Chapter 1.20, Verses 34–43

Yoga Vashishtha 1.20.34–43

(Compassion for frail & short lived Youth)

श्रीराम उवाच।

दिनानि कतिचिद्येयं फलिता देहजङ्गले।

युवता शरदस्यां हि न समाश्वासमर्हथ ॥ ३४ ॥

झटित्येव प्रयात्येव शरीराद्युवताखगः।

क्षणेनैवाल्पभाग्यस्य हस्ताच्चिन्तामणिर्यथा ॥ ३५ ॥

यदा यदा परां कोटिमध्यारोहति यौवनम् ।

वल्गन्ति सज्वराः कामास्तदा नाशाय केवलम् ॥ ३६ ॥

तावदेव विवल्गन्ति रागद्वेषपिशाचकाः ।

नास्तमेति समस्तैषा यावद्यौवनयामिनी ॥ ३७ ॥

नानाविकारबहुले वराके क्षणनाशिनि।

कारुण्यं कुरु तारुण्ये म्रियमाणे सुतै यथा ॥ ३८ ॥

हर्षमायाति यो मोहात्पुरुषः क्षणभङ्गिना ।

यौवनेन महामुग्धः स वै नरमृगः स्मृतः ॥ ३९ ॥

मानमोहान्मदोन्मत्तं यौवनं योऽभिलष्यति ।

अचिरेण स दुर्बुद्धिः पश्चात्तापेन युज्यते ॥ ४० ॥

ते पूज्यास्ते महात्मानस्त एव पुरुषा भुवि ।

ये सुखेन समुत्तीर्णाः साधो यौवनसंकटात् ॥ ४१ ॥

सुखेन तीर्यतेऽम्भोधिरुत्कृष्टमकराकरः ।

न कल्लोलबलोल्लासि सदोषं हतयौवनम् ॥ ४२ ॥

विनयभूषितमार्यजनास्पदं करुणयोज्ज्वलमावलितं गुणैः ।

इह हि दुर्लभमङ्ग सुयौवनं जगति काननमम्बरगं यथा ॥ ४३ ॥

Sriram said:

34. "O Sage, youth is like a fruit that ripens for only a few days in the forest of the body; like autumn blossoms, it is fleeting and should not be relied upon."

35. "Just as a magical gem may suddenly slip from the hand of an unfortunate person, so too youth swiftly departs from the body—disappearing in an instant."

36. "Whenever youth reaches its peak, desires charged with feverish intensity also rise—only to end in destruction."

37. "The goblins of attachment and aversion dance madly only as long as the dark night of youth persists; they vanish only when that night ends."

38. "O Noble One, just as compassion arises for a dying child, so should it arise for the frail and short-lived youth, full of endless disturbances."

39. "He who, out of delusion, finds joy in the evanescent charm of youth is truly a beast in human form—intoxicated and deluded."

40. "The fool who longs for prideful, maddened youth, driven by vanity and arrogance, soon finds himself consumed by regret."

41. "Honored are those noble souls who, with wisdom, cross the treacherous ocean of youth unscathed and serene—they alone are true men."

42. "A man may easily cross an ocean filled with fierce crocodiles, but not the troubled waters of youth, which churn with waves of flaws and instability."

43. "True youth is rare in this world—like a forest in the sky—when it is adorned with humility, dwells among the noble, shines with compassion, and is filled with virtues."

Summary of the Teachings in These Verses:

These verses of the Yoga Vāsiṣṭha present a piercing and contemplative reflection on the nature of youth, casting it not as a time of triumph but as a transient and dangerous phase of life. Youth is depicted as a fleeting phenomenon, blossoming only for a short while, like a fruit in the wilderness or a seasonal flower. 

This brevity renders it unworthy of attachment or pride, cautioning against the illusion of permanence in physical vitality.

The text likens the sudden loss of youth to the dropping of a magical gem—valuable yet uncontrollable—emphasizing its unpredictability and fragility. 

With the ascent of youth comes the surge of passionate desires, which, rather than fulfilling, lead to destruction and turmoil. Thus, youthful passion is portrayed not as a gift, but as a breeding ground for suffering and self-delusion.

Attachment to youth gives rise to inner demons—lust, hatred, pride, and delusion—which haunt the mind during this phase. 

These psychological afflictions fade only with the end of youth, likened to the end of a long night. Compassion is called for toward youth itself, which is frail, troubled, and destined to perish, much like sympathy for a dying child.

Those who are enchanted by the pleasures of youth are regarded as spiritually ignorant, even beast-like, their joy rooted in delusion. Their pursuit inevitably leads to regret and sorrow. In contrast, true wisdom lies in transcending the temptations of youth, navigating its challenges with equanimity and insight.

Finally, the text praises the rare and exalted form of youth—one that is infused with virtue, humility, compassion, and association with noble beings. Such youth is likened to an ethereal forest in the sky, a metaphor for its exceptional and nearly unattainable nature. This vision redefines the ideal of youth not as sensual vibrancy, but as moral and spiritual brilliance.

Chapter 1.20, Verses 24–33

Yoga Vashishtha 1.20.24–33

(The Mirage of Youth)

श्रीराम उवाच।

रसकेसरसंबाधं कुविकल्पदलाकुलम्।

दुश्चिन्ताचञ्चरीकाणां पुष्करं विद्धि यौवनम् ॥ २४ ॥

कृताकृतकुपक्षाणां हृत्सरस्तीरचारिणाम्।

आधिव्याधिविहंगानामालयो नवयौवनम् ॥ २५ ॥

जडानां गतसंख्यानां कल्लोलानां विलासिनाम् ।

अनपेक्षितमर्यादो वारिधिर्नवयौवनम् ॥ २६ ॥

सर्वेषां गुणसर्गाणां परिरूढरजस्तमाः।

अपनेतुं स्थितिं दक्षो विषमो यौवनानिलः ॥ २७ ॥

नयन्ति पाण्डुतां वक्रमाकुलावकरोत्कटाः।

आरोहन्ति परां कोटिं रूक्षा यौवनपांसवः ॥ २८ ॥

उद्वोधयति दोषालिं निकृन्तति गुणावलिम् ।

नराणां यौवनोल्लासो विलासो दुष्कृतश्रियाम् ॥ २९ ॥

शरीरपङ्कजरजश्चञ्चलां मतिषट्पदीम्।

निबध्नन्मोहयत्येष नवयौवनचन्द्रमाः ॥ ३० ॥

शरीरखण्डकोद्भूता रम्या यौवनवल्लरी।

लग्नमेव मनोभृङ्गं मदयत्युन्नतिं गता ॥ ३१ ॥

शरीरमरुतापोत्थां युवतामृगतृष्णिकाम्।

मनोमृगाः प्रधावन्तः पतन्ति विषयावटे ॥ ३२ ॥

शरीरशर्वरीज्योत्स्ना चित्तकेसरिणः सटा।

लहरी जीविताम्भोधेर्युवता मे न तुष्टये ॥ ३३ ॥

Sriram said:

Verse 24: "O Rāma, understand youth to be like a lotus pond overrun by the intoxicating essence of pleasures, swarming with the bees of disturbing thoughts and false imaginations."

Verse 25: "Youth is a dwelling place for the birds of mental and physical afflictions, who flutter along the banks of the heart’s lake, carrying both real and imagined burdens."

Verse 26: "Youth, like a turbulent ocean, is filled with waves of wild and irrational urges. It does not observe any restraint, and is beyond the reach of the dull-witted and the wise alike."

Verse 27: "The wind of youth blows violently, stirring up the dust of passions and darkness (rajas and tamas), making it difficult even for the wise to remain steady and balanced."

Verse 28: "The dry and harsh dust-storms of youth rise high, turning clarity into confusion, and lead even the purest to crookedness and impurity."

Verse 29: "The splendor of youth awakens a multitude of faults, destroys noble qualities, and becomes the ornament of those rich in sin and misdeeds."

Verse 30: "The moon of fresh youth binds the restless bee of the mind to the pollen of the body’s pleasures, bewitching it into delusion."

Verse 31: "The delightful creeper of youth, growing from the root of the body, captures the bee of the mind and intoxicates it when it reaches full bloom."

Verse 32: "The mirage of sensual delights arising from the wind of bodily desires draws the deer-like mind toward it, causing it to fall into the pit of worldly objects."

Verse 33: "The moonlight of a young woman’s body is like the mane of the lion of desire within the heart, and the wave of her charm on the ocean of life does not bring me any satisfaction."

Summary of the Teachings:

These verses from the Yoga Vāsiṣṭha form a deeply reflective critique of youth, not as a biological phase but as a psychological condition dominated by desires, restlessness, and illusions. Youth is compared repeatedly to natural images such as ponds, oceans, wind, and dust storms—all of which represent its instability, power, and tendency to obscure clarity and wisdom. The metaphors also emphasize its transience and susceptibility to inner disturbance.

The text highlights that youth is a period when the mind becomes overrun with fantasies and anxieties. Even the intellect becomes clouded, as desires and emotions take control, and judgment is easily compromised. 

Real and imagined fears alike take residence in the heart, rendering the aspirant vulnerable to suffering and disorientation. The imagery of birds, bees, waves, and dust evokes a world teeming with activity but lacking grounding.

There is an emphasis on the inability of even the wise to withstand the overpowering effects of youth. The winds of passion and ignorance uproot stability, and the dust they raise blinds moral clarity. Noble virtues and good character are often eroded in this phase of life, giving way to vice and error. The youthful splendor, rather than being celebrated, is shown as dangerous when it lacks discernment.

The attraction to sensual pleasure is portrayed as a delusion—the mind is likened to a bee drawn to the body's superficial beauty or a deer chasing mirages, only to be trapped in the snare of worldly objects. These verses use poetic imagery to show how powerful and deceptive bodily allure can be, especially when filtered through the lens of youthful intoxication.

Finally, Rāma expresses a detachment from this glamour. The last verse marks a decisive turn—what entices and excites most is described as ultimately unsatisfying to the one who sees clearly. This detachment is not born of bitterness but of Wisdom. It sets the stage for deeper renunciation, reflective insight, and a life of inner clarity beyond the illusions of youthful craving.

Chapter 1.20, Verses 11–23

Yoga Vashishtha 1.20.11–23

(The forest of youth) 

श्रीराम उवाच।

सर्वस्याग्रे सर्वपुंसः क्षणमात्रमनोहरम्।

गन्धर्वनगरप्रख्यं यौवनं मे न रोचते ॥ ११॥

इषुप्रपातमात्रं हि सुखदं दुःखभासुरम्।

दाहपोषप्रदं नित्यं यौवनं मे न रोचते ॥ १२ ॥

आपातमात्ररमणं सद्भावरहितान्तरम् ।

वेश्यास्त्रीसंगमप्रख्यं यौवनं मे न रोचते ॥ १३ ॥

ये केचन समारम्भास्ते सर्वे सर्वदुःखदाः ।

तारुण्ये संनिधिं यान्ति महोत्पाता इव क्षये ॥ १४ ॥

हार्दान्धकारकारिण्या भैरवाकारवानपि ।

यौवनाज्ञानयामिन्या बिभेति भगवानपि ॥ १५ ॥

सुविस्मृतशुभाचारं बुद्धिवैधुर्यदायिनम् ।

ददात्यतितरामेष भ्रमं यौवनसंभ्रमः ॥ १६॥

कान्तावियोगजातेन हृदि दुःस्पर्शवह्निना ।

यौवने दह्यते जन्तुस्तरुर्दावाग्निना यथा ॥ १७ ॥

सुनिर्मलापि विस्तीर्णा पावन्यपि हि यौवने ।

मतिः कलुषतामेति प्रावृषीव तरङ्गिणी ॥ १८ ॥

शक्यते घनकल्लोला भीमा लङ्घयितुं नदी ।

न तु तारुण्यतरला तृष्णातरलितान्तरा ॥ १९ ॥

सा कान्ता तौ स्तनौ पीनौ ते विलासास्तदाननम् ।

तारुण्य इति चिन्ताभिर्याति जर्जरतां जनः ॥ २० ॥

नरं तरलतृष्णार्ति युवानमिह साधवः ।

पूजयन्ति न तु च्छिन्नं जरत्तृणलवं यथा ॥ २१ ॥

नाशायैव मदार्तस्य दोषमौक्तिकधारिणः।

अभिमानमहेभस्य नित्यालानं हि यौवनम् ॥ २२ ॥

मनोविपुलमूलानां दोषाशीविषधारिणाम् ।

शोषरोदनवृक्षाणां यौवनं बत काननम् ॥ २३ ॥

Sriram said:

11. "I do not find delight in youth, even though it appears charming for a fleeting moment to all beings, like a celestial city—illusory and unreal."

12. "Youth provides pleasure only for the brief instant of an arrow’s flight; it is laden with suffering, gives rise to burning and indulgence, and is ever unstable. I find no joy in it."

13. "It gives momentary delight and is devoid of True Essence within. Like union with a courtesan, it is superficial and lacks depth. Hence, I do not relish youth."

14. "All undertakings in life, whatever they may be, bring suffering in their wake. During youth, they gather like great calamities approaching their peak."

15. "Even the Lord would tremble before the ignorance born night of youth, which casts inner darkness upon the heart and assumes a dreadful form."

16. "The intoxication of youth, which leads to forgetfulness of virtuous conduct and clouds the intellect, brings delusion in excessive measure."

17. "The creature in youth is scorched by the searing fire of grief caused by separation from the beloved, just as a tree is burned by a forest fire."

18. "Even a Pure and expansive mind becomes impure in youth, like a sacred river muddied during the rains."

19. "One may cross a flood-swollen river filled with terrifying waves, but not the torrent of desires and cravings that surge during youth."

20. "That beloved, those full breasts, those playful acts, that charming face" — reflecting thus on youth, a man becomes feeble and worn out.

21. "The wise never esteem a youth burning with fickle desire, just as they do not value broken, dry grass."

22. "Youth, adorned with pride and intoxication, is ever tethered to destruction—like an elephant in rut chained by its own arrogance."

23. "Youth is a forest dense with poisonous serpents of faults, rooted in the expansive delusions of the mind, and filled with the trees of sorrow and lamentation. Alas, what a jungle it is!"

Summary of the Teachings

These verses present a vivid and uncompromising critique of youth (tāruṇya) from a philosophical standpoint. The speaker, Śrī Rāma, reflects dispassionately on the fleeting charm of youth, describing it as transient, deceptive, and ultimately a source of suffering. Though it may appear pleasurable, this phase of life is likened to mirages and illusions—momentarily delightful but inherently empty and unreliable.

The second theme emphasized is the destructiveness that youth can bring when it is not tempered by wisdom. The verses highlight how youth fosters forgetfulness of virtue, clouds discernment, and gives rise to vanity and desire. The metaphor of night, fire, flood, and forest fire portray youth as a phase prone to inner darkness and painful consequences, especially when driven by passions and attachments.

Moreover, the emotional turmoil and instability of youth are underscored, particularly through metaphors of romantic grief, mental agitation, and compulsive craving. These inner afflictions are not merely psychological but spiritual obstacles that obscure the path to Higher Realization. 

The grief of separation, the burning intensity of desire, and the deluded hope in transient pleasures—all are cited as sources of immense suffering during youth.

Another critical point made is the contrast between appearance and Reality. The verses show how the external beauty and allure of youth are deceptive. 

Just as a courtesan’s affection may be superficial, so too is the joy in youth—brief and lacking in substance. The wise do not honor unrestrained youth, just as dry and broken grass holds no value; thus, discernment is praised above indulgence.

Finally, the cumulative image of youth is that of a dangerous, entangling forest filled with the venomous snakes of faults and the trees of sorrow. Far from being glorified, youth is portrayed as a testing ground of delusion. These teachings gently guide the seeker toward vairāgya (dispassion) and viveka (discernment), encouraging detachment from the seductive but perilous phases of worldly life, especially during youthful vigor.

Chapter 1.20, Verses 1–10

Yoga Vashishtha 1.20.1–10

(The tragedy of youth)

श्रीराम उवाच ।

बाल्यानर्थमथ त्यक्त्वा पुमानभिहताशयः ।

आरोहति निपाताय यौवनं संभ्रमेण तु ॥ १ ॥

तत्रानन्तविलासस्य लोलस्य स्वस्य चेतसः ।

वृत्तीरनुभवन्याति दुःखाद्दुःखान्तरं जडः ॥ २ ॥

स्वचित्तबिलसंस्थेन नानासंभ्रमकारिणा।

बलात्कामपिशाचेन विवशः परिभूयते ॥ ३ ॥

चिन्तानां लोलवृत्तीनां ललनानामिवाऽवृतीः ।

अर्पयत्यवशं चेतो बालानामञ्जनं यथा ॥ ४ ॥

ते ते दोषा दुरारम्भास्तत्र तं तादृशाशयम्।

तद्रूपं प्रतिलुम्पन्ति दुष्टास्तेनैव ये मुने ॥ ५ ॥

महानरकबीजेन संततभ्रमदायिना ।

यौवनेन न ये नष्टा नष्टा नान्येन ते जनाः ॥ ६ ॥

नानारसमयी चित्रवृत्तान्तनिचयोम्भिता।

भीमा यौवनभूर्येन तीर्णा धीरः स उच्यते ॥ ७ ॥

निमेषभासुराकारमालोलघनगर्जितम् ।

विद्युत्प्रकाशमशिवं यौवनं मे न रोचते ॥ ८ ॥

मधुरं स्वादु तिक्तं च दूषणं दोषभूषणम्।

सुराकल्लोलसदृशं यौवनं मे न रोचते ॥ ९ ॥

असत्यं सत्यसंकाशमचिराद्विप्रलम्भदम् ।

स्वप्नाङ्गनासङ्गसमं यौवनं मे न रोचते ॥ १० ॥

Sriram said:

1. "O Sage, when a person, having given up the futility of childhood but still afflicted by ignorance, rushes with excitement into youth, it is only to fall from a greater height."

2. "There, with a restless and unrestrained mind, indulging in endless diversions, he passes from one sorrow to another, experiencing new forms of suffering in his ignorance."

3. "Overpowered by the demon of lust, who dwells in the dark cave of his own mind and causes ceaseless confusion, he becomes helpless and degraded."

4. "Like black kajal applied to the eyes of children, his mind becomes stained by the incessantly wavering thoughts of worries and desires, which act like charming women leading him astray."

5. "The many defects born from such desires, difficult to overcome, overpower the individual whose tendencies are of that Nature, destroying his True Self."

6. "Those who are not lost during the turmoil of youth, the seed of great suffering and future downfall, are truly rare; for others, there is no redemption."

7. "One who crosses the dreadful terrain of youth, filled with ever-changing, colourful attractions and perilous narratives, is rightly called wise and courageous."

8. "I do not take delight in youth, which is like a lightning flash—brilliant for a moment—yet full of unsteady clouds and thunder, and ultimately ominous."

9. "Sweet and pleasing on the surface, yet bitter and adorned with flaws, youth is like the frothing waves of intoxicating liquor—I do not find it appealing."

10. "False in its seeming truth, and soon leading to betrayal, youth is akin to the illusory embrace of a woman in a dream—I take no joy in it."

Summary of Teachings:

These verses, spoken by Sri Rama in the Yoga Vāsiṣṭha, present a profound disillusionment with youth, exposing its transient and deceptive nature. While youth is commonly celebrated, Rama reveals it as a stage of intense turmoil and vulnerability, where ignorance manifests in new and often more destructive forms. It is not an age of clarity, but one of impulsive action driven by unchecked emotions and desires.

Youth is depicted here as a breeding ground for suffering, as the mind—fickle and unanchored—chases pleasures, creating deeper attachments and disappointments. Lust, likened to a demon, seizes control, compelling the individual into unwholesome actions that lead to further bondage. This is not just physical but deeply psychological, as thought patterns themselves become tinted and corrupted by illusions of gratification.

The verses emphasize how easily youth seduces the unwary into a cycle of confusion and sorrow. The imagery is striking—of children having their eyes darkened, of inner demons lurking in caves, of lightning and thunder that dazzle but bring danger. These metaphors illustrate how surface appearances can mask inner ruin. Youth is thus a crucible where only the wise, those who resist its sway, emerge unscathed.

What marks the wise, according to Rama, is not abstention from youth but transcendence through understanding. He praises those who endure and rise above the seductions of youthful pleasures, calling them truly strong and discerning. Such a person is rare but represents the ideal spiritual aspirant who sees beyond illusion.

Ultimately, these verses prepare the ground for deeper philosophical inquiry by creating a disenchantment with worldly stages of life. In recognizing the false charm of youth, the aspirant becomes ripe for detachment (vairāgya), which is a prerequisite for Self-Realization in the path of Yoga and Knowledge.