In this chapter of the Yoga Vasistha, Sri Rama directly reveals the terrifying, all-consuming might of infinite Time to Sage Vishwamitra. While mortals squander their brief existence in petty attachments, rivalries, and fleeting ambitions, the cosmic embodiment of Time effortlessly swallows entire universes. Sri Rama expresses his deep anguish over the fragile nature of worldly life.
Human existence appears utterly insignificant before the relentless march of Time, which governs all creation in mere fractions of a second. Standing before the royal assembly, Sri Rama describes the unfettered dominance of Time to Sage Vishwamitra with profound solemnity and piercing philosophical clarity.
Human Insignificance Before Time and the Trap of Attachments
Sri Rama turned toward Sage Vishwamitra and spoke:
“O exalted Sage Vishwamitra! Look at how blindly ordinary mortals like us conduct ourselves, chained to the pride of the physical body. We spend our days trapped in empty delusions, declaring: ‘These possessions belong to me, those people are my enemies, and I shall conquer them all.’ Can noble souls ever find attraction in such fleeting, mirror-like reflections? Never! Yet, consumed by jealousy—thinking that a certain possession will bring us ultimate joy and resenting others who possess it—we waste our invaluable lifespan in trivial attractions and hatreds. We fail to realize that Time is secretly gnawing away at our lives, just as a rat silently bites through a spider’s web.”
A solemn stillness filled the royal court as the assembly absorbed the weight of the young prince’s words.
The All-Consuming Cosmic Entity of Time
“O Maharshi! Is there anything in this entire creation that remains untouched by Time? As the terrifying lord of universal dissolution, Time will inevitably wipe out every visible object. Making no distinction between the exalted and the lowly, Time consumes everything and digests it without effort. The true nature of Time remains completely unfathomable. Seconds, minutes, aeons, and cosmic cycles (kalpas) are merely the functional instruments of this sovereign deity. No matter how mighty, ruthless, or arrogant an individual may be, all must eventually turn to ash in the hands of Time.”
The courtiers listened in rapt attention as Sri Rama continued to gaze intently at the sage.
The Insatiable Destroyer of Universes
“Though Time swallows countless realms, his appetite is never satisfied. Just as a parrot cracks open pomegranate seeds and feasts upon them, Time quietly crushes and consumes every living creature. If this vast collective of ego-bound souls is an expansive forest, Time alone is the master who cultivates, preserves, and ultimately ravages it. Like a wild elephant brandishing two lethal tusks—symbolizing ‘good and bad actions’—Time crushes our fragile lives like tender leaves.”
The profound realization of universal impermanence settled deeply over the entire assembly.
The Paradox and Cosmic Play of Time
“Consider another wondrous paradox of this Lord of Time, O Sage! In his manifest form of momentary occurrences, he appears to break and vanish every second; yet in his unmanifest causal state, he remains eternal, unbroken, and unmoved. Just as the mind constantly conceives countless desires on one side while abandoning them on the other, Time continuously creates worlds only to swallow them whole. Mortals who mistake this perishable body for their permanent identity are tossed endlessly between celestial heavens and subterranean hells as mere playthings of Time.”
Sri Rama paused momentarily, his eyes reflecting deep dispassion.
The Playful Sovereign of the Cosmos
“Just like a young boy playing with bright balls, Time juggles the Sun and the Moon across the sky. He swallows a blade of grass, a pile of ash, a towering mountain, and an expansive ocean with identical indifference. No force in existence can halt his relentless momentum. The great tree of Time produces entire cosmic universes (Brahmandas) as its seasonal fruit, and all of us are merely tiny mosquitoes swarming over those fruits. Though thousands of maha-kalpas pass by, Time neither rejoices, nor grieves, nor develops fond attachment toward anything.”
The hall remained utterly silent, without a single whisper breaking the atmosphere.
Time: The Cosmic Offspring of Supreme Consciousness and Maya
“O venerable Vishwamitra! The grand sport of Time is extraordinary. Time is the mighty son born to the supreme Sovereign Parabrahman and the Queen Mother Maya. This entire Earth serves merely as a drinking cup held in his hand. When even the most radiant deities become his routine sustenance, what significance does the boastful pride of mortal humans possess? Yet, oblivious to this stark reality, wretched beings who constantly compare themselves with others to assert superiority remain the perpetual prey of Time.”
Sri Rama bowed respectfully toward Sage Vishwamitra, leaving the entire assembly in profound contemplation of the eternal truth.
Spiritual Inner Meaning
Time is the supreme impartial force that dissolves all manifest phenomena in creation. Sri Rama’s piercing insights demonstrate that human existence and worldly achievements are entirely transient before cosmic Time. Rather than losing oneself in the illusions of pride, rivalry, and temporary material gains, true spiritual wisdom lies in realizing the immortal Self (Atma), which alone transcends the boundaries of Time and decay.
Reflect deeply upon how you allocate your daily hours: are you exhausting your vital energy on fleeting comparisons and resentments, or are you directing your awareness toward the unchanging reality beyond Time?
Chapter Summary
In this chapter of the Yoga Vasistha, Sri Rama presents an evocative description of infinite Time (Kala) to Sage Vishwamitra. He illustrates how human beings squander their lives in jealousy and petty ego while Time devours entire creations. Comparing Time to an insatiable master, a playful child juggling the sun and moon, and a wild elephant wielding the tusks of karma, Sri Rama emphasizes that even the gods are subject to cosmic dissolution.
Scripture Notes
Time alone is the unstoppable force capable of terminating every created entity in the manifest universe.
- Core Teaching: The physical body, relationships, and worldly wealth inevitably merge into the void of Time; harboring clinging attachment toward transient objects is the root of sorrow.
- Memorable Quote: “Like a wild elephant equipped with two tusks of good and bad deeds, Time tramples the fragile gathering of our lives.”
- Practical Reflection: Abandon the habit of comparing your life with others in pride or envy; dedicate your available time toward inner realization and self-knowledge.
- Connection to Next Chapter: Having established complete dispassion toward the infinite expanse of Time and the perishable cosmos, Sri Rama stands fully prepared to receive the supreme knowledge of Brahman.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Sri Rama describe the nature of Time in the Yoga Vasistha?
Sri Rama describes Time as an all-devouring cosmic force, an insatiable consumer of universes, and a colossal elephant equipped with two tusks representing good and bad deeds that crushes human vanity.
What does Sri Rama observe about ordinary human behavior regarding Time?
Sri Rama observes that ordinary people waste their precious lifespan in trivial enmities, petty attachments, and envy over others’ happiness, completely unaware that Time is stealthily devouring them like a rat gnawing through a web.
What is the paradox of Time highlighted by Sri Rama?
The paradox of Time is that in his manifest actions, he appears to be broken and transient every moment, yet in his unmanifest causal reality, he remains permanent, motionless, and unaffected by the dissolution of thousands of cosmic cycles.
How is Time related to Parabrahman and Maya according to Sri Rama?
Sri Rama metaphorically depicts Time as the sovereign son born to the supreme Emperor Parabrahman and the Queen Mother Maya, holding the entire Earth as a mere drinking cup in his hand.
Conclusion
Worldly life often misleads mortals into exhausting their energy in chasing temporary status, harboring pride, and nursing endless rivalries. Yet, Sri Rama’s profound discourse reminds us that none of the possessions we boast of can withstand the immense current of Time. Recognizing this ultimate truth allows the seeker to transcend material illusions and discover everlasting peace within the timeless Self.
