Consider, dear listener, how the mind perceives the world, much as an unskilled eye sees only the form of a golden bracelet, never discerning the gold itself. In the same way, when one gazes upon a city, a mountain, or a palace, the ignorant see only their outward shapes, unaware of their true essence. This is how most perceive the world—mistaking appearances for reality. Just as strings of pearls, the colors of peacock feathers, or balls seem to float in the sky—appearing real but having no substance—so too does this world present itself as real, though it is but an illusion. Know that this universe, filled with notions of ‘I’ and ‘mine,’ is a long and wondrous dream. Within it, dream-people seem real, and I shall tell you how this is so. Everywhere, there exists a vast expanse, peaceful and pure, dense with the ultimate reality of consciousness—untouched by thought. This all-pervading, all-powerful essence is the very core of everything, abiding wherever and however it manifests. In the city of dreams, the dreamer perceives its inhabitants. As he recognizes them as men, so they become men for him. The nature of the dreamer’s consciousness resides within the inner space of the dream; thinking, “I am this dream-space consciousness, I am a man,” he conceives himself as such. Because consciousness and its imagined forms unite, the state of being a man is realized; thus, in the self, through these dual directions, both attain reality. O sage, if the dream-people in the dream are not real, then what fault lies in one whose body is also made of illusion? In a dream, those who live in another city appear real, though they are only forms conjured by consciousness. Listen: only direct perception is valid—nothing else. At the dawn of creation, the self-born shines forth, experiencing all as in a dream. The universe itself is but a manifestation of that resolve, and so it is dream-like. Thus, this universe is a dream; within it, you are real to me, just as you are, so too are others in the dream, and likewise, dreams exist for people within dreams. If those who dwell in a dream’s city are not real, then, in this world of the same nature, you too are not real to me. Yet, just as I am real for you, so are you real for me; in dream or waking, this mutual reality is established for both of us. In this grand dream of worldly existence, just as I am real to you, so are you real to me; this is the order in all dreams. For the dreamer who is without sleep, the city seen in the dream remains, due to its true nature; so, too, does this world abide. Indeed, it is so—the dream city remains because of its reality, clear and formless as the sky. But know this: what you call waking is also but a dream, furnished with space, time, and all else. In this way, all appears, yet is not truly real, though it seems so; it enchants, but falsely, like the delight of a woman in a dream. Everything exists everywhere, both within and outside the body; but whatever one knows, according to one’s awareness, that alone one perceives. Just as whatever substance is in a container is obtained by looking within it, so too, whatever is apprehended is found in the space of consciousness. Then the goddess Knowledge spoke these words to Viduratha, her voice sweet with the nectar of awakening and discernment: “Thus, O King, you have been described here for the sake of play. May good fortune be yours, for we shall depart, having seen the visions that were to be seen.” Hearing these gentle words from Sarasvati, the wise king Viduratha replied, “O goddess, my seeing you too becomes fruitless when I am in need; but how could your presence, which bestows great rewards, ever be so? O goddess, leaving this body behind, I move on to another realm; I return to my own, just as one passes from one dream into another. Mother, grant me refuge here; do not disregard a devoted supplicant, O giver of boons, for the great never scorn those who seek shelter. Wherever I go, let this one—my minister and this princess, though still a child—come with me; show me compassion.” Sarasvati answered, “Come, rule the kingdom with proper discernment and beauty, as befitting your previous birth; act without hesitation. Know that we have never seen anyone who rejects the wishes of those seeking help.” She continued, “O king, in this great battle, you must now die; your former kingdom must be regained, and this is evident to me. The princess, the minister, and you must return to your former city; having become corpses, you must regain your bodies there. Both of us arrived as we did, and you came in the form of wind; that place must be reached by the princess and the minister as well. The horse follows one path, the camel and donkey another; the elephant, with cheeks wet from intoxication, follows yet another path.” As the conversation continued, sweet words passing between them, a man entered hastily and stood above them, saying, “O lord, a great hostile force has arrived, raining arrows, wheels, swords, maces, and iron clubs, surging like a single ocean. Like mountain stones swept up by the wind at the end of an age, showers of maces, spears, and clubs are being hurled, falling like rain. In the city, resembling a mountain, fire has spread, filling all directions; with crackling bursts it is toppling the finest buildings. In the sky, smoke rises like great mountains formed from the collision of cosmic clouds, striving to soar upward like mighty Garudas. With agitation, people speak thus amid the harsh cries of men; outside, a great tumult has arisen, filling all the quarters.” Thus, the story unfolds, weaving the nature of reality and illusion, and the drama of worldly existence, as revealed by the wise and the divine.