Sri Rama

1. - 2. O Bhagwan, O knower of all dharmas, an expert in discussions, How can this vast world abide in mind?  Please explain to me with illustrations and examples.

Sri Vasista

3. O Rāma, the world stays in the mind the way the works were born and stayed firmly in the minds of Indava  brahmins, even when they were disembodied.

4. World abides in mind the way Kind Lavana acquired his ‘Chandila’, lowly state by conjuring and jugglery.

5. It is in the same way as the desire for pleasures arose in the mind of Sukra, the son of Bhrigu and consequently his dalliance with celestial maidens.

Sri Rama

6. O Bhagwan, how did Sukra, the son of Bhrigu acquire Lordship over heavenly pleasures when he desired for such pleasures.

Sri Vasista

7. O Rāma, listen to this conversation of ancient times between Bhrigu and God of Time (or death) in ‘tamāla’ gardens on ‘mandara’ mountain.

8. -12. Sage Bhrigu was in intense ‘tapas’ on one of flower bedecked.  His son, Sukracharya, a bright and intelligent child – who was shining like sun and who resembled moon – worshipped the father who was in ‘Samadhi’.  While Sage Bhrigu was all the time like a stone in a garden, Sukra was enjoying himself in the garden and was sleeping on flower-bedecked beds.  He was lolling between ignorance and knowledge.

13. He was like Trisanku hanging between his state of restlessness and father’s state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi.

14. One day, Sukra was in a isolated place musing like a king who was victorious in his battles.  Then he saw an ‘apsara’ (celestial maiden) who was going across the sky.

15. -16 She was like Lakshmi, born out of churning of the milk ocean.  She was beautiful ‘mandāra’ garlands.  Her  forelocks were flying with the breeze from ‘Malaya’ mountain blowing across her face.  The garlands were responding with ‘jhankara’ sounds to the wind flying past her.  The air in the sky was fragrant with the fragrance of the flowers.  She was lovely like a creeper with sensuous eyes.  The moon-beams emerging from her body brightened the space near her.

17. -18 Seeing such loveliness Sukra’s mind quivered with joy.  It was like a sea in tide in moonlight.  The ‘Apsara’ also, in turn, became ecstatic looking at the beautiful face of Sukra.

19. Struck by Cupid, Sukra restrained all other activities of the mind and filled it with the lady.