Sri Vasista
O Rama! After 'Sthithi' Prakarana, listen to the discourse on 'Upasma'. Knowing about the way to tranquility and peace lead to Nirvana.
Sri Valmiki
The assembly of great poeple was silent and still while Sri Vasista gave his delightful discourse.
The Kings present in the hall were attentive and silent. They were like the lotuses in a still pond, full of lotuses.
Coquettish women were like sanyasins of long experience, with their subdued and satisfied voluptuousness and tranquil hearts.
Absorbed in the discourse, the graceful lotus hands closed on to themselves and the bangles on the still hands were silent without making any jingling sounds.
With their fingers on the nose, the kings were abserbed in comprehending the truths given out in the discourse.
Rama's (mind) was opening out (with the absorption of knowledge) and blossoming like the lotuses in the morning He was like the sky becoming bright as darkness gets dispelled on the rise of morning sun.
King Dasartha was keenly listening to the words of wisdom given by enjoying Vasista. He was like a peacock enjoying the loud sounds from the clouds.
Ministers were trying to leash the unstable monkey of mind which was seized by the immense pleasures (that were available to them) and listen to the great discourse.
The great Laksmana who knew the strength of disciplined learning and who knew his goal, was shining like a pure moon-beam, with knowledge given by Vasista internalised in full.
Satrughna, the vanquisher of enemies sat like full moon with a mind full with knowledge. He reached a state of bliss.
The grieving mind of (minister) Sumitra became extemely friendly to him. His heart opened out like a lotus.
The minds of all others, the kings and saints, were like pearls, cleansed white.
-17 . As Vasista went on with his discourse, the sun rose in the sky and the thunderous sounds of the time- indicating trumpets flew across the space of assembly. They drowned the smooth sounds of words of Vasista which were like the cooings of 'Koyal'. Sage Vasista stopped his discourse, unable to beat the thunderous sounds with his smooth singing voice. He stopped for a while and a little later told Rama thus.
-20 . O Rama, the vanquisher of enemies, today I have come up to this point. The rest I will tell you tomorrow morning. Like other brahmins, I also have to perform the rituals laid down by the scriptures. My child, you also get up and perform the traditional rituals like bathing & worshipping.
-23 . Saying this, Sage Vasista rose from his seat. Along with him rose king Dasaratha and the rest of the assembly. It was like the sun rising in the morning with the moon leading the trail. The entire assembly with people moving looked like a lotus pond with mild breeze blowing over, gently quivering the lotuses.
-31 . Elbowing out and brushing at each other, the bracelets on the upper arm got powdered. The reflections from the pearl studded (walls and pillars) of the hall made it look like a red coloured cloud during dusk The light falling on the head - laces and crown jewels created rainbow formations. The place looked like a gardem full of creepers called women. The light reflecting from the many crowns daubed the sky with yellowish tinge. It was shining like a new creation.
-36 . Then the kings bowed to Dasaratha and departed. Minister Sumantra bowed to Vasista and Dasaratha and left. Then Vamadeva, Viswamithra and Vasista were worshipped by Dasaratha. All of them left, followed by the other citizens who left to return the next morning
-41 . At the request of Dasaratha and Vasista, Viswamitra agreed to spend the night as Vasista's guest After being duly worshipped the assembled people, Rama and his brothers, and Vasista left for his hermitage like Brahma going to Brahma Loka Vasista performed the necesaary evening rituals as per the scriptures.
