Sri Valmiki
After the assembled people spoke thus in majestic and glorious tones, Viswamitra spoke to Rama, who was in front of him, thus : Viswamitra
O Raghava, O best of jnanis , there is nothing more for you to know . You know everything (that is to be known) with your sharp intellect.
Your naturally pure and clean mirror of mind requires slight refurbishing.
Your mind,though internally enlightened, is looking for repose, like that of Suka, the son of Bhagawan Vyasa.
Sri Rama
O Bhagawan, How did Suka, the son of Bhagawan Vyasa, attain repose in mind, which was restless even though enlightened?
Sri Viswamitra
O Rama, the story of Vyasa's son is worthy of hear- ing. It is like yours. It can cause liberation from birth.
-8 The sage that is seated on the golden throne by the side of your father is Vyasa. He is radiant and effulgent like `Anjana Mountain'. His son is `Suka', the great adept in sastras.He is effulgent like sun. The moon-faced Suka is highly learned and wise. He is the very embodiment of `Yajna' the sacrifice.
By inquiring into the ways of the world like you, he was awakened to truth in his heart.
By inquiring himself with his own intelligent mind, he obtained the eternal truths.
In spite of gaining such knowledge about truth, his mind remained restless. He could not develop faith in his find- ing `that this is the truth'.
Suka's mind was merely free from fickleness and at- traction for transient pleasures, He was like `Chataka' bird which was free from the fascination from the wavy waters of a river.
Once he approached his father, Krishnadvaipayana (Vyasa) -who was residing in solitude on a peak of Meru- and asked him thus:
O sage, how did this vain display of `samsara' arise? Where is it going? When will it subside?
Having been questioned thus, by his son, the great Vyasa who knows the Self, gave appropriate reply.
However, Suka could not give respectful attention to his father's words thinking that he knew all that already.
-18 . Bhagwan Vyasa understood the conceited opinion of his son and told him: ` I do not know more than this. There is a great king called Janaka on this earth who knows everything about Self. Please learn from him all that is to be known'
Having been advised thus by his father, Suka left the Sumeru mountain and reached Videha city ruled by king Janaka.
When he reached Janaka's palace, the gatekeepers went and announced to Janaka: ` Lord, a great seer called Suka, is waiting at the gates'.
Janaka kept silent and said `let it be' disregarding Suka's request, with a view to test Suka's determina- tion ( to obtain knowledge from Janaka). Suka had to wait for seven days at the gate.
Then Janaka allowed Suka to enter the palace court- yard. There the knowledge-eager Suka had to wait for seven days
After that, Janaka allowed Suka into his palace. Suka was informed that he can not see the king for seven days.
Then Janaka sent lascivious maids to entertain the moon-faced Suka with gourmet foods and pleasurable services.
Those services and pleasures, which are causes of sorrow, could not shake the stable mind of Suka. Mild breeze can not move a huge stock (of wood).
Full moon-like Suka sat unperturbed. He was in a state of delightful silence in his mind.
Having understood completely the nature of Suka, king Janaka invited him to his presence and bowed to him.
Having welcomed him, king asked Suka : ` You have done everything that is to be done in this world. You have obtained whatever you wanted. What do you want now?'
Sri Suka
` O Guru, How did this vain display of samsara arise? How will this subside? Please tell me everything?
Sri Viswamitra
Asked thus by Suka, Janaka gave the same reply as given earler by Vyasa.
Sri Suka
My father also gave me the same reply. I have known this myself earlier through my intelligent inquiries.
O best of the knowers of the word, these are elabo- rated in the same way in the scriptures.
All this is self deception. It will vanish when this self deception vanishes. This wasteful world is sapless (and uninteresting). This is evidently true.
`But why is it so. O mighty king, please tell me the firm truth. Let my wandering, unstable mind gain repose'.
Sri Janaka
`O sage, there is nothing else other than what you yourself have understood and what your father told you.'
`There is no other existence other than that undiffer- entiated consciousness - Self. He is bound by self-will. He is unbound without that will'.
`With your disinterest in pleasures of this phenomenal world, you have very clearly known all that is to be known by great souls.'
`Even at a very young age you have become a great conqueror of sickening pleasures. What else do you want to know or hear?'
`Even your father, the great storehouse of all knowledge and an embodiment of `tapas', has not attained the full- ness and perfection as you have.'
`I am greater than Vyasa. you are his son and disciple. Having conquered the desire for pleasure, you have exceeded me even'
`You have gained whatever is to be gained, you have become one with perfect mind. O knower of Brahman, you will never slip into this phenomenal world. You are liberated. Throw away the illusion'
Having been declared thus, by the great Janaka, Suka fell silent and rose to abide in the supreme state.
Having dispelled of all doubts, desires and being free from fear and sorrow, Suka went to meru peak to sit in samadhi.
There he remained in nirvikalpa samadhi for ten thou- sand years and attained nirvana like a lamp without oil.
Sukadeva attained oneness with Brahman, having be- come completely pure devoid of all deformations, fan- cies and imaginations. He was totally free from all vasanas. His unity was like a waterdrop merging in the ocean waters.
