Sri Vasista

1. O Rāma, when a person’s mind is struck by pleasure and wealth and is engaged in too many works, he does not recognize or is aware of Truth.  When truth is not perceived, such a one’s mind is perverse and (almost) wicked.

2. Those who have attained the pinnacle of discrimination and intelligence and have got out of the grip of senses, clearly see the deceitful nature of this world like a bilwa leaf in the palm.

3. That Siva who has recognized and realized the deceitful character of the world through inquiry, will shed the lowly and ego-full deceit-ridden world, like a snake which sheds its skin.

4. O Rāma, such people, who are detached, do not take birth again even though they stay embodied for a long time.  They are like seeds burnt by Agni.

5. An ignorant person keeps working for his disease-ridden body and not for his self.

6. And so, O Rāma, do not accumulate sorrows by following the desires of the body like an ignorant person.  Become one engrossed in the self.

Sri Rāma

7. O Lord, you said that this wheel of world is designed for sensual pleasures.  It is void and is like the story of ‘dāsura’.  What is that story?  Please tell me.

Sri Vasista

8. O Rāma, to inform you about the illusory nature of the world, I shall narrate the story of ‘Dāsura’.  Hear.

9. -16. O Rāma, on this earth there was a famous habitation called Magadha.  It was very prosperous and is covered by wonderful trees laden with fruits and flowers.  That place was attractive with many sports grounds and arena surround by ’Kadamba’ trees and forests.  The place was enchanting with many kinds of birds.  The city boundaries were full of green crops.  There were many beautiful parks spread all over the city.  The coastal line of rivers were tired with lotuses, ‘kathāras’ of various colours.  Parks were gently echoing the melodious songs by beautiful girls swinging on the swings.  The grounds were spread with flowers reminding one of cupid’s flower arrows.  Near that city there was a hill full of trees on its slopes.  On that hill a great ‘muni’ called ‘Dāsura’ was doing penance.  He was living on a ‘kadamba’tree.

Sri Rāma

17. O great sage, why was he living on a tree?

18. -23. O Rāma, hear.  Dāsura’s father was Saraloma, a great tapasvi.  He was living on that hill with his only child ‘Dāsura’.  After some years Saraloma left his body for celestial regions.  Then ‘Dāsura’, left alone, started crying like a ‘kurara’ bird.    He was like a faded lotus in autumn.  Hearing his piteous cries, the gods of the forest spoke thus, remaining incognito.

24. -28. O son of rishi, O man of divine intelligence, why do you weep like an ignorant person?  Why don’t you understand the unstable nature of this world?  In this mutable world all beings take birth, live (for a while) and die without any uncertainty.  Even the great Brahma and others also pass away.  There is no doubt in this.  And so, do not grieve in vain for your father’s demise.  Any that rises like sun will also set like him.  The red eyed Dāsura heard this voice from the space and pulled himself up with courage.

29. -34. He then got up and performed all the death ceremonies for his father.  Then he started his penance.  After a while, he attained a ‘srotriya’ status and acquired all the vedic knowledge full of ceremonies rows and ‘mantras’.  However his desire was to attain the Supreme state and truth.  His mind was not rested even in a sacred place on earth.  He felt that everything on the ground unholy and polluted.  He felt that everything on the ground unholy and polluted.  He felt that everything on the ground unholy and polluted.  He felt that a tree-top was the most sacred place and did penance to become fit to reside on the tree like a bird.

35. -43. But his wish could not be fulfilled by his penance.  So he lighted a fire and started taking out pieces of flesh from his shoulder and sacrificed them to fire.  But Agni decided that the flesh should not burn.  He took the shape of sun and stood before Dāsura and said: ‘Dāsura, please ask for a boon, it will be given?  After due venerative prostrations and worship Dāsura asked Agni for ability to stay on the top and perform penance.  Agni granted the boon and vanished.  Dāsura was mighty pleased with the boon and his face shone with smiles like a moon.