The Yoga-Vasishtha Maharamayana of Valmiki, Vol. 2 (of 4), Part 1 (of 2)Valmiki
Religion
The Yoga-Vasishtha Maharamayana of Valmiki, Vol. 2 (of 4), Part 1 (of 2)
Valmiki
Hinduism -- Doctrines -- Early works to 1800; Religious life -- Hinduism -- Early works to 1800
43. There is the same delusion here on earth, as in the appearance of
couple of moons in the sky; and in the vision of things in a dream, as
also in the motion of immovable things on the land, to the passenger in
a boat. (Things taken to be true, prove to be false).
44. Men being long deluded by this error, which has fastly laid hold of
their minds, imagine a long duration of the world, as they do of the
scenes in their dreams.
45. The mind being thus deluded by this error, sees the wonderful
productions of world, to rise and fall within itself like the waves of
the sea.
46. Things which are real and good, appear as otherwise in our error;
while those that are unreal and noxious, appear as real and good to our
deluded understandings.
47. Our strong avarice riding on the vehicle of the desired object,
chases the fleeting mind as bird-catchers do the flying birds in nets.
48. Delusion like a mother and wife often offers us fresh delights, with
her tender looks and breasts distilling sweet milk.
49. But these delights serve only to poison us, while they seem to cool
the worlds with their distillation; just as the crescent orb of the
moon, injures us with too much of her moistening influence, while it
appears to refresh us with her full bright beams.
50. Blind delusion turns the meek, mild and mute men, to giddy and
vociferous fools; as the silent Vetálas become in their revelrous
dancings, amidst the silent woods at night.
51. It is under the influence of delusion, that we see the shapes of
snakes and serpents, in our brick-built and stone made houses at night
falls: (_i.e._ apprehensions of these in darkness).
52. It makes a single thing appear as double, as in the sight of two
moons in the sky; and brings near to us whatever is at a distance, as in
our dreams; and even causes us to dream ourselves as dead in sleep.
53. It causes the long to appear as short, as our nightly sleep shortens
the duration of time; and makes a moment appear as a year, as in the
case of separated lovers.
54. Look at the power of this unsubstantial ignorance, a negative thing,
and still there is nothing which it can not alter to some thing else.
55. Therefore be diligent to stop the course of this delusion, by your
right knowledge: as they dry up a channel by stopping the current of the
stream.
56. Ráma said:—It is wonderful that a false conception, which has no
real existence, and is so delicate as almost a nothing (but a name)
should thus blind the understanding.
57. It is strange that something without form or figure, without sense
or understanding, and which is unreal and vanishing, should so blindfold
the world.
58. It is strange that a thing sparkling in darkness, and vanishing in
day light, and mope-eyed as the moping owl, should thus keep the world
in darkness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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