Sri Vasista
O Rama, after conversing about the illusory nature of world, Suraghu and Parigha worshipped each other appropriatedy and departed to pursue their activities.
O Raghava, Having heard this conversation, you also become the gainer of that great supreme state without any doubt.
-6 The clouds of ego in the heart will disppear by the sharpness of intelligent inquiry into Self. Mind will become pure and expansive, like autumn which is pleasant to the entire world. One abides, then in the delightful consciousness - ether which is the goal and refuge of every one and abides in that supreme Self happily. That state is all-bliss. A person who is always directed inward, who is always full of spirituality, who is united with the (supreme) consciousness, will never grieve.
Even if he is immersed in worldly activity, even if he is full of attachment and repulsion, no impurity comes to him. He will be like a lotus in water.
Mind will never harass a person who is totally enlightened and who is cool and quiet in his mind. He will be like a lion who is not troubled by an elephant.
The mind of a 'jnani' is a vast form of great beauty. His mind is never miserable. It never seeks pleasures. Celestial garden cannot have thorny bushes.
One who is dispassionate will never grieve about birth and death. Similarly a mind that is knowledgeable, which is aware of what is ignorance - will never slip into grief.
O gentle one, dust can not stain/touch sky. Similarly an enlightened mind will never be touched by the delusion of world sense.
-13 . A total and thorough knowledge and comprehension of this world is the best medicine for ignorance. It is like a lamp chasing out the darkness of ignorance. When ignorance is completely comprehended, then itself ignorance gets destroyed. It is like the pleasure fields in a dream which vanish the moment they are known as such.
The eyes of fish are untouched by water. Similarly even if one is involved in worldly activities, they will not touch one who is totally disinterested in them in his mind.
When the effulgence of consciousness is gained, the night of ignorance vanishes. Jnani's intellect attains that supreme delight and shines.
When the stupor of ignorance is assauged the sun of knowledge will enlighten people. Then ignorance will never delude them again.
Only those days are really alive (in the life of a person) when the consciousness moon light arises out of the moon of Self in the heart sky. There will not be any joy in the sequences of activities otherwise.
Moon is cool because of the nectar in him. Similarly one who is immersed in inquiry into his Self will cross the ocean of delusion and attain tranquility and coolness inside him.
They are really friends who help in detachment of the mind. Those are really the scriptures which help attaining such a mind. Those are really the days when one obtains the delight of detachment (of mind).
Those whose mind stays away from the delight of seeing the Self, are miserable and afflicted. They are like trees in the forest of births and will grieve for a long time (because of their condition).
-22 . Life in the forest of births is full of pastures of pleasures spread with nets and webs of ropes of desire, of decayed form with old age, loaded with multitudes of sorrows, breathes grief always.
-29 . It is bitten by the mosquitoes called attachment. It is pulled by the rope of desire. Such life lives only in mind pushed and pulled by the leash called relatives. It declines with family of wife, children and such. It is always smeared by the cowding of bad and evil actions, gets earily tired without any respite. There is no shade in that jungle. Life in the forest of births is heated up by mental distress and affliction. It is fire outside. But internally it is miserable. It is constantly changing with works of desire. It is constantly engaged with its own destinction. This bull of life is in anguish due to the load of fate and work. This should be pulled out of the mire of world with (the ropes) knowledge.
When 'that' fundamental cosmic principle (tatwa) is perceived (and comprehended), mind declines and never rises again. When that happens, a Jiva becomes one who has crossed the ocean of 'samsara'.
O Rama, the way to jump over the ocean of 'samsara' will be gained when one meets a person of great experiences. It is like a boat which is obtained through (the expertise of) a navigator.
That land is like a desert where there are no jnanis. Wise people will not live in a place which does not have trees called virtuous people which yield good fruits and restful shade.
Viruous people are like 'champaka' trees whose leaves are like comforting words, whose shadow is their righteonsness, whose flowers are their smiles. Under such a tree, rest will ensure in a minute.
Absence of understanding of Self-nature causes immense delusion. Under such circustances, an intelligent person should not sleep over even the slightest discrimination (that is gained).
Self alone is the friend of Self. One should emancipate and elevate himself. One gets drowned in the mine of births by self-aggrandisement and haughtiness.
'What is this body? What is this world? How did it happen? What is its origin? What is (its) elimination? What is this sorrow of body?' - Intelligent and wise people should examine these questions with effort.
Riches, friends, scriptures, relatives - none of these are useful in lifting oneself (who is immersed in ignorance).
It is possible by making friends with friend 'mind'. A little (intelligent) discussion will elevate the Self.
Intense personal efforts through practices and dispassion one should inquire into oneself and one's birth. Then the perception about the fundamental cosmic nature will arise and one can cross the ocean of 'samsara'.
One should not insult the (little) self which is beset with evil desires and prone to grief. One should lift (it) out of the condition with a generous attitude.
The elephant, called Jiva, should be emancipated. It is anchored to ego and leashed with the rope of mental arrogance. It is sunk in the mine of births.
-43 . O Raghava, such is the Self. It will be rescued if a little washing and cleaning of stupidity and ego is done with the waters (of knowledge). It moves into proper behaviour when mind-web and ego subside.
When body is perceived as equivalent to wood and stone, one arrives at the Lord, the Paramatma.
When the cloud of ego declines (gets shattered) the sun of consciousness will come into view. Such a development will lead to the gaining of the Supreme State.
When darkness is dispelled, the awareness of light occurs. Similarly when ego is destroyed one gets the view of Self.
The state that is attained when ego dies, creates happiness and delight. That state is enduring. It is worthy of worship with all effort.
Such is our state (of existence). It is like full majestic and grand ocean. It is beyond sentient perception. There is nothing similar to it. It never sinks into or runs after pleasures (of sense).
If the 'turya' state, which is a blossom of consciousness, is obtained, that state is steady. It is comparable with itself.
Such a state may be available to one in deep sleep due to its being near. Such a state is enduring (can be sustained), like the vastness of the sky.
When ego and mind melt away, supreme bliss, which is at the core of all states of existence and which is the very body of the Lord - arises.
O Rama, such a state can be attained by yoga. It is also not very far from the state of deep sleep. It is beyond verbal discription. It can be only experienced in one's heart.
The nature of sugar and sugarcane cannot be known without experiencing it. Similarly the nature and form of Self can not be known without experience.
All this world is that essential, fundamental nature and principle of Self. Mind which is established in change, movement (and transformation) abides in it. When the external world of mobile and immobile nature quietens, then the Self can be experienced.
After destruction of sentience, the most auspicious luminous effulgence will be revealed. After that due to the state of equality attained the supreme changeless, indescribable Self will be revealed.
