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Whence are all these curious anomalies of Maya ?" Thereupon Saraswati of the form of Divine grace vouch safed the following reply- -" The trance called Death is always accompanied at that very spot and in that very instant, by the great delusion of re-births (and vice 'versa). Now the conception of the duration of 70 years arose only through the delusion of the Karmas performed by thee, while in life. Know therefore and perceive for thyself that when thy mind was rendered immaculate like Akasa free from all illusions, such conceptions of time vanished, (as all concep tions of time arise through the vikalpas of the mind only). They the events of 70 years) are only like long-drawn dreams of many events enacted in one Muhurta (48 minutes). Even our life during the waking state appears prolonged in diverse ways through the many unreal events performed. To tell thee truly, there is no such thing as births or deaths to thee. Thou art the true Jnana alone. Thou art the eternal supreme Seat. Hence though seeing the whole universe, thou seest it not. Being of the nature of all, thou art shining through thy wisdom in the Atmic Reality. The old adage runs to the effect that a non-lisping baby, which is obsessed while in the cradle, will be freed from such pos session in the crematorium only. Similarly is the Ajnana (illusion) in man ; and to the ignorant full of this painful Aj nana, the universe appears to be real. Persons ignorant of gold will assert an ornament made of gold to be the former 8 58 alone and not the latter. Likewise, persons devoid of spiri tual vision will maintain this universe to be the inert one only, (and not spirit, the seer free from the seen). Know also all the universes, arising through the egoism of " T" and " mine," etc, to be nothing but a dream and the different objects seen therein to be as illusory as things in a dream. Such objects and universes are no other than of the nature of that Jnana (Reality) which is all permanent Param-Akas, actionless, full, vast and immaculate. It is the one reality which, being all and having all with the different Saktis (potencies), manifests itself, without being diminished thereby, in different forms according to the fructification of time and Karmas. Through Lila, I have initiated thee into the mysteries of the true Jnana state. Thy mind has been illumined through the undecaying Tatwa (Truth). Therefore we shall depart." After reflecting well upon the enjoyment (of bliss) into which he was now initiated, Viduratha remarked thus — "Even persons coming to me for aid are accustomed to receive at my hands whatever they long for. Therefore is it sur prising for me to attain any object of my quest at the hands of you both who are like fresh Chinthamani* ? When shall I be able to resume my former body of Padma ?" To which Saraswati replied thus — " You will perish in this war and with your death, you will resume your Padma body." Here a herald came in with the following announcement to the king. — "An ocean of army is discharging showers of arrows at us, and our town is reduced to ashes through the enemy's flames. Oh puissant king, I have to announce to thee these painful tidings." While the information was thus being given to the king, his ears were deafened by the terri ble sounds of the enemy's hosts which made the hearts of all in the three worlds to quail. The cries of shrieking rov ing townsman collided with those of the enemy and rent the air like a thunderbolt. The hissing flames which were like Vatava Agni, enveloped the whole welkin with its volumes of smoke. Thus all eyes and ears ceased to function and the whole town became nothing but a heap of ruins. All these * This is a stone supposed to yield anything- the possessor of it thinks of. THE STORY OF LILA. £t) devastations were personally witnessed by Sarasvvati and Lila, the king and his minister. At this time, the queen of the king Viduratha, came to where her husband was with great trepidation and giddiness. Her handmaids who accompanied her, apprised the king of the fact that all the damsels and wealth in the palace were being ravished and ravaged by the foe. Hearing which, he entrusted his wife to the custody of those near him and sallied forth for war. Now Lila, the spouse of Padma was extremely surprised to find Lila, the spouse of Viduratha, an exact counterpart of herself, like an image reflected in a glass. Thereupon she queried Saraswati as to how it was she was re-duplicated afresh ? The moon-coloured Saraswati cleared her doubts in the following manner — " Actuated by an excessive love towards thee thy husband Padma thought, at the moment of death, of enjoying thy company without being ever separated. Accordingly he was able to get thee here. Whatever is thought of by one at the time of his agonizing death, that will be realized by him afterwards. Will a glass reflect other than that which is placed before it ? Inasmuch as death, birth, mental delusion, the waking, dreaming and dreamless states are all one, not being in another as its cause (or each of them not having another as the cause), all things that are and that are not, are of the nature of delusion only and hence increase beyond number. Now the stainful enjoyments are of two kinds. Please hearken to them. Some experiences arise as the result of former ones. Others arise newly, being entirely different from the previous ones. Hence, as in the former case, the new Lila with all your former form, observances, race and conduct of life, appeared not different from you like your shadow. It was through the thought of the king, that she was moulded unto her present form like yourself. Vidti- ratha will perish in this war and then assume the body of Padma." So said Saraswati, when the new Lila submitted thus — • " Oh thou, who seemest to be fearaswati herself whom i adored in former times, please confer on me the boon that, in the event of my partner perishing in this war, I may live in this body of mine along with him wherever he is." To which Saraswati nodded assent. 60 YOGA-VA'SISHTA. Again the old Lila questioned the Mother of Vedas thus — " How was I able to journey to the higher Loka and the supreme Girigrama with the aid of Adibhoutika body only and not with the Adhivahika body (while the new Lila was blessed otherwise) ? *' To which the goddess replied thus — " I never give anything (without any cause) kto any person. People get all things according to (or as the result of) their thoughts. You thought of (acquiring) Jnana before and implored me for it and I gave you therefore the Divine Vision longed for by you. This damsel, your shadow, promp ted by excessive desire asked of me another boon which was, as promptly, granted. All men through my grace get what ever their minds long after." With a terrible angry face, the valiant Viduratha mount ed his car, marched into the field of battle with his multitu dinous host and attacked his enemies so furiously as to drive them into the path of Death. Both the Lilas of un dying affection for their Lord and yet in anticipation of his death addressed Saraswati thus — * Oh mother, how comes it that in spite of our Lord's dauntless courage and your grace, our husband should die so soon in this war ?" Saraswati replied — " As the learned Viduratha longed after the higher spiritual state, he has to merge secondless into the supreme Seat. This king of Sindhu who has come to oppose him will gain the day over Viduratha in accordance with my mandates at his propitiation of myself and will become a king." Whilst these were discoursing thus, the day broke and the battle field on both sides became completely void of all its living contents. Then both the kings alone survived and took up their bows and filled the sun, the moon, the quarters and the welkin with showers of arrows. The arrows hissing flames everywhere, it seemed as if the end of the Yuga was approaching. Then Viduratha was left alone without his car and driver. His bow was unstrung ; his diamond armour was shattered to pieces by his enemy's semi-circular arrows ; all his limbs were rent asunder and thrown promiscuously ; and then Vidiiratha's trunk came flat upon the ground. Whereupon the new Lila addressed her of the white lotus thus — "My husband is about to breathe his last; please allow me to join my husband," Saraswati having pre- THE STORY OF LILA.