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
30. The womb of the waters, bears the breed of fishes, whales,
hippopotami and other aquatic animals; and the bowels of the earth,
produce the multitudes of worms and reptiles to infinity.
31. The air teems with the brood of birds of various kinds, and the
woods abound with wild beasts, and lions and tigers, the fleet deer and
other brutes.
32. There are inborn worms growing in the intestines, and upon the skin
of animal bodies; and parasitical insects and animalcules, feeding upon
the bark and leaves of trees.
33. Insects are seen to be born in the crusts of stones, as frogs,
vajrakítas and others; and many kinds of worms and insects, are found
to grow in and subsist upon the faeces and excrements of animals.
34. In this manner an endless number of living beings, are being born
and perishing for ever and ever; and it is of no avail to them, whether
kind hearted men are joyous or sorrowful at their births and deaths.
35. The wise can have no cause for their joy or grief, in this
continued course of incessant births and deaths of the living world.
36. Such is the nature of all the different series of animal beings,
that they incessantly grow to fall off like the leaves of trees. (These
are known as the ephemerids and the heirs and poor pensioners of a day).
37. The kind-hearted man, who wishes to remove the sorrows of the
ignorant by his advice, attempts an impossibility, as that of shrouding
the allpervasive sunshine, by means of his umbrella.
38. It is useless to give advice to the ignorant, who are no better
than beasts in their understandings; as it is fruitless to talk to a
rock or block of wood or stone in the wilderness.
39. The dull-headed ignorant, who are no better than beasts, are
dragged by their wilful minds, like the cattle by their halters.
40. It would make even the stones to melt into tears, to see the
ignorant plunged in the slough of their perverted minds, and employed
in acts and rites for their own ruin. (The ruin of their souls caused
by ritualistic observances.)
41. Men of ungoverned minds, are always exposed to dangers and
difficulties; but the expurgated minds of the wise, are free from the
evils and mishaps of life.
42. Now Ráma, consider well the miseries of ungoverned minds; and
betake yourself to the knowledge of the knowable One. (_i.e._ The One
alone that is worthy of being known).
43. Never entertain in your imagination the vain bugbear of a mind,
which has no real existence of its own; and beware of this false
belief, which may betray you like the ideal ghost of children.
44. As long as you are forgetful of the soul, you must remain in utter
ignorance; and so long will you continue to be tortured by the dragon,
residing in the recess of your heart.
45. Now you have known the whole truth, as I have expounded to you;
that it is your imagination only, that presents you with the idea of
your mind, of which you must get rid for ever.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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