Vashishtha said, “O strong armed prince, you are truly heroic to have conquered your worldly appetites, which are as difficult to eradicate as they are fierce in their action. Why do you allow yourself, like the unlearned, to be drowned in this rolling sea of errors causing such dull inactivity in you?” Vishwamitra said, “Why are your eyes so unsteady with doubts like trembling clusters of blue lotuses? You ought to do away with this unsteadiness and tell us what the sadness in your mind is… 37Tell me the craving of your heart, O sinless Rama! They will be requited in a manner that will prevent them from reoccurring to you.” Rama was fortunate to have the guidance of two renowned sages of his time. The words of these sages consoled Rama when he was feeling dejected by observing the transient nature of this world.

1. 1
Yoga Vashishtha of Valmiki
Book I, Chapter 11
Consolation of Rama
Book I, Chapter 11
Consolation of Rama
(The comfort one feels when consoled in times of disappointment)
1Vishwamitra said, “If such is the case, you who are
intelligent may go at once and persuade that progeny of
Raghu to come here, as one deer does others.
2This stupor of Rama is not caused by any accident or
affection. I believe it is the development of that
superior intellect which rises from the right reasoning
of dispassionate men.
3Let Rama come here for a while and in a moment we
shall dispel his delusion, as wind drives away clouds
from mountain tops.”
4“After his mental dullness is removed by my
reasoning, he will be able to rest in that happy state of
mind to which we have arrived.
5He shall not only attain pure truth and a clear
understanding of uninterrupted tranquillity, but he
will also secure a plumpness and beauty of figure and
complexion, as one derives from a potion of ambrosia.
6He will then fully discharge the proper course of his
duties with all his heart and without exception, which
will redound to his honour.
7He will become strong with a knowledge of both
worlds, exempt from the states of pleasure and pain.

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Yoga Vashishtha of Valmiki
Book I, Chapter 11
Consolation of Rama
Then he will look upon gold and stones with an
indifferent eye.”
8After the chief of the sages had spoken in this manner,
the king resumed the firmness of his mind and sent
messengers after messengers to bring Rama to him.
9By this time Rama was preparing to rise from his seat
in the palace to come over to his father, in the manner
that the sun rises from the mountain in the east.
10Surrounded by a few of his servants, he came with his
two brothers to the hallowed hall of his father,
resembling the heaven of the king of gods.
14Vashishtha, Vishwamitra and the other sages, with
Dasharata and his chiefs, saw Rama coming at a
distance as beautiful as Skanda himself.
15His qualities of mildness and gravity made him
resemble the Himalayas, and he was esteemed by all for
the depth and clearness of his understanding.
16He was handsome and well proportioned, auspicious
in his look, but humble and magnanimous in his mind.
With loveliness and mildness of his person, he was
possessed of all manly prowess.
17He was just developed to youth, yet he was as majestic
as an elderly man. He was neither sad nor merry, but

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Yoga Vashishtha of Valmiki
Book I, Chapter 11
Consolation of Rama
seemed to be fully satisfied with himself, as if he had
obtained all the objects of his desires.
18He was a good judge of the world, and possessed of
all holy virtues. The purity of his mind attracted all the
virtues that met in him.
19The receptacle of his mind was filled by magnanimity
and honourable virtues, and the candour of his conduct
showed him in the light of perfection.
20Endowed with these various virtues and decorated by
his necklace and fine apparel, Rama the support of
Raghu’s race, approached with a smiling face.
22The lotus-eyed Rama came up to salute the feet of his
father, when the lord of the sages, Vishwamitra, was
speaking with him.
23First of all Rama saluted his father, then the two
honourable sages. Next he saluted the Brahmins, then
his relations, and lastly his elders and well-wishing
friends.
24Then he received and returned the salutations of the
chiefs and princes as they bowed to him with graceful
motions of their heads and respectful addresses.
25Rama, of god-like beauty and equanimity of mind,
approached the sacred presence of his father with the
blessings of the two sages.

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Yoga Vashishtha of Valmiki
Book I, Chapter 11
Consolation of Rama
29The king then said, “O my son and receptacle of
blessings, you have attained the age of discretion, so do
not put yourself to that state of self-mortification as the
dull-headed do from their crazy understandings.
30Know that one attains merit by following the course
of his elders, guides and Brahmins, and not by his
persistence in error.
31So long as we do not allow the seeds of error to have
access to us, so long will the train of our misfortunes lie
at a distance.”
32Vashishtha said, “O strong armed prince, you are truly
heroic to have conquered your worldly appetites, which
are as difficult to eradicate as they are fierce in their
action.
33Why do you allow yourself, like the unlearned, to be
drowned in this rolling sea of errors causing such dull
inactivity in you?”
34Vishwamitra said, “Why are your eyes so unsteady
with doubts like trembling clusters of blue lotuses?
You ought to do away with this unsteadiness and tell us
what the sadness in your mind is.
35What are these thoughts? What are their names and
natures, their number and causes, that infest your mind
like mice undermine a fabric?

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Yoga Vashishtha of Valmiki
Book I, Chapter 11
Consolation of Rama
36I am disposed to think that you are not the person to
be troubled with those evils and distempers to which
the base and vile alone are subject.
37Tell me the craving of your heart, O sinless Rama!
They will be requited in a manner that will prevent
them from reoccurring to you.”
38Rama, the standard of Raghu’s race, having listened to
the reasonable and graceful speech of the good-
intentioned sage, shook off his sorrow, like a peacock
at the roaring of a cloud, in the hope of gaining his
object.
*******
[Rama was fortunate to have the guidance of two
renowned sages of his time. The words of these sages
consoled Rama when he was feeling dejected by
observing the transient nature of this world.]
[Candour: The quality of being honest and
straightforward in attitude and speech. The ability to
make judgments free from discrimination or
dishonesty.]
*******