The original Yogavasistha is an extensive and intricate philosophical text on Advaita Vedanta comprising 32,000 verses. It is presented in the form of a dialog between sage Vasistha and prince Rama. The present book - The Essence of Yogavasiṣṭha by Swami Jnanananda Bharathi - distils the core teachings of the original in simple form for the modern reader. It expounds on various topics of Vedanta through illustrative (often symbolic) stories and parables, in a lucid and easily understandable manner. The book is organized into 32 chapters and covers 1698 verses. Each chapter deals with a specific theme; and contains selected verses (in Sanskrit) relating to the chapter’s theme or parable, followed immediately by a concise and engaging translation into English.