Sri Vasista

1. O Rāma, Effort guided by vedic ordinances will always yield excellent fruits everywhere, in every context.  Do not therefore, leave such path and effort.

2. Nandi, who was a delight to his people, overcame death by worshipping a stone (Siva Linga) on the banks of a lake.

3. Even gods, endowed with all prosperity had been trampled upon, like an elephant trampling over lily fields – by ‘dānavas’ who were determined to vanquish them.

4. Maharishi Samvarta created, by his mental determinate ‘Suras’ and asuras’  during the sacrifice performed by King Marut.

5. With unequalled penance, performed several times, Viswamitra achieved Brahminhood, which was very difficult.

6. Upamanyu, who was unfortunate, obtained the milk ocean by drinking like nectar whatever was available in places where-ever water for wetting his flour was unavailable.

7. Yama can devour even Brahma, Vishnu and all other great masters and warriors in the three worlds.  Even so Sage Sweta won him over with his intense worship and prayer.

8. Savitri gained back her husband from Yama by engaging him in very loving discussion and debate.

9. If the effort is not of excellence, the fruits also will not be clear and distinct.

10. Knowledge of Self will root out grief and happiness.  And so it has to be aimed at with utmost attention.

11. If one does not get relieved of the empirical perceptions, which invite sorrow, (it is not possible) to get even a little of happiness.

12. Supreme Brahman is beyond tranquility.  The Supreme is the highest state of tranquility.  In fact both (mean or imply) the same.  Even so the former (is ‘Sankara’, who) confers all happiness.

13. O Rāma, shed all self conceit and take for ever refuge in peace and tranquility.  Cultivate the association of wise and noble people.  Become an aspiring soul and journey to truth.

14. There is no other way than serving noble people to cross the ocean of ‘samsāra’.  Neither ‘tapas’ nor piligrimages will lead one to victory.

15. One, who conducts himself according to dictates of scriptures whose avarice and delusion decline day by day, is a noble and wise man due to his own actions.

16. One will become a holy and saintly person by association with people with knowledge of Self.  He will then realise the non-existence of the empirical world.

17. Because of this non-existence, what remains is only that Absolute.  In view of the non-existence of all else, Siva will dissolve and melt into the Absolute.

18. Phenomenon is neither born nor ‘is’ now.  Nor will it be in future.  And so it is not even now.  Only the Supreme exists in all its fullness.

19. Thus I have brought into view (the nature of) that which is (empirically) visible and manifest in many ways.  Now I shall bring into your understanding what is experienced by all.

20. The ether, that is manifest as the empirical three worlds, is pure and peaceful.  What then are the fundamental cosmic principles (and lack of it) behind these?

21. Consciousness-ether dexterously and elegantly manipulates itself its stable Self into a fickle mode.  That mode alone is this world.

22. All that is experienced in these three worlds is the ensemble of rays of the consciousness-sun.  The one that is undifferentiated from these ray-sense is called the ‘Nianikalpa’ Brahman.

23. In its self-becoming into world-form, whatever perception it adopts, the opening and closing of that sight is known as birth and dissolution (as experienced in the world).  Once the nature of ego is realized, I-ness will never emerge again.  Water will merge in water; ego will merge with Self of consciousness.

24. -25. The materiality of ‘I-ness’ of ignorant people is a stain on the consciousness-ether.  The same) ‘I-ness’ in a man of knowledge becomes the ether of the Absolute.

26. In fact, ‘I-ness’ and such phenomena of the empirical world do not exist by their very nature.  By inquiry about ‘I-ness’ (it will be evident) that what remains or exists is only ‘That’.  (the Chidākasa.’)

27. Men of knowledge are not stained by a sense possible presence of a ghoul when a ghoul is not around.  However a child is haunted by such feeling of a ghoul’s presence by imagining its existence.

28. As long as the Consciousness-moonlight is covered by ego, the lotus of highest spiritual truth will not bloom (with person).

29. ‘I am cleansed of  I-ness’ – with such declaration, selfishness is destroyed.  Without selfishness where are the desires like liberation, hell and heaven.  There can be no such fabrications even.

30. As long as ‘I-ness’ swells in one’s heart, like a big cloud the jasmine of desire will keep blooming.

31. When consciousness is seized constantly and continuously by the cloud of ‘I-ness’ only disease (of ignorance) shines.  There is no question of light (of truth).

32. This nonexistent ego is a fabrication of myth.  It causes only sorrow not happiness.  It is like the delusion of ‘yaksha’ of a child.

33. Wasteful delusion leads to ego.  It causes the empirical world with a foolish mind like that of Dāma and senses.

34. ‘I am this (body and senses) – there is nothing more calamitous than such assertion in this world, now or in future.

35. Whatever little happiness or sorrow occur in this material world, it is the exuberant deformation of the wheel of ego.

36. One should uproot the sprout of ego with the plough of pure heart.  Such an uprooting will destroy the empirical cycle of existence.

37. Trees that are born of the sprout of ‘ahamkāra’ are spread very vast and have thousands of branches called ‘this is mine!.  They are deathless.

38. Such vāsanas shine like the waves and ripples in water and in sound.  They fall away on inquiry like ripe fruits shaken by crows.

39. You are really free from I-ness.  But you appear to be with ego due to the covering of yourself by this world-cycle.

40. As long as this darkness of ‘I-ness’ overwhelms the forest of birth/life, the arrogant ghoul of mind will be exuberantly dominant.

41. As long as a lowly being is seized by the ghoul of ego, neither scriptures nor any chants (mantras) can accomplish its removal.

Sri Rāma

42. O Bhagawan, please tell me the means by which this ego does not increase.  By that my fear of this world will be quelled.

Sri Vasista

43. O Rama, the transcendent abides in one like a pure mirror.  Unite with that in your thoughts and feelings and remain in that state.  Then ego will not increase.

44. If you internalise the thought: ‘all this is mere jugglery and deceit.  What use are these attachments and detachments (with this jugglery) for me?’ – then ego will not even arise.

45. Whoever acts and works peacefully with the feeling ‘I am not this (person) nor am I all this empirical world’, in him ego will never increase.

46. -47.‘I am this world’ – if such a feeling is neither internally accepted or rejected, a sense of equality arises and abides.  Then ego will never thrive/flourish.
    

Sri Rāma

48. O Lord, what is the shape of this ego?  What happens to it when one leaves the body and when one is with body?  How can shed it?

Sri Vasista

49. O Rāma, there are three kinds of egos in the three worlds.  Two of them are very good.  The other one is to be discarded.  Hear about them.

50.  ‘I am this entire world/universe.  I am the Paramatma.  I am that unperturbed one.  There is nothing else greater than this.’ -  This kind of ego, ‘I-ness’, of the people of knowledge is the best of the three.

51. -52. ‘I am mere hundredth part of the hair.  I am the smallest (and humblest)of beings.’ – such ‘I-ness’ is not a bondage.  This is known to the ‘Sivanmuktas’ (ones liberated while in life).  This is the second kind.

53. I am these hands, this feet and body.  There is no doubt in this’ – such a determined declaration is unreal.  Such ‘I-ness’ is only in name.  It is mere imagination.

54. This I-ness is of the third kind and is the worst.  This should be cast aside.  Such people are of evil kind.  This is a great enemy (to a being).

55. A person struck by the third kind, can never again stand erect.  Such a belief is stronger than an enemy and is the cause of all mental ills.

56. The mental world will be tormented and one will be drowned in difficulties.  With such evil minded ego, he will be struck with evil feelings and states of mind.

57. One with wise, noble and disciplined ego (sistāhamkāra) will attain godhood after being liberated.  He will thus establish the immorality of the worldly ego (lokāhamkāra).

58. -59. Accepting the first two ‘I-ness’, it is necessary to shed the third ego – ‘I am this body’.  This is the view of great people.

60. Recall the unfortunate and miserable states into which Dāma and others had           got into due to constant entertainment of evil ego.  One feels sad about them.
    

Sri Rāma

61. O Brahman, please tell me what kind of attitude and mental state should one entertain to do good to himself after shedding the worldly ego of the third kind?

Sri Vasista

62. After shedding/discarding the third kind of ego, the grief-causing ego, a person will move towards the Supreme goals by and by to the extent he abides in his Self.

63. O Sinless one!  Mentally disposing himself in the two kinds of ego, a person attains gradually the Supreme state.

64. Afterwords, giving up all types of ego (and rising beyond), he ascends to the highest state.

65. For the sake of that Supreme Bliss, one should discard the worldly ego at all costs and with kinds of effort.

66. To shed the evil ego which is filling the whole body is extremely auspicious and good.  That is the Supreme state.

67. When a person sheds the worldly ego from his mind, even if he engages himself in worldly activities, he will not fall (from his state).

68. O one of mighty intelligence, when the disease of worldly ego subsides, and one is contented, he will not relish any pleasures.  They taste like poisonous drinks.

69. When one does not relish pleasures, a person is on the road of progress towards spiritual wellbeing.  When darkness declines, what is the obstruction to the path?

70. O Rāma, by dissociating one’s links with ego (of the worldly kind) alone one can cross the sea of ‘samsara’ with effort.

71. ‘I am not this body and so nothing of this is mine’ – entertaining such thoughts (one should proceed) to think ‘I am all this universe’.  (Then) one’s mind should abide in that state of knowledge obtained with such thinking.  The one attains the great state of highest Self.