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Vairagya Prakarana

Sarga - 2

 

Prelude - 2

Sri Valmiki

  1. I bow to the All-self which illumines everything in me, in the Earth, in the midregion, in heaven and all inside and outside.

  2. I am bound (or in bondage).I want to be liberated.Only such a person is elligible to study this Shastra; not a person of deep ignorance and not one who knows the Truth.

  3. Whoever inquires into the ways of attaining liberation, initially throught studies and stories( biographies of great people), such a wise man will not be born again.

  4. -5. I have initially narrated Ramayana, the story of the valorous Rama. Then, i gave it to my intelligent disciple Bharadwaja of great humility and concentration.

  1. Then Bharadwaja read this Ramayana to Brahma who was living in the deep forests of Meru.

  2. . Highly pleased with the narration, Brahma, the ancient one, asked Bharadwaja to ask for a boon.

Bharadwaja

  1. O Bhagawan, the knower of future and past, give me that boon which relieves men of their sorrow.That is the boon i like most.

Sri Brahma

  1. -10. Immediately go to Valmiki who has started writing the Ramayana with great effort.Tell him about this. Anyone who hears the story of Ramayana written by Valmiki will cross the ocean of Samsara as if walking over a bridge.

Sri Valmiki

  1. -12. Saying this, Brahma led by Bharadwaja, came along with him to my hermitage.I worshipped him with all due formalities.Then, he , the one engaged in the good of the world and very powerful, said thus to me.

  1. "O best of munis,the story of Rama which you have started writing is a great one.Do not leave it without completion in a flurry due to the strain of writing.

  2. -15. Reading this great story, many will be rescued from the calamities of "Samasara".It will be like crossing the ocean with a ferry.Write this story for the good of the world.I came here to tell you this."

  1. -18. He then vanished from my ashram in a trice.His arrival was like a tide that rose for a minute in the sea.Recovering from the shock, I asked Bharadwaja to tell me again what Brahma said.

Bharadwaja

  1. He said that you should write Ramayana for the good of the world,for rescuing them from the ocean of "samsara".

  2. -22. O bhagavan, tell me how Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, Shatrughna, Sita, and the sons of ministers got into the catastrophies of"Samsara".How were they relieved of the sorrow?Please tell me. Hearing that, I and others will be similarly free.

  1. -24. O King, hearing this pleading of Bharadwaja, i started telling him.Hear my child Bharadwaja, I am telling you about that which you wanted.Hearing this, you will be rid of attachment.

  1. -27. O wise one, act like Rama, the detached, the lotus-eyed one and be happy.Act like the noble Bharata, Shatrughna, Lakshmana, Dasaratha, Kousalya, and Sumitra and be happy.Act like Krutascha , Virodha, and Vasista and Vamadeva and the eight ministers who attained the highest knowledge.

  1. -29. Drishta, Jayantha, Bhasa, Satya, Vijaya, Vibhishana, Sushena, Hanuman are their eight ministers.Indrajit is the minister of Vibhishana.These ministers are of detached minds, liberated in life, and are great souls. They act as things occur to them(Yadha Prapta Karyam).

  1. They perform Yajnas, havans, donations, accept what is proper and constantly think of God.By such actions, my child, they are relieved of calamities and distresses.You also do like that and be free from trouble.

  2. The one who is completely drowned by this sureless sea of "Samsara" will be relieved of Sorrow and misery when he obtains the highest knowledge.He shall abide forever, satisfied, contented, and without agitation.

Sri Yoga Vasishtam
Translation by : Dr. P.N. Murthy