April 21, 2026
devadvijaguruśraddhābharabandhuracetasāṁ
sadāgamapramāṇānāṁ maheśānugraho bhavet (58)
VĀLMĪKI continued:
Ignorant people who dislike seclusion are sunk in sorrow and occasionally they may smile. The knowers of the truth on the other hand are happy and smiling at all times. The truth or the self is subtle and hence it appears to be veiled by ignorance. But even if you believe in the atomic substantiality of the world, the self does not go away. Why then do you grieve? The unreal (ignorance, etc.) does not come into being at any time, nor does the reality or the self ever cease to be.
However, on account of various reasons, confusion arises. In order to overcome this, worship the Lord who is the preceptor of the whole universe. Your evil karmas have not fallen away from you; but they have become the noose with which you are bound. Till your mind becomes no-mind (satva), adopt the adoration of name and form. After that you will be established in the contemplation of the absolute. Then behold, even for an instant, the inner self with the self, in the inner light.
The supreme is attained by one who through self-effort and right actions, has earned the grace of the Lord. Past habits and tendencies are very strong. Hence mere self-effort is inadequate. Even the gods are unable to defy the inevitable (fate). Everyone is subject to this world order (niyati) which is beyond thought and expression.
But the spiritual hero should firmly believe that even after several incarnations, enlightenment is certain. By evil actions one is bound to this saṁsāra and by right actions one is liberated! By the present right action the effects of past evil actions are weakened. If you surrender all your actions to Brahman, you will never again whirl on this wheel of saṁsāra.
Behold, ignorant people in this world are made to play different roles in this world by the director, Time! Time creates, preserves and destroys. Why do you become agitated by the loss of wealth, etc., and why do you yourself begin to dance? Be still and witness this cosmic dance! They who are devoted to the gods, to the holy brāhmaṇas and to the guru and who adhere to the tenets of the scriptures earn the grace of the supreme Lord.
BHARADVĀJA said:
Lord, I have known all that there is to be known. I know that there is no greater friend than dispassion (vairāgya) and no greater enemy than saṁsāra. I wish to hear from you the very essence of the teachings of the holy sage Vasiṣṭha.
VĀLMĪKI replied:
O Bharadvāja, listen to what I am going to say. By merely listening to it you will never again drown in this saṁsāra.