Sri Vasista

1. O Rāma, the two, Kāla and Bhrigu, rose out of the cave in ‘Mandara’ mountain and after some travel across the sky, land on the ‘Samanga’ coast.

2. - 9. While ascending to the sky, they saw some glorious scenes.  They observed birds and celestial beings sleeping in lustrous arbours of golden-hued creepers.  Celestial maidens were swinging on the swings made of creepers.  Those graceful maidens were bringing to memory lovely lilies and lotuses with their charming and innocent antelope looks.  They saw ‘Siddhas’, seated on stone-seats on the high peaks (of mandara), who appeared like the very embodiments of zeal and perseverance.  From their heights they seemed to look at the worlds with contempt and disgust.  They saw a herd of elephants with tree-like trunks, bathing in the flowing waters spread with flowers falling off the mighty trees on the banks.  They were arrogant and visible.  Looking sleepy they were covered with blood red flowers.  They saw in those flower-spread waters, many ‘kinnars’ bathing.  They saw a variety of date-palms.  The dates falling off the tall palms made the bamboo-bushes at the bottom look like date-bearing bushes.  They saw many ugly red-jawed monkeys skipping and jumping around the trees, arbours, creepers and trees covering the mountain slopes.

10. -13. They saw many ‘Siddhas’, who bore a red tint caused by the red hybiscus flowers splitting on them when beaten with the flowers by the celestial ‘apsara’ maidens.  These ‘siddhas’ were covered by the clouds spreading around them.  They saw many deserted river banks which looked like the ‘asāmas’ of Buddhist monks.  Looking at and enjoying the elegance, beauty and charm of these mountains, they descended to the earth.

14. -15. In a trice they reached the ‘Samanga’ river bank, full with flower laden creepers.  These they saw, Sukra, the son of Bhrigu under a tree.  He looked different due to many reincarnations.

16. His sense instruments were all quiet and peaceful.  Beast of Mind was firm and stable being in the state of ‘Samādhi’.  It was as if he was restful for a long time after a long period of tiresome work.

17. It was as if he was ruminating about the joys and sorrows suffered by him due to long enjoyment of worldly pleasures which he shed long ago.

18. He was indeed like a static vortex which was wheeling endlessly in this infinite vortex of a world.

19. Established in solitude, he was like one who was solicited by the beloved called Solitude.  With the fickle mind subdued and destroyed, he was at peace (with himself).

20. Established in ‘Nirvikalpa’ samādhi, and with all the divisions and differentiation ceased, he appeared like one who was smiling at the world movements with a cool intelligence.

21. Ceasing all eventful and whirling activity, without any enjoyership / doership/ ownership of all works, with all ideation and thoughts stopped, he was anchored in the Supreme state.

22. Rested and reposed in self and established in that most peaceful supreme, allowing no reflections in his diamond of the self, he was anchored in that supreme state.

23. Throwing out all ideations, mental determinations, deformations and resolutions of all kinds, good and bad, Sukra was a man of Pine intelligence, completely enlightened.  Bhrigu such a one, Ssukra his son.

24. Seeing Ssukra, Kāla shouted in a ocean-like shout to Bhrigu ‘Here is your son’.

25. Hearing that thundering sound, Sukra woke up from his samādhi, like a peacock waking up to the sound of thunder.

26. Opening his eyes, he saw the two god like men Kāla and Bhrigu, who were like rising sun and rising moon.

27. Seeing the two lustrous brahmins, who are looking alike Hari and Hara, Sukra rose from his creeper-woven seat and prostrated before them.

28. After mutual inquiries, the three sat on a rock-seat like the trinity of Vishnu, Hara and Brahma on the ‘Meru’ peak.

29. The, quitting his meditation, Sukra addressed in sweet and attractive worlds thus.

30. ‘Your arrival in this place of mine is like the visit of sun and moon together to the world.  Seeing you, I have obtained great happiness.’

31. ‘Seeing you my delusion, which can not be destroyed by scriptures nor by ‘tapas’ nor by knowledge, is gone.’

32. ‘The joy that is obtained by merely seeing and meeting great men, cannot be obtained even by a shower of nectar’.

33. ‘Who are you, the most shining ones, who sanctified setting foot on our land?’

34. O Rāma, when Sukra spoke thus, Bhrigu told his son of another birth ‘recollect about yourself.  You are now a Jnāni and not an ignorant person.’

35. Exhorted by Bhrigu to know his earlier births, Sukra went into meditation for a little while with half-closed eyes.

36. Then his face looked surprised and a smile came on to it.  He then started thinking within himself and spoke in measured tones, being pleased in his mind.

37. ‘This world-wheet moves according to the law (niyati) laid down by the Divine at the beginning of creation.’

38. I have passed through innumerable births due to the fruits of these births and (consequent) accumulated vasanas.’

39. I have seen many difficult circumstances.  I have gone through the delusion of striving for many pleasures and wealth.  I have roamed around many parts of Meru, without any feeling of grief or sorrow.’

40. ‘I have take in the waters of heavenly ganga which flows with a red hue given to its waters by the red hibiscus flowers floating on the water surface.

41. -43. I have promenaded in the arbours on the Mandara slopes, which are beautiful with flower laden trees.  There is nothing that I did not do.  There is nothing that I did not consume and enjoy.  There is nothing that I did not see.’  I have now known what is to be known.  I have seen what is to be seen.  For a long time now, I am in repose after a long period of tiresome activity.  All my misconceptions and illusions have vanished.’

44. -45. ‘O my dear father, please get up.  We shall see my emaciated body on the ‘Mandara’ mountain.  There is no desire left in me.  There is nothing that I do not desire.  I perceive the law and act in conformity and consort with it.’

46. ‘I follow consistently and with concentrated attention, that which is auspicious and followed by respected people.  And so, I shall act now according to what is acceptable to me and you’.