The Yoga-Vasishtha Maharamayana of Valmiki, Vol. 2 (of 4), Part 2 (of 2)Valmiki
Religion
The Yoga-Vasishtha Maharamayana of Valmiki, Vol. 2 (of 4), Part 2 (of 2)
Valmiki
Hinduism -- Doctrines -- Early works to 1800; Religious life -- Hinduism -- Early works to 1800
31. Inured in austerity, the boy continued to receive his best
knowledge from the various lectures of his father, and passed a long
time with him in that place, under the name of the sage’s son.
<32.> The boy was taught in various narratives and tales, and with many
examples and ocular instances; as also in historical accounts and
evidences of the Veda and Vedánta (for his best knowledge of
spirituality).
33. The boy remained attendant on the lecture of his father, without
feeling any anxiety; and formed his right notions of things by means of
their antecedents. (The antecedent or preliminary causes of right
judgements are, perceptions, inferences, comparisons and testimony or
authoritative statements of sástras. (These are originally termed as
pratyaksha, anumiti, Upamiti and Sabda or Sabda-bodha)).
34. The magnanimous father thus instilled true knowledge into the mind
of his boy, by means (of the quadruple process) of right reasoning and
correct diction, rather than regarding the elegance of expression; as
the cloud indicates the approaching rain to the peacock by its hoarse
sounds. (The quadruple process as mentioned above.)
CHAPTER LII.
GRANDEUR OF THE AIR-BORN KING.
Argument. Description of Dominions of the Air-born King, and the
Frailty of Worldly possessions.
Vasishtha continued:—It was on one occasion that I passed by that
(Dásúra’s) way in my invisible body, to bathe in the heavenly stream of
_mandákiní_ (milky way) in the etherial regions.
2. After my departure from that region by the way of the Pleiades
(saptarshi), I arrived to the spot where Dásúra dwelt on his high
Kadamba tree.
3. I came to listen to a voice proceeding from the hollow of the tree
in the forest, which was as charming as the buzzing of the bee,
fluttering about the bud of a lotus.
4. Attend my intelligent son! said he, to a narrative that I will
relate unto thee by way of a simile of worldly things, and it is
pleasant to hear.
5. There is a very powerful King renowned in all the three worlds for
his great prosperity. His name is Khottha or Air-produced, and able to
grasp the whole world. (Like the air whereof he was born. Kha, Khao and
Khavi yet un, is empty air in Sanskrit, Hebrew and Arabic, and Khali in
Persian and Urdu).
6. All the lords of the earth bend their heads lowly under his rule,
and bear the badge of their submission to him with as great an honour,
as poor men are proud to carry about a bright gem on the head.
7. He exulted in his valour and the possession of all kinds of
rarities, and there is no one in the three worlds, that is able to
bring him under his subjection.
8. His unnumbered acts and exploits, are fraught with successive pain
and pleasure; and they are as interminable as the continuous waves of
the sea.
9. No one has been able to check the prowess of that mighty brave by
force of fire or sword, as none hath ever been able to press the air or
wind in his hand.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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