On the Queries of Rāma

Sri Rāma

1. -5. Life of the body is transient like a water bubble dangling from a leaf at the top of a tall tree. It is soft like the digit of moon in the crest of Lord Shiva. It is shaky and fickle like the throat skin of a croaking frog in a meadow. Association with relatives and friends is equivalent to a hanging rope around one's neck. The cloud of delusion, wafted by winds of "vasanas" and bearing lightnings of greed and avarice, are thundering and shaking things. The peacocks of greed are dancing. Bowers of calamity are throwing out flowers hither and thither. A cruel cat called "Kritanta", the Yama, is in a hurry to devour the rats called Jivas. The beings are cascading on to here from somewhere.

6. -7. What is the way for me? What is my fate? What do I grieve about? Where can I seek refuge? How can this forest of life become good and auspicious? There is not mean thing neither here nor in heavens, which is not made beautiful by intelligent people.

8. -12. How can this completely contaminated and agitated insipid world become pleasant except for ignorant and foolish people? World will become beautiful like a flower bedecked earth, by the bath of milk of contentment. When cleansed, and unclean thing will shine. How can my mind, polluted with desire, become radiant with ambrosian effulgence? By following whom, shall I move about in the forest paths of this world? In what way (by following which) the plenitudes of the serpents of attachment, jealousy and such poisons, do not afflict the people swimming in this sea of Samsara?

13. -17. How can men of fortitude and learning remain unscathed (by the fire of samsara) like mercury that is resistant to fire? One who slips into sea cannot remain untouched by water. Similarly, one who is in this world cannot be untouched by activity. There is no flame or fire which does not burn. Similarly, there is no good action which is free from joys and sorrows, attachments and jealousies. The three worlds are existing because of the ability of the mind to think. This capability will not be destroyed without some skillful expedient. Please instruct me the best way. Please instruct me about that method by which one does not incur sorrow wether acting or not acting in this world.

18. -23. By doing what, and how, was the mind made pure and perfectly peaceful by earlier people? O Bhagawan, please tell me the way you are aware of how "sadhus" attained sorrowless state having got rid of delusion. O mahatma, even if such teachings are not given to me, even if I do not obtain peace, I will give up everything having attained egolessness. I shall not eat, bathe, nor be active. I shall dress myself. But I shall not perform any actions wether calamities overwhelm me or riches occur to me. I shall await, o muni, the moment of leaving the body.

24. -26. I shall sit silent like a doll without attachment, doubt and jealousy. Then I shall stop breathing, leave aside sensient knowledge and leave this useless and calamitous body. This body, nor that of others, is mine. I shall extinguish myself like a lamp without oil. I shall discard this body.

Sri Vasista

27. Thus said Rāma of moonlight beauty, the one with the most wakened mind due to great inquiry and deliberation, became silent like a peacock which falls silent after crying at the great clouds.