her head, filled with great waters, shaken by strong winds, burnt by forest fires,
> broken by hailstones, spun by lightning circles, troubled by clouds, and agitated by loud thunder,
> even after a thousand years, that ascetic with firm resolve in her mind did not shake even the tip of her toe, like one deeply asleep.
3.72.24–31
> After a long time passed in many places and moments, with her external movements stopped, while she was reflecting, her own soul became truly conscious.
> The light of Knowledge arose in her. She became the Seer of higher and lower things. The pure needle became the supreme purifier, free from all ills.
> She herself became knowledgeable through her own intellect. With her sins destroyed by tapas, the needle became the indicator of her own Bliss.
> In this way, she performed fierce penance for thousands of years, facing the seven times seven great worlds with intensity.
> Her penance, terrible like the fire at the end of the world, made the great mountain glow. Then the whole world began to burn as if on fire.
> Indra then asked Narada whose penance was troubling the world like this. Narada told him everything.
> This needle, the great ascetic who did penance for seven thousand years, has a body of Great Knowledge. By her power this world is burning.
> Snakes are breathing heavily, mountains are shaking, sky travelers are moving, ocean-bearing clouds are going away. Directions along with the Sun are drying up and becoming dirty. O King of gods, all this is happening due to the power of Suchi's penance as if coming to destruction.
Summary of the Teachings:
The needle (Suchi) represents a seeker who turns her entire Being towards spiritual practice with unbreakable resolve. Even Nature notices and supports such a person, highlighting how sincere spiritual effort draws respect and subtle help from the surroundings. It teaches that true strength comes not from physical size but from inner firmness and clarity of purpose.
These verses illustrate that external disturbances like winds, rains, fires, and other natural forces cannot shake a mind fixed in deep meditation. The ascetic remains unmoved for thousands of years, showing that spiritual progress requires patience and the ability to stay steady amid all challenges. Inner strength allows even small or seemingly weak beings to achieve great results.
The story emphasizes Self-Realization through personal effort. The needle attains Knowledge and Purity by her own intellect and tapas, without external teachers in the end. Sins are burned away, leading to a state of Pure Consciousness and Bliss. This teaches that anyone can rise to Higher Awareness by persistent inner work and reflection.
The impact of such intense practice affects the entire Universe, causing mountains to glow and the world to feel the heat of her energy. It shows how individual spiritual attainment is not isolated but influences Cosmic balance. Great souls performing tapas can create powerful vibrations felt across Worlds.
Finally, the verses remind us of the value of determination in spiritual life. The needle's journey from a small entity to a force that disturbs even gods demonstrates that consistent practice over long periods leads to transformation and Supreme Knowledge. It encourages seekers to hold firm to their Goal despite difficulties, promising Ultimate Freedom and Purity.
