Sri Viswamitra
O Rama, just like the son of Vyasa, a little purification can be useful to you.
`O sages, sri rama has acquired all the knowledge that is to be acquired. This is evident (from the fact) that all pleasures are looking like maladies to this intelligent person.'
`For, the characteristic of a knower of truth is that he does not like to enjoy anything called pleasure a second time.'
`Bondage to non being increases and becomes strong due to thinking about pleasures and enjoyment. Such a feeling declines along with the feeling about
`O Rama, wise men say that decline of vasanas is lib- eration. The strengthening of liking for material things is called bondage.'
` In (some) people the awareness about Self occurs accidentally (by chance). Then O, munis, aversion to objects of sense arises.They become meaningless. (lacking any significance for the person).'
`Pundits, the wise people who know what is to be known- see things in a wholistic manner. Such great souls do not relish pleasures even by force.'
` Those who do not relish pleasures for reasons other than fame and such (wordly) reasons, are called `Jivan muktas' (liberated while in life)'
As long as that which is to be known is not known, dis- taste for wordly things does not arise in people. It is like a creeper sprouting in a dry wasteland.
`The pleasure fields are not enticing and attracting Rama. And so, it should be known that Rama knows what is to be known.'
O munis, what Rama knows internally is that Supreme Self only. When he comes to know of this through a worthy mouth, he shall attain repose.
Rama longs for repose in that absolute state. It is like the quiet repose of the grand autumn sky.
Now the great Vasista should teach the way of attain- ing the mental quietitude to the great Rama.
The all-knowing, the one with a witness-sense, the knower of the three times, Sri Vasista has been the Guru of the dynasty of Raghus.
O sage Vasista, do you remember the teaching on knowledge by Brahma to pacify internecine rivalries between great intellectuals and promote their welfare and happiness.
Bhagwan Brahma delivered his discourse on knowl- edge sitting amidst the `sarala' trees on the `Nishada' hill.
The skillful ways of that knowledge will wipe out the dark vasanas of this samsara, and peace will shine.
O knower of Brahman, teach your disciple Rama that knowledge. He will gain peace with that.
With that Rama will easily become free of any stain. A clean mirror reflects a face with ease.
That knowledge, which is given to a good, detached student, is purposeful, effective and unreproachable.
The knowledge which is given to one who is not de- tached and who is not devoted, even in small amounts, is like cow's milk stored in a bag of dog-skin.
Whatever (knowledge) that people like you - who are without attachments, fear or anger, who are pure and steadfast - impart, with that intelligent people become composed even during instruction.
When the son of Gadhi, Viswamitra spoke thus, the sages Vyasa, Narada and others praised him in ac- quiescence of his request and suggestion.
Then the Brahma-like son of Brahma, the effulgent Vasista, who was seated on one side of king Dasaratha - spoke thus.
Sri Vasista
O Muni, I shall obey your command. Who can disobey the commands of saints, who are by themselves ca- pable of imparting the knowledge.
I shall now dispel the ignorance of the princes Rama (and his brothers) like a lamp dispelling darkness of night.
I remember the whole of the knowledge that was im- parted by Brahma on the `Nishadha' mountain, in or- der to quell the illusion about the world.
Sri Valmiki
Having said this, the great Vasista readied himself with all the instruments of teaching like illustrative stories and logical elaborations. With radiant oratory, he started his teaching on the knowlege of the Supreme Self.
