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Válmiki
Yoga-Vāsistha, Book 3: Utpatti-Prakarana (Evolution of the World). Chapter 88 - Indifference of Brahmā
Brahmā said : O Brāhmana! who are the best of Brāhmists (Brāhmos), the God Sol having thus spoken of the ten Brāhmanas to Brāhma (me), held his silence. 1
I then thought upon this for sometime in my mind, and said afterwards, O Sol! do you tell me at present what I am next to create. 2
Tell me you sun, what need is there of my making any more worlds, after these ten orbs have come into existence. 3
Now O great sage! the sun having long considered in his mind about what I wanted him to tell, replied to me in the following manner in appropriate words.
The sun said : What need have you of the act of creating, my lord! that are devoid of effort or desire? This work of creation is only for your pleasure: (and not for any use to you).
You lord who is free from desires, gives rise to worlds, as the sunbeams raise the waters, and the sunshine is accompanied by the shadow (as its inseparable companion).
You that are indifferent to the fostering or forsaking of your body (i.e. either to live or die), need have nothing to desire nor renounce for your pleasure or pain. 4
You, O Lord of creatures! do create all these for the sake of your pleasure only, and so do you retract them all in yourself, as the sun gives and withdraws his light by turns. 5
You that are unattached to the world, makes your creation out of the work of love to you, and not of any effort or endeavour on your part.
If you desist from stretching the creation out of the Supreme Spirit, what good can you derive from your inactivity? 6
Do your duty as it may present itself to you, rather than remain inactive with doing nothing. The dull person who like the dirty mirror, does not reflect the image, comes to no use at all.
As the wise have no desire of doing anything which is beyond their reach, so they never like to leave out anything which is useful, and presents itself before them. 7
Therefore do your work as it comes to you, with a cheerful heart, and calmness of mind; with a tranquil soul, as if it were in your sleep, and devoid of desires which you can never reap.
As you do derive pleasure, O Lord of worlds! in forming the orbs of the sons of Indu, so the lord of gods will give you your reward for your works of creation.
The manner in which, O lord, you see the worlds with the eyes of your mind, nobody can see them so conspicuously with their external organs of vision; for who can say by seeing them with his eyes, whether your are created or increate.
He who has created these worlds from his mind, it is he alone that can behold me face to face, and no other person with his open eyes.
The ten worlds are not the work of so many Brahmās as it appeared to you before; and no body has the power to destroy them, when they are seated so firmly in the mind. (It may be easy to destroy all visible objects, but not to efface the impressions of the mind (memory).
It is easy to destroy what is made by the hand, and to shut out the sensible objects from our perception; but who can annul or disregard what is ascertained by the mind.
Whatever belief is deep-rooted in the minds of living beings, it is impossible to remove it by any body, except by its owner: (by change of his mind or its forgetfulness).
Whatever is habituated to confirmed belief in the mind, no curse can remove it from the mind, though it can kill the body.
The principle that is deeply rooted in the mind; the same forms the man according to its stamp; it is impossible to make him otherwise by any means, as it is no way possible to fructify a rock by watering at its root like a tree.
Footnotes
1. Here is a tautology of the word Brāhmana in the fashion of metaphysicians in its several homonymous significations. This is an address of Brahmā to Vasist ha- the Brāhmana and Brahmist, relating the Brāhmanas.
2. Brahmā's asking the sun about what he was next to create, bears allusion to his works of creation during the six days of genesis, which was directed by the course of the sun- his morning and evening.
3. These ten orbs are the ten planetary bodies belonging to the solar system.
4. No gain or loss can add to the joy or grief of the apathetic philosophic mind.
5. Creation and annihilation are the acts of expansion and subtraction of all things, from and in the supreme spirit.
6. Wherefore it is better to do and produce something than nothing.
7. Nor long for more, nor leave out your own. Or, Act well your part etc.
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