YOG VASISHTA
Book II – Mumukshu khanda (mumukshu-vyavahara khanda)
Chapter 10 Descension of Knowledge.
1. Vasistha resumed:-
This thing called destiny is as true as the reality of God. It is the cause of causes and effect of effects. (It is an attribute of God).
2. Now attend to my words and depend on your exertions, and intently apply your ever confident mind to the attainment of your chief good.
3. Try your exertions to turn to your subjection the misleading senses from pursuing their objects.
4. I will now propound to you a code containing of the essence of the best means of liberation, which will confer the fruits of your exertions and lead you to your welfare in both worlds.
5. Let them that have great minds, forsake their worldly desires in order to avoid their future births, and attend to these lectures with calm contentment (in their minds).
6. Weigh well the meanings of the antecedent and subsequent propositions, repress your mind from its worldly cares, and dispose your self to equanimity for its inquiry after truth.
7. Hear me relate to you Ráma, the way to emancipation, which will remove your feelings of pain and pleasure, and become the surest means to lead you to supreme happiness.
8. On hearing this lecture on liberation in the company of all those reasonable men, you will know that highest state which is free from pain, and of which there is no termination.
9. This was spoken of old in a former Kalpa age by Brahmá abiding in the Supreme spirit. It is the remover of all anxiety and giver of all comfort to the soul.
10. Ráma asked saying:- Say O Bráhman that art my guide, what cause moved Brahmá himself of old to reveal this knowledge, and in what manner was it obtained by you.
11. Vasishtha replied:-
The supreme soul of infinite manifestations exists by itself; it passes through and supports the whole in the form of vacuity and understanding, and as light to all living beings.
12. From him who remains the same (unaltered being) in his rest and motion, the great Vishnu was born, like a moving wave on the quiet waters of the sea.
13. Then was Brahmá produced from the lotus of his heart, having the mount Meru for its pericarp, and the points of the compass for its petals, and the stars for its pistils.
14. He being beset by gods and sages acquainted with the Vedas and their significations, created all the worlds and the minds with their various thoughts.
15. He then created the groups of men in the Bhárata division (India) in a corner of Jambudwípa (Asia), and subjected them to all manner of diseases and afflictions.
16. They are also troubled with the possession and want of many things, and their subjection to dangers and diseases. Here all species of created beings are subjected to a variety of tribulations and afflictions.
17. The lord and creator of worlds, seeing the misery of these people, felt compassion for them, as a father does for his children.
18. He then pondered within himself for a moment with intensity of thought and for the good of all creatures, how to exterminate the misery of these beings who were subjected to death and despair.
19. With this thought the lord god (Brahmá), established himself the rules of austerity, piety, charity, veracity and pilgrimage.
20. Having established these, the lord and creator again thought within himself, how to make an end of the many miseries of the men he had created.
21. He thought upon self-extinction as the Supreme bliss, which was obtainable only through a knowledge of the Deity, and whereby man might be exempted from repeated births and deaths.
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