No. 62.— 1909.1 



JXANA VASISHTAM. 



321 



universe, countless souls, infinite varieties of matter, endless 

 growth of sun and satellite and planet, all passing from a 

 state of latency to manifestation and vice versa. The task 

 of the soul is to emancipate itself frem the grasp of this cosmic 

 illusion of Maya, under the influence of which the soul 

 cherishes the idea of cr> I " and " mine " (as if each wave were 

 to think itself a separate entity from other waves and from the 

 ocean) and identifies its fictitious coats of mind and matter 

 with itself. In other words, the soul has to go back from the 

 unreal to the only real. What Maya is, how it originated, 

 how and when it ceases, are explained in the story of Sukar. 



Having heard Rama's impassioned address which I have 

 summarized in the last chapter — 



Visvamitra says : O Rama, by pure intellect thou has seen 

 all things free from fault. There remains naught else for thee 

 to know clearly. The sage Suka and thou are peers. Even 

 they who have attained the knowledge of the real and unreal, 

 yearn for peace. 



Rama inquires : How happened it that Sukar, having 

 attained the knowledge which destroys " I," attained not 

 peace at once but afterwards ? 



Visvamitra replies as follows : Sukar. filled with the 

 knowledge that cuts off birth, pondering like thee on the 

 nature of the universe, grew in understanding and gained the 

 knowledge that is without flaw. Yet doubt remained regard- 

 ing it, and peace he had not. He sought his sire (Vyasa) 

 who lives on the northern mountain (Meru) and asked : 

 " Whence cometh this dangerous mdya ? How shall it 

 perish ? To whom does it belong ? What is its measure ? When 

 did it appear ? " The father made answer to th«se questions 

 so that Sukar should understand. But Sukar replied : 

 " What thou hast said was already known to me." Then his 

 father, seeing that Sukar reached not the excellent state of 

 peace, said: There is a king named Janaka, great in the 

 knowledge that is without flaw. Seek and ask him." So 

 saying, he graciously sent him, and Sukar departed. He 

 reached the gate of the golden palace where Janaka dwelt. 

 The king, hearing of his coming, came not to meet him, think- 

 ing to try him. Seven days tarried Sukar there, indifferent. 



