Posts
Yoga Vashishtha 2.7.1–10
(Supremacy of human effort over fate in shaping one’s destiny)
श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।
प्राप्य व्याधिविनिर्मुक्तं देहमल्पाधिवेदनम् ।
तथात्मनि समादध्याद्यथा भूयो न जायते ॥ १ ॥
दैवं पुरुषकारेण यो निवर्तितुमिच्छति।
इह वामुत्र जगति स संपूर्णाभिवाञ्छितः ॥ २ ॥
ये समुद्योगमुत्सृज्य स्थिता दैवपरायणाः ।
ते धर्ममर्थं कामं च नाशयन्त्यात्मविद्विषः ॥ ३ ॥
संवित्स्पन्दो मनःस्पन्द ऐन्द्रियस्पन्द एव च ।
एतानि पुरुषार्थस्य रूपाण्येभ्यः फलोदयः ॥ ४ ॥
यथा संवेदनं चेतस्तथा तत्स्पन्दमृच्छति।
तथैव कायश्चलति तथैव फलभोक्तृता ॥ ५ ॥
आबालमेतत्संसिद्धं यत्र यत्र यथा यथा ।
दैवं तु न क्वचिद्दृष्टमतो जगति पौरुषम् ॥ ६ ॥
पुरुषार्थेन देवानां गुरुरेव बृहस्पतिः ।
शुक्रो दैत्येन्द्रगुरुतां पुरुषार्थेन चास्थितः ॥ ७ ॥
दैन्यदारिद्र्यदुःखार्ता अपि साधो नरोत्तमाः ।
पौरुषेणैव यत्नेन याता देवेन्द्रतुल्यताम् ॥ ८ ॥
महान्तो विभवास्वादैर्नानाश्चर्यसमाश्रयाः ।
पौरुषेणैव दोषेण नरकातिथितां गताः ॥ ९ ॥
भावाभावसहस्रेषु दशासु विविधासु च ।
स्वपौरुषवशादेव निवृत्ता भूतजातयः ॥ १० ॥
Maharishi Vashishta said:
2.7.1: Having attained a body free from disease and with minimal pain, one should focus the mind on the Self so as not to be reborn again.
2.7.2: One who strives to overcome fate through personal effort, both in this world and the next, achieves all desired goals completely.
2.7.3: Those who abandon effort and rely solely on fate destroy their righteousness, wealth, and desires, acting as enemies of Self-Knowledge.
2.7.4: The vibration of Consciousness, the movement of the mind, and the activity of the senses are forms of human effort; from these arises the fruition of results.
2.7.5: As Consciousness perceives, so the mind moves, the body acts, and the experience of results follows accordingly.
2.7.6: From childhood onward, wherever and however one strives, success is achieved; nowhere is fate alone seen to prevail in this world—human effort reigns.
2.7.7: Through human effort, Brihaspati became the Guru of the gods, and Shukra, through effort, attained the position of Guru to the demons.
2.7.8: Even those afflicted by misery, poverty, and suffering, O Noble One, through persistent human effort, have risen to equal the king of the gods.
2.7.9: Great beings, indulging in luxuries and wonders, have fallen to the state of hellish existence due to the fault of neglecting effort.
2.7.10: Across thousands of states of Existence and non-existence, in various conditions, Beings have transcended their circumstances solely through the power of their own effort.
Summary of Teachings:
The verses from Yoga Vasistha 2.7.1–2.7.10 emphasize the supremacy of human effort (purushartha) over fate (bhagya) in shaping one’s destiny. The text begins by advising the cultivation of Self-Awareness to transcend the cycle of rebirth, highlighting the importance of utilizing a healthy body as a foundation for spiritual practice. It suggests that a life free from excessive physical suffering provides an opportunity to focus on self-realization, which can prevent future births by attaining liberation.
The teachings strongly advocate for personal effort as the key to success in both worldly and spiritual pursuits. Those who rely on fate without exerting effort are described as self-destructive, undermining their potential for righteousness, prosperity, and fulfillment. In contrast, individuals who actively strive to overcome challenges can achieve their goals, regardless of external circumstances or predetermined fate, illustrating the transformative power of human agency.
The verses further explain that the mind, Consciousness, and senses are interconnected tools of effort. The way one directs their perception and mental activity determines their actions and, consequently, the outcomes they experience. This underscores the idea that conscious effort shapes Reality, reinforcing the text’s rejection of passive reliance on fate. Success is portrayed as a direct result of mental and physical engagement with one’s goals.
Historical and mythological examples, such as Brihaspati and Shukra, illustrate that even Divine roles are attained through effort, not fate. The text also highlights the universal applicability of this principle: from the lowliest individuals mired in suffering to the greatest beings indulging in luxury, effort determines their rise or fall. Those who persist can ascend to godlike states, while those who neglect effort risk degradation, emphasizing the impartial nature of this principle across all levels of existence.
Finally, the teachings assert that human effort governs the trajectory of all beings across countless states of existence. Whether in favorable or adverse conditions, liberation from suffering and the attainment of Higher States depend on one’s resolve and actions. The Yoga Vasistha thus presents a philosophy of empowerment, urging individuals to take responsibility for their destiny through conscious, persistent effort rather than surrendering to fate.
