The Story of a Bala (Lad) 7
7. The Story of a Bala (Lad)
Summary— Through this story, it is sought to show that persons without Ātmic inquiry see as real this world which is of the nature of Saṁkalpa.
The spotless mind of Jñānins is no other than the ever imperishable Brahman that has all Śaktis (potencies) and is ever full. Nought else is but that One.
There is nothing which is not found in this Brāhmic Reality. This indescribable Reality manifests itself as the many. Out of the infinite potencies in it, arises at one time one potency. This Jñāna-śakti of the immaculate Brahman then manifests itself in the perishable bodies.
The different Śaktis producing fluctuation, hardness, heat, voidness, moisture and destructiveness in Vāyu, stone, fire, Ākāśa, water and Pralaya are but the one Brāhmic potency latent in Brahman, like trees in seeds. They appear multiform like the plants, etc. on this earth variegated by time, space, etc.
It is only the Brāhmic Reality that is always and everywhere. It is only that Brahman which manifests itself as Manas through contemplation or as the Jīvātman subject to bondage or as the emancipated Paramātman, as well as the universe and the many Śaktis in it.
All the Vikalpas of the world seem to be real to men, as the tales narrated to a fickle child by its mother.
At these words of Vāsiṣṭha, Rāma with lotus hands, who was like a cloud raining his bounty upon all, wished to be acquainted with that story. Whereupon that Ṛṣi of rare Tapas began this story of mind’s illusions:
A certain lad who had not yet attained discretion prayed to his mother to tell a tale for diversion. Whereupon she related, as if true, the following entirely mythical story:
Once upon a time, three princes of unflinching bravery and good qualities resided in a city called Void. Of these three, two were never born and the third never went into any womb to be generated.
This trio, bent upon the acquisition of everything, rested in the forest of Ākāśa, full of countless fruits, and having allayed their sharp hunger by feeding themselves upon the delicious fruits, went on their way.
There they saw three rivers with dashing waves, winding their way on the outskirts of the forest. Of these three rivers with fast currents, two had no water while in the third the dry, white sands were fully visible on the surface. In this last river, they bathed and drank of the waters.
At sunset they retired to a town to be created thereafter (and not then in existence) and there built three houses. Of these three houses, two did not exist at all. The third one did not have walls or wooden superstructure. The three princes went to reside in these three contiguous houses without any wall (or support).
These three persons who abode in the three buildings in an invisible town in the Ākāśa found three golden vases near them. Two were shattered to pieces, while the third was a pulverized one.
They deposited in this formless vessel a quantity of rice equal to six measures minus ten measures and Cooked the same. Having done so, they distributed it to innumerable mouthless Brahmins.
After the Brahmins had thus filled their stomachs, the three princes partook of the remaining meal. Then, delighting themselves with hunting and other pursuits, they spent their time most joyfully.
When the mother thus concluded her story, her innocent child rested in the profound conviction of the genuineness of the mother’s tale. Similarly do the ignorant conceive and observe this world to be really existent.
The expansion of this mind is Saṁkalpa; and Saṁkalpa, through its power of differentiation, generates this universe. Therefore, Oh Rāma, may you divest yourself of all Saṁkalpas and be a Nirvikalpa.