14.027
The brāhmaṇa said.
The sting of desire, the alternating chill and heat of sorrow and joy, the obscuring darkness of delusion, and the creeping serpent of greed. (14-27-1)
Having transcended the path that surpasses sense-objects and is opposed to desire and anger, having crossed that great fortress, I have entered the great forest. (14-27-2)
The Brāhmaṇa said.
O greatly wise one, where is that forest? Which trees, rivers, mountains and hills are there, and at what distance is that forest? (14-27-3)
The brāhmaṇa said.
There does not exist, in the state of separateness, anything equal to that. Nor does there exist, in the state of non-separateness, anything more distant than that. (14-27-4)
Therefore, there is nothing shorter than that, nor anything greater than that. There is nothing more sorrowful than that, nor is there any happiness equal to that. (14-27-5)
Having entered that, the twice-born neither grieve nor rejoice. Nor do some fear them, nor do some fear from them. (14-27-6)
In that forest are seven great trees, seven kinds of fruits, seven guests, seven hermitages, seven meditative absorptions, and seven initiations; this is the form of that forest. (14-27-7)
The trees, producing five-colored divine flowers and fruits, stand pervading that forest. (14-27-8)
There, trees producing golden, two-colored flowers and fruits stand pervading that forest. (14-27-9)
Trees, producing four-colored divine flowers and fruits, stand throughout that forest, pervading it. (14-27-10)
There, trees producing conch-like (white), three-colored flowers and fruits stand pervading that forest. (14-27-11)
There, trees producing fragrant, single-colored flowers and fruits stand throughout that forest, pervading it. (14-27-12)
Two great trees, sending forth many flowers of indistinct colors and fruits, stand, pervading that forest. (14-27-13)
Here, there is one fire— the brāhmaṇa of good mind; here are the five senses as firewood. From these, seven liberations arise: consecration, qualities, fruits, guests, and desires for fruits. (14-27-14)
There, seven great sages receive hospitality. When they have been honored and have disappeared, another forest becomes pleasing. (14-27-15)
The vow is like a tree that bears no fruit, but offers the shade of peace, is the support of knowledge, the water of contentment, and the sun that shines within the knower. (14-27-16)
Those virtuous ones who attain that have no fear again; neither upward, nor downward, nor across is an end of that ever reached. (14-27-17)
There dwell seven women at once, radiant mothers with faces turned downwards; they give the essences upwards to creatures; all is otherwise, all is impermanent. (14-27-18)
In that very place, the seven seers, the perfected ones headed by Vasiṣṭha, stand firmly and rise again, all together. (14-27-19)
Fame, brilliance, prosperity, victory, accomplishment and splendor in this way follow the seven luminaries, the sun. (14-27-20)
There exist mountains and hills together in that place; and there are also rivers and streams carrying water that originated from Brahmā. (14-27-21)
There is the Vaitāna confluence of rivers at the very bank, from where those satisfied in their own self, possessing self-control, go directly to Grandfather Brahmā. (14-27-22)
The thin-bodied and the firm in vows, whose sins have been burnt by austerity, having established the Self in themselves, worship the Brahman. (14-27-23)
Here, the people who know Vidyāraṇya also recite a Vedic verse: having approached that forest, a wise one was born. (14-27-24)
The Brāhmaṇas knew of this very divine forest. Having understood it, they followed the path shown by the knower of the field. (14-27-25)
