The King Who Needs Nothing

Coming right after the 14th Sarga’s message on deep inquiry (vichara), the 15th Sarga of the Mumukshu Vyavahara Prakarana of Yoga Vasishta shifts focus to santosha — the quiet strength of contentment. Vasistha now speaks of a joy that doesn’t depend on gaining or achieving, but on settling into what is, where a content heart outshines even a king’s wealth.

Contentment is the highest good.
It is true happiness.
A content heart reaches perfect rest, O Rama.

To the truly content,
Even empires seem like dry straw.
They’ve tasted peace — nothing tempts them anymore.

A content mind stays steady,
Even in tough worldly tides.
It never breaks down, never loses strength.

Those who drink contentment’s nectar
Find worldly pleasures dull.
They’re full — nothing outside compares.

Nectar may soothe, but
Contentment delights deeper.
It sweetens life and burns out flaws.

One who gives up chasing what's not his,
and calmly accepts what comes,
feels no pain from fate —
he alone is truly content.

Until contentment roots deep in the self,
troubles keep sprouting like vines
from the cracks of a restless mind.

A content heart, cool and still,
blooms in the light of true wisdom
like a lotus under the sun.

In a mind ruled by endless wants,
wisdom cannot reflect —
just like a warped mirror shows nothing clear.

The lotus of the heart won’t bloom
in the night of ignorance—
unless contentment, like the sun, rises every day.

Even if he owns nothing,
a man with contentment in his heart
enjoys the peace of a king —
free from sorrow and disease.

He doesn’t crave what isn’t his.
What comes, he receives with grace.
Gentle in thought and deed —
he alone is called content.

In one who is full from within,
whose heart overflows with contentment,
even goddess Lakshmi dwells —
like beauty shining on the milk ocean.

Rooted in inner wholeness,
he lives in his own self, by his own strength.
By firm effort, he throws out craving —
from every corner of life.

The mind soaked in contentment,
grows calm and steady like the moon.
Its cool shine is timeless —
a glow born from peace.

When the mind is fed by contentment,
all kinds of wealth come like loyal servants —
eager to serve their master.

When a man is steady in himself, content in his soul,
troubles disappear —
like dust washed away by monsoon rain.

O Rama, the one whose conduct is pure and cool like moonlight,
shines without blemish —
radiant and whole like the full moon.

Even a flawed man, if he is balanced and content,
wins hearts more than the rich man
burdened with greed.

The king among men, who walks with grace and balanced thought,
becomes a jewel among the wise.
Even celestial beings and sages,
bow to such a one, O Raghunandana.

True contentment is not about poverty or luxury — it’s about inner balance that no storm can shake. One who lives with santosha becomes so luminous in mind and action that even the devas bow to that quiet radiance.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi